Home Defense

[Grey Wolf]

What type of gun is best suited for home defense ?

Rifle.

pistol.

shotgun.

Also what caliber/gauge/ammo to use.

[Sfritr]

Answer: One that gets the job done........

IMO a rifle would be immediately eliminated as a HD firearm. Being in a personnal defense situation usually means close quarters within a home. My suggestion would be either a shotgun or a pistol. There is a natural deterrent built into a pump shotgun. Just the simple cocking or racking a round in the chamber can strike fear into an intruder. As for the pistol, there are a multitude of different calibers and rounds but my personnal favorite is the .45

[clayton86]

I don't buy into the whole hone defense craze but I'd say a shot gun. U dont need to know a whole lot to make it operate and u don't have to be a marksman to hit some thing/one. The rifle could be great if u practice alot and are good at CQB to be precise and hit your target. Pistol well there great to if u know how to use it and practice and are proficient with it. I'd hate to be the guy who goes to grab my pistol and forget to rack it or manipulate the safteys because of the pressure and stress.

U could kill all birds with one so to speak get a taurus judge get the buck and ball loads and u have a pistol that hoots buck shot an a slug like a rifle all in one. A shot gun rackin in the dark is also a scary noise and deturant alone I'd think twice befor pushing further into a house if I heard that.

Why not just get a big ole rott or Doberman lol

[Hi Salenity]

SBR AR-15 If you truly need to protect yourself 30rds of 223 in a tactical platform is hard to beat ! the bigger choice may be ammo. My house is old enough that it has Plastered walls. I doubt that a hollow point will consistently enough go through a wall to get at an assailant using a wall for cover but a fmj may zip right through a person (or Zombie) not subduing them as fast as a hp will.

BTW I have a 45xd with Trijicons in a small safe by my pillow (16''away) HOPEFULLY this will keep me & my family alive until I can get to one of my ARs.

I have small children so I don't have the option of being able to have a just gun laying out...

[jbass]

Colt Model 1911 Semi Automatic .45 just because of the knock down power.

[firefightn15]

If it's strictly for home defense I would opt for a cyl. bore pistol grip shotgun using lighter loads...IMO, 00 buck would be a decent choice. The lighter load would give you better control, less recoil, and hopefully less wall penetration. Racking a round does sound menacing and could be enough of a deterrent but my biggest fear in a home defense scenario is only getting one shot in the dark of the night and then being blinded by the muzzle flash and not getting a follow-up; a round from a shotgun vs. a revolver or pistol would, I think, give you a better first shot success.

My reasoning for the pistol grip would be to keep the fire arm closer to your person without the barrel hanging out there too far giving the assailant a chance to make a grab for it. In an ensuing struggle, that could really turn the tables on you.

just my .02

[ww2farmer]

12 gauge pump shotgun, with an 18" barrel, loaded with 00 buck shot. Pistols are fine is trained hands, but any one can use a shotgun. If something ever happenend my wife or daughter could point that shotgun at what it needs to pointed at, and with the 00 buck shot knock it down. No precise aim needed. I have read/heard some place that often the menicing noise of racking a shotgun action is a powerfull mental deterant as well.

[slonezp]

If it's strictly for home defense I would opt for a cyl. bore pistol grip shotgun using lighter loads...IMO, 00 buck would be a decent choice. The lighter load would give you better control, less recoil, and hopefully less wall penetration. Racking a round does sound menacing and could be enough of a deterrent but my biggest fear in a home defense scenario is only getting one shot in the dark of the night and then being blinded by the muzzle flash and not getting a follow-up; a round from a shotgun vs. a revolver or pistol would, I think, give you a better first shot success.

My reasoning for the pistol grip would be to keep the fire arm closer to your person without the barrel hanging out there too far giving the assailant a chance to make a grab for it. In an ensuing struggle, that could really turn the tables on you.

just my .02

Very important if you have loved ones in other rooms or live in a condo or townhome.

Personaly, I have shotguns and handguns ready when needed. If you want a handgun as a honme defense weapon, make sure you have some time behind the sights. As far as caliber,.380 or larger if you chamber hollow points in the hand guns, and are a somewhat decent shot, you should be ok if it's a B&E. A guy stoned on ??? may require a large caliber or a couple more rounds in the chest. Shotguns are probably a better option in general. I believe I am prepared but thankfully I have never had this opportunity present itself.

[slonezp]

Why not just get a big ole rott or Doberman lol

Costs a little more than a gun, but probably the best deterrent. If nothing else an early warning.

[North Ga Hillbilly]

Im a fan of shotguns, a tactical shot gun course can really be a good time and informative. I like a pump twelve gauge, as I personally believe that pump racking is a noise everyone knows and can be enough as has been shown several times I know of. That being said, I have a Glock 22 by the bed and the shotgun in the corner, as I feel more comfortable with the Glock.

NGaHB

[Micro]

A lot of people say don't use bird shot as a home defense round. I happen to think a short-barreled shotgun loaded with #8 dove shot makes a very good inside-the-home gun.

I've seen the effect of this round, up close, on a person. In the mid 90's, my best friend was shot in the left buttock by his girlfriend in a jealous rage with his own Remington 1100 loaded with Remington low brass #8. The shot blew a chunk of meat out the buttock about as big as a big man's fist. He was in the hospital for a week and in a nursing home for a month with a suction device on his wound to stimulate the blood vessels. He still walks with a pronounced limp. Still has a huge chuck out of his butt. And still has over 50 pellets in his pelvis and hip bones. Had he been hit in the vitals, it would have been all over. I was shocked at how nasty that wound was.

