Anyone here own a Ruger Mini-14 .223?

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Donger

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?

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.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Bit of a loaded question there Donger.

Very punny.

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

How proficient would you say you are with a rifle? Handgun? Shotgun?

I've never shot any firearms.

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

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.

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.

[Dayze]

semi auto shotgun

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Dayze

semi auto shotgun

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?

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Donger

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.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Dayze

correct.

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


that's what she said.

Neat. So it uses Newton's third to expel the spent shell and load another one?

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Donger

Neat. So it uses Newton's third to expel the spent shell and load another one?

correct.
not sure about semi-auto shotguns, but on semi-auto rifles gases from the round traveling down the barrel, cycles the bolt carrier either directly vai piston, or by the gas itself.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Donger

Very punny.



I've never shot any firearms.

That would be a bit of a problem.

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.

A handgun big enough to stop a charging griz is going to be big, punishing to shoot and unless you’re willing to put in the range time to learn it would be something better left to experts.
A shotgun with some double 00 buck magnums will drop a 200# deer out to about 80 yards so the same thing should handle a cougar just fine. Just know that a griz can be more than double that body weight and so will require a bigger shock to stop.