Hopefully the ban on assault rifles will not have been reinstated (or is it already?) by the time I turn 21 because I finally found the weapon that suits me. The H&K G36E. If anyone here owns one or knows if you can own one please let me know so that I can start saving up or start looking at a different gun.

 

Why does this gun suit you?? Not to start anything, but what's the purpose of having a gun like that?? Can you hunt with it? Is it for home security? I'm just curious.

 

It is an honest question about firearms, keep it simple boys and girls, answer the question and keep the emotional, and philosophical portion of your answer on the back-burner, or the mods will close this thread.

 

Home security + a fun one to go out plinking with. It uses 5.56 NATO so the ammo can't be that expensive. Before I go out and get one of those (if it's possible) though, I'm going to get a tactical black Desert Eagle. That would be the primary home security. I'm going to be moving out soon and into the outskirts of town so I'd like to be safe.

 

Nice rifle.

http://www.firearmsmod.com/weapons/g36.jpg

Is this rifle 'own-able' in your state?
I don't know about the price, but, for a .223 you might consider the AR-15.
At the moment, there are more little 'bells and whistles' available for the AR family.

For a 'fun' and 'plinking' firearm . . . it's up to you. Gonna be a few nickels and dimes, too.

 

How would I find out if it is own-able in Cali? If I was going to go Armalite, I'd go for the AR-10A2 just for the ability to fire 7.62 NATO. Another possibility if I can't get the G36 would be to go with the American version being developed by H&K USA. The XM8.

 

You live in better times, friend. The Federal assault weapon ban died in September.

The other good news is that that rifle did not exist when the text of the vairous state versions of such bans were written, so it is pretty much expempt from that legislation in most places. (There are only a handfull of states that passed their own AWBs anyway.)

The one problem that *might* come up is the magazines. Some state (MD for example) have laws prohibiting sale of magazines larger than 20 rd, or 10 rd. or whatever capacity. I don't know it the H&K uses its own specific mags or if it shares with a more common platform, but you may have a little trouble finding "ban-firendly" mags if so.

The bigger question is why are you waiting until you're 21? It isn't a handgun. You should be legal to purchase, now!

BIG EDIT: Oh. I see you live in Kaliforniastan. That might make things tricky. You should probably move somewhere else if you want to shoot, but there do seem to be quite a few folks who struggle along... I'd start with the NRA's web site of state gun laws: http://www.nra-ila.org/GunLaws/StateLaws.aspx?ST=CA

Looks like the H&K36 is, like I thought, too new to have been included in the Roberti-Roos list that defines the Kali assault weapons list. HOWEVER, the list was updated in 2000 by adding to it "ANY centerfire, self-loading weapon which also has ONE of the following features:..." which basically is every noticable feature of the HK36. Looks like you are out of luck. In fact, you will have a hard time finding any self-loading arm that is legal there any more.

Not to worry. Move to pretty much any other state and you'll be good to go. There's a H&K36e on the rack at my dealer's shop right now. I'm not much into "Ballistic Tupperware" personally, but if it's H&K, its probably pretty good. Wicked expensive, though.

-Sam

 

I won't poo on anyone's desires or interests, but how would you (or someone else) rate your experience level with firearms, specifically handguns? Have you actually held a DE? Shot one?

Personal protection is very valid, and there is no reasonably attainable level of security that betters that which a firearm can provide. And, the vast (VAST) majority of 'encounters' are "no-shot-stops" - meaning that the intimidation factor of a potential victim turning the tables and providing armed resistance is enough to stop an attacker cold. However, you should NEVER enter such a situation if you aren't prepared and capable of shooting - with skill and confidence.

A Desert Eagle is not much of a defensive weapon. It it very, VERY large -- too big to be carried, and too big to be comfortable for most users to use well without a LOT of practice. No military has ever adopted it, no police force has issued it. It is considered a reasonable defensive choice by exactly NONE of the nationally recognized armed force training schools/agencies around the country or world. If you are going to use it, you will need to practice with it a lot to get used to its size and recoil. That leads to a second issue. The ammo costs a LOT.

You're under 21, and that means you probably don't have a *LOT* of handgun experience. If that is true, then you defiantely need to get some. If you go with a more traditional platform and caliber, the pistol will be cheaper, the ammo will be WAAAY cheaper. You can't spend so much per round that it makes up for not hitting your point of aim. Compare that you could buy a 9mm or .40 and spend under $10 a week to get in 100 rds of practice per week. In a few months you'll be confident and comfortable with your weapon, and probably will be getting your shots pretty well on target. (Especially if you can get some decent instruction.) That same 100 rds. in .50AE would cost you $125! And you will get fatigued faster with the .50 and even an experienced shooter can develop flinching and other bad habits from over exposure to heavily recoiling rounds.

