Home Protection Firepower...

redfalconone

I've got a question about the suitable type gun for home protection. Some say revolver (no jamming), some semi-auto(more rounds), some shotgun (power). Is 9mm enough? .38? Is .44 too much? I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this? Thanks for the input.

redfalconone

Thanks Will...I'm a firm believer in the power of a shotgun. I figure if you are going to shoot an intruder (lets hope this is all academic), then max range will be about 50 feet. At that range, even a .410 w/ 8 shot will decimate a target. The problem with a scatter gun would be the unwieldy nature of the beast.Worst case scenario: Someone(or several since it's worst case) breaks in and is lit up on PCP. I know my 12 gauge would make quick work of the bad guys if I have room to manuveur, but would a .38 or 9mm be enough?I'm a big guy (6' 3" 225lbs.) so I can handle a big bore, but do I need that much stopping power? A .44 will damn near disable a truck.

Christian B.

In my opinion, nothing says "You've overstayed your welcome" like the sound of a 12 gauge shotgun chambering a round. I like the idea of having my 9mm, .40, .357, .45, when I go out, and they're a great back-up for home defense, but I think I'd rather have a shotgun in my hands should someone enter my home at night.Fortunately, you can have both.christian

pops401

I agree with Christian B. The sound of a 12 guage pump is a universally known language. I also keep my 40 cal. Defender close at all times. Not that I think that a 40 is needed, it's my carry, and not kept in the safe. It's with me all the time, and I'm real comfortable with it in the dark.

Gordian Blade

This is "Ask the Experts" and I'm not one, but I'll give you my opinion anyway. It's based on what research I've done reading people who are the real experts and some thinking on my own to summarize what I've learned.I (and most experts) agree about the shotgun, but if you ever have kids in the house (your own, grandchildren, etc.), you can't just leave a loaded weapon where they might get it. The usual advice is to store the weapon unloaded and locked somewhere, and store the ammunition somewhere else. This is not fool-proof, but designed to buy you some time so a kid can't get hold of a loaded weapon suddenly.But then what good is it in an emergency? Maybe those few seconds that it takes to get the ammo and weapon together and unlock it won't be available. Yes, you can store it loaded in a full-size gun safe, but then how easy is it going to be to get to the safe and open it in an emergency? As a back-up plan, the best thing is a loaded handgun in one of those quick-open handgun safes. You can bolt that down to the floor under the bed, for example. Most experts recommend a revolver, since the likelihood of failure is lower. The idea is 6 for sure rather than 10 maybe. But some say a well-maintained, quality semi-auto is acceptable. In either case, the minimum caliber recommended is 9mm or .357 magnum. You want jacketed hollow-point (JHP) ammo for self-defense, not full metal jacket (FMJ) because JHP has better stopping power. You can use FMJ of the same bullet weight for target practice because it's cheaper.Another consideration for ammo selection is that you don't want a round that will easily penetrate walls and possibly injure or kill a family member or neighbor. Also, some self-defense experts recommend a carbine. (I thought I'd mention that just so you'll be totally confused.) Whatever you get, make sure to practice with it (them) using the same load you would use for self-defense. For instance, some experts recommend using .38 special to practice and .357 for real because .38 is a lighter load (.357 revolvers can use .38), but I think you should practice with the same recoil force so you'll be ready.So in the ideal case, you have a loaded handgun almost instantly available but secure in a small safe that you can keep in the bedroom, then a shotgun you can retrieve and load if you have time once you get the handgun. The two-weapon approach is also good if you have a spouse, so both of you will be armed. Don't forget a cell phone to dial 911 (in case the bad guy cuts the phone line, otherwise use a regular phone) so the police can get there soon after it's all over and you won't have to explain why you didn't dial 911.PS - A remote control that turns on a bunch of lights around the house at once is also a worthwhile expense, since it will scare some intruders away and help you with target recognition otherwise. You don't want to shoot a family member in the dark by accident.[This message has been edited by Gordian Blade (edited 01-28-2002).]

competentone

Start with really good locks on your doors (and always reinforce the door jamb plate, which is what normally fails when a door is kicked-in). Add locks on your windows; type depends on your type of windows.Get a dog if you like them; or an alarm system to give you a warning of any intruder.If "bad guys" are still going to come through all that, then use a firearm you can shoot well.Personally I prefer a handgun; I can use the phone to punch in 911 and still be ready to fire; a shotgun would be more difficult to use one-handed.

old single shots

I have a 12 ga. sxs loaded with 00buck by my bed.If they get by that i,ll help them lug things out.

bwa

The shotgun is certainly the ultimate stopper, but what if you find yourself in a 2'8" doorway or 3' wide hallway(typical of bedroom wings of houses) faced with the necessity of swinging that thing either 90 or 180 degrees in an instant? An important consideration, I'd say.

Jungle Jim

My home defense favorite is a Thunder Five 410/44LC pistol, cross loaded with 410 buckshot and 44LC hollow points. I have a 12 gauge in the closet, a 9mm in the drawer - but the T-5 pistol solves the problem of obstruction swinging. By the way; if you've never heard one of these weapons fire, they hold true to their name !Jim

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"De Oppresso Liber"