Ar15 or pm's?

[INTRINSICK]

Would like a little help from u guys with my decision im tryin 2 make. Im REALLY wanting an ar15 but dont hav much of a stash...only hav 1 gun in the house and its broken...if you had to sell pm's would you sell gold or silver? Or would u just wait until the spot goes back up?

[NotABigDeal]

What good is all the gold and silver in the world if you don't have the ability to keep it? You can get an AR15 for much less than an ounce of gold. We have some starting out at around $700. I would get a gun of some sort, but I kinda have a thing for guns....

Deal

[barrytrot]

People often talk about owning guns to protect their gold.

That ONLY happens in an end-of-days scenario.

In all other scenarios guns are not going to increase in value unlike PM's.

Some believe end-of-days is this year, I personally believe you have a good deal of time until then.

[NotABigDeal]

I guess I'm one of those people, but it has nothing to do with an end of days scenario. My guns don't only protect my metals, they protect everything.

Deal

[MikeyPooh]

In all other scenarios guns are not going to increase in value unlike PM's.

I'd take a bit of an exception at this statement. True, they might not have quite the upside potential as PM's (assuming normal scenarios) but, a quality firearm will retain its value quite well.

[barrytrot]

I guess I'm one of those people, but it has nothing to do with an end of days scenario. My guns don't only protect my metals, they protect everything.

Deal

I'd recommend moving to a place where you are safe without shooting anyone else.

[barrytrot]

In all other scenarios guns are not going to increase in value unlike PM's.

I'd take a bit of an exception at this statement. True, they might not have quite the upside potential as PM's (assuming normal scenarios) but, a quality firearm will retain its value quite well.

That's true, a well maintained weapon holds its value well. Good point actually.

[NotABigDeal]

I'd recommend moving to a place where you are safe without shooting anyone else.

Is there such a place?

Deal

[INTRINSICK]

I really dont think there is a place like that...every day i hear or read about people getting robbed or killed in what would normally b considered a SAFE PLACE.i dont ever want to have to shoot 'anyone' but i wood rather have one and not need it,than to need it and not have it...i carried one in the army and was prepared to use it. Just glad i never had to use it on anything but paper targets.

[Rosco]

Are you going to wear a Double breasted suit coat all time or should consider a Pistol Or Revolver an have more Wardrobe choices

[INTRINSICK]

ha.maybe a trenchcoat....

[Mossy]

No place is that safe, unless all your neighbors are armed.

Back about 20 years ago, the safest, and most heavily armed (in the sense of "percentage of people with firearms), part of the US was supposed to be Sun City in Arizona.

[barrytrot]

Levels of safety.

I know someone could come gun me and my neighbors down but I don't live in fear of it. It hasn't happened in over 20 years. It might happen tomorrow, but I'll bet it doesn't.

If I lived in some neighborhoods I would live in fear of it, and rightly so.


Also, people with guns aren't safe either. Anyone can drive by any of our homes and machine gun the place up without reprisal.

So, don't think "gun = safe".


NOTE: If you live in a bullet proof house with no windows then you are pretty safe. But also probably (I'm guessing) not very happy. Happy people aren't those that have burrowed themselves in for safety. Happy people are those that "feel safe". They might be morons for feeling that way. But it feels good

[tractorman]

AR15s are cool looking and many people "just have to have one." But they are far from ideal for self- or home-defense. Personally, I'd get a cheaper shotgun or handgun, or fix the old gun, if you truly feel you need protection. If you just have the "hots" for an AR15, that's another story altogether.

[AGCoinHunter]

I saw this yesterday and it was linked on survivalblog. It is a firsthand account of a survivor of the war in Bosnia during the 1990s. Very interesting reading this guys perspective. Now I dont think this account will be exactly what we would face in the US in the event of TSHTF but he give you some great clues as to what you need to be prepared when those who dont have want what you have. This is a must read for anyone preping.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showth ... p?t=189395

[franklin]

Barry's comment on finding a safe area to live reminded me of my situation. I live on the outskirts of a conservative college town where murders are few and far between. I consider it as safe an area as I am likely to find without severely relocating. Over the past 8 days, within 10 miles of my casa, we have seen:
1) One shotgun killing thru the door for stiffing a drug dealer on some grass
2) One high school senior with no record walking into a retire professor's garage and killing him and knifing his wheelchair-bound wife
3) One 21 yr old college student shooting into several apartments and vehicles before killing himself for some unknown reason
4) One 20 yr old shot by his best friend in the back with a .22 in an argument over girls. He also is dead

There are a lot of guns around which I don't have a problem with but.....I want one to be handy in case I need it.

