Which, if any, firearm for a Motor Home

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NearlyNormal

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I have a friend who is retiring and selling his house and going on the road for some time in a Motor Home. He and his wife will be traveling primarily through the states west of the Mississippi. We have done some target shooting over the years, but not too much. I grew up hunting and with guns around so I'm the "expert" here, which sure ain't saying much. I tried to search here but got mostly responses to "home".

Anyway, to make a long story short, I suggested a good pump action 20 ga. shotgun. My thinking is that it would be rather inexpensive to shoot a lot of rounds through this, and effective without being a complete menace given the thin walls of a motor home. I don't know if that is good advice or not so I thought that I would come here and ask what you guys think.

He is cautious by nature and would be holed up in the M/H and would not shoot until someone actually was coming in.

I'm sure there are lots of things that haven't even occurred to me, so any suggestions would be helpful and I will pass them on.

(If this is not an appropriate question or in the wrong place I apologize).

Thanks.

Thanks.
 
I would concur a 20GA is a good choice. Still will be a complete menace to the walls though.
 
Just about anything I can think of that fires a projectile will penetrate the side of a motor home.

20 Guage with bird shot or even a .410 is a good choice for defense in confined areas as they're easy on the shooter and several companies make pretty good shotguns for the budget minded shooter. Mossberg used to make a .410 pump mag fed model a few years ago for home defence. The Winchester 1300 Defender comes in 20 Guage.

You could always consider frangible ammo but that stuff can become really expensive really quickly.

Just a thought but how about a stun gun backed up by a .38 Spl revolver? You can stun first (weak hand) and if that doesn't work use the hand gun to get your point across.

I'm sure all the posters here will have lots more ideas than what I've got here ;)
 
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Thanks for the quick replies

I agree about not letting them get close. If they force their way in they are close enough already.

I hadn't thought about a .410, but that is certainly worth considering.

I think the 20 ga. with birdshot would be fairly contained also, but lead trumps fiberglass everytime.
 
You can't take a handgun to Cali.

One of the reasons I took a shotgun on my month long road trip.
 
Short barrel shotgun and a couple .38s stashed around the place. That's how my granddaddy did it (R.I.P.) for decades, only had to pull a .38 twice, never had to actually use them. The fool's ran like rabbits.
 
You can't take a handgun to Cali.
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I don't think this is correct... I believe a handgun can be taken into communist California but transporting it loaded, or locked in a box along with the ammo would be a felony. If forced to enter California, I'd take a tactical tomahawk disguised as a table lamp. ;)
 
I was consulted about some special needs some traveling sales reps had, and we set them up with RVs.

First off, some serious lessons on street ways, and being on the road.
Second, where jurisdictions allow, a concealed handgun on person always.

I chose two calibers, .38spl and .44spl. I/we wanted low pressure rounds in revolvers.

Rifles were lever action that would use the same loads.

Shotguns, were bone stock youth models, 870 20 ga, with #3 buckshot, Forster slugs and some special reloads I did.

I will not share in public the details, still all RVs had a hidden and secure place(s) to lock everything up.
A homemade/custom "safe".

Back up Guns [ BUGs] were snub nose 32 cal S&W J frames (forget model number) and Beretta Bobcat in .22lr.
Shotguns, were Youth Single shot, in 20 bore.

$5 million in mdse was moved over 1200 miles the first time, and nobody got made.
After some de brief, and some changes made from lessons learned, and needing to consider things in the next run, not a concern in first run, we ran $10 million.
Before we were done almost $30 million in mdse was moved many many miles, and not one problem.
We changed locations of a company.

The "dog and pony show" was just that for the public, with cops, and armored cars, and all those ARs and the public seeing the company owner get into a armored car and his wife and kids into a armored Limo.
Company was moved before the dog and pony show...

Same way me and mine have moved a business across town.
We had the mdse out and baby sat it, in a house, days before the dog and pony show for the public.



