S&W Model 60. Saved the day!!!

[Xfuzz]

Invest in a peephole for your door.
Ask what they want "through" the door.
Tactics/odds were way in your favor until
you OPENED the door.

 

[model70hunter]

Glad things worked out for you, but since you have posted this I will "critic" two things (if I may). that you might want to reconsider if this situation ever happened again.

1) I would NOT have cocked the M60 while pointing it at them - too easily discharged unintentionally when the adrenalin is flowing. Even though they were not exactly choir boys, the last thing you need is to defend yourself for an AD indictment in today's political climate!


2) I would NOT have abandon the M60 when you grabbed the shotgun. Sticking it in your waistband or pocket would have been a better move IMHO just in case.

Glad you are OK.

Chief38

The Chief is right on. Best I remember we were told in training to not cock and go single action for this very reason. Yep on keeping the backup.

Do you know how close the other person has to be before you can react to their attack. It's farther than most realize. IF they initiate a charge they can cover 6' or so before you can raise the gun...

And a few have mentioned that Mag lite, as a former LEO let me tell you it is an attention getter or a sleeping pill depending on speed and area hit.

Bad guys can legally carry a mag lite, where a club would revoke their parole. If I was a betting man, they knew you had guns and you were almost a home invasion statistic.

 

[Twogunnes]

The Chief is right on. Best I remember we were told in training to not cock and go single action for this very reason. Yep on keeping the backup.

Do you know how close the other person has to be before you can react to their attack. It's farther than most realize. IF they initiate a charge they can cover 6' or so before you can raise the gun...

And a few have mentioned that Mag lite, as a former LEO let me tell you it is an attention getter or a sleeping pill depending on speed and area hit.

Bad guys can legally carry a mag lite, where a club would revoke their parole. If I was a betting man, they knew you had guns and you were almost a home invasion statistic.

Thankyou!!!

I operate equipment for a living. Nothing on LEO training. Hindsight is 20/20.

Why I left the house, it was over two hours before the police showed up. I live in a rural area.

As for the 60 it was replaced before noon. With a S&W 1911. From the safe. The Nighthawk(s) are still in safe. The 60 went to the wife.

The 311 is loaded in closet, on a pair of pegs over the door.

Open the door, I am not going to be intimidated!!! It is my house. There is glass on door and both sides with large windows, not a fortress.

I am nearing 60, I would say I am better than good with a firearm. I do shoot some competition.

I have been in the alders with grizzlys, two thugs will not intimidate me when I am armed, properly!!!

The two drove out, G. My neighbor is standing there watching with an 870.

I stepped back and let them pass.

I am sure I made a lot of mistakes!!! I simply did the best I could under the circumstances!!!

As bad as it was, or could have been. Better me than someone else, as I am drinking coffee and watching the news.

 

[jlrhiner]

Being there and actually involved is far more difficult than Monday morning quarterbacking, although there are a lot of members here whose opinions I greatly respect.

Having said that, my opinion is that this is my home, on my property, and next to me are my neighbors in their homes on their property. If someone is in our neighborhood acting suspicious, they are going to be confronted. I will be armed. I will not hide in my house hoping someone comes and saves me. If they knock on the door, they will get to meet me. How that meeting turns out is entirely up to them. If they need help, they will get it. If they have a black heart, they'll be in for a long night. I guarantee they will not make it to my wife. If one of my neighbors call me and says there is someone outside their home, I'll go see who it is.

It is not in my nature to stand by and watch. Never has been, never will.

To the OP; in my opinion, you did what a man should. Some changes in your tactics maybe, but your situational awareness was good. Good luck and keep up the good work.

 

[radar1972]

Wow..... just wow! To the OP story and all the comments, too. Good stuff.

I don't want to be one to second guess, but keeping someone from being "in my face" when I open the door is the reason I installed a storm door in front of my front door.

But I don't open my door for just anyone anyways.

I always look out the dining room window to see who's at my door anyway. If I don't like the looks of them or don't feel like being converted to their denomination, I just don't answer it.

 

[feralmerril]

Your here. I wont secound guess your actions. I probley handeled uncountable situations where people would have a field day picking it apart but I am here too. Like you, I would be damned if I would cower in my house while people are possibly carrying off the place.
In my experiance if a person acts scared they well might get ran over but if you show your willing to protect your property and yourself they likely will back off. In your case and the one I told of that guy that came to my door wondering where the party was I am positive had say my old 100 lb girl friend answered the door he would have knocked her down, came in, possibly rob, rape and murder. While nothing is 100% I belive in going by your nose on these deals.

 

[redlevel]

I don't want to be one to second guess, but keeping someone from being "in my face" when I open the door is the reason I installed a storm door in front of my front door.

Actually, when I open my door to someone unknown in the dark of the night (or daytime, for that matter), I am the one who is in their face.

 

[feralmerril]

I went back and read your first post closer. I have no doubt had they thought no one was home they would have broke in. Had you not answered the door they would have broke in and you would have shot them. Then you would be dealing with whatever legal aftermath.
When you did open the door they would have started to beat you had they sensed you werent armed. I think I know where you were comeing from when you walked the 200 yards to confront them the secound time that most here are questioning. Lets see if I am close. First you obvisely are a man who can take care of himself and wont be walked over. 2nd, you felt HAD they been armed they already would have brandished them or used them. Hence your choice in confronting them to running them off?
These guys had to be beyond stupid to stay there so long. I see you said they werent out of gas. Could it be they were almost empty and were holding a board of directors meeting trying to decide on where to go next thinking they couldnt get over a mile or two away on what they had until you brought the half gallon?

