Recommendation? gun recommendations

To the OP:
My go-to handguns for home defense are the M&P 45 ACP or the 357 magnum revolver (I have both, and they both have pros and cons).

I also have both 12 gauge shotgun and AR-15 rifle, but if she had to face more than one intruder in a home invasion scenario then I believe your wife might be better off with some training on the AR-15 rifle ideally with a 30 round magazine (if legal in your state) and this little video explains why...


Yikes, just noticed you live in Commiefornia, you're going to be lucky if they even allow you to have a semi auto for much longer.
 
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Reading through the replies there seems to be no consistent preference for either .308 or 30-06. Seem about equally popular. They're both fairly similar, right?
 
1 ruger 10/22 charger
2 Remington 870 12 gauge
3 ruger gunsite scout .308 with good scope

That's my best Cali compliant list and gets you 10 shots in your rifle. Handgun not really necessary but a good .357 should meet all your needs.
 
308 has a little better balistics 30-06 has a little more power. Both great rounds. I hunt with a 30.06 rem 700 but since 7.62 x 51 is NATO there are a lot of modern firearm options for it
 
The 30-06 caliber has so many bullet weight choices from 125gr for coyote and small game up to 220gr for Elk or Bear. A wise old hunter told me one time he had one Caliber 30-06 rifle and hunted every type of game animal and was successful because he Knew the rifle. His idea was not to have a multitude of rifles and have to sight them in and get familiar with each one, but to have ONE that he knew inside and out. I thought that was sage advice from a very successful hunter. The sweet spot seems to be in the 150gr to 165gr loads for Deer.
 
Currawong said:
Reading through the replies there seems to be no consistent preference for either .308 or 30-06. Seem about equally popular. They're both fairly similar, right?
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The Big difference is the "Action" the .308 is built on a "Short" action and the Bullet Over All Length is shorter and the 30-06 is built on a "Long" action obviously a OAL longer bullet. Both are very comparable for medium size rifle calibers you get past 06 and you start entering the Magnum Calibers everything becomes more pricey.
 
Busto said:
The 30-06 caliber has so many bullet weight choices from 125gr for coyote and small game up to 220gr for Elk or Bear. A wise old hunter told me one time he had one Caliber 30-06 rifle and hunted every type of game animal and was successful because he Knew the rifle. His idea was not to have a multitude of rifles and have to sight them in and get familiar with each one, but to have ONE that he knew inside and out. I thought that was sage advice from a very successful hunter. The sweet spot seems to be in the 150gr to 165gr loads for Deer.
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I like this advice, this makes a lot of sense. So basically an 06 will let you hunt a wider range of game sizes than a .308?
 
Some good advice here. I'll only add that much of the difference between 30-06 and 308 (and many other cartridges for that matter) has been greatly reduced due to improvements in bullet technology. Find something you like and then match the projectile to the intended quarry.

A wise man (Dr. Gary Roberts) once wrote about terminal performance, "Shot placement is King, Penetration is Queen and everything else is angels dancing on the heads of pins."

Happy Hunting and Enjoy the Journey!!!
 
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I don't think there's much you could hunt with a 30-06 that you wouldn't hunt with 308 I would imagine if its to big for 308 you would want to step up to a 300wm or 338 or something else but don't take my word for it in sure these guys know more then me . Don't think 2 legged creatures you would even be able to tell the difference at all. I picked 308 for shorter bolt stroke seemed pretty much the same as 30-06 as far as power and range but the cases are little shorter on the 308 rounds. My brother has a older remington bush master 30-06 semi auto its kinda heavy but it will dump 10round mags as fast as you can pull the trigger and pretty dam accurate reminds me of the benneli r1 but not as funky looking
 
Murman said:
308 has a little better balistics 30-06 has a little more power. Both great rounds. I hunt with a 30.06 rem 700 but since 7.62 x 51 is NATO there are a lot of modern firearm options for it
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I've heard others say it before but I don't see the .308 having "better ballistics". The 30-06 has a bigger case/powder capacity and sends the same bullets downrange. With 150 grain and lighter they are pretty close but the old '06 still nudges out the .308, and it pulls further ahead the heavier the bullets get.
 
One more quote before crashing out...

The "average" hunter would be well advised to get within bow range whenever possible before pressing the trigger. There are no bench rests in the woods (other than packs on earth), so to figure out "your" effective range, shoot at 8.5"x11" sheets of paper at increasing distances from the various "field positions" until you start missing. That's "your" effective range. The firearm will likely be able to do better, but you have the responsibility to kill humanely as often as possible. If you can afford quality training, it's time and money well spent.

As the late Lt. Col. Cooper said in "The Art of the Rifle"... "If you can get closer, get closer. If you can get steadier, get steadier."

Good words to live by in the hunting arena.



Oh, and one last quote from the late Fred Bear (and one of my all time favorites that I think you'll appreciate)...

"Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the wildlife you hunt and for the forest and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person."

 
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