Home defense

[JCFindley]

I like the bullpup KSG shotgun personally as the design allows for better weapons retention in close quarters than a standard shotgun.

That said, because I assume my dogs would be attacking an intruder and I love my dogs, (a lot) I would likely grab my 686 loaded with Buffalo Bore low flash/recoil/noise 125 grain Barnes bullets. (Not as much risk of hitting the dogs with buckshot and since my wife needs to be able to shoot whatever it is we have available, slugs aren't a great choice in a shotgun for us.)They aren't quiet by any means but they probably won't cause as much permanent hearing loss as other effective rounds.

Frankly, if I need more than six of those rounds there is always the M&P 45 with three 10 round mags ready.

And of course if I need to stop a charging rhino, stop someone from shooting at me behind my neighbor's refrigerator or am just hungry for wild boar there is the Henry shown below.

 

[Kanewpadle]

The decision on a long gun or hand gun should be based on it's intended use. One size does not fit all.

I do not like any type of gun mounted light. With a long gun you're committed to having both hands on the gun. Even if you're lying in wait you still have to identify your potential attacker.

So I use a Glock 19 with hand held flashlight.

 

[Longhorn1986]

Nothing says "I Love You" quite like a Remington 870 Tactical 12 gauge with alternating 00 & #4 buckshot!!

 

[MaxS]

I've always wanted to be able to pick up my friend Mr. Mossberg when uninvited company comes to call.

The 18.5 inch Mossberg 500 6 shot pistol grip model in 20 gauge.

That would be quickly followed by the short barrel revolver option. In fact, they would go hand in hand, but I could only click on one at a time for the poll.

Great minds think alike!

 

[steelslaver]

Shotguns are great weapons, but, a bit long and require 2 hands to fire properly. It is far easier to keep a handgun handy and move around with. Way easier to securely hold and control a handgun in my right hand and open doors, hit light switches etc and be completely ready to fire if need be. Yes, you can and I have fired shotguns with one hand, but, I don't think I would be able to do it and recover for a second shot nearly as well as with a handgun and I am a large man with big hands ad arms.

 

[Bill Bates]

Anything in the poll would suit me fine but my Glock 30SF with an G21 magazine is always close at hand. It certainly will give me enough time to get me across the room to a shotgun.

 

[Bastogne71]

A Browning Hi Power is in a holster hanging on my bedstead and a Surefire flashlight on the nightstand. But that's only until I get up and take three steps to the Remington 870. Buckshot is your reliable friend when in need.

 

[Ransom]

The AR-15 makes the most sense to me. Easy to shoot. Accurate. Reliable. Lots of rounds. Semi-automatic. Here's a good article. American Rifleman | The AR for Home Defense: One Expert's Opinion

 

[31FordA]

Although my 590 or M-1 Carbine would both be good choices I voted for what's always at hand, the short barreled revolver. I carry them for work each day, and I put them on the nightstand when I turn in. Home defense has been covered by whatever my working gun was since I started carrying. Prior to that it was my dependable 4" 10-5.

 

[Protected One]

Which would or do you have handy in the house for the extreme emergency.

Very first thing your going to pick up. I know many of you have one or more back ups for what ever eventuality.

Shield 9mm. Why? It's on my hip.

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

There is NO room in our home that you have to leave to get a gun. Hi-Cap Glocks in every room and one on each side of the bed in Master BR. We use them not because we particularly like them [no PRIDE of ownership], but for the same reason we use a shovel to dig a hole. We are in the country, behind gates. If we need help, we are IT. Our motto for life is,"Carry every step, shoot every day!"

 

[Lostaro]

I voted for a shotgun. I have revolvers close by and they do get the nod for checking out the house when you hear that odd noise but are pretty sure it's just your stupid cat....

If I really think someone is in my house....I'm grabbing my Mossberg 500 loaded with #4 buck and 6 slugs in reserve and getting my family behind me...phone will be next to me with 911 already on the line....recording everything.

 

[Smoke]

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1WgHJq8ADsU[/ame]

 

[cmort666]

I'm in no way disagreeing with you but I am curious as to why in YOUR home a semi auto pistol is the best choice.

