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From: ke4zv!gary@gatech.edu (Gary Coffman)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Long gun for rural property advice request
Message-ID: <35639@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 14 Jun 91 20:05:03 GMT
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#[MODERATOR:  Note that the original poster mentioned 15 acres.  Not a 
#lot of elbow room for a .30-'06, hmm?  Also, they mentioned recoil from
#a shotgun as a consideration.  For what its worth, my original response
#to them was to consider a surplus .30 carbine -- cheap, light, plentiful
#ammo, etc.  Maybe not the fight-stopper that a .375 H&H would represent,
#but then again it should be adequate for most of the criteria originally
#mentioned.  If not used for defensive purposes, then some kindly local
#could also make up some handloads with nice jacketted hollow points, instead
#of hardball, to get better stopping power for hunting. ....]

Actually, most 30-06 shots are probably taken at less than 150 yards,
often much less, so the 15 acres is not really an issue. Besides, one
wouldn't likely want to confine hunting only to one's own property.
The 06 is still the best all around big game hunting round commonly 
available and is certainly suitable for the highly unlikely need for 
long range self defense. Shotgun recoil is a consideration, though I 
know some rather small women who are fine shotgunners. The shotgun is 
a generally more useful day to day tool than a .30 carbine or even the 30-06. 
It's defensive range is short, but note my comments on long range firefights. 
Since the poster already had a couple of .22 rifles, the marginally hotter 
.30 carbine doesn't make much sense. I love the evil nasty assualt rifle
and own several, but realistically they just aren't justified for self-
defense in any reasonable scenario. The poster's Glock or a shotgun should
serve nicely. I really meant it when I said that any area that requires
more firepower for day to day survival should be left to the Army.

Gary