Hi - (kinda) newbie from TN

[mabear]

I'm fairly new to prepping and survivalism. I've been stockpiling food for about 2 years, learned to cook from scratch, got chickens, canning, gardening (which so far I've mainly failed at) I guess most of that would fall more under homesteading, but my motivation has been self sufficiency and survival in the event of any kind of disaster. My husband has spent most of the last 2 years thinking I was nuts, but he's finally on board. I've only recently discovered the online world of information and like minded people, which has been a great help.

We'd love to find real life people that we could talk to and learn from, we are in middle TN about one hour south of Nashville. Defense is something we really need some help with (former city slickers here.) I get a little lost and overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start with more in depth preparations, so any and all advice is welcome.

Anyway, I'm glad to have found this site!!

[Recently_Awoken]

Howdy from TX

Welcome aboard. Sounds like you're well on your way. We're looking for some rural land, so I envy you guys.

Careful.... too-many-plenty of folks will talk your ear off on defensive firepower here. Get ready for a bunch of information.

Me... pretty simple. 12 gauge and buckshot for close in work. 12 gauge slugs for reaching out. 9mm is our family calibre. Many will argue 9mm is not big enough. I don't want to reply to that here. Just telling you what works for us. 9mm ammo is more affordable, and quite frankly, the calibre is conducive to smaller shooters (wife and kids). We also have a 10/22 for 'rabbits and sich.' (22 ammo is still cheap)

A good starting place is a shotgun. Probably the most versatile type of firearm. Here's my opinion on that matter:
1. Ammo is cheap
2. You can change the barrel out and use it two ways
3. Hunting (longer range shooting) with slugs and/or birdshot and a longer barrel
4. Defensive (with buckshot) and a shorter barrel
5. Intimidation factor (everyone in the world knows what a pump action shotgun sounds like)

Good luck and welcome!
RA

[slowz1k]

Welcome to the board!

I have to second what RA has already said about the shotgun. There are so many options in ammunition that it is, in my opinion, the best, well rounded, firearm a person can own. From deer to small birds to a 250lb meth junkie kicking in your door, The 12GA has got it covered. They're affordable, reliable, and deadly.

[Centurion]

Welcome to the forum.

[Diesel]

welcome to the site, enjoy

[Oscar Wilde]

Welcome from Clarksville ....

O.W.

[rsanders]

Welcome from Kentucky

[Skyowl]

Welcome from SE Arizona. Our daughter and husband are from Friendsville (near Knoxville), now outside of Fort Worth, TX and soon to be in Little Rock, AR. She is on here every now and then. Her handle is FrogTacos.

[mabear]

Thanks for the welcome!!

We do have a shotgun and a 22 - neither of which any of us has ever fired due to lack of knowledge - working on that now. I don't even have ammo in the house - we're all just dumb enough to be dangerous with a loaded gun.