PackinMama

We knew you could do it!

Yes, they do make 410 slugs.....I have some.

Hi there and Welcome to the forum! It's always good to have another woman shooter join us here. And Congrats on your new M&P! I'm on Women & Guns too but I don't post a lot...mostly just read. Hope to see you around here more! Enjoy!

I agree with you Punisher. Like you said, even though the racking sound of the shotgun potentially has the ability to have a phychological effect on the BG, it is definitely smarter to keep a round chambered and ready to fire.

See my comments in blue above.

I do my own in my Camry and my GMC pickup. For the most part, you just can't trust those quick lube places or Walmart. When I got my Camry, I had Walmart do it the first 5 times. They always give you a receipt that says exactly how much oil the vehicle takes.....on all 5 receipts, the amounts were different....3.6 qts., 3.8 qts., 3.5 qts., etc., but the oil was always right on the full mark. When I started doing it myself, I noticed that it takes a LONG time for the oil to really stop dripping. I let it drip for like a half hour and it always holds EXACTLY 4 quarts of oil to get it right on the full mark. Those guys are in such a hurry that they don't let all the oil drain out before they put the plug back in. Years ago I was getting my GMC done at a Tire and Maintenance shop and they always overfilled the oil. Every time, after they pulled it out, I would check it and it would be between half a quart to a quart over filled......so then I'd make them pull it back in and take the extra out. This happened over and over like 8 times so that's when I decided to start doing the truck myself too. The Camry is easier than the truck because it doesn't need lubed.....but I can get to both of them without jacking them up which is a plus.

Welcome to the forum Sarah! The guys are pretty much on the money as far as brands go. You can't go wrong with a Remington 870 or a Mossberg 500. I like the Mossbergs for home defense because of the location of the safety. It's on the top of the receiver and you can operate it with your thumb. It can easily be operated in the dark also. I tell new shotgun shooters with that type of safety this rule for operating their safety, it's very easy to remember: FORWARD FIRE and RED READY. There is a visible red dot that you can see when the safety is in the 'off' position. In the dark, all you have to remember is "FORWARD FIRE." The safety on the Remington is in front of the trigger gaurd and it's a bit harder, especially for someone new to shotguns, to operate. I would also consider, especially if you are a small framed woman, going with a 20 gauge. They have much less kick and will still get the job done very efficiently. Load it with 00 Buckshot and you're good to go. If you decide to go with a 12 gauge, they make Low Recoil Buckshot and Slugs. I load my home defense shotgun with alternating 00 Buck and Slugs in the Low Recoil variety. If you want a 12 gauge, and are looking for the "Honda Accord" of shotguns.....you might consider spending a bit more money and getting a Mossverg 590A1.....it's the same basic design as the 500 but has a 9 shot capacity and is built much tougher. Whichever model you decide to get, I would definitely go with the "defense" model....it will have a parkerized finish, a higher shell capacity, shorter barrel, usually synthetic stock and forend, sling mounts, etc. Take a look around on Gunbroker at the various models. If you can, go to a large gun shop or two and look at the home defense shotguns. Walmart usually just carries the hunting type shotguns. You can really get some good deals on Gunbroker too if you take your time looking. Good luck with your search and feel free to pm me with any questions you may have. Sometimes it's nice to get a womens perspective on things.....and shotguns are definitely something I know well! I've been shooting them for over 30 years!

Hi MrsS! Good to hear from you! Congrats on your job.....not so easy to find work these days. I know what you mean about shooting. Between the scarcity of ammo and the recession, I haven't been shooting much either. It is nice to have a .22 or three in times like these! What kind of .22 did you get?

The ladies on here have been pretty quiet lately, but I think many of the ideas the guys gave you so far are very good. I grew up in a shooting/hunting family, and have been shooting guns since I was 4 years old.....so it's difficult for me to give you any advice in your situation. I really like I_Like_Pie's idea. I think a little effort on your part to get into something she likes doing would be your best move toward getting her into something you like. Good Luck!

Hello and welcome to the forum arktwins!

Cool! Glad to hear the Mrs. has found a combo that works for her. Anytime that you can actually forget that you have your gun on, that's a comfortable setup!

