Talk to me about GUNS

[Rick494]

I've a couple of .22 rifles for target shooting and small game hunting, a 30-06 for large game hunting, a 12-ga. shotgun for bird hunting, and a .32 auto pistol for personal/home defense. All, except the pistol, are in a locked storage room with trigger locks (I can't afford a gun safe yet). I've enough ammunition for all of them, though I should get more to stock up. The ammunition is stored in a locked box. My sons are trained in how to safely use firearms and in gun safety, so I'm not really worried about accidents.

 

[k15n1]

Is a gun is an effective weapon against a snake. I'd imagine that a sharp hoe or spade would do the trick.

 

[gettinaclue]

Rick494, welcome! and thanks for chiming in. I appreciate you input. My children are a concern for me. I have a 13 yr old daughter and 6 yr old son, so anything I do must take them into concideration first.

I will definately teach them respect for guns and how to use them. I think it's just crazy not to, especially when they are in the home.

k15n1, the hoe definately did the trick. I decapitated the snake and then cut it in half in my fervor with the hoe. But, this also got me thinking about other wild animals around the house and how best to deal with them. Please don't restrict any comments on how best to deal with just snakes - though I'm looking for those too. I'm looking for a broader spectrum of knowledge and opinions. Any thing you have to offer is very welcome.

 

[k0xxx]

Is a gun is an effective weapon against a snake.

You're kidding, right?

I'd imagine that a sharp hoe or spade would do the trick.

Yep, even a dull hoe or spade. I've used rocks, sticks, a lawnmower, and even a really pi$$ed off rooster, but I'd much prefer to do it from a distance with my .22 pistol.

 

[TanksHill]

I have taken the Ca. Handgun certification test. And passed. . This is a requirement to purchase a handgun in Ca. Within that test are 4 basic rules for gun saftey around children. Not only did I learn them but taught them to my kids.

we keep our guns locked up. With trigger/cable locks. Ammo is stored in a separate secure location. We always joke and say in an emergency we would have to knock an intruder on the head because we would never be able to get it together.

We do keep Snake Shot on hand. Problem is I would probably get in trouble for using it in the city. I figure if there's an intruder snake shot in our 9 will do just fine.

By the way around here the Crossroads of the West gun show has the best prices on reload ammo.

In bulk.


G

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

This is timely for me. We have no guns here- DH technically owns some, but they are at his parents' house 500 miles away.

We live in town, so we have no need for one here and now, but we are looking very seriously at moving out to the country in the spring, and I think we will probably end up needing one there.

We have bears here, lots of them, and they wander across human habitation pretty frequently. I've never heard of anyone here being killed or even harmed by a bear, but they get after livestock. I don't think I want to be packing adequate firepower to blow a bear away, though, so I'm thinking instead of a giant gun we'll just get a couple of giant guardian dogs, Pyrs or Maremmas. That's what all the dairy farmers have (in addition to Blue Heelers or Border Collies for herding). Local wisdom has it that one Pyr will chase off a bear, and two can take down a bear. To be fair, our bears are small, around 800# for the males.

But even if we solve the bear/wolf/coyote problem with guardian dogs, our venison source is drying up, so I think DH might need a hunting gun. I am really against the idea of a handgun because we have small children and I don't want the responsibility, but I do like the idea of being able to take care of racoons in the chicken coop, or a cottonmouth. Lots to think about.

Leta, 800 pounds is a very rare and super large bear. Usually a grizzly. That is about the size of a smaller full size cow!
In Alaska, a large black bear is at the very most, 500 pounds, but more typically, 300.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

We have guns. I will not go into much detail. No ones business really, since anyone that has more then two, is considered to have a terrorist style cache

My favorite is my 6mil, that is use to hunt bears with.
In time I need to learn how to use one of the 44 mag revolvers, that DH packs on the rivers and while hiking and hunting.
He wears it either in a chest holster, or on his hip.
We have a right to carry anywhere, except government and school buildings.

For women, there is now a very nice holster that I plan to buy. http://www.naturallyconcealed.com/
Much more comfortable then the usual. Just be careful about your state laws. You may not be able to wear it under your shirt.

 

[k0xxx]

We have guns. I will not go into much detail. No ones business really, since anyone that has more then two, is considered to have a terrorist style cache

Yikes!

I used to be of the same mindset. Now, I've finally gotten to the age where I don't give a hang what others think. If these idiots feel that this old, fat, crippled curmudgeon is a threat, then so be it. They just better remember that I shoot low, 'cause they might just be riding Shetlands.

 

[THEFAN]

For deer hunting I use a 30-40 Krag 1896 with a 180 grain soft point. Smooth action , easy to load and a well rounded weapon to use in Maine conditions. Nothing beats a well maintained 100 plus year old rifle.

 

[AnnaRaven]

I have taken the Ca. Handgun certification test. And passed. . This is a requirement to purchase a handgun in Ca. Within that test are 4 basic rules for gun saftey around children. Not only did I learn them but taught them to my kids.

we keep our guns locked up. With trigger/cable locks. Ammo is stored in a separate secure location. We always joke and say in an emergency we would have to knock an intruder on the head because we would never be able to get it together.

We do keep Snake Shot on hand. Problem is I would probably get in trouble for using it in the city. I figure if there's an intruder snake shot in our 9 will do just fine.

By the way around here the Crossroads of the West gun show has the best prices on reload ammo.

In bulk.


G

Those basic rules are from the NRA Eddie Eagle program to "gun-safe" your children so even if they run across a gun in the neighbor's house, they're more likely to do the safe thing.

The rules are:
STOP
Don't touch
Leave the area
Tell an adult

My kids both were taught that and my son actually did it once - turned out it was a toy gun but he didn't know (he was about 5) and did what he'd been taught. We were very proud of him and praised him.