You would be better off with a crossbow over a bb gub.

Ladypede here: let me encourage you to get your own gun. It is the great equalizer and will protect you from a criminal like nothing else. I too was a little scared at first. There are lots of gun people eager to help you get comfortable with it- they did for me. Once you take it to the range and do some learnin' it will become second nature. Even, dare I say, fun!

Just toss job applications to them. That will scare the shit out of some of them.

Dear Ladypede:

Seriously, go to a range and learn.

Love, Elderpede Dude who has been prepared for years . . .

If it's kind of dark and someone has broken into your house, you MAY be able to scare then away, but that's an awfully big chance to take. You will not be able to stop an intruder with a BB gun if that person attacks you.

If you're in your home you won't get get Kyle'd for defending yourself. Don't let them instill this fear in you.

You'd be better off with bear spray

BB gun will lead to assault charges and not self defense.

If you're not scared of your gun, nobody else will be either.

Get some training, buy a firearm, and respect it for what it does. Practice often. The fear of owning a firearm will fade away and you'll realize it is a powerful tool. If your first line of defense is basically a toy that kids get when they're 5 years old, you're setting yourself up to become a victim.

Depends if they are high on drugs. Pellet is better. But at that point you might just get a paintball gun with pepper ball. Saw this swarm thing they other day. You could get a shot gun and go with rock salt, or bean bag rounds as well. Or rubber bullets for the shotgun. Bear spray is another option for non lethal also.

https://www.amazon.com/Gamo-Swarm-Whisper-Multi-Shot-Rifle/dp/B07SKBQVQ4

Get a gun. A 22 is not very intimidating, unless you put the barrel between your eyes you most likely will not do any lethal harm to yourself.

Pop 5-7 rounds in an intruder with no body armour they are probably finished.

But, especially because you are a ladypede, i implore you to get at least a 9mm pistol. Easy as hell to use, take a few classes (can probably find one for women at a discount) and don't hesitate when it counts.

Good luck!

"God created man. Samuel Colt made them equal"

BB gun will only piss off your attacker. On the other hand, a small .22 LR rimfire gun will make you equal in power to the largest man on Earth. The choice is easy.

Everyone that I've known that was scared of guns was scared of them because they've never learned to use 'em. I guarantee every gun range in your neck of the woods has a training class, but just about anyone you know who's been to the range more than twice can give you a more-than-adequate instruction and safety orientation session.

Most new firearms you purchase will also come with instructions and safety training.

Don't. Be. Afraid.

Instead, get help. Ask a friend with military experience or a gun collection to take you to the range. I *guarantee they'll be excited to help. Go shooting one time. Buy a class at the local gun range if you have to. Then purchase a firearm for personal defense. Don't let the macho men talk you into trying to fire a real big weapon with a lot of kick. (Not that you should be afraid of those - it's just going to suck a little for you and make them chuckle a bit.) Just take it nice and easy with a hand gun or rifle that fires .22 ammo, or maybe a 20-gauge or .410 shotgun.

plot twist I forgot I bought a Daisy Poweline 35 bb/pellet rifle as a movie prop lol. So I at least have that and 2400 metal bbs I’ve never opened??

Get a shotgun and go to a safety and operation class for shotguns. They are very straight forward and have ease of use. If you want to get a concealed weapons permit (Carry in your purse or on body) I recommend the Smith and Wesson 38. smug nose revolver, enclosed hammer, loaded with hollow point.

a BB gun will get you shot or arrested by police but have literally no defense value.

need a howitzer.

I think its good to have lethal and non-lethal. Pick up a 9mm as your lethal option. But if there are assholes on your property shouting and vandalizing it, get at least a paintball gun. You are exactly right in thinking about the legal consequences because every bullet can cost $1M in legal fees. Not a lot of gun nuts are thinking about that but you still need to be able to ward off degenerates trespassing and screwing up your property.

One will leave a purple welt. The other can save your life. Up to you. If you’re apprehensive take some training.

Don't get a gun or ammo that isn't lethal. It puts you at major legal risk.

Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. You might shoot your eye out though.

Bad idea for sure. Guns can escalate a situation very rapidly. If they have a gun and think you have a gun as well..... your at a huge disadvantage now. That's why you should only draw your weapon if you are prepared to use it. I can tell you from personal experience though that I felt the same way prior to owning my first gun, but their is no greater feeling of security then knowing you have the means to defend yourself should the need arise. I strongly recommend owning one, even if you always keep it locked up, you know it's there and can use it if you need to. But, if you are committed to not getting one, I can tell you pepper spray is extremely effective. I was once sprayed accidentally and it was probably the worst 30 minute of my life. I instantly turned from a grown man to a crying baby in about 15 seconds. And even in California you can carry that around on your key chain, in your purse, in your car. Hell I bought all the females in my family multiple things of pepper spray cuz why not. I still think your better off owning a gun as well but if not for sure stay away from the bb gun.

Side note, my wife carries a S&W 686 .357 magnum with a 6 in barrel. She felt much the same as you till I convinced her, now she's in love with it and deadly accurate.

I can tell you without the legal implications killing someone in self defense will have a moral punishment as well. I can tell you that there will always be a question of wether or not you could of done differently and the other images of the aftermath will linger for years even slipping into your dreams. However in the end it is better to live with remorse than to allow your loved ones to live with loss.

Buy a gun, train with the gun and try to always keep yourself away from situations that may require its use.

Get yourself some training on how to use a firearm safely. The dismay of having to kill someone in self defense isn’t nearly as the regret from wishing you had a gun when you really need one.

No. Not enough.

There are some .17 caliber air guns that fire pellets that would at least help take small game in a survival situation, but honestly you’d be better off with a .22 LR (real rifle, if a small one) even for that.

And against mobs of rioters? Nope. AR-15 is the right tool for that job.

You want something like this: https://grabagun.com/byrna-technologies-hd-ready-kit-5-rounds-non-lethal.html Sootch review here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=byrna+gun&ab_channel=sootch00

Well... A BB gun is better than no gun. But you'd want a pellet gun, not a BB gun.

Everybody is going to tell you to go the range, take a class for a day (they're not expensive), and get yourself a real gun.

You would have the advantage with an air gun that you can carry it with you without the BS CA firearm restrictions. And there are a lot of good modern airguns that look the part. Meaning, you point it at someone's face and that might be all you need to scare them off.

I'd recommend a high powered revolver style pellet gun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBbBjyZYbhk

That will put holes in someone, and they will think they're being shot with bullets. I'd be aiming for eyeballs and adam's apples and testicles.

Definitely get yourself a shotgun for home defense though. The CCW classes will give you confidence regarding the legalities.