seriously though...
having used handguns while in the Army--never assigned one, but used them while helping to run both .45 range then 9 mm range--i find them to be useless weapons
all the officers want to have one as their assigned weapons (not all do, most officers are assigned m16/m4) but when we deployed, they all wanted a rifle instead!
if a determined enemy gets so close that you can effectively use a 9mm--25-30 meters-then your situation is screwed anyhow. better call for a arty strike on your pos then try to beat back the enemy with that limited range pop gun
and for personal civvie protection? i guess the mere sight of a allowed open carry handgun could make a good deterrent against someone who would do harm...but who am i to say-don't live and will never live in any urban area ever again
i have put this up on here before-i have a few rifles. now i only have 2. i still have the forst 30-30 my father gave me. i never use it, just keep it clean and safe sentimental reasons/ gift from dad, etc
the rifle i use for practical app's is a Mossberg .22 semi auto rifle. it is styled after a M4 though does not function as a M4/16 would. it has a 25 rd capacity and is very reliable and has a high potential for user accuracy--unlike a semi auto of higher calibre which tend to have a bigger field of dispersion.
this is an excellent weapon for use against pests in the yard; raccoons, opossum, skunks-at long range
!, snakes,etc
the semi auto means that one can keep a running raccoon in your sight picture without having to break the sight picture to chamber another round and the reacquire the target.
i find nothing 'fun' or enjoyable about it. i do not criticize those who do-so long as they do so responsibly, then whatever floats your hovercraft....
i have always seen-as did my father-a rifle as a tool like any other in the shed or on the shelf. it has a specific function and time and place for use. care for it and maintain it as you would any other tool.
IMO, there are too many ppl who are either at the point or approaching the point of object devotion. that is, many with collections 'worship' and minister to their weapon as if they were religious icons--much like the Japanese and the katana.
that is a dangerous and mentally unhealthy path.
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now archery can be a lot of fun and done right, can be a healthy way to build inner discipline. use a re-curve bow..like a long bow. no sites, just dead aim along the arrow shaft. make on the spot mental adjustments for wind and distance,etc. As a teenager, me and a few friends used to go to a woodland archery range--that is various targets at different spots in the woods with different levels of difficulty and range. kind of like golfing.
compound bows kind of take "something" away from all of that though