Blending in was the key, and knowing the "street savvy" , or shall I say being a "RV-er" was the key.

One trick I /we did was not have RVs stay in some RV parks, like KOA, or State .

Instead, some gun clubs that had RV hook ups, some small towns (population less than 5000 and one only had 300), that have these RV hook ups in places, such as near a Little League baseball field(s).
Another was - Hospital parking lots.

These places have security that KOA, Parks, and other places do not.
Now, some State/Fed parks do not allow guns.
Back then, we did not have some restrictions in regard to guns and parks.

Guns were the easy part of the "tool box".
Heck later we set up some 4 person Coleman "Pop-Up" campers that one tows behind a vehicle with secure storage,and they never had a problem.

The "tool box" of staying safe was more about "blending in", "perceptions" we wanted folks to see, and all the other things we discuss in S&T in regard to
Mindset, Skillsets.

For instance, I did not travel with these folks. I and mine would fly in , get a vehicle , and say meet these folks at a hospital parking lot.

Body guards traveled, both male and female, so we had "couples" or "families" traveling.
A 25 year old female body guard becomes a "daughter" to a couple for instance.
Perceptions.

Folks could get a good meal in the hospital, and even b/t 12:30 -3:30 am, as cafeterias open for employees working 7p-7a, and 11p - 7a shifts, plus family staying in rooms with family as patients.

Lady Partner and I were part of the more...what to call it without sounding "wrong" or "special" , still "our team" did the more risky things.
So we flew in using small planes and small airports. Arrangements for vehicles.
Private, no rental cars.

Another time lady partner I flew in and used a station wagon with a canoe strapped to the top.

Now keep in mind, she and I were not married. Still we went to see "her family" coming thru pretty close where "we" lived.

Rural area, farm and ranch country, and the folks had installed RV hook ups on the "south forty" for his Military Buddies that would come to visit and he was building a couple of skeet fields.
He had ponds and reservoirs and folks wanted to fish. Hence the canoe we brought , and the jonboats on property.
WE bought fish in case we did not catch enough,and had a nice fish fry with the property owners.

Folks figured this family had some Military buddies show up...and have some families meet up.
Which was the perception we wanted to give.

My point is, do not close the mind by always defaulting to "Gun" to keep you safe.
ADEE is model one should keep in mind.

Don't go where trouble is, leave if trouble shows up, and have the skillsets to use the toolsets to deal with trouble if need.

I just know a youth 20 ga and Model 10/64 or Detective Special, or dedicated .38spl Ruger SP101 are going to work for a lot of situations, based on having btdt over the decades.
 
20 Guage with bird shot or even a .410 is a good choice for defense
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I wouldn't reccomend birdshot, especially out of a .410, for defense, they seriously lack penetration. If you want something light, maybe #1 or #4 buckshot. Besides, birdshot will probably damage your walls in a way that will be harder to repair: instead of a few big holes, a lot of little ones.


chose two calibers, .38spl and .44spl. I/we wanted low pressure rounds in revolvers
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.
This may or may not be a good choice, depending on your friend and where he's going.

Rifles were lever action that would use the same loads
Click to expand...
.
Same. However, rifles are probably a bad idea in a motor home.

Shotguns, were bone stock youth models, 870 20 ga, with #3 buckshot, Foster slugs and some special reloads I did.
Click to expand...
A youth model might be a good thing if the regular 870 is too big for his wife or him to use comfortable. (Remington stocks are usually bigger than average, especially on the 870.)

Oh, and get a .22 rifle to practice with. Maybe even some airsoft guns, to practice in the motor home. However, be careful not to hit anything important, such as photos, lights, etc.
 
Shotgun would be a good first choice ... Rem 870 or Mossberg 500 series, short barrel, loaded with #4 to #1 buckshot. Cheapest solution as well, should be able to find a good one (new or used) for $150 if you shop well.

20 gauge would work, but since it's lighter will kick just as bad (if not worse) than a 12, and the ammo is a little harder to find. Low recoil Federal will fit the bill nicely.

