[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]SDR: You haven’t lived till you’ve fired old “Ma Deuce”, the Browning M2 .50cal. Second most fun thing you can do without taking your clothes off (first most fun thing is jumping out of an airplane, another activity I highly recommend).
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Allan I can’t believe you said that. You have no idea how many times I’ve said those (almost) exact words. My only difference was I said it was the MOST fun I’ve had with my clothes on (I’ve not jumped out of a perfectly good airplane yet). I’m also a big fan of the SAW, although I shoot left handed and the cloud of spent cartridges and belt clips being ejected into my field of vision can be a bit of a distraction.

I’m surprised your S&W gave up the ghost after only 25,000 rounds. I’ve seen some the pros use with more than 100,000 rounds through them and they’re still going strong. You sure what went wrong with it wasn’t fixable? Almost everything on those guns is repairable/replaceable, even the frame (new serial # of course).

As for the OP, totally agree with you SDR, and when I move to Maryland this summer I’m planning to teach my wife to shoot as well. She’s terrified of my gun collection right now, but I have a feeling once she’s more comfortable with them she’ll feel a little differently.

As for home defense I kinda like the scary dog option. Nothing like a snarling animal that moves a lot faster than you do to instill fear. The burglar doesn’t need to know that the dog just wants to lick them to death.