Best Weapon for Home Defense against Home Invasion?

[JMichaelTX]

I did a search here, and found many, many threads that closely relate to this topic, but none that focus on the best "weapon" vs the the best gun, ammo, etc. Please forgive me if I missed the thread you think addresses this. Please post a link to it, and we will all go there to continue this discussion.

I have asked this question many times, to a number of different people, and I've gotten a wide variety of answers, as you might guess.

I recently ran across this blog that I thought was very well thought-out, and at least gives us a lot to think about:

Best Weapon For Home Defense

I would request that everyone who responds to this thread to please take the time to read this blog first.

To wet your appetite, here are some choices offered by the author:

1. 12-gauge shotgun
2. 20-gauge shotgun
3. an AR-15
4. a pocket pistol (of your choosing)

OK, here's a clue:
What is the best camera?

I do apologize if this is somewhat of a redunant subject/thread. But I think we have people who have never shot a firearm, never owned a gun, who are now becoming concerned enough about their safety, and that of their loved ones, that they are now asking this important question.

If you know of blogs/articles/books/etc that address this issue in a thoughtful manner, please post a link to them.

 

[Jessie]

A 12 ga. Coach gun is hard to beat, but its going to have to be something that is there, as in RIGHT there, since a home invasion is usually swift and violent.
No time to open a safe or dig a gun out of a closet.
On your person is the best bet, so that leans towards a carry gun which a 12 ga. is not.
That leaves an adequate caliber handgun that is on or close to you that you're proficient with.
The choices are limitless.

 

[shotgun693]

IMO, a shotgun is a Jack of all Trades. By selecting different types of loads you can nearly handle anything. You can get more different types of loads for a 12 than a 20 and they tend to be cheaper. I was a Cop 35 years, where and when I could I had a shotgun with me.

 

[texmex]

Almost every comment I have seen about home defense advocates a shotgun for home defense. That is true if you have some advanced warning that an invasion is imminent. So if you live out in the country where you can see or hear a vehicle approaching a mile away, the shotgun or rifle may be your best defense. If you are asleep in your upstairs bedroom and the dog barking wakes you up and then you hear the front door being kicked in, by all means grab your shotgun. But what about the scenario where you are at home in town, sitting in your recliner watching TV when a masked gunman kicks in your door and rushes in? What about when the doorbell rings and you go to see who it is? Are you going to take the shotgun with you and then try to figure out what to do with it while you buy girl scout cookies? A shotgun is great to have and I have one in my bedroom with a magazine full of buckshot. But it is the handgun that sits on the nightstand next to my bed. It is the handgun on the end table next to my chair. It is the handgun that I take with me to answer the door during normal waking hours.

My suggestion is the largest calibre handgun you can shoot accurately, are very familiar with and can bring into action immediately. For some, that may be a 22 revolver. For some, that may be a 45ACP 1911 or a 6 inch 44 Magnum (if you live in the country).

So the one on my nightstand is the 4 inch 8 shot 357 Magnum that I carry on duty. The one on the end table is a 2 inch 5 shot 357 Magnum that I can drop into my pocket if the doorbell does turn out to be girl scouts. My favorite are Peanut Butter Patties.

 

[tbgunner88]

12 gauge loaded with 00 Buck.

 

[shotgun693]

If you first response to a break-in or home invasion is the gun in your pocket then you're starting off way behind the curve. You need layers of protection. We have a yard full of Rottweilers, behind a fence and gate you'll need to climb or figure out how to open. This gives us time to get ready.

 

[badge]

Almost every comment I have seen about home defense advocates a shotgun for home defense. That is true if you have some advanced warning that an invasion is imminent. So if you live out in the country where you can see or hear a vehicle approaching a mile away, the shotgun or rifle may be your best defense. If you are asleep in your upstairs bedroom and the dog barking wakes you up and then you hear the front door being kicked in, by all means grab your shotgun. But what about the scenario where you are at home in town, sitting in your recliner watching TV when a masked gunman kicks in your door and rushes in? What about when the doorbell rings and you go to see who it is? Are you going to take the shotgun with you and then try to figure out what to do with it while you buy girl scout cookies? A shotgun is great to have and I have one in my bedroom with a magazine full of buckshot. But it is the handgun that sits on the nightstand next to my bed. It is the handgun on the end table next to my chair. It is the handgun that I take with me to answer the door during normal waking hours.

My suggestion is the largest calibre handgun you can shoot accurately, are very familiar with and can bring into action immediately. For some, that may be a 22 revolver. For some, that may be a 45ACP 1911 or a 6 inch 44 Magnum (if you live in the country).

So the one on my nightstand is the 4 inch 8 shot 357 Magnum that I carry on duty. The one on the end table is a 2 inch 5 shot 357 Magnum that I can drop into my pocket if the doorbell does turn out to be girl scouts. My favorite are Peanut Butter Patties.

Excellent. Say's it all.

