Defensive Firearms for Tight Budgets

Opinions vary in regard to the types of defensive firearms that are ideal for worst case scenarios but contemporary semi-automatic pistols and rifles designed for military and law enforcement purposes (e.g. pistols such as the many derivatives of the the Colt 1911-A1 in .45 ACP and the Beretta Model 92-F in 9mm Luger and rifles such as the AR-10 in 7.62x51 NATO or the AR-15 in 5.56x45 NATO as now produced by many manufacturers) are frequently recommended. This is sensible since these firearms were designed to function under adverse conditions and offer reasonable accuracy and stopping power at combat ranges. Sadly, the most basic arsenal, consisting of a pistol and a rifle from this category, can easily exceed $1,500.

What should you do if you have a limited budget and cannot afford such princely sums? I have seen more than one gun shop commando sneer at a gun of lower cost before condescending to state "I would not stake my life on that." Certainly it is prudent to buy the best defensive weapons that you can afford as they are tools that you may literally stake your life upon. However, there is no guarantee that the bad guys will wait to act until after you have sacrificed, scrimped, and saved for months to acquire your optimum defensive firearm. Hence, a working gun in the hand is far more effective than one perched on a gun shop rack, safely protected by its high price tag. Here are a few options:

Pump Shotguns: Providing impressive short range defensive capabilities, 12 gauge pump shotguns such as the Mossberg Model 500 are inexpensive (often under $300 new and less than $200 used). Originally used by the U.S. military during World War I and still in service today, 12 gauge pump shotguns have long been successfully employed by law enforcement. For defense, buckshot is typically effective to twenty-five yards; rifled slugs, shot from a smoothbore barrel with a bead site, can be reliable to around forty yards with practice. It is untrue that shotguns can simply be pointed in the general direction of an assailant to be effective. As with any firearm, a shotgun requires familiarity and practice if it is to be expected to serve you well.

Semi-automatic .22 Rifles: Semi-automatic rifles in .22 Long Rifle caliber are light, handy, and can provide impressive firepower while their mild report and lack of perceptible recoil lead to exceptional accuracy. Yet, the .22 Long Rifle cartridge is not typically recommended for defense, even though it has killed many people over the years. Effectively, it is not very powerful and it can provide a lethal wound that does not generate an immediate stop. On the plus side, their mild manner makes them easily mastered, even by children, and ammunition is cheap, providing the means for regular practice. Many good semi-automatic rifles in .22 Long Rifle caliber are available, new and used, for under $200 and finding a good one for less than $100 is not unheard of. One of my favorites is the Ruger 10/22 which can be found new for under $240.

.22 Caliber Pistols and Revolvers: Semi-automatic pistols and revolvers in .22 Long Rifle caliber provide many of the advantages and disadvantages of the.22 rifle in a more compact package that can be more easily transported (carried) unobtrusively. For many years, I carried some sort of a .22 caliber handgun in my vehicle to take advantage of opportunities for impromptu plinking sessions and to dispatch vermin when the opportunity arose. Though it is far from being an ideal defensive weapon, it can be pressed into service in the event of an emergency. The excellent Ruger .22/45, which has a ten round magazine capacity, was recently on sale at a major sporting goods chain for $239.

Former Military and Police Weapons: Former military and police weapons are sometimes available at bargain basement prices. Chinese SKS rifles (a semi-automatic in 7.62x39 caliber), the excellent Makarov pistol, and its kinsmen, the CZ 82 and Radom P-64 (all in 9mm Makarov) can be found for less than $300. Tokarev TT-33s and CZ 52s (in 7.62x25) are also available in the same price range but the Mickey Mouse safety on imported Tokarevs (and the lack of a safety beyond half cock on unmodified ones) and the firing pin design of the CZ-52 do not make them suitable for all users. Another excellent pistol, sometimes seen in the $300 price range and occasionally for less, is the Argentine FM Hi-Power, a licensed copy of the Browning Hi-Power.

Lever action carbines in pistol calibers have become rather pricey, probably due in part to the popularity of Cowboy Action Shooting and many possessing Winchester Model 94s came to believe that they were instantaneous collector items after production was initially stopped in 2006 (it has resumed but currently produced Winchester 94s are expensive imports made by Miroku of Japan). However, the venerable (and better, in my opinion) Marlin 336 and its variants are plentiful. Some sell new for around $350 and used ones frequently sell for under $300 in .30-30 Winchester and .35 Remington. Offering the same level of power as the Russian 7.62x39 military cartridge made famous by the AK-47, Marlin's old lever action provides capable defense in a politically correct package that looks just like what it is: an old deer rifle.

