Advice for a novice: What is the best gun to carry in an RV?

[BuckyII]

The thread regarding favorite handguns and the events taking place in our country peeked my interest in possibly starting to carry a gun on our trips. Neither my wife nor I have ever owned a gun. There are probably other members here in a similar situation...

Today I visited 2 local gun shops hoping they might provide an education and steer me towards an intelligent purchase decision...that didn't work. I did observe that gun shops are very busy these days mostly serving customers who already know what they are looking for. I'm confident the trusty (or is it crusty?) members here can steer us novices in the right direction.

Some questions...
- Is there an easy answer to the best starter gun for a novice to carry in an RV for self-defense?
- Is there a gun that can be carried in all 50 states?
- Do I need a permit? What kind?
- Where in the RV is the best place to keep it? I'm thinking under the fold-up part of the bed?
- Any other thoughts/ideas appreciated.

Thanks

 

[NWIP]

Requirements for purchasing a gun is governed by each state. There are different requirements for hand guns vs long guns. It is the person in possession of the firearm to know the requirements for each state one is in or traveling through. Some states require safety courses prior to purchasing, others do not. Unless an active or retired law enforcement officer you will not be allowed to carry a hand gun in all 50 states. It becomes complicated trying to follow the law.

I would suggest finding a gun shop or range that offers a safety course to attend. This will give you an idea of whether you want to purchase, the requirements for your state and the complexity of traveling thru different states.

 

[FLSteve]

@BuckyII … I am sure not a expert in this field by any means but we do travel armed. We first both obtained our concealed weapon permits which I would recommend you do if you head in this direction. In addition to having several hand guns we always take a 20 gauge shotgun. It is a junior model which means it is shorter and easier to maneuver with inside the coach. The one we bought is a Stoeger Condor Over/Under which means we have two (2) shells loaded. I just bought a Sig Sauer P365 9MM pistol which is the gun I plan to carry and my wife has a Smith & Wesson 642LS .38 revolver. Again I am only saying what we do … and like everything else there are numerus opinions on this subject.

FLSteve

 

[Neal]

@BuckyII good on you for taking the right steps. Training is very important so no matter what you buy follow that up with a gun safety course, go shoot it among instructors, etc. I think you'll get a gazillion opinions on guns. If I was to choose I'd suggest the Springfield Armory 4.5inch barrel XDM 9mm. It's my favorite.

There is an app called Legal Heat you may want to check out.

My Account - Legal Heat

mylegalheat.com

Where to store it? That depends on how quickly you may need to access it. In a safe locked? In the storage under the nightstand? Know the rules of transporting a weapon in your state, typically it needs to be unloaded in the back of your vehicle. Now a MH, a vehicle or a house?

It comes down to your judgment for self-defense and access. Google is your friend, it's complicated, just be careful out there and you're doing the right thing.

I bought my recent shotgun (need for AK as you can't have handguns) a Remington 870 and my recent Kimber from Cabelas.

Springfield Armory XD(M) Semi-Auto Pistol | Cabela's

The Springfield Armory® XD(M)® Semi-Auto Pistol is an enhanced version of the standard XD pistol that improves ergonomics and accuracy. The ergonomic design

www.cabelas.com

 

[Joe Hogan]

Here is a 50 state guide. Gun Laws By State: The Complete and Updated Guide

Regarding which type of firearm, you need to determine what firearm you can become proficient with quickly through dedicated training and fits your specific situation and needs.

 

[BuckyII]

Thanks everyone...great information. I have some homework to do...

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Neither my wife nor I have ever owned a gun.

Since this is the case, I urge you to take some time to learn about the ramifications of owning and, potentially, using one for self-defense.

For starters, consider whether you are psychologically willing and able to take a life. That's the bottom line when having a firearm for self-defense purposes. You hope to never be faced with that prospect, but if you are not prepared to do so without hesitation when the situation arises, look for other alternatives. It is a sobering thought, but one that needs to be faced honestly.

