Giving guns as gifts to my sisters

[punkndisorderly]

Tend to lean the opposite. Handgun, rifle, shotgun. Handgun first. With a CHL you can be at least minimally protected almost always. Rifle second. AR's and Ak's and similar rifles are easy to become at least minimally proficient in and offer minimal recoil. Shotguns last. More recoil. Very slightly more difficult to become proficient with. That said, I could make arguements either way. Generalities are just that. It really boils down to the individual, their circumstances, their prejudices, their budget, etc.

What fits a 70 year old woman in an urban apartment may not fit a 22 year old male living on a ranch. That's why there are so many guns and so many opinions.

For training, I think a few hours of private instruction are worth their cost to a new shooter. I did an NRA first steps class with the wife. It was probably the best class-type introduction I could imagine.

[brazosriver]

YOu might want to look at HiPoint carbines, they can be purchased for less than $300 each and are hand gun calibers, No recoil to speak of and very reliable.

[AdioSS]

Interesting idea on the HiPoint carbine. Maybe if I can find them each a Keltec Sub2000. Slightly more expensive, but can be stored folded where it is non-functional, but takes seconds to go from folded to firing. Since my bro-in-law is an engineer, he might actually appreciate the design & the safety aspects of it. They also take common handgun magazines instead of the proprietary HiPoint 10rd mags.

[mrvmax]

Interesting idea on the HiPoint carbine. Maybe if I can find them each a Keltec Sub2000. Slightly more expensive, but can be stored folded where it is non-functional, but takes seconds to go from folded to firing. Since my bro-in-law is an engineer, he might actually appreciate the design & the safety aspects of it. They also take common handgun magazines instead of the proprietary HiPoint 10rd mags.

Good luck finding the sub 2k's.

[dac1842]

Well now for my 2 cents. I have numerous types of weapons, as do many on the forum. What I recommend for home defense for anyone that is not proficient with weapons and does not intend to go to the range on a regular basis, is the good ol six shooter. The revolver is like a Bic pen, it works every time. A person with a semi auto who does not hold it right, or know how to handle a stove pipe is dead.
A shot gun or long gun as home defense is not my first choice since they are more cumbersome to hold, in close quarters may not be accessible, or even able to get it to firing position.
I keep a Glock 23C near by, I have a H & K .40 compact nearby, my wife, who is more comfortable with a wheel gun keeps her S & W model 19 near her, we keep a H & K P7 in the living room so we don't have to go to the bedroom in the rare event someone knocks on the door and we don't have the other weapons on us. IF we must retreat to the gun closet, well suffice it to say we can make a stand that will make the Marine Corps jealous...