Which of These Four Types Of Guns Should I Buy First ?

[Costa Rica Jones]

Okay... i'm staying for un undetermined period of time in an undisclosed foreign nation in Central America.

It doesn't make fiscal sense to bring my guns in from Texas, so I need to buy something here.

As firearms are about 25%-50% more expensive (in general) here, the collection will grow a lot slower, and I need to start out with one gun, first. Here's where I need you to help me make up my mind with what to get first:

A.) .45 ACP. Possibly Glock, but most likely Govt. type model. I don't know what makes are available here. I know here are a lot of Spanish made guns available here, too, of different calibers. Should I stick with one of the big name makers?

B.) Pump action shotgun, like a Mossberg.

C.) AK-47 Variant.

D.) Sharp shooter Savage 10FP with Scope and Accutrigger.

By the way-- I'm living in a fairly good part of town now (although sh*t still happens, here!) ... with a gated community and armed guard out front, 24/7 (which it's common for the bad guys to pay off, as they make about $350 a week) and the U.S. and Bolivan Marines Share a Complex/Gated House across the street. They have a ton of armed guys with rifles and plainclothes guys with dogs-- inside their compound, so I don't expect them to come to my rescue, unless there is massive civil unrest (highly unlikely). And I'm not worried about a coup in this country-- more about street crime, break ins, and two/three/four man robbery teams.

So... what should I get?

 

[Aguila Blanca]

What's the local price on the new Taurus 1911?

Springfield Armory 1911s are made in Brazil by Imbel, and Imbel also makes and markets their own line of 1911s (both single and double stack). Are they available in your undisclosed corner of the world?

 

[Costa Rica Jones]

Most likely. I need to check the pricing (or price difference).

So-- you think I should buy a handgun, first?

 

[Tylden]

Well, I don't know what the laws are down there and what your living situation is (house, condo, apartment, etc). If overpenetration is an issue inside the home, I would go with the 12 ga. pump shotgun for the next door neighbors sake if you're in a condo/apt. If this isn't an issue, and if you can legally carry there I would go for the .45 ACP, especially if you are concerned about multiple intruders. From what I read, I'm assuming the primary purpose is home defense ? Just my opinion.
For what it's worth, my father lived in a gated community with low paid security guards here in the states. Frankly I saw that as a false sense of security for the most part....that neighborhood was the most robbed in town. I think the BGs just saw these houses as the ones with the "good stuff"....they just didn't use the main entrance.

 

[Cosmoline]

If you can CCW, a handgun is essential for that obviously. And if you have to keep the firearm under wraps, it's useful as well.

 

[Black Majik]

In order of your list, me personally I would go

1) Colt Government
2) Pump action. Replace Mossberg with a Remington 870
3) AK-47 Variant. I'd replace with AR-15 variant.
4) Savage 10FP. I'd replace with Remington PSS.

Thats what I would do (personally) if I was in your position.

Hows the gun laws in CR?

 

[Eightball]

What do you do that warrents purchasing of an AK? Are the FA laws as restrictive there? What can you get there that can't be bought here, etc.
For pistol: don't buy a gun made in a country where you wouldn't drink the water, or live for more than a week. I'd recommend a NEW big-name brand something or other. Springfield GI .45 would seem to work (why mess with a legend? . Other than that, I'd try for a levergun instead of a bolt-action (maybe get a .357 lever, get a .357 revolver later on). That's just my take on it.

Order: Stick with the order you listed them in, maybe get a shotgun first. but, how are the gun laws there?

 

[Kurush]

See if you can bribe an official for a machinegun license. When in Rome...

 

[Majic]

Make sure you can have a .45acp. Some countries forbid citizens from personally having military cartridges.
As you are just temporarily staying in that country are you sure that you can even buy or possess a firearm legally? Visitors to most countries are restricted to what they can do with a firearm.

 

[Costa Rica Jones]

The gun laws are fairly liberla (Cripes! I can't even bring myself to say the word!). You need a clean police report from your country of origin, and then they pretty much issue "on demand" much similar to Texas.

I need to look into the rifle laws. But concealed carry... think there's a basic test, but every two brain cell, 5th grade-educated security guard that is on every corner in this part of town (usually sleeping) has passed the test... so I'm not too worried about that.

I was thinking an AK for a home invasion scenario. Or possibly, to buy some land out in the country with a little cabin and turn it into a "bug out" place.

I've got a diesel '80 Land Cruiser I bought last week, but I'm living in the very upper class part of town right now, where a lot of the Gringos live. Just think it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a gun or two in primary residence plus a "retreat" to get to, in the event of urban unrest, earthquake, or who-knows-what.

All thoughts are welcome. (Well, except those involving farm animals!)

Just trying to plan ahead.

 

[mnrivrat]

From the looks of your list you are looking at personal protection .

To answer your question :

I would go with the handgun first - assuming your in a urban setting.

 

[Costa Rica Jones]

Majic,

Good points. On a tourist visa, you can't legally own a gun. But if you have a company, then the company can legally own the gun. Need to look into this more closely, though, prior to purchase.

I've been told that even owning a non-licensed gun is only a misdemeanor with a fine.

Also-- should be gaining residency soon. Residecy and citizenship have the same rights to firearms, as to the best of my understanding.

It's funny-- the mentality of the people here. They live in their houses, and the houses look like prisons-- with bars on all the doors and windows and big padlocks on the gates. But they won't own guns. They think only "animals" own guns, and that they are only used for offensive purposes.