The Judge would also be a good choice in those close quarters ... California not withstanding.
 
Rich Lucibella was correct. It is all been said before.
Closing The Firing Line was difficult for a lot of us , still Rich was correct in closing it for a time, and was correct when he said it had all been said before.


RV's and other similar structures such as Canteens (portable food vending) and Manufactured homes, are not of a construction one can really beef up.
Not in the sense a apt, condo , home, or business is.

Most Mfg'd homes only have a 7' ceiling, RV's "might" have 7' in some places where as Standard for homes is 8'

You do not have the headroom, to manipulate a firearm, , no "attic" in which to store items either for storage, or backstop to stop projectiles.

Even .22 rim-fire will go through /has been known to go through a drywall ceiling, through the attic and exit a roof with roofing shingles in a House.

Noise.
Being as RVs and Canteens, and Mfg homes ( house trailers, mobile homes) are more confined, Low Pressure rounds are suggested to protect your hearing and those in these structures with you.

.38spl and .44 spls are low pressure rounds.

What the Original Post is essentially asking :

What Gun for Vehicle?

Sorry, and no disrespect intended, but I am damn good at this.

Yes, the 45ACP is a low pressure round...
That said-

In a tight, confined area, such as a RV /Vehicle, there are steering wheels, consoles, seats, and other things, if a situation occurs, you do not want to take a chance on a Semi:

- going out of battery pushing up against a criminals body.
- having mag release get hit in grappling for a gun.
- slide in recoil getting caught on steering wheel, seat, ...anything.

You do want:

-a Low pressure round
-Less Muzzle flash
-Less Noise
- Reliable, meaning a revolver shoved against a criminal's gut, is not going out of battery.
- If bad luck shows with a bad primer, pull the trigger again.
etc.

Since I have spent time in Armored cars, Armored vans, and assisted with these folks and training, the dedicated .38spl revolver with standard pressure 158 gr loads, is a very very good choice for Armored car guards.

I have also spent time in a RV , and Vans such as Plumber's and other workers use, with Body Guards, Cops, and other situations doing surveillance and other work.

I have also been the guy serving you a hot dog from a Canteen as cover for watching my folks do what they do, and being a lookout.
I have assisted Cops in this too.


What I and others have sahred time and time again is "Forget the damn gun" being the answer to every situation.

The gun is the easiest tool in the tool box, get a dedicated .38spl revolver, Medium Frame, and use standard pressure 158 gr loads .
This "tool" takes care of 90% + of all gun needs most folks have.

OP in this case needs to take a Personal Protections Class, Defensive Driving and Assertive Driving Class.
I would also recommend a RV class.

What I would do, being dead serious, is Investigate & Verify, by speaking with a Cop for instance that has done Protection Detail, and has traveled in a RV being retired.

Get with folks that have actually done those things with Mindset, and Skill sets to share with you how to stay safe.

Go visit with Taxi driver, or the young cute gal that drives a Limo, they have a wealth of information about traveling in vehicles.
Find someone that is a on the road sales rep, or retired from being one, and find out from them, about security measures.

Hey, I have only racked up 60k miles in one year, some years doing this work, what do I know?

Go speak to Sales Rep in various industries, and if you are lucky, you might find some I assisted in training.

An RV is nothing more a bigger Lincoln, Cadillac, Chrysler, Buick, Mercedes, Ford or Chevy , that allows one to cook, sleep work , and watch TV in.

So one incorporates S&T from both Vehicle and Home Security concerns.
Trust me, just get dedicated medium frame revolver in .38spl and load it with standard pressure 158 grain.

I recommend Colt Detective Special, Ruger SP101 with both snub nose and 3" barrel, and Model 10/64 Smiths with snub nose and 3" barrels.

Then again what do I know, I only had Mentors that traveled for a living before I was born, and when I was born and as I grew up, and some towed those little "tea cup" trailers.

