Jusme wrote:I think the whole issue comes down to what works for you, what you feel most competent with, and your individual home defense plan.
As most of you may know, I only recently acquired my first AR, I have less that 200 rounds through it, mostly from a rest, getting used to the action, sighting it in and becoming more familiar with it. Could I potentially use it as a HD gun? Sure, but my confidence level, and overall competency with it, is minimal to say the least, I haven't done any tactical training with it, haven't worked clearing my house with it, and don't have a light mounted on it for seeing things that go bump in the night.
My Mossberg, on the other hand, has seen at least 3500 rounds through it with probably an equal number of target/dove loads, and HD rounds, #00 buck #1 buck and slugs. I feel very confident with it, I can manipulate all of the actions, safety, tactical reloads etc. in complete darkness, and under simulated stress situations, I have a light attached to be sure that I can see my potential target at night. I regularly practice with it in the dark (especially after Mrs. Jusme rearranges the furniture) I know what my POI, vs POA will be at distances of 10 feet, to 25 yards. Overall, my confidence in my ability to get my shotgun into play if needed, is as high as it can be.
With that said, what works for me may not work for you. I'm sure that my house layout differs from yours, the number of other people in the house that have to be accounted for, as well as their location, varies. And most of all, what you are comfortable, and confident with, will be different. I will never tell someone that their choice of firearm for HD is incorrect, everyone will have to make that choice for themselves.
BG can be, and have been stopped, with a variety of firearms, ammo, and shot placement, my only suggestion would be try different firearms, see what works for you in a dark house, have a plan for your family if someone should break in, so that everyone know where they will be and where you will be. Practice, practice, practice, you will only react as well as you have trained, especially waking from a deep sleep in the dark. JMHO
I was in the middle of writing pretty much what you wrote. I am more comfortable with my home defense pump shotgun for the house and my EDC handgun when away from it. That said, waking up to a crash or bump in the night, my sleepy head may instinctively lead me to my EDC since I'm in the habit of putting it on first thing every morning. Hopefully I will never have to find out!
