Is it okay to ask a gun question....okay, several gun questions?

[Cara]

Not to mention horses, cattle etc have a habit of moving at the very last minute, and I can't even imagine missing but not completely missing with a shotgun.

 

[cedar post]

It depends what it is for. If you want to be able to use it for pheasants and other small game on up to deer at fairly close range I would pick a shotgun. If you get a .223 or something like that and want to use it for small game or pheasants you will be disappointed. As for taking down a horse anything will do that imho.

 

[conny63malies]

My DH is in the army right now, he is a 19D serving with 4/4 CAV . He just bought a Hipoint 380 for me and a Hipoint 45 for himself. They are not so pretty , but they do their job. If you have to put down a large mammal its not all about the size of the round. Its also what kind you use and about placement of the bullet. A hollow point will expand and do more damage as it travels through tissue.THey are less like ly to ricochet and/or overpenetrate
A full metal jacket round on the other hand has advantages too:
Because the bullets do not expand, they are more effective at piercing armor.
They are more likely to kill since they more reliably penetrate the body and reach vital organs.
Their rounded tips facilitate proper transit up the feed ramp, whereas the usage of hollow point bullets in some weapons may increase the chance of a failure to feed. Most modern weapon designs, however, will feed reliably with both types of bullet.
My gun has hollow points right now while DH fires "regular" looking bullets.
A handgun will be enough. You dont want to risk shooting anything but a fox that might have entered your coop. If you shoot a shotgun in this situation there is a good chance that you might hit your chickens or other animals.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Quote:
The Mossberg in question is a Mossberg 500 if that tells you anything.

You really need to find out exactly which 500 that it is. As you can see listed on the link below, you could be getting a heckuva deal or be getting royally ripped off. There are even more choices than listed, these are just an example. If it is one of the basic models, the most I would give him for it is $150.00 and that is if it is like new, in the box, with all paperwork.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/mossberg_pump_shotguns.html

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

They are more likely to kill since they more reliably penetrate the body and reach vital organs.

Nope. They are more likely to WOUND because they do less damage than hollowpoints

Before anyone decides what gun they need, they have to decide what it will be used for.
It may be you need more than one firearm to handle different situations​

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

My opinion, a first farm gun should be a 12 gauge shotgun. There is nothing that cant be done with one an the right ammo.

Second gun should be a 22 revolver. Simple, clean, effective, they don't jam an its easy to grab every time you go out. Because if its still at the house it does no good.

A long rifle would come in third because the few time you need to reach that far out you wont have it with you.

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
The Mossberg in question is a Mossberg 500 if that tells you anything.

as an all around farm gun, my Mossberg 500 is my absolute favorite. If I could only own 1 gun, this would be it. Depending on the barrels (trap, slug etc) you can turn this inexpensive shotgun into absolutely anything. Chambered for a 12 gauge round, you can match the round for what you want. My basic round that I always have when walking is 00 buckshot. If I am small game hunting its #7 birdshot. For my slug barrel, I use 3" magnum sabot slugs. It makes a perfect gun to take out anything from squirrels and chipmunks to Deer. As a home defense gun... well I could tell you about all the different mods available... but that is one conversation best left to the telephone

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I have a 30-00 but that is a tab bit to much to take out a raccoon, possum, or even a horse.

I also have a nice little 22 rifle. It's just big enough take down any critter and humanely put down a horse, cow or other stock animal

 

[Boyd]

personally though, because I'm getting old, fat and lazy I carry around either my .45 or my .38 pistols. But I've got the practice to make up for the poor ballistics.

 

[farmerlor]

Quote:
Nope. They are more likely to WOUND because they do less damage than hollowpoints

Before anyone decides what gun they need, they have to decide what it will be used for.
It may be you need more than one firearm to handle different situations

Yeah, I'm beginning to think that's going to end up being the solution to the problem and I also think I'm in over my head so I'd probably better not leave him in the dark about this. I'm going to go ahead and ask for his help on the purchase of his present but I thank you all for your wonderful advice and I only wish he hadn't been banned from this forum so I could just let him read up on all the opinions. Reading them all to him isn't much fun.