Originally Posted by: R. ShackleferdHey ya'll...I'm fairly ignorant about guns (except one side of my family hunts and have shot their rifles growing up), but did want to eventually get one for household protection and limited target fun. Any recommendations? Pistol or rifle? Under $500 would be a plus as well.

A rifle (though my preference for recreational shooting) is going to be almost useless in the close confines of a home.

If you want household protection, you'll either want to go with a handgun or a pump action shotgun. The handgun because it's easier to manuever in tight quarters, the shotgun because the sickenly non-directional clack-clack of a shell being racked into the chamber is enough to make almost any intruder soil his britches then leave.

Plus, shooting skeet is loads of fun.