Did I just buy a McRifle?

[SNOWBALL]

Remington Model 597
I paid 180 dollars including tax and a fee to the justice department. It's a .22 caliber semi automatic rifle with a 10 round magazine. This is my first gun. I bought it because It was pretty lightweight and cheaper than the shotguns that were available at the store.
I couldn't find any credible looking online reviews of this gun. Everything I found was was a gunshop description.

This gun was much cheaper than the other guns available at big 5 sporting goods. What am I missing out on by paying less? I know nothing about guns. The only exception was an "antique collectible" rifle that looked like it had been chewed up by a dog and then left at the bottom of a lake for a few years that sold for 88 dollars (not including processing fees or tax). So tell me OOT. Did I just buy a McRifle?

[tagtastic]

What are you planning to shoot?

[kyleb]

Compared to a shotgun, yeah, you did.

It depends on what you bought it for, though.

[Brainwalter]

What's it for? It's pretty weird that you would have narrowed your selection between shotguns and .22s. Gimme a gun, any gun.

[SNOWBALL]

[ QUOTE ]
What are you planning to shoot?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hopefully nothing. It's for home defense, not hunting or anything. I'm going to take it to the firing range a lot. I plan to learn how to shoot it really well. Yes, I have a lot of free time.

[Anacardo]

Snowball,

Are you D'ing-up in anticipation of the return of that chick? That doesn't seem like a bad idea.

[edfurlong]

Chicks dig it!

[Brainwalter]

.22 is not so good for home defense. Have you ever shot a .22? It's a lot more like a BB gun than anything else.

Put it this way. I would not want to defend my home with a .22 rifle. Shotgun would be 10x preferable.

[LuckOfTheDraw]

For home defense, get a shotty.

[econophile]

why would you buy a rifle for home defense? from the little i know, a revolver is a solid option.