My CT grip is on a Glock 27 and it doesn't have an on/off switch.

His Number is 423-338-5006 He's a good guy. I did a trade with him when he was at the White Pine gun show.

You can ship a rifle yourself without an FFL via UPS ground or air, and Fedex too....you just have to take it to one of their staffed customer service centers. UPS ground is cheapest. I wouldn't use an FFL, it will cost you more. And yes, you do need to make sure the FFL that you're shipping to will accept a shipped rifle from an individual. Most of them will. I recently sold a rifle on GunBroker, so I had to find all this out for myself not too long ago.

Battery life in the one I have for my G27 is listed as 3 hours constant on. That's a LOT of pressing that little button.

I agree with everyone so far....you did a good job! My dad never sheltered me from even the gutting/skinning of the animals. He explained to me from a very young age exactly what you told your daughter about God giving us some animals for food and that we should be thankful. I started hunting squirrels with my dad when I was 4 with a scoped .22. I've hunted all my life and I'm also a huge animal lover and usually cry if I hit a squirrel or even a bird with my car. Don't worry, what you're doing is good and it won't do your little girl any damage. She'll grow up understanding about the natural process of hunting for food.

If you're looking for a small, light, thin, easy to carry SA gun, I would say the Springfield Armory EMP (available in .40 or 9mm) would fit that bill perfectly. It's a bit pricey, but a very fine gun. The Kahrs would probably work good for IWB carry too, since they are also light and thin....but they are DA only. Since you don't like the belly bands, I probably can't help you with a holster choice. I've been using the belly bands for years and I love them. There are so many different kinds out there and some that I've tried have been terrible, but the good ones are great. You might have just gotten a crappy one. I saw some hand made ones at a gun show a couple months ago and they looked awful! I have a Desantis and a Pro-Tech Outdoors and I like them both very much. They're perfect to wear under a t-shirt and you don't have to limit yourself to wearing pants with belt loops like you would with traditional holsters. I hate to see you make up your mind about all belly bands after just trying one bad one. If you haven't checked them out already, CorneredCat.com and the WomenandGuns forum might be able to help you with a IWB holster choice.

Definitely start with the .22 and work your way up to the larger calibers slowly, and only if she says she's ready. Don't push anything on her. Let her go at her own pace. Make it fun. Don't just shoot at a target....put up some gallon jugs filled with water or shake up some cheap soda cans and let her blow them up. Like I said, make it fun....she'll get into it a lot more than just seeing holes punched in paper. I've taught several people to shoot over the years and its surprising how many of them didn't really understand how to sight the gun and what the sight picture is supposed to look like. Before you take her out to shoot, it might help if you actually draw her a picture of the proper way to sight the gun.

Good advice Tracy!

Register at gunbroker.com.....they have an FFL finder on there, you just type in your zip and it brings up the closest FFL's, how much they charge, and their contact info. Very handy.

I would suggest to the the one lady that hasn't shot a gun before - Go to a range with an experienced shooter and learn the basics of safe gun handling and shooting before she takes the class.

A few weeks ago when I was looking for a .40 EMP, I was told by a fellow member here that he had seen one a week or so prior at Franklin Gun Shop. I immediately called them and the guy on the phone proceeded to tell me that Springfield has never made the EMP in .40 s&w!!! What a dumba$$!!! I told him he was wrong and that they definitely do make them and that they actually had one in stock a week or so ago. He got major attitude and basically treated me like I was the moron instead of him. I'll NEVER buy anything from that place and will continue to tell as many people as I can what idiots they have working there. Rant off.

I'd take her to a gun show or a LARGE gun dealer.....let her pick up and feel several different models and decide which one feels best. All the guns you mentioned are good choices.....but I'd still check out the 9mm Kahrs before you decide against them. The CW9 or the PM9 are thinner than the Glocks.....they might fit her better since she has small hands.

I agree with Garufa.....a Kahr CW9 is a good reliable gun, and it's slim and compact so it would probably fit her hand well.

Wow, I hadn't heard that yet and I live in Cocke co. too. The really bad part is that she had a gun on her but didn't get to use it. You just never know when or where trouble will strike. That's why I carry at home too. We definitely need to be prepared for the worst at all times and in all places.