I cannot think of a single reason in any home defense situation to where a shotgun wouldn't be a better choice over anything else. SUCH flexibility with them.

Did you miss the part where I said I couldn't get through the bedroom door with a long gun without banging into something?

In MY home, I might just as well use a long bow or a naginata as a shotgun bigger than an Ithaca Auto-Burglar.

My guess is that your home looks VERY different from mine.

I don't draw any UNIVERSAL conclusions from the configuration of MY home. You should probably not draw any from yours.

 

[Cal44]

There is NO room in our home that you have to leave to get a gun. Hi-Cap Glocks in every room and one on each side of the bed in Master BR. We use them not because we particularly like them [no PRIDE of ownership], but for the same reason we use a shovel to dig a hole. We are in the country, behind gates. If we need help, we are IT. Our motto for life is,"Carry every step, shoot every day!"

Wow. Our house has 13 rooms. To use your method, I'd need 14 Glocks. One for each room plus 2 in the MBR.

That's a lot of Glocks.

I think it's easier to carry one gun in my pocket during the day. And perhaps another larger one in a quick access safe.

 

[cmort666]

I do not like any type of gun mounted light. With a long gun you're committed to having both hands on the gun. Even if you're lying in wait you still have to identify your potential attacker.

I won't ever have a light on a handgun.

I have no desire to have a flashlight, which in order to employ I must pointed a loaded firearm at, or even in the general direction of, another person.

 

[cmort666]

Lousiville Slugger, where I live, there's a real chance firing a weapon in the house would take out a neighbor and that's not something I'm willing to do.
Good solid core doors with dead bolts and a bat should be a poll option.

I once saw an episode of "Cold Case Files" in which a guy was in bed with his wife when he heard noises coming from the other side of the house.

He picked up a bat and went to see what the noises were... whereupon an intruder stabbed him in the heart, killing him.

The intruder then raped the wife and set the house on fire.

Escaping, the wife alerted the police... who immediately treated HER as the prime suspect, proceeding to torment her for YEARS.

Ten(?) years later, the actual murderer and rapist was found, I believe, serving a sentence for another crime.

At the end of the episode, the now vindicated wife declared that she wished that she'd died in the attack.

Bats are for baseball and softball and formerly, for discipline in Imperial Japanese Navy enlisted flight school.

 

[amcline82]

Weatherby PA-08 TR 12 ga

Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk

 

[Mule Packer]

When another person mentions to me what his/her preferred home defense weapon is, I am certainly not going to disagree with them, not matter how I feel personally.

There are numerous videos by numerous "professionals" who give valid arguments from everything to a handgun to a shotgun to an AR. That's fine. That's their opinion and no matter what I say, I probably won't change it.

For me, in my situation, it depends. I have lots of options at my disposal, as do probably most of you, and am willing to implement any (or all) of them depending on the particular situation.

First off, I live in a fairly rural area and it's just me and my wife, so I'm not concerned about a round going through my house and into my neighbor's bedroom.

Okay, with that being said, let's go through a few different scenarios.

If Miss Judy and I are sitting at home watching the ten o'clock news and someone comes busting through the door, I have a handgun at my ready disposal. Usually it's either a .45 Colt, .45 acp, .357 magnum, or a .38 with +P's, but it's no more than 12 inches from my hand at all times.

If it's in the middle of the night and I'm awakened by somebody either in our bedroom or making his way down the hall, I have a handgun there on the nightstand. Again, usually one of the above.

Now, let's say it's two in the morning and we're awakened by someone trying to break down the front door. They haven't made it through yet, but they're trying. Let's say I've got time to call 911 and go downstairs while Sing Sing Tommy is still hammering away at the door.

In that situation, I'd go to the kitchen, fix myself a snack, and go sit in my easy chair and wait. Then, when he makes it through the door, he would be met with a load of double-aught buck. (Remember, I'm not concerned with over-penetration here.) I want something that when the coroner arrives, the perpetrator's body and head will be leaving my home in two separate bags.

Now, like I said, that's just my opinion. Who am I to disagree with someone else's choice for home defense, whether it be a .22, a baseball bat, or a Chihuahua named Mitzi?

 

[Old TexMex]

I was trained to use a handgun to check and clear. That's what I use.

My house has a lot of corners.