Then, you will need both training and regular practice to ensure that when called upon to use your firearm, you can do so effectively. Once the decision is made to use a firearm, the objective is to end the threat quickly and efficiently. I know that sounds clinical, but when you are in that situation, YOUR life depends on it.

And, not only are there legal ramifications to buying and possessing a firearm (especially a handgun), but there can be very serious ramifications to using it, even for self-defense. As others have said, laws vary widely between states and you had better be well-versed on the laws of the state where you might be called upon to use a firearm in self-defense. Unfortunately, defending yourself can extract a pretty serious price if you violate state firearms laws in doing so.

Not trying to deter you from buying a firearm, just suggesting that there is more to it than is commonly thought.

TJ

 

[Joe Hogan]

I absolutely agree with TJ. If you do choose to take the path of owning a firearm you might consider insurance designed specifically for your protection. If you happen to be forced into a situation of self defense, even if legal and justified, attorney fees mount quickly. And if you are on the road, who do you call?

You might consider one of these;

Best Concealed Carry Insurance Options

Explore concealed carry insurance programs available to the millions of Americans who carry concealed. Find out more.

gundigest.com

 

[MapNerd]

- Is there an easy answer to the best starter gun for a novice to carry in an RV for self-defense?

In my opinion, carrying in an RV is irrelevant when it comes to what’s best. The best gun to carry is the one you are most comfortable with.

- Is there a gun that can be carried in all 50 states?

Typically long guns such as rifles and shotguns are the least heavily regulated. Handguns are a mixed bag state to state.

- Do I need a permit? What kind?

For a run of the mill long rifle or shotgun, no permit is likely to be needed so long as you keep the weapon unloaded and out of immediate reach of the drivers seat. For a handgun, a FL resident concealed carry permit will prevent most problems.

- Where in the RV is the best place to keep it? I'm thinking under the fold-up part of the bed?

Wherever you think is a secure, rapidly accessible location.

- Any other thoughts/ideas appreciated.

Shooters World in Orlando is top notch. I know it’s a bit of a hike for you but it’s really a great place for a novice to learn in a safe, welcoming and well supervised environment. They have free classes with range time, the prices are decent, range is top notch and you can rent just about anything to try it out.

 

[Neal]

@BuckyII, some more thoughts after a night of sleep!

Almost all locations have gun ranges, indoor and/or outdoor. It can be a new hobby in your RV travels to go there and have some fun while learning at the same time. But with that said this is a great place to seek out as most have courses for new gun owners they also have guns you can rent for use on the range so you can experiment. So if this is something you want to more slowly research and take time to try out guns, lookup your nearby gun range and start there. Just pop in and ask them the questions you asked here, tell them your concerns, and they will give you great guidance. They will likely sell new and used as well and you don't have to buy from them, again, they are great places to learn, play, gain experience and confidence with anything you decide to buy, learn how to clean them, etc.

In the short term, consider pepper spray or bear spray, just pay careful attention on which end is the bad end I think most that have guns for self-defense have them because they also like sport/hobby shooting as well. If you buy strictly for self-defense and have not had guns having one may just add to your stress add this to your consideration and hopefully going to a local gun range or even gun shop and asking questions may help ease your mind as to what to do.

 

[BuckyII]

Again, thanks to everyone for their time spent expressing well thought out suggestions and opinions. After reading all the comments, my wife has a new appreciation for the value of RVForums.com and the knowledge of its members.

All of these comments have been most helpful. After reading them and discussing with my wife, we've concluded that the acquisition of a gun for self defense by novices like ourselves must not be an impulse purchase. To do this correctly, we need to follow a well thought-out plan as covered in the comments above. Getting a gun now, prior to our trip in 10 days, could very well lead to more stress than it relieves as @Neal suggests. In the short term, we may opt for some other form of self defense.

Thanks.

 

[Gizmo]

I carry a Governor by S&W that shoots 45 Auto, 45 Long Colt, and 410 Shotgun rounds. I fear that shooting a standard round could exit my coach and hit an innocent bystander. I researched rounds that claim they won't penetrate walls but wasn't happy with the result that "I" got. I currently load 410 Self Defence rounds that contain 3 metal disk and 12 steel BBs. I found at 40 feet the disk pattern in about 6 inch circle and BBS spread is about 4 feet wide. I don't carry and put the gun in the bedroom where when the slide is closed it restricts access.