While some of these suggestions will provide for more effective defense than others, all will serve the purpose at hand far better than a $1000 firearm that is not in your possession. Furthermore, neither is an imprudent waste of money as all serve a viable purpose even after more expensive, cutting edge firearms can be purchased. Shotguns, in addition to providing effective close range defense, are quite versatile for a variety of game. Rifles and handguns chambered for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge provide such economical utility and practice, they are common on farms across the country. The SKS has proven itself to be a viable, three hundred yard combat rifle in field conditions, the Makarov is a popular concealed carry pistol, the CZ 52 is a powerful pistol with a cult following, and the Hi-Power is one of the most prolific military pistols of the Twentieth Century. The old Marlin .30-30 is as popular now as it ever was and it remains a favorite, handy to carry, easy to use deer rifle where ranges rarely exceed two hundred yards.

1972 Pace Arrow Motor Home

Late last year, I bought a twenty-four foot, 1972 Pace Arrow motor home from a friend of mine. I am still quite new to RV camping and as of yet, with the exception of spending one night in it, I have not yet used it. I hope that will soon change as I find it to be quite spacious and well laid out for my purposes. As a matter of fact, I am sure that I will enjoy spending a few days near the coast in it.

While it lacks some of the amenities of newer, more modern motor homes, it did not cost as much as a house. The only downside that I can see thus far is that it drives like an old bus or truck which provides additional challenges when one is not accustomed to driving a vehicle of this size. As a matter of fact, I have been informed that no mailbox was safe along the stretch of highway that I drove it down.

I will admit that the age of the vehicle concerns me since I in no way claim to be a mechanic and I will definitely purchase roadside assistance through Good Sam before I drive it too far. On the plus side, all of the appliances work just fine and I was rather surprised at how simple they are to operate. As I understand it, the Pace Arrow was an especially nice motor home in the era in which this one was built and from what little knowledge I have gained thus far, this seems to be a fair evaluation.

I have spent some time perusing various groups and publications related to RV camping so as to be better prepared for my first excursion to a campground, which I hope will occur in late summer or early fall, depending upon work and finances. I have been rather amazed as to the information available from those who seem content living full time in their RVs. After checking campground rates, I must say that this appears to be an attractive option in our current economic climate.

Bali Shag Classic European Blend

Bali Shag Classic European Blend cigarette tobacco is marketed by Commonwealth Brands of Reidsville, North Carolina. It is locally available for $24.95 in a 5.29 ounce tin that includes 200 70mm cigarette papers. According to the packaging, it is made in Belgium for sale in the United States.

Upon opening the sealed container, I found fresh, quality shag, free of "bird's eyes" that, after rolling coarser pipe tobacco, is a delight to roll. Sadly, this is where the delight ended. Very mild, it is not very satisfying if one is accustomed to stronger American blends. For me, Bali Shag Classic European Blend cigarette tobacco is best rolled to a wide gauge and smoked without a filter.

Using an Altoids Tin as a Cigarettes Case

I have yet to find a perfect cigarette case for my 70mm hand rolled smokes. When I first started rolling my own, I used discarded flip top boxes that had previously held commercially produced cigarettes. This works but the boxes tend to deteriorate and need to be replaced. The next solution was a plastic, flip top box, holding eighteen cigarettes. Modestly priced, the plastic box is durable and weather resistant yet it is bulky and, being sized for longer cigarettes, it provides wasted space.

While there are many slim and compact cigarette cases on the market that tastefully provide the elegance of a bygone era, I have been reluctant to purchase one because of size and capacity. Most contemporary cigarette cases are designed to hold king size, filtered cigarettes (many of these also accommodate 100s and 120s) and this provides substantial wasted space for 70mm sticks. While some of these cases hold a full pack of twenty cigarettes, most hold fewer and the most compact cases hold ten or less.

Searching the Internet for a new 70mm cigarette case that would hold at least a full pack of cigarettes (I am reticent to purchase an antique one for daily use), I stumbled across a bulletin board post that suggested using an Altoids tin as a cigarette case. I pondered over it and the put the idea on the back burner until I recently, emptied a tin of Altoids. Recalling the suggestion, I decided to give it a try.

The photo above shows the chunky plastic flip top box next to an empty Altoids tin. Both are filled to capacity with 70mm cigarettes and both suffer from wasted space. Both are approximately the same height and width, yet the Altoids tin is approximately 1/4" thinner (I eyeballed this and did not use a ruler for a precise measurement). Despite the difference in thickness, the Altoids tin holds more cigarettes than the plastic flip top box: twenty-one instead of eighteen.

While not elegant like the cigarette cases of yesteryear, the Altoids tin does provides five benefits. First, it is incognito; unless it is opened, no one would suspect that it was filled with cigarettes. This may prove beneficial in the NAZIesque anti-tobacco climate of today. Second, the thinner profile makes it more pleasant to carry in a pocket than the plastic flip top box. Third, the extra space is somewhat useful as it can hold small items (a pair of earplugs is pictured) without interfering with getting to the cigarettes. Of course, the most substantial benefit is cost. The Altoids tin is free and readily available.