I'm not a gun expert. In fact, I can probably count on one had the number of time that I have shot something other than a BB gun. I'm barely what you would even call a rookie.
This year has presented me with several reasons to delve into gun ownership however. First, I lost about 60 pullets to a weasel in one night. Then a fox killed the better part of one of my chicken flocks in the span of about 15 minutes. Additionally, I've had trouble with strange people in strange vehicles showing up at the house.
And let's face it - times are changing. We live in a rural setting, but crime is inching it's way closer to us every day. I think you have to make a personal decision ahead of time whether you will be a survivor or a victim when trouble arrives. I choose to be a survivor.
If you've read some of my other posts, you also know that I am a prepper. No, I don't believe that every prepper should have an AR and 1,000 rounds, so you can leave that misconception at the door. What I do think is that you should have something with which to protect yourself, and give you a chance to feed your family if you need to. Of course, a little target practice is a good stress reliever too!
So here are my suggestions. Take 'em or leave em'!
An air rifle - sure, it doesn't sound all that serious, but you can do some damage with an air rifle. Not only can you kill doves, squirrels, etc, but you can make a serious impression on just about anything. I don't like to kill the neighborhood dogs for a first offense (as long as they haven't killed anything), but I do like to leave a lasting impression that chasing my critters is not a good idea. I have a really nice, scoped Beeman that has interchangeable barrels that I got for about $100 at Wal-Mart. It's good quality and does what I need it to do. It's also a great practice gun and the pellets are really cheap.
12 or 20 ga Shotgun - Personally I have a 20 ga because it recoils less than a 12 ga. Being a woman I have a youth model as the adult versions are just too long for me to sight and fire comfortably. I recommend a shotgun because of it's diversity. You can get shells of a variety of shots and can kill practically anything with it, up to and including deer. 
22 LR Rifle - Ammo is inexpensive and it's great for shooting over longer distances. 22 ammo is small though, and a 22 is not legal for hunting bigger game. It is useful and legal for hunting small game though, and in a total collapse could be used to kill deer if the shot
was placed correctly.
38 Special or a 357 Magnum - If you are at all worried about personal protection, you need a handgun. Save yourself a lot of grief and get a revolver. I talked to several gun owners and instructors before choosing the 38, and I like that it has multiple shots and a comfortable shooting grip. I am looking for a good holster right now, and once I get it I plan to carry my 38 around on the farm. You can get a decent 38 for around $300, and Charter Arms and Taurus both make one that is a good starter. Mine has a 2" barrel, which I think is great if you are going to carry it around. This of course reduces your range and forces you to practice a bit more to perfect your shot, but 38 ammo is relatively inexpensive. On the other side, a 357 will also fire 38 ammo, and it is recommended by a lot of instructors as the gun for ladies. They are a bit more expensive however.
Do your research and find the gun or guns for you. And always, always, always use ear and eye protection when practicing!
Be responsible and Safe!
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