[barrytrot]

Barry's comment on finding a safe area to live reminded me of my situation. I live on the outskirts of a conservative college town where murders are few and far between. I consider it as safe an area as I am likely to find without severely relocating. Over the past 8 days, within 10 miles of my casa, we have seen:
1) One shotgun killing thru the door for stiffing a drug dealer on some grass
2) One high school senior with no record walking into a retire professor's garage and killing him and knifing his wheelchair-bound wife
3) One 21 yr old college student shooting into several apartments and vehicles before killing himself for some unknown reason
4) One 20 yr old shot by his best friend in the back with a .22 in an argument over girls. He also is dead

There are a lot of guns around which I don't have a problem with but.....I want one to be handy in case I need it.

So you chose unwisely obviously. You *thought* it was safe, obviously it isn't. Or perhaps it was and now is not.

Some stats on where I live over the last 20 years: (Note I moved a couple times, so this is combined data as I've always lived in similar "safe" locations):

Zero shotgun anythings. Not even one audible gun shot.
Zero high school kids killing someone
Zero college students killing someone
Zero people shooting their best friend

NOTE: All of the above have happened numerous times 10 miles from where I live. I know they happen, but they don't happen here. I know they *could* but 20 years is a lot of evidence that they don't happen often at least.


There are safe places people. Completely safe against zombies or the guy that gunned down several in Norway? No. But safe minus that or other things that happen very rarely.


That said: Owning a gun is a good idea. I'm never going to discuss my personal thoughts here, other than I believe it's a good idea. But not because that makes someone "safe", it doesn't.

Location, location, location. 3 top keys in real estate and also in safety.

[INTRINSICK]

AR15s are cool looking and many people "just have to have one." But they are far from ideal for self- or home-defense. Personally, I'd get a cheaper shotgun or handgun, or fix the old gun, if you truly feel you need protection. If you just have the "hots" for an AR15, that's another story altogether.

thanks tractorman...I am going to get my other gun 'handgun' fixed,and i am going to get an ar15 sooner or later.I just know the second i sell some pm's spot will go through the roof and it will be raining ar's LOL

[NotABigDeal]

What kind of gun is it that you need to get fixed?

Deal

[INTRINSICK]

What kind of gun is it that you need to get fixed?

Deal

ok deal here we go...i jus know everyones gunna say its not worth it buy a new gun...i stripped out the hole that holds the grip on...havnt asked the gunsmith how much yet.Its a raven .25. i know p.o.s. Just had it too long to give it up now

[Rosco]

If its striped in the other grip you can 1 get new insert with threads or 2 buy new grips

[INTRINSICK]

My dad bought it when i was around 14,our house burnt when i was 16 with it in it.we found it in the rubble and i had the 'smart' idea to put it in my car to take it to get it fixed.the grips were cheap plastic and badly melted...i got pulled over and they found it in my car and confiscated it.I FORGOT ALL ABOUT IT...twenty plus years later i get a letter from the p.d. Tellin me to come pick up my gun or lose it to them...well i did and bought all new springs,a clip,and firing pin for it but i could not find the correct grips for it.so in my wisdom 'haha' i decided to try n make some out of some oak a friend gave me...well i stripped one side out...so im almost a 75 buks into a gun thats not worth 50 haha and now im guna have to put more into it...think im just guna give it to the gunsmith and say fix it....just know im guna hear 'its not worth it' from him too.lol.

[NotABigDeal]

Sorry to say it, but not only is it not financially worth it, but a .25 is not a great self defence weapon. Maybe fix it because of sentimental value and buy something for the house. 12 gauge would work out great.

Deal

[tractorman]

12 gauge would work out great.

+1

12 gauge = my favorite.

[INTRINSICK]

I do need to find a revolver for my wife with a really lite trigger pull.she only has limited use of one hand.suggestions?