Assuming You Carry a Firearm On Board - Which is Best?

[timbenner]

This thread is not intended to discuss whether to carry or not. Assuming that you have made the decision to carry, which firearm(s) is/are best for your boat?

Short range pistol, long range sniper rifle, shot gun? Arm yourself to defend against someone on board? Arm yourself to defend at a distance? A gun that can penetrate a hull and an engine block?

My favorite boat carry gun is the stainless steel Desert Eagle 50 caliper. A little overkill for close range, but one of the few handguns that can reach out 100+ yards.

My logic, as I explained to a Bahamian Customs Agent once regarding the 50 caliper, is that I don't want to shoot any people. I carry it because I can take out their engine block and compromise their hull, since I won't win a race. Thoughts?

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by timbenner

This thread is not intended to discuss whether to carry or not. Assuming that you have made the decision to carry, which firearm(s) is/are best for your boat?

Short range pistol, long range sniper rifle, shot gun? Arm yourself to defend against someone on board? Arm yourself to defend at a distance? A gun that can penetrate a hull and an engine block?

My favorite boat carry gun is the stainless steel Desert Eagle 50 caliper. A little overkill for close range, but one of the few handguns that can reach out 100+ yards.

My logic, as I explained to a Bahamian Customs Agent once regarding the 50 caliper, is that I don't want to shoot any people. I carry it because I can take out their engine block and compromise their hull, since I won't win a race. Thoughts?

Most 3rd world and other cops don't want you carrying better stuff than they. Many places have a hard time with semi-auto. England won't even let you have a flair launcher. Lots of places recognize the "need" to hunt. This said, a single or double shot shotgun is your most acceptable option and least likely to send you to jail. Be prepared to loose it so buy a cheap piece of used hardware. If it looks old and crappy - better. If you can arrange a locked safe aboard for gun & ammo it may help.


Shotgun is noted by pirates as the most feared weapon a boater might have. 00Buck and slugs would do serious damage to anyone coming over your transom. I figure a turkey round (#4,5,6 3.5" turkey magnum) would be instant at close range and open choke.

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by timbenner

This thread is not intended to discuss whether to carry or not. Assuming that you have made the decision to carry, which firearm(s) is/are best for your boat?

Short range pistol, long range sniper rifle, shot gun? Arm yourself to defend against someone on board? Arm yourself to defend at a distance? A gun that can penetrate a hull and an engine block?

My favorite boat carry gun is the stainless steel Desert Eagle 50 caliper. A little overkill for close range, but one of the few handguns that can reach out 100+ yards.

My logic, as I explained to a Bahamian Customs Agent once regarding the 50 caliper, is that I don't want to shoot any people. I carry it because I can take out their engine block and compromise their hull, since I won't win a race. Thoughts?

All three. However, for the long-range attack, much better to go with a rifle and good scope. A rifle trumps the DE for accuracy, and best to see actual faces, uniforms, and other essential data before squeezing off a few rounds. Keep a Glock 9 and sawed-off pump 12-gauge for the close quarter stuff.

What's also important is for the wife to have significant range time under her belt. And, teach her how to use a cleaning kit for when you prefer to kick back topside with a few tasty gin and tonics.... with ice, of course.

It's a shared experience, so the cleaning should be also. Plus, knowing weapons inside and out instills confidence.

Have fun, and select accordingly.

[onestepcsy37]

May depend on where you're cruising. In my neck of the ocean, Florida/Bahamas, a close and personal situation is more likely than a boatload of pirates approaching at high speed.

1. A snubnose 38 or 357. When the intruder is already in the cabin with you it's easy to whip around and ready to shoot - no safety to be concerned with.

2. A high capacity 9mm or 40 s&w auto. Good for when a suspicious boat comes alongside and wants to board. 14+ round magazine.

In "real life" I'm a shotgun guy, clay target shooting. Put more than 10,000 rounds a year through my target guns. But I'll be damned if I put a $15,000 Kolar skeet gun at risk on my boat.

[Greg H]

40 caliber pistol and a shot gun both are effective up to and including 100 yards. The shotgun with rifle slugs. A scoped rifle is tuff to use on a boat with even a small amount of movement. Binoculars could be used to identify the threat or uniforms.

[cburger]

Originally Posted by timbenner

This thread is not intended to discuss whether to carry or not. Assuming that you have made the decision to carry, which firearm(s) is/are best for your boat?

Short range pistol, long range sniper rifle, shot gun? Arm yourself to defend against someone on board? Arm yourself to defend at a distance? A gun that can penetrate a hull and an engine block?

My favorite boat carry gun is the stainless steel Desert Eagle 50 caliper. A little overkill for close range, but one of the few handguns that can reach out 100+ yards.

My logic, as I explained to a Bahamian Customs Agent once regarding the 50 caliper, is that I don't want to shoot any people. I carry it because I can take out their engine block and compromise their hull, since I won't win a race. Thoughts?

Think you are looking for Soldier of Fortune magazine.

[Stumble]

I highly doubt most people could hit the boat let alone make a kill shot at 100 yards while underway. Short of using a machine gun and tracer rounds or huge amounts of range time it is a mistake to think this is realistic.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Greg H

40 caliber pistol and a shot gun both are effective up to and including 100 yards. The shotgun with rifle slugs. A scoped rifle is tuff to use on a boat with even a small amount of movement. Binoculars could be used to identify the threat or uniforms.

Exactly right on the scope. No way you could use one on a small boat in any kind of waves at all.

In fact, hitting anything at any distance from a moving boat with any weapon is way more difficult than most people realize. I'm no sniper but have been shooting since I was a boy, was captain of the high school rifle team and could hit 50% dove on the wing with a 20 gauge when I was 14.

I have tried shooting bottles and cans tossed off the boat with a Ruger Mini-14. Even in 2-3' swells, a pretty mild day, at 100 yards I was lucky to hit within 10 yards of the bottle.

Go out one day and give it a try.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Stumble

I highly doubt most people could hit the boat let alone make a kill shot at 100 yards while underway. Short of using a machine gun and tracer rounds or huge amounts of range time it is a mistake to think this is realistic.

[avb3]

CF has a group for gun owners:
Cruisers & Sailing Forums - Gun owners

If you wish to post your query, could you please join the group and do so there.

This thread is closed.

Regards,
avb3
Moderator