[I.rar]

What does everyone think of .410 for home defense in an apartment? Or any other caliber in a home with thin walls?

[clayton86]

.410 with buck would work

[VolFan]

If a .410 is what you have, it's what you have. Interesting thing that Micro brought up that most people don't realize: At in-home distances (20 ft or less, and 20 ft is a big room or loooong hallway), it doesn't really much matter what comes out of a shotgun, that patterns going to be somewhere between a softball and volleyball at 20 ft, unless you use some sort of spreading load. So some 7's or 4's make about the same hole as most buckshot. The smaller shot is less likely to carry/kill through walls or windows and across the street however. Just something to think about.

PS - The other thing about a shotgun: if you've ever been on the wrong end of one being fired in your direction without hearing protection, that in itself will stall you.

[Jim_M]

FWIW.

I have earned several slots to the USPSA Handgun National Championships over the years.

Yes, I am proud of that .

The three Glocks that I shoot regularly in matches stay unloaded and locked away in the safe.

A loaded 12ga Remington 870 isn't.

[promax200]

.45 Semi-auto. Easier than an 870 to wield in close quarters and it hits like a mack truck. Like throwing a brick at someone at 700 feet per second.

[WanderLust]

FWIW.

I have earned several slots to the USPSA Handgun National Championships over the years.

Yes, I am proud of that .

The three Glocks that I shoot regularly in matches stay unloaded and locked away in the safe.

A loaded 12ga Remington 870 isn't.

870 is tough to beat for this purpose. Add a tactical light and quality 00 = you tried to rob the wrong house.

[K_Mac]

A couple of years ago while night fishing with my wife, I came to the conclusion that there are times when a weapon may be needed in order to protect myself and loved ones. While the situation ended with nobody hurt, I vowed I would not be in that situation again. I live in a quiet rural community, in a county that has one of the lowest violent crime rates in the state. Within the last month there have been two home invasions in the county. The "home defense craze" is a reaction to the world we live in, in my opinion.

I spent hours researching the "best" weapon for personal and home defense. I talked to friends, including some in law enforcement. I came to the conclusion that like rods and reels, it comes down to personal preference. There are some reoccurring suggestions though. I ended up with three different weapons after shooting a variety of guns. My HD and camp/boat gun is a SS .357/.38 Ruger GP 100-4" revolver. My carry weapon is a Ruger SR9c 9mm compact. I have a Mossberg 500-18" in the closet. Any one of the three would work fine for home defense, though the shotgun is a bit unwieldy inside the house IMO.

The thing that I was told by everyone who had real experience was that while buying a gun and some ammo may give a feeling of security, without training and practice a person is better off with a dog.

[Hi Salenity]

[clayton86]

I tried talking my wife into one today she wants to sell her rem 1100 I wanna sell my .243 I told her sell em both for a AR but that one would be illegal here in ny

[Bluebasser86]

A shotgun with birdshot is plenty of home defense. A pump shotgun is probably the best option, the sound of a pump shotgun racking is a pretty universal sound that you'd better get out. Plus if you don't live at home alone a handgun round will easily go through doors or drywall and have enough energy to hurt or kill someone a room or two over, including sleeping kids or spouses. A blast of birdshot will blow a hole in a door and the person on the other side trying to kick it in. Also you don't have to aim nearly as much with a shotgun with birdshot and even a couple pellets connect and most people aren't going to keep trying to get in.

[sharrison]

A shotgun with birdshot is plenty of home defense. A pump shotgun is probably the best option, the sound of a pump shotgun racking is a pretty universal sound that you'd better get out. Plus if you don't live at home alone a handgun round will easily go through doors or drywall and have enough energy to hurt or kill someone a room or two over, including sleeping kids or spouses. A blast of birdshot will blow a hole in a door and the person on the other side trying to kick it in. Also you don't have to aim nearly as much with a shotgun with birdshot and even a couple pellets connect and most people aren't going to keep trying to get in.

I agree 100% with this as well. A stray round going into a neighbors house wouldn't be good...

I have several choices, but my 12 gauge will be what I reach for first if I ever need it. Mine is loaded with #4

Also I recommend to put some sort of flash light on whatever gun you use. Chances are it's gonna be dark.

[K_Mac]

There is much interesting information in the following link. Especially of interest is the shotgun ammo section toward the end of the article:

http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm

[Bassn Blvd]

Forget the rifle. The rifle round will go through the walls and injure someone innocent.

I would suggest a short barell shotgun, If I'm the one shooting it. The shotgun offers plenty of stopping power and is easy to shoot. The problem with the shot gun is if I'm not shooting it. If the wife has to use it, then she may only get one round off and hopefully it's a hit. The recoil will more than likely knock her on her ars or she will drop the gun.

As far as the racking sound goes, I use a semi-auto so there is no racking sound. Besides, if I pull out the gun for protection, then I'm not intending on scaring the assailant with noise. I intend on taking them out. No warning needed. Their warning was my locked door or window.

[clayton86]

Forget the rifle. The rifle round will go through the walls and injure someone innocent.

I would suggest a short barell shotgun, If I'm the one shooting it. The shotgun offers plenty of stopping power and is easy to shoot. The problem with the shot gun is if I'm not shooting it. If the wife has to use it, then she may only get one round off and hopefully it's a hit. The recoil will more than likely knock her on her ars or she will drop the gun.

As far as the racking sound goes, I use a semi-auto so there is no racking sound. Besides, if I pull out the gun for protection, then I'm not intending on scaring the assailant with noise. I intend on taking them out. No warning needed. Their warning was my locked door or window.

I would get the wife shooting it so she knows how to manipulate the weapon and then there won't be no droping or getting knocked over