What's the oldest firearm I can always use reliably in self-defense purposes? Genuine question.
I would assume a bolt-action rifle?
What's the oldest firearm I can always use reliably in self-defense purposes? Genuine question.
What's the oldest firearm I can always use reliably in self-defense purposes? Genuine question.
I would assume a bolt-action rifle?
there are felons using black powder revolvers because they can’t own cartridge guns
but a cartridge single action revolver would actually be older than a bolt action rifle and would probably be the oldest you would want to use if you had to because black powder is not good
Bolt-action rifles are pretty bad for self defense because they are slow to operate, but they could be used.
Anyway, there were reliable pepperboxes and percussion revolvers in the mid 1800's. Those were all reliable. And like the other anon said there were cartridge guns which are better still but still older than a typical bolt-action rifle.
Black powder has its disadvantages for sure, but I wouldn't call a percussion revolver unreliable. Pain to clean and slow to load? Yeah. But it will put an attacker in the ground just fine and there's not much to go wrong.
The problem with a black powder gun would be loading and unloading it. If someone was breaking into your house, you don’t want to be spending several minutes rushing to get your powder, balls, caps, and wads together and then loading your gun.
And you can’t let a black powder gun sit loaded forever because it’ll go bad. This is subjective though because it depends on how it’s kept because the problem is moisture. So it’d probably be fine if it’s left in a closet or somewhere in your house but not if you’re carrying it.
So that’s why the oldest I would trust would be a cartridge gun because I wouldn’t need to worry about leaving it unloaded.
>And you can’t let a black powder gun sit loaded forever because it’ll go bad
You can leave them for years if you seal the caps with wax after capping and the balls are a proper fit.
Historically, wouldn't they just coat everything with a bit of wax or something?
>you can’t let a black powder gun sit loaded forever because it’ll go bad.
yeah after like 15 years. in a moldy basement on top of a bookshelf under a bag of old socks. maybe
if you don't have any better choices, having a loaded cap and ball revolver in your nightstand is going to work just fine
>felons using black powder revolvers
dead level, it is easier for a vato or a hood creep to get a modern pistol than to get a BP gun and supplies. in fact, if any of your homies saw you with one they would probably just give you one out of sympathy after they were done clowning on your ass
>yeah after like 15 years. in a moldy basement on top of a bookshelf under a bag of old socks. maybe
>if you don't have any better choices, having a loaded cap and ball revolver in your nightstand is going to work just fine
Yeah, that’s why I said it’d probably be fine if it’s just sitting around your house. It would probably last a while if it was loaded properly so moisture can’t get in.
What I want to know is how it would it would fare being carried around every day.
>dead level, it is easier for a vato or a hood creep to get a modern pistol than to get a BP gun and supplies.
The felons using BP are the ones who aren’t repeat offenders. These types use BP guns as a loophole because they don’t want to break the law again but still want to defend themselves.
You’re right though, the repeat offenders don’t give a shit. It’s almost as if denying felons their right to keep and bear arms is unconstitutional and doesn’t even work in preventing crime and should be repealed.
Load several guns, so you won't have to reload. You know, like in the pirate movies.
I have a 1854 .44 brass navy sheriff model cheapest pietta possible that I left loaded with my shitty homemade serpentine powder, unwaxed but capped (#10) in my nightstand for three years. All chambers still fired when I took it to the range. I live in the coastal plains of the Carolinas. Unless you live on a boat, I doubt you really need to concern yourself.
Reload it once a month and store it in a humidor next to your bed.
Ziplock bag, throw in a hand warmer before you seal it.
elephant gun loaded with grapeshot
black powder will kill you dead dead dead.
Personally I'd probably go with a double barrelled shotgun from the 20th century. Besides that, maybe an early 20th century revolver that had been checked out by an appropriate gun smith. Although I'd imagine those types of guns are probably expensive as collectors items, even if they're not currently in good shape. So more realistically, like an old police revolver from the 60's - 80's.
also, more info on your situation?
If you're american and just looking for a cheap gun, you'd probably be better off buying something new like a hi point, taurus, etc. Or are you in some other country were you can't buy new guns but there's old guns you can buy privately?
>Although I'd imagine those types of guns are probably expensive as collectors items
They're not, unless they happen to be some rare variation. You sound too inexperienced to be giving advice.
Even old H&R .32 SW are $250 - 300. At that point there's no value compared to a modern used gun when you can get a used LCP or taurus revolver for the same or less and it'll shoot common ammo on shelves today.
Sure I didn't mean collector as in an actual collector, but people pay a premium for those older guns because they're old.
You sound like too much of an butthole to be giving advice.
Value was never part of the question, anon, why are you talking about it? OFC a modern gun is better value for money but that's not what OP asked for.
Maybe OP doesn’t mean actually vintage but like a reproduction. Maybe that’s what he’s talking about by “modern”, a modern reproduction. A lot of old revolvers are still being made. A Cimarron or Uberti is going to cost leagues less than an actual antique Colt.
>Maybe that’s what he’s talking about by “modern”,
OP never used that word anon.
>A Cimarron or Uberti is going to cost leagues less than an actual antique Colt.
Sure, but why are you trying to address questions that were never asked?
A police revolver would probably be a bad choice because they tend to be worn because they were carried every day and I think they tend to be more expensive because people are into old police guns.
A normal revolver of the same age would maybe be in better shape and less expensive.
I’d have thought a 1911 or something
Probably any kind of musket or flintlock
>inb4 the meme
What I'm saying is a wheelock or matchlock is just too unreliable or difficult to work under stress, a flintlock will ignite fairly reliably and can be kept loaded for an extended period of time. Plus most thieves will run at the sound of you getting out of bed, they're not trained ninjas or something
Wheellocks and matchlocks were both more reliable than flintlocks. The reason they fell of use was that wheellocks were terribly expensive to make compared to a flintlock, and matchlocks required you to keep a lit match ready at all times if you wanted to be ready to shoot at a moment's notice.
keeping a lit match at all times isn't very reliable
NTA but match cord is not the same thing as a safety match
That's why you tie a pike on to the bottom so you have a musketpike
Why not a musket in the shape of a glock.
Even flintlocks are reliable and will still put a grapefruit sized hole in a man
The oldest that’s probably still a half reasonable choice is a black powder revolver
Assuming you mean oldest design. The oldest I’d trust a firearm even with personal inspection and testing is probably 50 or 60 years old.
for home use? I’d get a 16” 30-30 loaded with 150gr hollow points
Chinese firelance
Stand fast, Knave. And prepare to meet thy maker.
Musket and bayonet would be ideal for self-defense because it combines the functionality of a halbred with the flexibility of a quarterstaff
Match stick