sstrucinski wrote:So what you're saying is that I'm screwed. Looks like this little lady is going to need a bigger gun. A flame thrower would be cool too.
Stephanie: "Bigger" gun does not necessarily mean BIG gun or lots of RECOIL.
Just one example:
My 357 Magnum Lady Smith 5-shot revolver is only 6.5" long, 4.75" high, and 1.25" thick. It weighs 23 ounces. It nevertheless carries 5 rounds of 357 Magnum, and 357 Magnum ammuniton can be purchased in MANY different power levels, ranging from "still stronger than 9mm"(about 400 ft lb of energy) to "strong enough to take down a horse with one shot" (well over 600 ft lb of energy). The strength of ammo I carry is based on my individual recoil tolerance (which happens to be high, for me).
My previous carry firearm was a custom semiauto made by Fred Craig. It was considerable smaller than a "Colt Officer Model" (and smaller than my current revolver), weighed 22 ounces, and carried 7 rounds of 38 Super ammunition. Being a semiauto, it was less tolerant of power level variations than a revolver (in order to ensure reliable semiauto operation). Nevertheless, it relaibly, and accurately, fired loads ranging from 115g at 1100 fps (309 ft lb of energy) to 115g at 1400 fps (500 ft lb of energy). The 1400 fps cartridge approximates the stopping power of a lightly loaded 357 Magnum.
You just need to become EDUCATED on firearms a bit, that's all. I would suggest acquiring an excellent book titled "2008 Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry" by Massad Ayoob. Massas Ayoob is a VERY respected police officer, gun writer, shooting competitor, and expert court witness, whose opinions mean a LOT to many people.
The mission is FAR from hopeless. Just get armed with KNOWLEDGE before getting armed with an actual firearm.
Jim G
p.s. the 38 Super example was just that - an example of a gun/cartidge combinaiton that was small but extremely effective and customizable. That particular cartridge is NOT one that I would recommend to a novice shooter, because getting GOOD ammuniton for it is too hard, for reasons too lengthy to cover here.