Trust me, Colt Detective Special, S&W J and K frames were the guns carried for sure with them.
As were 1911s, BHPs, Colt Woodsman, Beretta Jetfire, Bobcat, Minx.
Model 12 and Ithaca 37 shotguns for repeaters in both 12 and 20 and Single shot 20 ga.
Lever Action 30-30, .30 cal carbine, were some of the rifles.

I know, I was that brat being mentored to with all this.

I am done with this one.

It has all been said before...
 
Speaking of 38 and 44 special revolvers, what is the thinking on glaser safety slugs these days?
 
I have a good friend who travels eight or ten months of the year in a large motor home. His two "protection" guns are his long carried Colt's Lightweight Commander .45 ACP, and his many years companion, a Winchester Trapper .30-30.

I've been in various motorhomes/campers for many a mile over the years and my usual carry was either my old Colt's Lightweight Commander .45 ACP, or my Beretta 92FS 9mm.

Both I, and my friend, are very discreet with firearms when out in motor homes or campers.

FWIW.

L.W.
 
The Judge would also be a good choice in those close quarters
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No, it wouldn't. It's a .410 crippled by bbl length, and a .410 isn't exactly a good defensive weapon to begin with.


a Winchester Trapper in .30-30.
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Maybe I'm wrong, but wouldn't a 30-30 be terrible in a vehicle?

He makes a good point here:
You do want:
-Less Muzzle flash
-Less Noise
Click to expand...

And correct me if I'm wrong, but the .30-30 lacks all of those.
 
JIMBOTHEFIVETH - "Quote:
a Winchester Trapper in .30-30."

Maybe I'm wrong, but wouldn't a 30-30 be terrible in a vehicle?"
Click to expand...

Not really. First, the Winchester Trapper is not awkward inside a motorhome, if needed, given its short length and handling qualities.

Secondly, my friend does not stay in the motorhome 24/7 as he is outside in camp grounds, remote areas, etc. IF, for some obscure reason, he needed a handy rifle outside while in some remote area -- and my friend and his lady friend often camp in remote, lonely areas -- then the Trapper in .30-30 could easily come in handy.

As I said, his main inside-the-motorhome self defense firearm is his long owned and shot Colt's Lightweight Commander .45 ACP.

L.W.
 
Just for some clarification on penetration issues. I have first hand knowledge of how far a 5.56 round out of a AR will go through a RV. RV was a Toyhauler type, round went through the near side wall,grazed along an inner wall, and came to rest inside the far side wall. There was a dimple in the fiberglass on the outside of the far side wall. Round was fired from about 30 yards from the vehicle.
 
shotgun shell type bullets for hand guns

I have shotgun shell type bullets for my hand guns for use inside my home
That would work good in a revolver
 
Maybe, but those things probably have a terrible lack of stocking power, since they are usually loaded with #9 birdshot, or worse, #12.


Secondly, my friend does not stay in the motorhome 24/7 as he is outside in camp grounds, remote areas, etc. IF, for some obscure reason, he needed a handy rifle outside while in some remote area
Click to expand...
Thanks for clarifying.
 
Thanks everyone for the input

I'll forward it on. I should emphasize that I think my friend will be VERY discreet with any firearm, and that he certainly is unlikely to think GUN first.

SM, I certainly did not take any disrespect from your comments, I came here asking for advice and appreciate it. I really hesitated to give my friend any advice on a potentially critical issue like this where I don't know enough to have an opinion worth considering, y'all certainly do.

For myself at this point, I think the point about no birdshot is a pretty good point, and I'm intrigued by the Judge, but he would have to make his own mind after seeing the weapon and finding out how it fit for him. I certainly see why a person would like a rifle for outdoors use, but I don't think he is mobile enough to get real far from the M/H, bad knees from our service days.

I think the point about fitting in and blending is a great point and I expect he will do that naturally. He has wanted to do this for many years and probably has a fairly limited window of time to get it done.

Steve
 
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