What Is the Best Weapon for Home Defense? - A Serious Discus

[OldCannon]

Nice article from the guys at The Box O' Truth.

"What Is the Best Weapon for Home Defense? - A Serious Discussion"

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu143.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Short version: Rifles > Shotguns > Pistols

[Scott in Houston]

No argument here. 30 rounds of ultra deadly yet, less wall penetrating 5.56 makes me all warm inside.


EDIT: 31 rounds.

[stroguy]

A shotgun on my porch and driveway and backyard, in the house a nice .357 revolover with no exposed hammer and six shots. Rarely is a home invasion going to be a siege where you are going to need 100 rounds in a firefight. Someone is going down to the carpet or running down the street after the first 2-3 rounds go downrange.

Just my thoughts.

[Texas Dan Mosby]

"Best" is a relative factor.


This is about all I can do with a chainsaw:




This is what some others can do:





The tool should compliment the strengths and weaknesses of the user, and we're all different.

[Scott in Houston]

A shotgun on my porch and driveway and backyard, in the house a nice .357 revolover with no exposed hammer and six shots. Rarely is a home invasion going to be a siege where you are going to need 100 rounds in a firefight. Someone is going down to the carpet or running down the street after the first 2-3 rounds go downrange.

Just my thoughts.

I have to disagree somewhat heavily.
First of all, by far, most home invasions are 2+ people. I believe the average is near 3.
Secondly, even with one invader, you better be accurate. In fire fights with the police, the shots fired to hit ratio is somewhere in the neighborhood of 1 out of 4. (Someone will post the exact stat I'm sure)
Third, it's a myth that bad guys just run with their tail between their legs at the moment shots are fired. (The HUGE myth is that they'll leave at the pump sound of a shotgun... hate it when I hear that in gun shops)

For all of the above, I'm not comfortable with any less than 11 rounds at home... preferably 14+.
My night stand gun is a Glock 32 with 14 rounds of .357 SIG.
I'd keep my AR next to my bed over that but I'd be sleeping alone. lol

[Scott in Houston]

Nice article from the guys at The Box O' Truth.

"What Is the Best Weapon for Home Defense? - A Serious Discussion"

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu143.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Short version: Rifles > Shotguns > Pistols

The only argument against a rifle or shotgun in the home vs. a hand gun, is the ability to wield it in tight spaces.

[Carry-a-Kimber]

My nightstand gun is an HK P2000sk .40 with an Insight laser/lite combo and a 12 round USPc mag full of Gold Dots but under my bed lies a Bushmaster XM15-e2s with 31 rounds of Hornady TAP... carbine > pistol!

[v-rog]

The best weapon is one that the owner is proficient using.

[stroguy]

You're free to disagree, but every article posted here of a home invasion has fewer than 7-8 rounds fired, the suspects flee or they or the homeowner is injured or dead. And an in house confrontation may result in a wrestling match and no bg is going to get his fingers on my hammer.

Here is a video where four bg's that wanted nothing to do with a well armed homeowner.

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[Scott in Houston]

You're free to disagree,

What good are opinions when they're wrong!?
(and yes, that was a joke)

but every article posted here of a home invasion has fewer than 7-8 rounds fired, the suspects flee or they or the homeowner is injured or dead.

This only makes me want more rounds... Why prepare for the average or minimum?? So what if that's what "usually" happens? Prepare for the 'over', not the 'under'. IMO

And an in house confrontation may result in a wrestling match and no bg is going to get his fingers on my hammer.

I agree with that... I also like my Glock for the same reason.

Here is a video where four bg's that wanted nothing to do with a well armed homeowner.

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Fun to watch, but one data point doesn't change much. I would hope that was the outcome if, God forbid, I had to deal with a home invasion type scenario, but again... prepare for the 'over'. That is my line of thinking.

[Carry-a-Kimber]

The best weapon is one that is the owner is proficient using.

To paraphrase the article, if you are only proficient with a 22 revolver, get proficient with something better.

[OldCannon]

I kind of split the difference...I have a 1894 Marlin with 10 rounds of hot-loaded 45 Colt. That thing makes a great club if it ever jams :)

[stroguy]

My only fear of a semiauto is a hand or finger in the wrong place and you get a FTF. Then it's pucker time.

But I have to admit, my LCP resides next to my revolver in the nightstand at night.

[MasterOfNone]

The article seems either biased or incomplete. The only disadvantage listed for a rifle is the cost. Not a mention of maneuverability or one-handed handling, such as when dialing 911 or dragging a child behind you.
I tend to agree with Mas - "If I was going to have only one firearm in the home for family protection, it would be a handgun." (http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/ayoob54.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

[03Lightningrocks]

Nice article from the guys at The Box O' Truth.

"What Is the Best Weapon for Home Defense? - A Serious Discussion"

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu143.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Short version: Rifles > Shotguns > Pistols

Interesting/Good read. Thanks for the info! I have always been one of the folks to recommend a shotgun as the best. Maybe not.