Sort of morbid, but I am curious....

[Stopsign32v]

In May of 2010 a Denver homeowner used a governor to repel a group of three intruders that kicked their way into his home. It was initially reported that the teen burglar was shot multiple times in the head and died. They later reported that it was determined that it was one shell from the weapon that fired multiple projectiles, so buckshot was lethal in that case.
The news reported the "victim" died on the porch. He appeared to have a weapon, was shot, and the other two perpetrators ran off.
While it's tragic that a 17 year old was killed; they had earlier broken into other homes that night, and just picked the wrong guy to end their crime spree with.

Tragic a 17 year old died? Nah... he had a weapon. I say lucky and good he died before he was able to hurt or kill a real innocent person in their home.

Had I been in that home owners position it would have been buck shot alright I'd have used....just the 12ga version.

 

[Cal44]

Other than for shooting snakes, I don't see why one would load a Governor with 410 anyway for defense.

I'd probably go with a good hollow point 45 ACP round for home defense or carry.

Proven track record for more than a century.

But, then I'd opt for something smaller and lighter like a M60 J frame if I wanted to carry it.

 

[Stopsign32v]

Can anyone explain to me why they would use a pistol for home defense?

 

[OKFC05]

I don't think I have read any news items where someone defended themselves with a .410/.45 Colt revolver like the Governor.

What are the real life stopping power stories of those .410 shells...I know what a .45 Colt will do...

There have been two publicized use of the .410 Judge/Governor in shootings in Oklahoma, and neither came out well. That's not enough of a sample to generalize.

One pharmacist shot at two robbers less than 5 yds away and hit one in the head with one pellet. He completely missed the one he was aiming at, the one with the gun, who ran out of the store. The pharmacist ran out of the store and emptied the gun down the street, hitting nothing. He came back into the store and executed the unarmed robber on the floor, for which he is serving life in prison.

The other was less dramatic, simply involving the clerk shooting the store to pieces and hitting nobody.

I'm sure there are others, but I have no more specific info.

 

[OKFC05]

Can anyone explain to me why they would use a pistol for home defense?

It is always on me, and sometimes that's all I have close enough. The most unlikely event possible at the strangest time possible is more likely than the scenario you plan for.

 

[sandspur6]

Our department worked an incident wherein an elderly gentleman shot his daughter's biker boyfriend who had just beaten her and was approaching the old man to do the same to him. A Taurus Judge loaded with 2.5" #4's did an effective job of neutering the thug when the would be victim "crotched" him from about 8 feet away. The Grand Jury ruled it justifiable and we returned his revolver to him. Score one for the good guys.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Can anyone explain to me why they would use a pistol for home defense?

I think a Governor is probably one of the best hallway guns ever conceived . . .

 

[Stopsign32v]

I think a Governor is probably one of the best hallway guns ever conceived . . .

We are all given our birth right of an opinion but I'd disagree strongly with you. Short barrel, small and weak round, handgun that can easily be taken from you and used against you, no way to attach a light, and then the list goes on.

Best hallway gun is a 10ga-20ga shotgun in either pump or semi auto with a sling and 18.5" barrel shooting buck shot. That's my opinion.

Huge range of shot from 3.5" 0 buck to a light recoil #1 buckshot with a nice flight control wad.

Never limit yourself to a pistol unless you HAVE to (example out in public).

If I have pockets on, I always carry, and the Muggins family has a fairly hard and fast rule about wearing pants. I live in a great neighborhood with nice neighbors, a school adjoining the backyard, and a big high fence about the place. It is precisely because I'm relaxed and unafraid that I carry about the house. That's when bad things happen.

I don't pocket carry so again that wouldn't work for me. I'd rather holster up with my 43 and have 9 rounds of Underwood 9mm +p+ over 5 rounds of 38. But if that is your jam, rock on!

 

[Tom S.]

Can anyone explain to me why they would use a pistol for home defense?

Because it's what I practice with, and over the course of over 45 years of practice, I'm quite good, even with point shooting. I haven't shot a shot gun in decades, whereas I was shooting pistols just this morning. I can keep a pistol close to me so there's less chance of someone grabbing it. The 45 has night sights and a laser, and can be reloaded a lot faster than a shotgun. Rifles have the same disadvantage as a shotgun in they stick out, and unless you go with a mild caliber, you risk over penetration.


Your turn.

 

[Muss Muggins]

We are all given our birth right of an opinion but I'd disagree strongly with you. Short barrel, small and weak round, handgun that can easily be taken from you and used against you, no way to attach a light, and then the list goes on.

Best hallway gun is a 10ga-20ga shotgun in either pump or semi auto with a sling and 18.5" barrel shooting buck shot. That's my opinion.

Huge range of shot from 3.5" 0 buck to a light recoil #1 buckshot with a nice flight control wad.

Never limit yourself to a pistol unless you HAVE to (example out in public).



I don't pocket carry so again that wouldn't work for me. I'd rather holster up with my 43 and have 9 rounds of Underwood 9mm +p+ over 5 rounds of 38. But if that is your jam, rock on!

You ever been in a fight in a hallway carrying a shotgun with both hands? What if the issue you're confronting suddenly doesn't warrant deadly force, and you have to try to quickly sling that shotgun to free your hands? What if you have to use a hand to do, I don't know, anything, like flip a switch, open a door, move an object, etc. Talk about something easily snatched from your grasp. I don't know about your house, but in mine, as in most, a person lying wait around a corner can get both hands on the barrel of a long gun as it precedes your advance before you can say "Uh Oh." As for a light, I'm not a huge fan of them in home defense. I know my house better than you do, and it's never pitch dark. Lastly, my Governor is variously loaded with .410 slugs or 000, .45 Long Colt, or .45 ACP. Call it what you will, but I would decline to call any of those rounds "small and weak." And the list goes on . . .

