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

[OldCannon]

I absolutely agree with this. The effectiveness of handguns is nothing at all like what you see in the movies. Anyone who thinks otherwise should take it to the woods and be humbled.

Im rather fond of saying that every time somebody says their 45ACP has "more stopping power", God kills a litter of cute kittens.

[Liberty]

This is my choice for home defense.
http://www.hausofguns.com/2012/01/17/ul ... tar-ak-47/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AEA]

I live alone.
My choice is my 870 marine magnum with 00 buck with backup of SP101 3" with Federal Hydra-Shok 130gr .357mag.

I won't be calling 911 till it's all over (if I'm still standing).

[Dave2]

This is my choice for home defense.
http://www.hausofguns.com/2012/01/17/ul ... tar-ak-47/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WANT!

[Dave2]

Guess my biggest concern is the bg sticking his finger in the end of my barrel when I am pointing it at them and it going BOOM. Lordy. Guess I should go shotgun, they would need something bigger in the barrel.

They tried that on Mythbusters... it did not end well for the finger... or the arm...

[punkndisorderly]

If selecting a weapon for home defense was only about the weapon itself, I'd agree with the article 100%. Well I do have one quibble, it makes no distinction between varieties within the three categories (pistol, shotgun, rifle). Not all are created equal. For example, a 5.56 carbine may well penetrate walls less than many handguns, however, a 45-70 lever gun will penetrate many more walls than any handgun judging by their own tests. Also, a bolt action hunting rifle with a telescopic sight would probably be a poor choice unless your house is HUGE.

The thing is, the human factor is ignored. Not all people can shoot each firearm equally well. Also, training opportunities and habits are not equal. Finding a ranges that allow pistols is easier than rifles or shotguns. Finding ranges that allow realistic training, as opposed to standing and firing at a stationary target in bright light, are easier to find than similar ranges for rifle or shotgun. Training courses for handguns are more commonly available. Defensive oriented competitions are much more popular and common. People also tend to shoot their handguns more often and put more rounds down range each time. How many times do you see a person run 100 rounds through their handgun at a range trip? Now how many times do you see someone run 100 rounds through their defensive shotgun? At short range through their rifle?

The result, most people are more familiar with their handgun and operation. They're loaded it more often, they're more familiar with the controls, they're more confident with it.

One other advantage to a handgun. It can allow one handed use easier. If you're barricaded in one room, no big deal. If you have to traverse the house to secure another family member, say a child in another bedroom, you can still have a hand free to open doors, grab and carry a child, dial 911 etc..

[apostate]

I believe a serious discussion would first have to acknowledge that we're not clones living in cookie cutter homes. What's best for a 20 year old college student living in an off campus apartment may be different than what's best for a single parent with three young children in the suburbs, or a retired couple living on a sailboat.

[punkndisorderly]

One other possible disadvantage to a long gun that aren't addressed.

The boxof truth says a light is necessary. I agree with that statement for the most part. With a long gun, you are mostly limited to a mounted light. In order to scan, you have to move your point of aim. That may mean taking your point of aim from where you think the threat is more likely to come (say a doorway) to scan another possible are of threat (maybe a darkened corner). Under stress, you are also going to be pointing the weapon at anything you want to identify. That means little johnny getting a midnight snack is covered at the same time you are identifying him as a non threat.

With all that said, I use a n AR as my primary once I make it upstairs for the night. I've evaluatedmy personal situation (defensive plan, living situation, experience, significant other, etc.)it and came to the conclusion it was best for me. That evaluation process is much more valuable than an article saying use this because I say it's best. Also, much better than what I think a lot of people do : make a selection based on emotion or only one or two facts, and then highlight anything that supports their choice while ignoring anything to the contrary.

[nakedbike]

Guess my biggest concern is the bg sticking his finger in the end of my barrel when I am pointing it at them and it going BOOM. Lordy. Guess I should go shotgun, they would need something bigger in the barrel.

They tried that on Mythbusters... it did not end well for the finger... or the arm...

http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythb ... kfire.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Busted

[stroguy]

It doesn't seem very responsible that you are educating bad guys to NOT place their fingers in barrels during confrontations. Now they are going to let each other know not to do this.

[stroo]

One factor BOT misses, at least with respect to rifle vs shotgun, is stopping power. Everything I have ever read or watched says that a shotgun with either buckshot or slug is better at stopping BGs than a .223 rifle. That seems to me a big factor.

This also seems like a lot of opinion mixed in with facts, not just facts.

[Dave2]

It doesn't seem very responsible that you are educating bad guys to NOT place their fingers in barrels during confrontations. Now they are going to let each other know not to do this.

Think of it as educating good guys about what not to do if they're ever held up.

[magillapd]

I have my G19 on my headboard, the wife has her SigPro 2340, .40 cal on her side. I also have a loaded 12 ga semi auto hanging on the wall w/ spare ammo on the butt stock.

My thinking is if I have little to no time to react, then the Glock gets put to work. If I have a little bit longer to prepare, then the shotgun gets a round chambered.

I have CCTV on the outside of my house, and I have thought about putting cams on the inside also, but only to a monitor by my side of the bed. That way I can turn on the montor and instantly see who is in my house and where they are at. The ethernet controled gun ports in the hallway are on backorder

[Matt78665]

What ever you can put shots center mass with

[Grog]

I'd love to say I'd grab the 18" 870 or 18" 1300 Defender first, but with three kids (two under 2yo) I'd grab my Glock 17. 18 rounds in hand (plus a few 17 & 33rd mags stashed around the house) lets me grab/push/carry someone while engaging a target if needed. Yes, I have practiced often with one handed shooting (strong and weak hand only).