I really like my Rugar Mini-14. It uses the same rounds as the US armed forces, and is lightweight and reliable.


TAKE A SAFETY COURSE FIRST!

The "Ranch Rifle" is a well-made rifle and has been popular with country folk as well as rural law enforcement. The only real knock against it is that the accuracy has a tendency of going away as the thin barrel heats up under rapid fire.
I much prefer the SKS which utilizes the 7.62X39 cartridge, which is the same as the AK-47. They are extremely well made rifles for about half the price. I paid $225 for my Chinese version.

I had one (SKS) a few years back. The feature I liked the best was the spike bayonet. When you are hunting in a marsh area you can fold it out and stick it into the ground to hold the rifle... Do they still come with a bayonet?

Most of them still do. Some of the later ones had them taken off per BATF rules. The Yugoslav model is the best buy now for well under $200 dollars. It's unique because of the attached Grenade Launcher and flip-up sights.

Guns are tools and there really isn't, IMO, one that does all things well. A shotgun is probably best for home defense (unless you are fighting off a platoon of US Rangers then you are pretty much screwed no matter what you have) while a handgun may be best for personal protection while outside the home.

For hunting, it depends on what one intends on hunting and the area one lives. A lever action .30-.30 is quite adequete for deer hunting here in Upper Michigan and I'd feel comfortable using such for home defense also altough it is a little on the slow side to reload.

well the decision on which type of firearm to buy can be tough, but if you can answer some of these questions we can probably give some suggestions.

1) what price range are you looking at?? (ie under 500, under 200, any price)


2) what do you think you will use it for? (ie Hunting, Home defense, Plinking/marksmanship training)

3) Are you looking for a pistol or a rifle?? if a pistol revolver or semi-auto, if a rifle rifle bolt action or Semi-automatic?

4) do you live in a state with Draconian gun laws like California?

You might want to make that your first question these days!

For most utilitarian work around a farm a good .22 fits the bill. I get an occasional coyote show up with the intention of raiding the hen house. A .22 stinger works real well with not to many worries of what the projectile will do to other things after it exits his carcus.