[QUOTE=john;96809]What are your suggestions if, say, your “future plans” might include a boat? (What’s good in Stainless?)
[/QUOTE]
I’m going to disagree with my buddy Reb Rider and stand by my recomendation of the Papoose. I’ve compared the 2, the Marlin just feels more substantial and its all Stainless.
The little carry pouch it comes with is cool too.
Compare to The Ar-7
[QUOTE=Jetryder223;96864]I’m going to disagree with my buddy Reb Rider and stand by my recomendation of the Papoose. I’ve compared the 2, the Marlin just feels more substantial and its all Stainless.
The little carry pouch it comes with is cool too.
Compare to The Ar-7[/QUOTE]
Ok another dumb question )good thing c.capt ain’t reading this thread or I’d be getting poked)
How do I purchase a weapon that’s not in stock locally (no I don’t have a friend with a dealers license)?
Also:
The reason I’ve been hesitant in buying anything is that I refuse to purchase a weapon before knowing how to properly maintain it. I have field stripped and cleaned an ar-15… but that was over a decade ago. So my question is how do I learn how to strip, repair and maintain one before I buy it?
Maybe I should get something real simple to start?
YouTube!!!
[QUOTE=coldduck;96893]YouTube!!![/QUOTE]
Youtube sells rifes?
John, John, John…
Where to start. OK, lets start at the begining.
First, do not be afraid of firearms, they are not scary, mysterious or even dangerous if given the respect they deserve.
Maintenance - Learn to maintain it after you own it. Every new gun comes with an owners manual and step by step instructions of how to use and maintain them. It’s not difficult.
Selecting a gun - For your first, I would recommend a .22LR. Seems the Ruger 10/22 is everyones favorite first. A fine piece of hardware and will teach you the basics. .22 ammo is cheap (4 cents a shot) and has little recoil It’s a semi-auto, but if you want even more basic, get a bolt action with iron sights.
Buying a gun - You’re in CA so that makes it a little harder.Go to www.gunbroker.com and check out the inventory. Many dealers will not ship to CA but some will. If you find a gun on GB that you want, check that they will ship to CA. Then place you bid/order. The gun needs to be shipped to a local dealer (referred to as a Federal Firearms Licensee or FFL), they will receive the gun, call you that it’s in, charge a nominal fee for paperwork and background check and you own the gun.
Talk to your local gun retailer, explain you’re looking for a first gun and ask about any shooting clubs or ranges you can visit.
One Step at a time my friend.
[QUOTE=john;96894]Youtube sells rifes?[/QUOTE]
I think what he meant was that there are many good videos on Youtube that will give you fairly detailed instruction on how to clean, maintain, or field strip almost any type of gun. Just pick one say the Ruger 10/22 or the Remington 870 a quick goggle search of Youtube videos on the subject will keep you busy for hours watching them.
A single shot will be the simplist to maintain, next in line is a bolt action, very easy to take care of with very few parts to break. Pump shotguns are also very easy to maintain.
[QUOTE=ChiefRob;96901]I think what he meant was that there are many good videos on Youtube that will give you fairly detailed instruction on how to clean, maintain, or field strip almost any type of gun. Just pick one say the Ruger 10/22 or the Remington 870 a quick goggle search of Youtube videos on the subject will keep you busy for hours watching them.
A single shot will be the simplist to maintain, next in line is a bolt action, very easy to take care of with very few parts to break. Pump shotguns are also very easy to maintain.[/QUOTE]
Yep, like this one:
[QUOTE=Jetryder223;96896]
First, do not be afraid of firearms, they are not scary, mysterious or even dangerous if given the respect they deserve.
[/QUOTE]
I agree, nothing dangerous or mysterious. about them, I just like to know what I’m doing before I mess with sh!t… it took me 5 months to get a nice bandsaw on craigslist because I insisted the seller show me how to take it apart and put it back together before I’d buy it. Most sellers refused but I finally found an old man who was thrilled to spend a long afternoon teaching me everything he knew. The way I look at it I paid $600 for lessons and got a killer band saw for free! AND it ain’t likely to break down on me because that old man treated it like a baby… and if it does ever breaks I’ll fix it without needing to spend hours watching youtube or trying to find the manual on google.
