Should I own a long gun?

[sipowicz]

You need a .22 rifle and one in the center fire caliber of your choice.

And a 12 gauge shotgun too, IMO.

Sell some of the handguns to pay for the long guns if you need to.

I have 2 out of 3......no centerfire rifle....but my 590 with slugs can help fill the bill...

 

[chud333]

In a SHTF situation your pistolas are not gonna be near enough
unless you plan on all engagements being inside 30 yards or so.
When the Sniper looks at me through his scope at 800 yards
he's going to see me staring right back into his eyes and capable
of delivering a projectile in his direction if the need arises.
Now i would recommend having weapons for close quarters also
and it sounds like you are prepared there.
Another consideration is firepower for multiple targets engaging
at once. Having a rifle with several 30 round mags. at your
disposal makes sense.

Chuck

 

[Ron H.]

Although I started my shooting experience with a .22LR rifle more than 45 years ago, I haven't owned a rifle for a long time. I do have a variety of hand guns chambered in .22, .38/.357, 9mm and .40cal. I live in a population area of over half a million people, and I don't hunt animals for sport or food.

If the Rule of Law was gone tomorrow, or an asteroid hits somewhere in North America, or if nuclear war breaks out or if.... [insert favorite disaster], why do I need a long gun if I have 4-5 weapons I could conceal on my person or place strategically where I could access them?

Sir, different jobs call for different tools. I personally don't feel the need to own every tool known to Man, but I do think it wise to have more than a just hammer and a pair of pliers.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[Joe Kent]

Of course you should have a long gun. It just balances your range of protection.

 

[HappyHunter]

I am a ratio man, myself.

10% long guns....I have 23 long guns.

 

[Grayfox]

Should I own a long gun?

Nope, you actually need three.
.22 rifle
Centerfire rifle
Shotgun

If you can only afford one and for the scenario you discribe, go for the shotgun.

 

[rwsmith]

why don't they

Well, you need to ask the question, why does the military not just issue pistols???

 

[Mule Packer]

Well, you need to ask the question, why does the military not just issue pistols???

Exactly. Every soldier or Marine is armed with a rifle or carbine. No matter what your job is in the military, whether you're a clerk, a cook, or whatever, you have to qualify with a rifle. Pistol issue is a rarity.

But a lot of civilians have it flipped around. Sure, a pistol is a heckuva lot easier to conceal, but for down-and-dirty defense purposes, a pistol finishes second money to a rifle.

This quote was partially used earlier in this post. It was Clint Smith, President and Director of Thunder Ranch, who said, "The only purpose for a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should have never laid down."

While I always carry a pistol, my main truck gun is a 16-inch barrel, bead-blasted stainless steel model 92 lever action chambered for .45 Colt. I normally shoot Buffalo Bore 300 grn. hollow points out of it with muzzel velocity of around 1300 fps. While it's not a so-called "black gun," I've never felt under-gunned with it.

So, to answer your question....you bet, you need a rifle.

 

[mtelkhntr]

To me, long guns (O.K., all guns) are like cats. You don't pick them, they pick you. They'll just follow you home and never leave.

 

[tops]

As far back as I can remember I always knew I needed a pistol, .22 rifle, shotgun and a big rifle. A person should have the basic 4 if for no other reason than they might need them. There is nothing wrong with having several of each. Larry

 

[Roadtrash]

Yes, you do need a long gun. And as the old saying goes you can never have too many.

 

[Bat Guano]

Well, you ARE a member of the unorganized militia...

Showing up on the village green with just a handgun will get you a lot of dirty looks.

 

[skyscratcher1969]

Hands down get a Ruger 10/22! They are accurate enough to shoot 4" groups at 100yd out of the box. With a little tweaking you can shoot under 1" groups at that distance. This is a great gun for small game hunting and SD if need be. Parts and ammo are everywhere. This gun with CCI Velocitors and a 25rd mag is a formidable weapon.

 

[A10]

If you are truely looking at a home defense situation yes you need to add at least a 12 gauge pump to your arsenal. I would recommend a good semiauto .22 as well. If you can swing a bolt gun, that is advisable, preferrebly in .30 caliber. And as previously noted, a .556 carbine is a good choice as well.

 

[quneur]

Think about possible distance you want to shoot. For recreation purposes, long guns will open up a whole new aspect of the hobby. Personally, I would get a _____ remington magnum with an ammunition clip.

 

[hatt]

Sounds like a perfect spot for a .357 levergun since you already have that caliber. Greatly extends your HD range and capability, small to large game hunting if opportunity presents, relatively cheap to shoot, light and compact.

 

[gregintenn]

Should I own a long gun?

No, you should own a series of long guns....and a pickup truck....and probably a tractor.

 

[HappyHunter]

YES A TRACTOR!!!

My tractor has a SS S&W 22 semi auto in the tool box.

(Tractor should have a front end loader)

 

[MH8675309]

"When a man with a .45 meets a man with a rifle...."

From a fistful of dollars