All of your points are duly noted, but you roll your way and I'll roll mine.

 

[686-380]

More power to you

We are all given our birth right of an opinion but I'd disagree strongly with you. Short barrel, small and weak round, handgun that can easily be taken from you and used against you, no way to attach a light, and then the list goes on.

Best hallway gun is a 10ga-20ga shotgun in either pump or semi auto with a sling and 18.5" barrel shooting buck shot. That's my opinion.

Huge range of shot from 3.5" 0 buck to a light recoil #1 buckshot with a nice flight control wad.

Never limit yourself to a pistol unless you HAVE to (example out in public).



I don't pocket carry so again that wouldn't work for me. I'd rather holster up with my 43 and have 9 rounds of Underwood 9mm +p+ over 5 rounds of 38. But if that is your jam, rock on!

We all play the odds of "what if?!". For me, I have a number of ballistic solutions at hand - none of them involve a shotgun. I don't want the mess or blast, that's just me.

My Governor is one of my favorite weapons, primarily because it looks intimidating. The best shot you can make is the one you don't have to take.

Hopefully, this is all hypothetical but I trust my decision- as do you.

 

[eveled]

If it has to be a wheel gun. An 8 shot .357 revolver makes a lot more sense to me in any scenario than the Governor.

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

If it has to be a wheel gun. An 8 shot .357 revolver makes a lot more sense to me in any scenario than the Governor.

That's because you can't grasp the concept. The Governor is in fact the ultimate defensive weapon, it takes it's cue from the snub nose and revolutionizing it's capabilities. Defensive is measured in feet not yards and that average encounter is under 15.

And we don't use our sights we learn to point shoot.
S&W hit a grand slam when they took it even further than Taurus did or could.

 

[Hapworth]

Can anyone explain to me why they would use a pistol for home defense?

Because if you answer the door with a shotgun stuffed in your back pocket you look like an idiot.

 

[Hapworth]

That's because you can't grasp the concept.

Or he can, and still disagrees with you.

The Governor is in fact the ultimate defensive weapon...

Ultimate? Fact? Glad you've found what works for you, but that's all you've found...

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

Problem is he's not disagreeing. My guess is just 'parroting'.
You either understand the concept or you don't. And watching YouTube or reading gun forums does little. You can get some ideas, but you have to understand what self-defense is all about.

 

[Stopsign32v]

You ever been in a fight in a hallway carrying a shotgun with both hands? What if the issue you're confronting suddenly doesn't warrant deadly force, and you have to try to quickly sling that shotgun to free your hands? What if you have to use a hand to do, I don't know, anything, like flip a switch, open a door, move an object, etc. Talk about something easily snatched from your grasp. I don't know about your house, but in mine, as in most, a person lying wait around a corner can get both hands on the barrel of a long gun as it precedes your advance before you can say "Uh Oh." As for a light, I'm not a huge fan of them in home defense. I know my house better than you do, and it's never pitch dark. Lastly, my Governor is variously loaded with .410 slugs or 000, .45 Long Colt, or .45 ACP. Call it what you will, but I would decline to call any of those rounds "small and weak." And the list goes on . . .

All of your points are duly noted, but you roll your way and I'll roll mine.

If someone breaks into my house I'm at right to use deadly force in my state. I have 3 inside dogs the perp would have to deal with before me. If he still continues he WILL end up with lead in him.

With my shotgun slung I can still turn lights on while keeping it pointed down range, open doors, etc. However in the situation I do not plan to go through the house looking for an altercation.

Grab shotgun, sling it, chamber round, tell wife to call 911, get children in room with us (they are across hall), and lock us in the room with barrel pointed at the door until police arrive. Nothing I own is worth leaving my family without me so my most valuable items will stay safe with me until help arrives.

Also if somehow an intruder grabs my shotgun and we struggle he cannot physically point it at me due to the sling. A pistol can be removed from you and used on you and your family. A pistol is a good weapon to use until you can get to a long gun.

Your way isn't the wrong way, just a different way. It might work better for you, I'm not in position to see it will or wont. Just voicing my way.

Oh and I have absolutely 0 concern with over penetration in my situation. More holes to leak so 0buck works

 

[Stopsign32v]

Because if you answer the door with a shotgun stuffed in your back pocket you look like an idiot.

Why am I answering the door? I'm VERY cautious to whom and when I open my door. But when I do I do have my 43 in my hand. So point goes to you. Good thinking

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

I'm VERY cautious to whom and when I open my door.

I never answer mine, no one knows me except the landlord and he can call ahead to make an appointment.
In fact one time the cops had to call be on the phone to come outside and talk with them after assuring me the coast was clear.

As far as your shotgun goes, you got it right, you'll not hear me argue with that.
In my case I had to be extremely practical and come up with a solution that could work for me equally well for CCW. I found it in the Governor.

I'm a walker, I'm out in the street every day and it ain't in rural America. The thugs had me pegged the moment I landed in town. (thankfully the cops have me pegged as well)

 

[Hapworth]

Problem is he's not disagreeing. My guess is just 'parroting'.
You either understand the concept or you don't. And watching YouTube or reading gun forums does little. You can get some ideas, but you have to understand what self-defense is all about.

I'd like to know more about your process for determining from one member's single statement that he'd prefer an 8-shot .357 over your personal preference that he's simply "parroting"; that's impressive inference, if correct.

I'd also like to know more about this unidentified concept that is so purely binary it's either understood or isn't.

Perhaps, too, rather than simply saying that one has to understand what self-defense is all about and stopping there, you can explain what the "all about" is all about...