Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
significantly more for each round. For defense within the home, a 12 gauge firing #7½ birdshot
loads will stop an intruder without having the rifle's problem of penetrating a wall and possibly
harming someone else unintentionally, but for outside use, a rifle has both accuracy and range
that is far superior to that of either a shotgun or handgun. Typical hunting rifles are designed
for accuracy at over a hundred yards, and hold one to five rounds of ammunition. “Defensive”
rifles are generally military-style guns designed to rapidly fire many shots with semiautomatic
operation, meaning each time you pull the trigger they fire a shot, and have easily interchanged
magazines that may be preloaded and swapped out in a matter of seconds (with practice). The
classic military-style AK-47 rifle is world renowned for its effectiveness, high reliability (nearly
jam proof), and ease of maintenance, making it an excellent choice for a defensive-style firearm
(when equipped with interchangeable magazines, these types of firearms are not legal in some
locations). The 7.62×39mm rounds used by the AK-47 offer excellent velocity, penetration, and
accuracy, combined with relatively low cost, making it one of the most popular and readily avail-
ableriflecartridgesaroundtheworld.Yourriflesshouldallbeproperlyfittedwithslings.Without
a sling, the rifle tends to be set down, and will do you no good if it is not within reach when
needed.
Figure 10-3. .223 caliber AR-15 “defensive” rifle.
Photo courtesy of Bushmaster Firearms
8. As for handguns, since most people purchase a handgun for self-defense, it behooves you to try
several different guns to determine what you are comfortable with. A 9mm caliber gun will be
smaller and easier to handle for many people, but a .40 S&W or .45 ACP will have much more
stopping power. Since handguns require more skill and care than a shotgun or rifle in order to be
safely and accurately handled, it is even more important that you receive qualified instruction and
experience shooting different models of handguns before making your selection. When purchas-
ing a semiautomatic handgun for self defense, it is important that you buy a high-quality weapon,
since the cheap versions are more prone to jamming, and a jammed gun will be of little use in
your defense.
9. The variety of models, gauges, and nuances of firearm selection can be mind boggling to the neo-
phyte. For whatever reason, if you are serious about arming yourself, I suggest you pick up a
copy of
Boston's Gun Bible
and Mel Tappan's
Survival Guns
. Unless you are already a firearm
enthusiast, these two topic swillprobablytellyoumorethanyoueverwantedtoknowaboutguns.
However, just reading a topic is no substitution for experience, so it is also in your best interest to
go shooting with friends, and/or seek out professional training where you can try out a variety or
firearms to get a feel for what kinds of guns you are most comfortable with.
