Pistol or shotgun ?

[RobertJ.]

My closest at night, and the one I'd grab first, is my Ruger SRH snubby, loaded with what amounts to a hot .44 Special load, a 200 gr. Speer Gold Dot at about 900 fps.

 

[pheelmeh]

As most mentioned here, the answer to almost every "this or that" question with firearms is whichever you are MOST proficient with. It also comes down to the type of home you are in IMO...

I've lived in a 1 bedroom apt, i've lived in a 4 bedroom house with long hallways and i've had to fire a round and defend myself in my home. The type of firearm i'd choose is diff for the diff homes i've lived in.

The whole "with a shotgun, you cant miss" argument isnt always the winner since picking up and maneuvering through a home with a 18inch barrel might not always be proficient for someone who isnt trained vs wielding a 4inch 9mm around corners...HOWEVER this could also be vice versa if you arent a proficient shooter in the right layout a shotgun could be much more ideal.

Same with rifles IMO. 223 is a high projectile - you sure u want to pierce layers and layers of drywall and potentially hit your neighbors? I have a 8.5in AR pistol that i chambered in 300 blackout for those same reasons IF i ever need to use it in a close quarters situation. Yes - still very lethal and able to pierce drywall, but a less chance of killing your neighbor between the 2 diff rifle rounds

 

[Mister X]

I now rely solely on handguns. I used to own a 7-shot Remington 870 as well as an AR for situations in which I envisioned taking up a fixed position or if having more time and able to gather the family together in one designated area. However, after a lot of analysis and running multiple scenario drills, I eventually came to the conclusion that the handgun was simply much more practical and effective in all of the most likely home defense encounters considering my particular set of circumstances. Being able to move quickly and easily through(or even out of) the home and keeping one hand free while retaining the ability to effectively use(and retain) the weapon while on the move trumps the power advantage of a long gun in my opinion.

 

[Bamabred]

Pistol: CZ P-09 Urban Grey with 22 rounds of HST

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

Whatever I grab first. Both my shotgun and AR have lights. The AR has better ergonomics IMHO, but the two long guns are on different floors of the house. My shotgun is loaded with slugs, which my academy taught as the default. Whatever you shoot best is the correct answer.

Now I'll go back to my default position on this: layers, darn it, layers. Make your home unwelcoming to the uninvited. 6' minimum fence, with locked gates and statutorily necessary trespass notice signs. No one needs to come to your door unless they were invited first, and the default response should be to call LE and have them arrested. If someone feels offended by that, they are not needed in your life at all. Floodlights on a timer or with a motion detector, as you wish. Dog(s), preferably LARGE AND LOUD, and of course inside the house. Any alert dog will give you notice; big loud ones give the intruder notice that they are in the wrong place. The dogs don't need to be protective by nature, but that helps. Doors should always be locked except to go through them. Period.

Enough layers and you really cut down the risk of burglary or home invasion, AND you make it really clear to anyone investigating that they entry had to be knowingly unlawful.

You been peeping across my fence??? I have survived a home invasion by 3 people. So I might know a coupla things some of you may just be cogitating on.

 

[KarmannGhia]

Having fired an AR w/o ear pro (once) and hunting with a 12 ga w/o ear pro (semi-regularly) and fired my handguns w/o on occasion. The LAST thing I want to shoot inside my house is a rifle. I keep a 12 ga pump right next to my bed. And they will not hear me rack the slide unless they able to hear my second shot.

 

[Out West]

If I can make it to the closet, any intruder will be getting a ride on the Shockwave!