.22, 12g, and...?

[Javin]

Boy with all that said, I'd go with a Ruger Mk3 .22 with a bull barrel. I know not a lot of stopping power, but you can again share ammo with the Marlin .22. A bit heavy but my wife shoots mine ok. A possible ploy to buy your ammo at a bunch of different stores?

Sounds like a possible winner, if for no other reason than the ammo sharing. Can it handle .22 longs, or do I have to buy shorts?

[Javin]

Sounds like a possible winner, if for no other reason than the ammo sharing. Can it handle .22 longs, or do I have to buy shorts?

Indeed it does. I'll look into a couple of these! Sounds like I'll also have to buy a 9mm for the CCW class in Virginia, too. Apparently you have to supply your own 9mm and 1000 rounds for the class. I did like the MNP when we fired it.

[jmsneorrcom]

I see Elittles point of view - not saying that one is superior to the next one - he is just saying that it is easier to reload the weapon with magazines than one shell at a time down the tube.

[Javin]

I see Elittles point of view - not saying that one is superior to the next one - he is just saying that it is easier to reload the weapon with magazines than one shell at a time down the tube.

Yeah, I can agree that a magazine load would even be far faster than my speed loader tubes. That said, though, I don't think I'll be doing anything with the .22 that I need more than 18 shots in rapid succession. If I can't clear the problem with the shotgun and handgun, then I have problems bigger than the little .22 plinker can handle. :)

[610Alpha]

Thanks Javin :)

[blankstare]

ok...lets say this is for the "end of days"....you may not be into the spray and pray....i would prefer keeping thier heads down, breaking up the mob, engaging multiple targets (zombies perhaps?)...etc

magazines are the way to go....i had a tube fed winchester, loved it, dropped it from high, bent the feed tube, busted, makd a great single shot, i think it's still in the shop somewhere

my suggestion... 9mm (prob a barreta), 12 ga (rem 870), mini 14 (cheaper that an ar, less frightening than an ak, not outta place for hunting)

just my opinion

[WILL]

Javin- You've already made some really great choices for firearms. A Mossberg 500 with an 18" barrel is the perfect home defense weapon. Might I suggest a picatiny rail on the pump with a light attached and some 00 buck shot. Since most violent encounters happen at night, the light may be helpful. Since you already have the bird barrel, you can hunt with it too. Very smart. The Marlin 60 is a fantastic small game getter and can work well as a bug out gun too. I have both those weapons too, so I know exactly what they can and can't do. Ya done great so far.

OK, what would I do now if I were you.... #1 would be applying for a CCW for both of you. #2 would be a CCW weapons. I've been CCW for over 20 years now, and carried all kinds of guns, so I have some ideas. I don't want to get into a long winded caliber debate, so let me just get to the point. Get the smallest CCW you feel comfortable with. I carry a 7 shot .380 S&W Body Guard. The Ruger LCP is real nice too. Forget all your mega-disaster fear and focus on reality for your CCW. Reality is you and your wife waking up every morning for the rest of your life and putting this gun on...but probably never needing it. A 2 pound .45 ain't going to help you if you weren't carrying it due to its size and weight. That .380 or sub-compact 9mm will slide in your pocket every day and you'll forget it's there. If I have my pants on, I'm armed, and it's absolutely effortless for me. I couldn't say that when I was CCW my Glock 27 or Ruger SP101. There was always some level of discomfort or inconvenience involved with carrying the larger guns. The larger the gun, the bigger the problem.

Anyhow, you can bulk up on all kinds of Zombie Apocalypse guns in the future, but a CCW weapon is probably the most likely to see action saving your bacon. When you're looking at them, don't get too wrapped up in high ammunition capacity or large calibers. You're looking for the smallest gun you can find from a reputable manufacturer that will get you out of a scrape in an emergency. While I'm not crazy about dropping below the .380 threshold, I wouldn't even rule out a .22 or .22 mag if that's what you like.

PS- don’t worry about what others think of you buying guns or ammo.

[Trebuchet]

I recommend a pistol of some sort. As that you are new to them I would go revolver in .357 loaded with .38spl. but if you get a good deal on a straight .38spl. don't hold back. Be sure to get a full sized pistol. Snubs and compact designs are harder to control.

[tarheelsman71]

I would like to echo baldsith. Keltec sub2000 9mm, and a glock 9mm. They share the same magazines, ammo, and are both easy to shoot. The rifle is very compact, but with iron sights is very accurate out to 50 yards. If you wanted to do the .223 thing, then I would get a keltec PLR 16 and an AR15. Both are fun to shoot as well.