And then on the other hand, you go downtown and there are gunstores on every other corner. Ummm... who's buying these guns??? There's no miltary here.

 

[entropy]

Don't buy any; If your in Costa Rica you are either CIA/DEA, and will be issued what you need, or are one of the guys they are after....

 

[Costa Rica Jones]

Actually, I'm here for the weather and the women.

Living the good life.

Except that my first three months, I was taking a siesta at 7:30 pm, and three guys drove up quickly and broken into my house.

All I had was a machete in a sheath. They heard me upstairs as the metal sound of the machete makes a "sling" sound as it's drawn. Fortunately, they were just looking to smash and grab, and ran out of the house before I could make visual contact. (Tactically stupid move on my part, with or without a machete).

I'd just sold a Rottie a week before, and believe they'd cased the house and knew the dog wasn't in the house anymore. For whatever reason (despite the light on in the upstairs office, the giant dog bowl out front, the porch light, and the cave man sized bone... ) they still chose to hit my house.

That's when I moved to the better side of town.

But weird stuff still happens over here, too. I heard shots fired the other night in the complex next to me.

I have a German Shepherd in the house now, but he's new and the territorial instinct hasn't yet kicked in Plus, he's a pussy. That's why I need the gun.

 

[Trabuco]

Many many missconceptions in the posts above. AK's (semiautos) are illegal in Costa Rica, as any carbine, with mags over 10 rounds. In addition, since
April 2001, the U.S. gov. will not grant export licenses for semi-auto carbines
of calibers greater than .22 L.R. for non official use to Latin America.
Glock .45's are almost impossible to get, because Austria, as an E.U. member, must abide by the non export policies to Central America. Colt 45.'s are
available, but very limitedly and expensive (about $1,500). Remington 870's?
No problem. Remington 700's? No problem. Concealed carry permits? No problem, AS LONG AS YOU ARE A RESIDENT AND NOT A TOURIST. You need to P.M. me.

 

[PX15]

Home Protection Stuff....

These suggestions are not necessarily in line with what you are considering. BUT if I were in your position, FOR ME:

1. I would trade in the weiner German Shephard for a more serious home guard dog. I should think the Rottie (breed, not particular animal) would have been great. We had one for years and just the size and appearance of the dog got serious, (mostly undeserved) respect. If you get a good one, Rotty's aren't by nature aggressive, but are protective of their owners and are territoral.

2. Everyone likes the 45cal, but I would personally have a high capacity 9mm. Maybe more than one. I would probably keep using my Sig P239 for concealed carry, and have a full sized Bersa Thunder 9 (17+1) with a CAT laser for home protection. Nine millimeter ammo is the most popular round in the world, and I would think in a crisis you could always find some locally. Of course if you can ,(legally), load 'em up with the best 9mm available. I like Cor-Bon's.

3, I have a High Standard 12ga riot (pump) shotgun residing in the closet next to the bed. It would go with me. You can keep it primed, and have another 4 or 5 in an elastic "sleeve" on the stock. I think the 12ga pump shotgun is the premier home defense weapon for most folks. (If you can find a quality laser for it, it would be so equipped..)

4. I'm big on lasers, as in low light, or night situations the laser can really make a difference in your potential accuracy. I think at times the mere presence of the "red dot" as projected by a laser equipped firearm can have the same psychological impact on bad guys as the aforementioned Rottie..

I DON'T mean to expect the "red dot" to necessarily be beneficial other than it allows you better accuracy at night, but in a crisis everything you can do to improve your situation is a bonus, and I would think in some circumstances the red dot, (beam) would be a scary thing to your average "home invader". I know it's worthless against professionals, but if professionals are coming for you you've got bigger problems than worrying about how bad your Rottie is , or whether or not your red dot laser is doing you any good.

5. Several years ago there was a company named "Quorum" that sold small, self contained home security devices. They went bankrupt because of mismanagement, but the A180 Security Monitor was a fantastic product. I sold them for awhile on the side, and I still have one plugged up in the great room. They work off of rapid changes in atmospheric pressure , such as occurs when a door is quickly opened (or closed), or a window is broken. For example if someone broke in your door, or window, a screechingly loud alarm goes off. SCREECHINGLY LOUD....

At the time there was also a remote alarm horn unit that plugged into the main A180 but actually had a hard wire leading to whereever you put the remote.. This remoted "horn" also had a blinking red light on it to show it was armed. At my old home we had the A180 set up in the great room, with the remote over the garage door. The red blinking light was visible from the street.

I'm amazed that no-one is producing this product now, and maybe they are, but I haven't seen them advertised anyplace. You might check on EBAY, or elsewhere online and see if you can acquire one. The one we have has been on continously for over 3 years. The base unit plugs into the wall, but has a battery backup.

There was a model previous to the A180, but it was the original design, and the A180 was the "improved model". Either one will work just fine, but I think the A180 would be preferable if you can find one.

IF MY A180 quits, I'll try and find another. It's a great little system, not too expensive, and can be taken with you if you move.

Between the junk yard dog, the firepower, and a home alarm you are about as protected as you can reasonably get.

Just a suggestion, but it's stuff I would have if MY security depended on it.

Best Wishes.

JP

 

[wallysparx]

what are bolivian marines doing in costa rica?

 

[Costa Rica Jones]

My spanish isn't perfect yet, but my understanding from the night guard in our complex (who talks with the outside guards at their complex) is that they're part of the embassys (plural) attachments. I'm guessing some kind of joint housing situation for those who don't live in the embassy or with the embassador. Or maybe a reinforcement house?

Who knows the truth?