Hopefully I'm not making a huge deal out of nothing. If you want a DE because it's COOL and unusual, then definately, get one and I very much hope that you enjoy it. If you are looking for practical shooting irons that you can develop your skills with, enjoy as a hobby, and that you could effectively defend your life with, there are much better choices. (A 12 ga. pump shotgun. A 1911-pattern .45ACP. Heck, even a Glock.)

Happy Shooting!

-Sam

 

I'm not really a handgun person. I'm a great marksman with rifles and I'm fairly decent at trap shooting, but I realize that a handgun is the most practical choice in close quarters such as a home invasion. Guess I should start looking at a cheaper/more realistic handgun.

 

If you're looking for home protection, you want a 12 Gauge, Pump Action, brotha blasta.

Why? you need to think about whats on the other side of that wall. 5.56 NATO will go for quite a ways, handguns can be difficult to aim if you are groggy from sleep or inexperienced shooting strange people in your home in the dead of the night, like me.

As far as handguns go, I'd get a 9MM just because you can pick up a truck load of ammo for them for $5. They're also fun to shoot, no recoil.

I keep my 11-87 semi auto 12 gauge, and my Gp100 .357Mag close by. I'd grab the shotgun before I grabbed the pistol.

 

My exact thought MATTS72 about the shotgun for home protection.

 

Triple Matts72 sentiments about the 12 Gauge pump. You can load those with light birdshot that will definitely knock an assailant down but won't penetrate a couple layers of sheetrock with enough force to injure someone badly. Think about your neighbors (or family) if you miss for some reason. Home defense is no place for a handgun or rifle.

The sound a 12 G makes when a round is chambered is a great intimidator.

-Just my 2¢

 

Quadruple the sentiments from Matts72.


Say this aloud: Shick-Shick!!

This is the sound that a pump shotgun makes when the action is cycled.
It let's an intruder know that his "defecation is anemic."

BUT. . . . any shotgun round IS going to penetrate drywall. Fact. How much?
Depends on the powder charge, the size of the shot and the distance from the wall and lastly, 'what' stands between you and the wall.

Please don't misunderstand. In NO way am I trying to dissuade you from purchasing a shotgun, handgun or rifle. I am a firm believer that everyone that legally can. . . should own at least 10 of each!!!!!


Please do some research on each type of weapon; what each is capable of and what the ramifications are of using the weapon.
Just because some particular firearm 'looks good' doesn't mean that it will perform the desired task effectively, when needed. . . . most.


Keith

 

I guess I'll be the spoiler here. A long gun is one of the worst choices for home defense (IMHO). That includes shotguns. Yes, the sound of a pump or even an auto loading shotgun having a round chambered is intimidating. Problem is the maneuverability of a long gun in confined spaces. Hard to swing a long barrel around, plus the fact it is a ways out front of you for the bad guy to take hold of and potential control of too. Speed of reloading becomes an issue too Of course, if the long gun is the only available weapon, then it does become your weapon of choice!

Give me a good, dependable semi auto handgun anytime. Since most cases of self defense usage is under 10 yards, accuracy is not as important. If you can't hit your target's vital areas at that range, you have no need for any firearm. Figure the vital area being about the diameter of a basketball. Include the fact that most courts will not consider you at risk at a range of more than 7 yards (NRA info) and will probably charge YOU with a crime. I am not saying the 7 yards is an absolute, but is the distance generally considered.

Give me any large bore handgun, with low speed hollow point rounds. I personally carry a Bersa Mini Thunder.45 auto with one chambered and 7 in the clip with a spare clip in the holster. I also have a S&W .357 Mag, but don't like it for self defense since it has an 8 3/8 inch barrel. Too long and slow to swing around in the event of multiple bad guys.

I will again suggest as I have in other threads, take the NRA's Home Protection class. I guarantee you will learn a lot from this course. I took it a year ago as a requirement to qualify for my ccw permit. People have to be smart and not become both a victim of crime and of the liberal courts by using excessive force!

 

I have an H&K USP-40c as my concealed carry weapon (.40 cal for those not familiar with it), and a SIG P226 also in .40 cal. (Allows me to just buy 1 type of ammo to keep costs down) as home defense. If you're not that great with a handgun, I would recommend dropping down to a more manageable .9mm or .40cal for home defense and practice. If you ever were in a situation where you had to fire a .50 multiple times to hit a moving target, you'd be lucky to get 1 good shot off because you'd have to regain yourself from the recoil. I bet you could get off 2-3 shots with a .9mm or .40 to 1 shot with a .50. Buy the DE as a display/conversation piece. Not for home defense.

BTW - If you haven't done so already, I strongly urge you to join the NRA. A 2 year membership is the cost of a dinner at a decent restaurant. It will only help to stand tough against the gun-grabbers in Kalifornia and overturn or block these rediculous bans. You owe it to yourself and other gun enthusiasts!

For more help in deciding what to do, a good forum to check out is:

www.thefiringline.com

Join the forum and learn.

-Sharpshooter73 (Proud NRA Life Member)