|
|
Back to UserFriendly Strip Comments Index
| Attn: Fireballmatt; Some answers |
by DesertRat66 |
2006-11-19 12:55:59 |
My S.O. and I will be living in an apartment in the city for a few years until we can save enough to build or buy a house. The house will more than likely be on the outskirts of whatever town we settle in (depending on where I find a job) I dont much like living in town. That being said, I currently live in the middle of a city. No kids for at least 5-8 years hopefully!
Apartments are tricky defensive environments. The walls are paper thin and every round you fire WILL have a lawyer attached to it. Another thing that will affect your decisions is how much your S.O. believes in being prepared for the ultimate worst. Some things to consider in apartments are potential lanes of fire. If you have to shoot what direction are you most likely to fire in. If you can place some bookshelves full of paperbacks on the far end of these lanes. (Think bullet stop) Ammunition selection will be critical as well. If you go with a handgun; Glaser Safety Slugs are worth considering as is smaller shot (#4 BB etc.) for a shotgun. However, there is a problem with these rounds. The weather. #4 Buck can be stopped by a thick leather coat, Glasers and other hollow points have a hard time with heavy winter clothing as well. Whatever you choose to defend home and hearth, spend some time researching terminal ballistics of the rounds and read incidents of real life shootings as well. Also as said before, see what the local law-enforcement is using. Just remember you may have to not only defend your choice to defend your life, you may have to defend your selection of firearm and ammunition as well.
I can't recommend research enough to anyone seeking to use a firearm for personal defense. Some personal favorites include "In The Gravest Extreme," "Stressfire: Gunfighting for Police," and "StressFire II - Advanced Combat Shotgun" by Massad Ayoob
The area I would hunt in would actually be next to a HUGE (I would estimate 400-500 yards long, at LEAST 300 yards wide) field. The only hunting friend I have had a fairly wooded property and he sets up at the corner of the field, it is enclosed by at least 200 yards of trees on all sides. I'm not sure how much I will be hunting with him, but the longest shot I could possibly take would be in the range of 550ish yards diagonally across the field. I imagine the rifle will see the most use on a range as I have fairly free access to several in town, but would need to be able to bring down a decent sized deer.
For most hunters 300yd shots are maximum range. While I have seen some VERY successful long range shots taken on deer (735yd one-shot kill being the longest) I would have to be VERY sure of my shot before I took one past 300yds and I practice on golf balls out to 200yds. Recoil tolerance is for more important than cartridge selection. Sure you can kill a deer with a .300 Win Mag but how often are you going to want to shoot it? A .223 will allow you to practice all day, but past 150 yards it's effectiveness on deer diminishes. A .243 Winchester is an easy recoiling gun (I tend to fall asleep in mid-recoil shooting one) and with the right loads and proper shot placement dynamite on deer. My preference is for the 30-06, though a .308 is perfectly acceptable it's performance with very heavy bullets is poor which makes the 06 more versatile. I would have complete confidence hunting any North American game with a 30-06. However from a Bench Rest a 20 round shooting session can be uncomfortable. (I usually use field positions so it's not an issue for me) Some other cartridges that may serve you well would include; .270 Winchester, 7mm-08, and 7x57. For optics I would use a quality 3-9x or 4-12x scope. I would also spend a lot of time learning where my bullets impact at various ranges in relation to the scope reticle at various magnification strengths. (I tend to use either highest or lowest depending on terrain)
I am more partial to synthetic stocks over wood, and while I prefir semi-auto to bolt action, I would not mind a bolt as long as it has some capacity to it. (not load, shoot, load, shoot etc)
Why are you partial to synthetic over wood? Looks? Weight? or Weather resistance? If it's looks or weight, there's not much to be said. However if it's weather, a laminated stock is a good looking alternative. Very few bolt actions are single shots they usually have a magazine that holds four or five rounds. You just need to learn to move that bolt after you follow through on your shot. I've practiced enough to make it an instinct. If you go with a bolt gun I have a method of reloading one that is pretty quick. But for hunting, if you need more than one or two shots you need to spend some more time at the range.
Some other links to help you out:
South Carolina Gun Laws
Gun Owners of South Carolina
South Carolina IDPA affiliates
|
|
[ Reply ] |
|
wow, thanks for all of the info | by fireballmatt | 2004-12-14 13:49:43 |
|
IIRC the 40-X is a single shot target rifle | by DesertRat66 | 2004-12-14 14:14:27 |
|
sounds like I'm running out there tomorrow then | by fireballmatt | 2004-12-14 14:29:02 |
|
|
[Todays Cartoon Discussion]
[News Index]
|
|
