Home Defense On A Budget

Economical Home Defense

In these uncertain times and with many Americans simply struggling to keep their homes and keep their families fed, firearms for home defense are not a high priority for many.

Well, that way of thinking is shortsighted. If the economy continues downward, violence and home invasions will increase throughout our society as has been proven by past economic downturns. Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best is the prudent philosophy to have, even for the growing numbers of American households which are struggling right now.

With that in mind, and with the welfare of your family in mind, what are some effective and economical firearms available for home defense? Keeping the idea of low cost the central priority, the .22 rimfire rifle is the firearm of choice if costs absolutely matter. Yes, I know that most of the firearm authorities, the gun magazine gurus, do not look very favorably toward any rimfire firearms for self defense or protecting one's home. And...I do agree in theory with them on that, but several or more quickly fired .22 Long Rifle bullets coming out of a compact semi-auto rimfire rifle will either put the home invader down or make him or her wish that they were somewhere else in a big hurry. The semi-auto rimfire rifle loaded with high speed .22 LR cartridges at living room distances has put more criminals to flight or at the gates of hell than any other firearm cartridge in the entire world. This so-called kid's squirrel cartridge is very capable out of a rifle, especially at short room distances. The semi-auto's ability to deliver multiple rounds very quickly just adds another layer to the stopping power equation.

The .22 rimfire does in fact have some distinct and little known advantages over more powerful centerfire cartridges. Did you know that rimfire rounds fired in a typical single family home or apartment usually will not cause extreme hearing loss or temporary blindness to the extent of centerfire rounds? Rimfire rounds also do not have some of the over penetration problems that many centerfire rounds have. This means that other family members in adjacent rooms are in less danger of projectiles that can penetrate through walls and doors. These extremely important caveats about rimfire rounds are usually never mentioned in the gun publications, for a good reason. Popular gun magazines are first and foremost trying to get people to purchase the latest and greatest gun which more times than not, is a very costly centerfire gun. Always remember that gun magazines make their money through advertising. And...who pays for the advertising? It's the firearm manufacturers of course.

So, if you want a good, reliable and oh so economical firearm for home defense because you're on a tight budget, I can recommend at least a few semi-auto .22 rifles from my personal experience with them. For starters, the Mossberg Model 702 Plinkster is right now the most economical auto-loading rifle on the market. One can purchase a new one at Wal-Mart for less than $120. They are also sold at other sporting goods stores for slightly more. These Brazilian made, polymer stocked semi-auto rifles are light, short in length and always go bang when the trigger is pressed. Extra factory ten round detachable Plinkster magazines are available for less than $15. You can't go wrong with the Mossberg Plinkster, the most economical .22 rimfire rifle sold in America.

If you can spend a little more, the Marlin Model 60 semi-auto .22 rifle, is slightly nicer and made in America. This is one popular .22 rifle with over 11 million sold and it's been in production since 1960 by Marlin, now a division of the Remington Arms Company. The Marlin Model 60 action is identical to the Mossberg Plinkster in case you are wondering, but the Model 60 has a tubular magazine which holds fourteen rounds, four more than the Brazilian Mossberg Plinkster. The standard Marlin Model 60 is equipped with a very plain but functional hardwood stock. This great auto-loading .22 rimfire can also be purchased at many of the same retailers as the Mossberg Plinkster. Again, the cost is higher at around $150 to $165 depending on the retailer.

The third .22 rimfire rifle that I am familiar with is the world famous Ruger 10/22 rimfire rifle. The American made Ruger 10/22 is the largest selling civilian firearm in the entire world and has been for a long time. The Ruger 10/22 is extremely rugged with it's ten round detachable rotary magazine. This semi-auto is super tough as the armed forces of Israel have been using the 10/22 for decades as a very effective and discrete crowd control sniper rifle. They are that good, that effective and that long lasting. The standard Ruger 10/22 with hardwood stock is available at just about all retail sporting goods stores in America for prices ranging from $175 to a little over $200. This rifle will last several lifetimes and is most likely the best auto-loading .22 rifle out there. It is the standard by which all other .22 semi-automatic rifles are judged.

It is also important to keep in mind that ammunition comes with a cost. If one has a centerfire firearm for home defense and one can't afford the ammo to feed it, what good is your expensive gun? On the other hand, rimfire rounds are pennies apiece. Bulk packs of 500 .22 Long Rifle cartridges are less than $20 at most retailers. Presently, many centerfire cartridges cost at least $20 for a box and that's usually for a box of 20 rounds.

There you have it. These three .22 auto-loaders are the answer to effective home defense which will not break the bank. A loud whistle and or a home electronic alarm system are alternatives, but when you run out of breath on the whistle or the police are on the way due to the alarm system, how long do you have to wait until they get there? A firearm is certainly a deterrent to home invaders, but a gun is first and foremost the best and most effective deterrent to stop a violent criminal immediately.

Seconds do count and as always the police are minutes away. Knowing that, where does that leave you and your family in a gun free home...up a certain creek without a paddle?

CB-CAN-DO