Shooting a Rifle
 

I plan on buying a rifle soon and was wondering if the impact from discharging it would be too much for my brain.

I'm very sensitive to jolting. How could I lessen the impact?

Thanks, and God bless.

Nick

Easy! Don't buy the rifle.

I live in the worst part of Las Vegas. DOWNTOWN Las Vegas to be exact. This is this only place I could afford to live, i'm collecting Social Security, taking care of two kids and places are getting broken into here left and right. I have to be able to protect my family.

BTW, I didn't ask whether I should buy the rifle or not...I asked how to reduce the impact so my head doesn't jar.

Smart ***.

SpaceCadet,

If you feel you must have a firearm, a rifle is not for you - the kick would be bad for you, it will percuss your injury, and most probably disorient you in an order not to be further able to be of any assistance to your loved ones.

MyHeadHurts is actually trying to help, no matter how short the answer, being that you will hurt yourself... the explosive noise of the shot would also affect you, and most likely give you more problems than you want..........and a rifle is not something useful to defend your home with, if you are not experienced .

You should contact law enforcement, and ask about handguns, if you must have a firearm, and go thru the proper procedures for protection - you have enough problems from your history....don't bring down more on yourself.

Keep moving forward with the positives you are thinking about and working toward as best you can and best wishes guy.

Recoil
 

All weapons have recoil please reconsider. Also most triggers only require 14 pounds of pressure to fire the weapon. A three year old can fire one. I would recommend a strong pepper spray and taser. If you know a law officer you trust speak to them. BTW firearms and depression are usually bad neighbors.

Would a handgun w/ a silencer reduce the kick?

A good alert dog is usually a better deterrent than a gun. IMO.
They will hear things long before you would and hopefully bark or growl..making the bad guys go elsewhere.
Plus,
Consider adding up the time to actually wake up & be alert, get the gun out of it's safe & secure place & load it, and then scare off any possible intruder ..
Hopefully a gun will be stored away in a locked place where kids /
impulsive actions will be prevented.



I think maybe 14 ounces of pressure to fire vs 14 pounds?

I suppose a lil .22 would do the job enough to scare someone off and hurt a lil bit if you absolutely had to shoot..
Following all the laws of your state of course.

Nick,

First, you do not want a rifle. They are of little use in a close quarters defense. There are a number of short barrel (legal length) sold for personal protection like a Mossberg 500 Defender. A pump action shot gun would be best. Women feel better using a shot gun. They can hold it clutched between their arm and check like they hold a purse. It points where ever they turn. A pump shotgun stored where a child can't reach it would be safest. A 12 gauge loaded with buck shot will blow through a closed interior door. Mount an LED flashlight to the forestock.

Any criminal knows the sound of a shotgun being racked (the sound and motion of loading a shell into the chamber), even through a locked interior door.

As for the sound and percussion of firing it, take it to a range with an personal defense instructor. Most of the training will be without firing the shotgun. When you are going to fire it, wear foam ear plugs plus head phone style hearing protection. After training and practice, you will have time to recover from the event.

Regarding a silencer, you can get them in Nevada. There is a background check (probably an obstacle for you) plus a $200 fee to ATF plus the cost of the silencer. Added to the cost of a reliable pistol that will accept a silencer, you are talking some serious money, $1200 to $2000. Plus, a handgun is not very effective in close quarters. It needs to be aimed accurately and any gun pro will tell you than that means shooting a box of ammo per month. Add to that the added risk of a handgun being a prime target for theft and it can make your home even more of a break-in risk.

Another option is a semi-automatic 22 caliber like a Ruger 10-22. It can hold a clip or 10 or 25 to even 50 rounds. It will fire through a door and has a short barrel. They sell for about $350 and are quiet shooters. There are studies supporting the self-defense value of 22 caliber weapons. You can shoot them at the range very affordably.

In any choice, you need to consider how to keep your home safe from occupants and visitors using the weapon carelessly. Find a defense of the home firearms course to take first. Learn how to handle each weapon (trainers often have weapons to use).

An alternative is a extremely high decibel screamer personal alarm. You will likely find them at shops that also sell pepper spray. 120 db or higher sound can disable an intruder so they will flee. It will also bring attention to your home. They can be carried with you when out in public. Some have pepper spray or a strobe. The sound and strobe would be good for a home.

They are very affordable, $20 to $40, so they would be an excellent choice for each of you. You could buy a few and stash them in the apartment and still have one for each of you to carry.

I would recommend the personal alarm for affordability, safety, and versatility. Plus, a personal alarm will not be a risk for those 'downer' days.

I have owned guns for decades and the safety risk they bring into your home is constant. My wife and I both have concealed carry permits but never do carry.

So, go buy a few personal alarms. Then, get some firearms training so you understand the risks of firearms. I believe firearms training should be required of all junior high students with annual refreshers. Understanding firearms is valuable regardless of whether one owns a firearm. You kids will need to understand the danger of a firearm and respect them.

In my day, almost very young boy (8 to 10 years old) had or frequently shot a BB gun or pellet gun. I started shooting pellet guns at 4 or 5 years old. Today, it is illegal to shoot even a BB gun with most city limits. Even sling shots are illegal within city limits in most cities.

So, get some good training. You will be glad you did.

My best to you.

Safety
 

All good advice I would also look into what maay be done to keep an intruder out. Sense you are on a budget there may be ways to safeguard your loved ones and yourself. Like making it a layered type defense.

First as difficult to get in as you can make it.
Second if break in is occuring then a cheap motion alarm to alert you.
Third a safety plan to get everyone to the safest place.
Fourth whatever method of defense you have chosen for your protection.

A old coke bottle could be easily balanced on a door knob but would fall at the lightest touch.

Thin string with bells can be strung across windows.

There are probably lots of common sense, cost effective things you could do.

Hope this helps.