 

[GatorFarmer]

There is no one size fits all answer. A home invader could be a confused drunk or it could be Attila and his hordes come to pillage. It could be at three a.m. while you dream or at literal high noon. Depending on what "home" is the range could be 3 feet or 300 yards.

 

[colt_saa]

A 12 ga. Coach gun is hard to beat, but its going to have to be something that is there, as in RIGHT there, since a home invasion is usually swift and violent.

The choices are limitless.

Thunder Stick

 

[Kanewpadle]

The best home defense firearm is almost useless if you don't take steps to prevent a home invasion.

If I kick in your door while you're asleep or on the toilet, or in the shower, how far do you think I would make into your house before you react?

Answer? At least half way.

Those aren't good odds and the playing field just became even.

Instead of reacting, we need to be proactive. Simply having what we think is the right firearm is not enough.

 

[HalfStack]

Your first line of defense is preventive measures. That's large dogs, security cameras, wrought iron door and window guards, lighting, area cleared around windows and doors. Even trip alarms.

Make your house uninviting to perps. Don't leave stuff in cars and yards. Cut up boxes of valuable stuff and stuff in trash bags. Don't talk about the goodies you got and don't post it online.

Second line of defense will be your firearms.

 

[rwsmith]

First grab......

First grab is a pistol, just for speed. If time allows it would be put aside for a short 12 ga. pump

 

[Ranger98]

For things that go bump in the night or any other time.

 

[USAF385]

I nearly lost interest when the writer declared a 12 gauge is only for 300 pounders. Granted, my wife has trouble managing one, but I'm not impressed by obvious exaggeration to make your point.

For me, I live far out, off the main road, literally surrounded by woods on all sides. My biggest day to day concern is outdoor critters... coyotes, bobcats, bear, and the mountain lions the game commission keeps trying to tell us doesn't exist (despite the fact I know quite a few people including myself who have seen them on game cams or in person).

I also have a small beagle dachshund mix who would be a tasty snack for any of those critters.

When I'm in the house, I always have my model 681 or 1911 out and ready.... at least. Lately, it's been my mossberg 500 loaded with the first two rounds being buck and slug followed by 6 rounds of 000 buck. I literally keep it at my side, within a few feet when I'm in the house.

I think it would work on home invaders as well.

 

[jimmyj]

A Straight Razor and a Hand Grenade Plus be nude inside your home. If and when the BG (s) kick in your door, the sight of you nude will pause Him/Her/Them long enough for you to employ your weapons.

 

[BAM-BAM]

A Straight Razor and a Hand Grenade Plus be nude inside your home. If and when the BG (s) kick in your door, the sight of you nude will pause Him/Her/Them long enough for you to employ your weapons.

I like the way Jimmy thinks....but would prefer not to think about how he looks!


Ideal........ a select fire Thompson with a 50 rd drum magazine...that will feed 200gr "flying ashtrays" ............50 rds of .45cal goodness..........


If you are subject of a "home invasion".....from everything I've heard or read..... IMHO

the only gun that will do you any good is the one that's on you...if you can react in time....... or

are far enough from "the door" to get to another weapon...


If you are really worried about it happening in your neighborhood ....... my advice is move!!!

 

[haywood]

It's the gun in my waist and the one in my pocket at the time of break in.

 

[Bill Bates]

As I sit here in my underwear typing my response while sipping my morning coffee my Glock 30 .45 cap is beside the keyboard.

I the blogger's ideas and conclusions were well thought through and good suggestions. My desk is 10 feet from my front door. I have a 12 gauge pump shotgun under my bed ruffle in the back corner of the house. The reality is that my shotgun is a great home defense weapon but not something I pack around the house as I go about my daily routine. Once dressed I do have my daily carry gun. Now If I could convince momma she should do the same.

Jimmy, I figure that as I sit here with my rather large white whale belly hanging out of my bathrobe I've got time to get a shot or three off while the bad guys laugh their last laugh.

 

[Bill Bates]

If you are really worried about it happening in your neighborhood ....... my advice is move!!!

I live in a very nice upper middle class quiet area. The kind of place where most would say not much bad happens. Most would be a surprised. I know we were a few years ago when one of our neighbors, three blocks away, got robbed and murdered for his gun collection in a home invasion. It was wakeup call and at that time I re-thought my home defense strategies.

Investigators looking for 32 guns stolen in Payson murder | KSL.com

The reality now here are home invasion robberies are happening more and more. Here in Utah lots of them are now happening in very nice neighborhoods where most would think that sort of thing just doesn't happen. These are areas where people still don't lock their doors.

The bad guys have figured out that those nice upper middle class and rich neighborhoods in the burbs and quiet communities are where the money and nice stuff to steal are kept.

 

[cmort666]

It totally depends upon YOUR specific situation.

For me, no long gun bigger than an MP-5 with a collapsed sliding stock is going to be appropriate.

For somebody with a house or one of those aircraft hangers they call "apartments" on "Law & Order: Unregistered Phaser Unit", a 10ga. goosegun might work.

Nothing bigger than a handgun is worth bothering with in my home. For somebody else, things could be entirely different.