chemist308
Member
My advice will differ from most here. Don't blow student loan money on this.
Yes, you should pick up a gun. If you have ever read internet post: building a basic battery on a budget, that is a good place to start. A Basic Battery on a Budget
However, here are my thoughts on how you might vary a little from the advice given in that well thought out article, though:
Honestly, my advice is to pick up a 22 rimfire rifle first. This will be cheapest to buy and shoot. Learn to shoot the rifle. Maybe a Marlin bolt action might be a good pick--perhaps even used if you're going to be diligent and inspect the bore for any rust or obvious pitting.
For a carry gun, pick pistol that feels good in your hand and caliber you can shoot best. Pick something really easy to conceal. The fact is that the gun you actually carry and hit your target with will be the one that saves your life. With your budget, it may be that you end up with a 22LR rimfire pistol as well for now. Remember, those are the cheapest to shoot, too. If you're going to go that route, maybe even get the pistol first. You'll notice I didn't recommend a make or model...
If you do go that route, when you get the money together get something that feels close to that, or just right, in your hand, and in the caliber you want. And when you do that, get something that you can comfortably shoot--don't get sucked into the caliber wars here...
Your next purchase will be a shotgun. I strongly recommend a pump action 12 guage--something that you can get slug barrels for. A Mossberg seems a reasonable choice. When you get it, make sure slug barrels are readily available for it. As for the guage arguments, slug barrels are more commonly marketed for 12 guages. Also 12 guage ammo is commonly found in bulk. Next shotgun you get might be a 20 or a 410 guage, depending on whether you ever hunt, and what you plan to hunt. But you're not buying that 20 guage just yet.
Next, buy a bolt action high powered rifle. On your budget, maybe find Savage in bolt action or a German Mauser in good condition. As for the caliber? Well, the German K98 Mauser comes in 8mm. But if you're going for the newer rifle, I recommend 308 Winchester or 30-06. It used to be 308 Winchester ammo could be found in bulk in the form via the military surplus version: 7.62 NATO (7.62x51). But if I had it all to do over again, I'd probably go for 30-06. The amount of reload data out there for the 30-06 is overwhelming, and either caliber is more than enough gun most purposes.
If they're still available when you get the money together for this last purchase, pick up an 'assault weapon.' Serously though, because of the idiodic 'bans' you may wish to make this rifle gun #2 on the list. Given your financial situation, and knowing the types of rifles that tend to get 'banned' I'm going to say your best bet is an unissued SKS rifle. They're cheap, accurate enough, and least likely to actually get banned. Plus, unlike the AKs commonly available, their recievers have not been torch cut. Make sure it has the fixed magazine. This will be least likely to be affected by any ban, and I'm saying this realizing that the ban may be on the manufacture, sale or possession or said 'assault weapons.'
Again, put this arsenal together piecemeal. Don't blow student loan money on this stuff.
Edit: Since you are crossing over, do 3 things, for a total of around $26 or less
1. Mail a letter to your House Representative, asking them to protect your right to keep and bear arms (cost < $0.40)
2. Mail a similarly worded letter to your Senator (cost < $0.40)
3. Join the NRA (around $25) or the GOA (less money)
Yes, you should pick up a gun. If you have ever read internet post: building a basic battery on a budget, that is a good place to start. A Basic Battery on a Budget
However, here are my thoughts on how you might vary a little from the advice given in that well thought out article, though:
Honestly, my advice is to pick up a 22 rimfire rifle first. This will be cheapest to buy and shoot. Learn to shoot the rifle. Maybe a Marlin bolt action might be a good pick--perhaps even used if you're going to be diligent and inspect the bore for any rust or obvious pitting.
For a carry gun, pick pistol that feels good in your hand and caliber you can shoot best. Pick something really easy to conceal. The fact is that the gun you actually carry and hit your target with will be the one that saves your life. With your budget, it may be that you end up with a 22LR rimfire pistol as well for now. Remember, those are the cheapest to shoot, too. If you're going to go that route, maybe even get the pistol first. You'll notice I didn't recommend a make or model...
If you do go that route, when you get the money together get something that feels close to that, or just right, in your hand, and in the caliber you want. And when you do that, get something that you can comfortably shoot--don't get sucked into the caliber wars here...
Your next purchase will be a shotgun. I strongly recommend a pump action 12 guage--something that you can get slug barrels for. A Mossberg seems a reasonable choice. When you get it, make sure slug barrels are readily available for it. As for the guage arguments, slug barrels are more commonly marketed for 12 guages. Also 12 guage ammo is commonly found in bulk. Next shotgun you get might be a 20 or a 410 guage, depending on whether you ever hunt, and what you plan to hunt. But you're not buying that 20 guage just yet.
Next, buy a bolt action high powered rifle. On your budget, maybe find Savage in bolt action or a German Mauser in good condition. As for the caliber? Well, the German K98 Mauser comes in 8mm. But if you're going for the newer rifle, I recommend 308 Winchester or 30-06. It used to be 308 Winchester ammo could be found in bulk in the form via the military surplus version: 7.62 NATO (7.62x51). But if I had it all to do over again, I'd probably go for 30-06. The amount of reload data out there for the 30-06 is overwhelming, and either caliber is more than enough gun most purposes.
If they're still available when you get the money together for this last purchase, pick up an 'assault weapon.' Serously though, because of the idiodic 'bans' you may wish to make this rifle gun #2 on the list. Given your financial situation, and knowing the types of rifles that tend to get 'banned' I'm going to say your best bet is an unissued SKS rifle. They're cheap, accurate enough, and least likely to actually get banned. Plus, unlike the AKs commonly available, their recievers have not been torch cut. Make sure it has the fixed magazine. This will be least likely to be affected by any ban, and I'm saying this realizing that the ban may be on the manufacture, sale or possession or said 'assault weapons.'
Again, put this arsenal together piecemeal. Don't blow student loan money on this stuff.
Edit: Since you are crossing over, do 3 things, for a total of around $26 or less
1. Mail a letter to your House Representative, asking them to protect your right to keep and bear arms (cost < $0.40)
2. Mail a similarly worded letter to your Senator (cost < $0.40)
3. Join the NRA (around $25) or the GOA (less money)
