Hey, just what you see, pal.

This.

Shot many 1000s of rounds out of these ... great plinkers with a bigger tickle than a .22.

Only mods I did to the basic wood stock version were to replace the wood one with a ventilated metal handguard, added a flash suppressor and a peep sight.

Head shots at 100+ yards, open sight, weren't uncommon.

Honestly, that looks like an assault rifle. Aren't they banned?

No. Bush allowed the Clinton “assault weapons ban” lapse, we’re back to where we started. Accept for the price of those things, that hasn’t gone back to normal yet.

Oh.

My wife recently said that she wanted a firearm in the house after years of saying she would never want one. We have a place up in the mountains, and that's where it would be. Protection from bears and lions, mostly, as well as potential weirdo mountain types. Both inside the house and outside on hikes and stuff.

What type of weapon would you guys recommend?

In the UK & in Comifornia the High capacity magazines are illegal

Bit of a loaded question there Donger. How proficient would you say you are with a rifle? Handgun? Shotgun?
A shotgun is typically the best choice for the inexperienced because it puts out a big punch up close and it’s forgiving of aim, just point and click. Thing is you’re going to have to carry some high powered loads for bear protection, not even sure you can get a load big enough to stop a charging grizzly. That typically requires a pretty big rifle caliber or monster handgun one.

Bwana would be the one to ask - I'm thinking if you're talking a handgun probably something in the .44 range. It might knock your wife on her ass when she fires it, though.

Very punny.

I've never shot any firearms.

I was thinking shotgun, but I'd prefer not to carry around a rifle-thingy on hikes. So, I guess that would leave a handgun. But, I'm guessing that hitting a charging lion while simultaneously defecating and shaking would be problematic. And, that takes me back to a shotgun.

semi auto shotgun :D

I figure buckshot would be effective against a mountain lion. Might just piss a bear off, though.

I don't live in either.

That means you don't have to "pump" the thing for each shot, right? How easy is it to "pump" a shotgun, anyway? Can women do it easily?

correct.

one trigger pull, one shot until out of ammo.
Women should be able to pump it easily.


that's what she said.

I really wouldn't want to kill it as a goal, mind you. I would just want to scare it and have it go away (not eat us).

I suppose I could just bring some of my English relatives over. That would probably do the trick, too.