Editor asks: 4.25" M&P 9mm side dishes?

[martywinston]

Many experts consider a white light (flashlight) a necessity on the bedside. Of course, it can be attached to the gun, but IMO it is safer if you carry it in your weak hand and the gun in your strong hand. The light should be bright enough to temporarily blind someone.

Regarding a gun for home defense, a 12 gage shotgun is just about tops. I have a Mossberg Maverick with a 18 inch barrel. I have it loaded with 2 3/4" #4 buckshot (42 pellets). At living room range it would most likely instantly incapacatate an intruder.

For a companion gun, look at the M&P22.

Our county Sheriff also prefers a shotgun for home defense; at my house, my home defense gun would be the same (only) gun I would have on hand if a backyard coyote decided to go after a small dog (just lost our Jack Russell; my wife is now intent on adopting a Chihuhua/Rat Terrier mix she saw at a local shelter) and a shotgun would give me zero chance of just hitting one and not the other. I don't think I'd try it with a pistol, either, that wasn't equipped with a light and a laser.

But that's a different discussion.

 

[martywinston]

At my house, my home defense gun would be the same (only) gun I would have on hand if a backyard coyote decided to go after a small dog (just lost our Jack Russell; my wife is now intent on adopting a Chihuhua/Rat Terrier mix she saw at a local shelter) and a shotgun would give me zero chance of just hitting one and not the other. I don't think I'd try it with a pistol, either, that wasn't equipped with a light and a laser.

On that subject, I ran into a quirk in Ohio law and confirmed it with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

While there is no season for coyotes, I'm not allowed to shoot one (even one in my yard) without a hunting license - and I can't get a hunting license without taking a hunter's education course.

So I signed up for the next course in this county (in April, 7 hours each on one Saturday before and another Saturday after I have to be away in Las Vegas for a week at a major trade show) - but just to stay ahead of everything, I downloaded the course book, printed out the chapter review questions and filled in the answers yesterday and today. I don't know if that will be any help in the course, but I'm thinking there's some small chance the instructor will take that as course completion and let me cut class.

I'm also planning a trip to Pennsylvania to get their concealed weapon permit - together with Ohio I'll have most states covered.