I do the same with most big purchase… the only problem is you can’t buy a rifle on craigslist.
That said, feel free to call my buying habits strange… my wife already does (and often!) 
[QUOTE=Jetryder223;96896]
John, John, John…
Where to start. OK, lets start at the begining.
[/QUOTE]
This is all great advice… both questions I’ve spent hours looking for online but never found straight answers to. Questions I should have asked years ago but felt foolish doing. I still feel a bit foolish asking them but, F it… what’s the use in running a website if you can’t use it to ask dumb (but potentially life saving) questions?
Anyway… this is, honestly, a big help. Thanks!
Next stop gunbroker.com 
You can try armslist.com it is like craigslist but only for guns. For now you can still buy off that site with out a background check, a private sale basically. It is always good to have alteast a few things hiden that the guvment don’t know about.
Also check out gunsamerica, pretty much like gunbroker, just different options.
The AR-7 floats! HA! :~) The papoose is a good rifle.
I’ve stayed out of this one up to this point but need to say that this is all c.capt wants for a Valentine’s present
Nothing says love like 7.62x51 ammo in large quantities
Who loves ya baby?
[QUOTE=c.captain;96952]I’ve stayed out of this one up to this point but need to say that this is all c.capt wants for a Valentine’s present
Nothing says love like 7.62x51 ammo in large quantities
Who loves ya baby?[/QUOTE]
Nice, my wife picked out the same rifle the other day while we were “browsing” the toys.
[QUOTE=Rebel_Rider1969;96946]The AR-7 floats! HA! :~) The papoose is a good rifle.[/QUOTE]
I just learned tonight that the Ruger 10/22 has a takedown model as well. Have not seen one personally but worth a look…
Here’s one on Gunbroker. Bit more $ than the Papoose but might be money well spent. 10/22 quality and compact takedown design. Great for learning and great prepper utility.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=327844860
This dealer even ships to CA.
And I just learned tonight that I’ve been over-thinking this. Looking up FFL dealer’s, background check requirements, going to the local tactical range for advice (they have very nice, high end, stuff but it’s all pricey and over-complex!)… Had my head spinning.
I should have just visited Dick’s big box store and asked for something small and effective in stainless because… they have the Ruger 10/22 Takedown in stock and on sale for $349!
Give me 10 days and a wake-up and I’ll let you know how she shoots 
Excellent choice. $349 is only 20 bucks more than the Papoose but you get 10/22 quality & brand. If you ever decide you no longer want it, it will be an easy gun to sell.
Excellent choice. $349 is only 20 bucks more than the Papoose but you get 10/22 quality & brand.
If you ever decide you no longer want it, it will be an easy gun to sell. Probably for more than you paid for it.
well if you get 2 you can buy the gatling kit from cabellas! Boom! 100% legal!
Sidenote: Walmart has restricted ammo purchaces to 3 boxes. (in my area) I scored a box of .45 for $15
[QUOTE=Rebel_Rider1969;96956]Nice, my wife picked out the same rifle the other day while we were “browsing” the toys.[/QUOTE]
Picked it out for you or herself? If it’s for you, then you are a lucky sob…if however she picked if out for herself, then you are an even LUCKIER SOB!
If the later, I need to find a woman like that.
(Who am I fooling, I’d be happy with the former too)
[QUOTE=john;96809]What are your suggestions if, say, your “future plans” might include a boat? (What’s good in Stainless?)
QUOTE]
Completely agree with Reb Rider on this. A “marinized” (stainless ot nickle) pump action 12 gage shotgun is best. The simple reason is on a boat, you are not shooting from a stable platform so hitting something spot on is very challenging. Try this - When you get your 10/22, bring it on the f/v gC and go out 12 miles. Throw a soda can in the water and have at if from about 40’ away. Ain’t easy is it?
Accuracy is far less critical with a shotgun.
Shotguns also reduce the potential of over-penetration too. (Over-penetration is when the bullet passes the target and starts causing collateral damage.)