 

[Jim]

Very interesting @BuckyII. As someone who was born with a pistol in his hand, I don't believe I've met anyone who has gone through their entire life without owning a gun. But nothing wrong with that by any means.

If there is anything for me to contribute to this conversation, it's "hearing protection"! When you decide on the proper firearm and you are becoming proficient with it, be sure to bring along some good ear muffs. When I was younger, we would hunt all the time without taking that precaution, and today I'm feeling the effects.

Good luck with this purchase.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

If there is anything for me to contribute to this conversation, it's "hearing protection"! When you decide on the proper firearm and you are becoming proficient with it, be sure to bring along some good ear muffs. When I was younger, we would hunt all the time without taking that precaution, and today I'm feeling the effects.

What? Huh? What was that?

That is excellent advice. Having grown up in a time when hearing protection was almost unheard of except, maybe, in some heavy industrial situations, I now wear hearing aids. The first 20 years of my hunting and competitive shooting was done without hearing protection. By the time I figured it out, I was well on the way to significant hearing loss. Fortunately, I have been able to preserve the remaining hearing I have by using the best available hearing protection.

If you are around loud noise of any kind...including loud music...take the proper precautions. You will appreciate it in later years.

TJ

 

[whereRVapp]

I absolutely agree with TJ. If you do choose to take the path of owning a firearm you might consider insurance designed specifically for your protection. If you happen to be forced into a situation of self defense, even if legal and justified, attorney fees mount quickly. And if you are on the road, who do you call?

You might consider one of these;

Best Concealed Carry Insurance Options

Explore concealed carry insurance programs available to the millions of Americans who carry concealed. Find out more.

gundigest.com

Excellent points. I personally carry USCCA for wife and myself but there are other viable options. Some important factors to consider are will you be assigned a lawyer or can you select your own and will you be required to pay for your defense up front and be reimbursed or will insurance pay straight away.

 

[FL-JOE]

Whatever firearm a beginner starts with I would encourage them to practice, practice, practice....and then practice some more.

And with today's current situation, even if you legally use your firearm to protect yourself that doesn't necessary mean that you will not be charged with a criminal offense. Unfortunately, if you get charged could depend on your race and/or the race of the person who initially attacked you.

I just returned to my home department (retired LEO) this morning to complete my annual Retiree Firearm Qualification shoot. It was very sad talking with a couple Troopers about current events and how it is effecting them.

 

[Jim]

I just returned to my home department (retired LEO) this morning to complete my annual Retiree Firearm Qualification shoot. It was very sad talking with a couple Troopers about current events and how it is effecting them.

Yes, very sad. Where are the marches supporting them?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

What is getting lost in all the rhetoric is the positive contribution MOST police officers make to their communities. Our grandson is a police officer in a small community in Eastern Washington.

The night-before-last, he responded to a call regarding a 10-month-old child that was not breathing. He performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Sadly, the child could not be revived.

Our grandson was saddened that his efforts, and those of the paramedics, was not successful, but proud that he tried to save this child. Losing the battle was an emotional experience for him, but a part of the job he has chosen to do.

The point here is that much of police work does not involve confrontations and arresting people. Responding to emergencies and providing critical life-support is also part of the job. That seems to have been forgotten in the movement to "defund the police."

TJ

 

[Neal]

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Advice for a novice: What is the best gun to carry in an RV?​

 

[GlampDaddy]

Responding to emergencies and providing critical life-support is also part of the job. That seems to have been forgotten in the movement to "defund the police."

TJ

You make an excellent point, TJ. My nephew is a Texas Game Warden. He was the first on the scene of a multi-car/truck highway accident and was unable to save a person before the ambulance arrived. He felt strongly enough about it that he joined the Army Reserve and later became a combat medic. Most recently, he just returned to Texas from Covid-19 duty in the Boston area.