 

[PA Reb]

Good job "Twogunnes" - more people need to stand their ground. Maybe you didn't do it all right but I think you're admirable for doing what you did. And you're right, 20/20 hindsight always makes one think differently.

To all those that say "wait for the police to arrive" I say, yeah right! Most of the cops around here think they're something to behold but 99% of the time its up to the individual to defend himself, loved ones and property. I'll make my 911 call after the invader(s) are twitching on the ground!

 

[Delos]

Win in court also

Different states have different situations.

I once read somewhere that California has more lawsuits because it has more lawyers.

The California media is really left wing. But somehow they usually get it right in those home-crime situations.

The wimpy little security chains on front doors that allow a person to open it several inches are good. Because if someone forces their way in past the chain, and gets shot, the situation is obvious. If I ever move back to an area, like California, that has crime I might get one? I do not intend to spend my savings on lawyers.

It is nice to hear there are still places in this country where good men can still help defend themselves and neighbors.

California at one time had laws requiring people to retreat to furthest room, or out back door before shooting. It was insane, but very good for judges and lawyers.

Most homicides in this country happen in big city ghetto's and Barrios where people cannot afford lawyers. And have good reason to fear retaliation, if they ever go to court and testify against anyone in the local drug gang that does most of the crimes. So you see areas with bars on the windows.

This is not the place for me to comment on that Neighborhood Watch guys legal problems in Florida. But obviously it began with him pursuing and trying to question a person he decided was a stranger to the area. A different situation but some discussion and laws will evolve.

 

[Twogunnes]

Good job "Twogunnes" - more people need to stand their ground. Maybe you didn't do it all right but I think you're admirable for doing what you did. And you're right, 20/20 hindsight always makes one think differently.

To all those that say "wait for the police to arrive" I say, yeah right! Most of the cops around here think they're something to behold but 99% of the time its up to the individual to defend himself, loved ones and property. I'll make my 911 call after the invader(s) are twitching on the ground!

Thankyou!!!

I refuse to be intimidated. I have to look at myself in the mirror.

 

[Cooter Brown]

I don't see where the OP made any terrible mistakes.

Someone bangs on my door before daylight, I'm going to find out who they are and what they are up to. I will be armed. (Probably with something more powerful and higher capacity than a Model 60) If they leave and park down the road, I am going to find out what they are up to. This is the rural South, not NYC, Baltimore, or California. Our LEOs know the problems faced by rural residents and landowners, and they expect us to take care of things. Also, I would consider myself well armed with a 2-barrel shotgun with ejectors, loaded with buck, and more rounds available. It would take a fool to start a fight with a man with a double barrel armed with a semi-automatic handgun.

I keep a little gas on hand just for such occurrences. I guess we average two incidents such as this per year. I am always armed, and usually have more weapons available in the house and in a couple of outbuildings. Things are just different in the rural areas. I have seen on some forums where people have been called to task for checking a building that looked like it had been broken in instead of calling the Sheriff. The nearest deputy might be 15 miles away, working a wreck or investigating a burglary or something. They would understand if a woman called them to tend to such a chore, but they would suspect the testicular fortitude of a grown man who waited around a couple of hours for them to get there before tending to something they figure he should be capable of handling.

Bingo! Nobody else here was in his shoes. It's all Monday morning quarterbacking.

And if someone is on my property messing with me or something of mine they'll meet a yawning muzzle.

Anybody that knows me knows I'm the furthest thing in the world from a tough guy looking for trouble--most would probably call me a wimp.. But if you ask hard enough for it I'll do my best to oblige, and don't expect a fair fight. That's just the way I was raised and I don't see anything wrong with it even in this overgoverned world.

Edit to add: The best part of threads like this are Feralmerril's remembrances, without a doubt.

 

[feralmerril]

Thanks. Truth is I spent my life on a boreing guard job where a lot of time was spent cooped up with other master BSers. One thing though many of them were either retired LEO or military doing their secound career. It kept us awake and passed the time.

 

[model70hunter]

Thankyou!!!

I operate equipment for a living. Nothing on LEO training. Hindsight is 20/20.

Why I left the house, it was over two hours before the police showed up. I live in a rural area.

As for the 60 it was replaced before noon. With a S&W 1911. From the safe. The Nighthawk(s) are still in safe. The 60 went to the wife.

The 311 is loaded in closet, on a pair of pegs over the door.

Open the door, I am not going to be intimidated!!! It is my house. There is glass on door and both sides with large windows, not a fortress.

I am nearing 60, I would say I am better than good with a firearm. I do shoot some competition.

I have been in the alders with grizzlys, two thugs will not intimidate me when I am armed, properly!!!

The two drove out, G. My neighbor is standing there watching with an 870.

I stepped back and let them pass.

I am sure I made a lot of mistakes!!! I simply did the best I could under the circumstances!!!

As bad as it was, or could have been. Better me than someone else, as I am drinking coffee and watching the news.

I am glad all worked out well. Not 2nd guessing you. I can tell you are not easily intimidated. I did want you and others to know that allowing someone too close can work against you quickly.

I too have been in the brush with a growling bear that did not appear to intimidate easily either.

I too had a similar experience when young prior to being a LEO. Because you were kind enough to share this story others who have not yet had to face a similar situation will be better prepared.