Author Topic: What type of firearm would you want for your home? (Read 6446 times)

s2srea · « **on:** December 01, 2011, 09:11:12 AM »

I know everyone will have a difference of opinion on make and model and caliber, but what would you go with for home defense:

Shotgun
Handgun
Revolver
Other?

gunfighter · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:25:28 AM »

Here are my personal picks:

Handgun(CCW) FN FNX9 carried AIWB in a Archangel clone holster. Very light well made high capacity 9mm. I am old fashioned and like an external hammer. The gun can be carried cocked and locked or with the hammer down. I prefer the latter. In a self defense situation, I don't want to add the extra step of manipulating a safety. The gun has a soft recoil, is accurate and fun to shoot. Contrary to popular myth, the 9mm does everything a 45 does with modern hollow points. I carry Winchester Ranger-T 147 gr. Given the potential need to address more than one bad guy, I prefer having the extra capacity of a 9.

Shotgun Mossy 500. Mine holds 7 rounds in the tube. I have a collapsible stock and a red dot sight. It is my wife's home defense long gun.

Rifles Saiga AK47, 7.62x39 with a Kobra sight. Extremely reliable, well made and combat accurate. One of the ranges I belong to has plates at 230 yards. I have no problem hitting them consistently. My choice in self defense ammo 154gr Soft Points. I prefer the harder hitting 7.62x39 over 5.56.

Weatherby Vanguard 30-06. Nice inexpensive 1 MOA bolt gun.

Phoenix HP22 Fun handgun to practice with.

Mossy Plinkster Nice 22. Good gun for my kids to get their feet wet with.

Note: AR's and Rem 870 are excellent weapons. They all do the job.

gunfighter · « **Reply #2 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:26:59 AM »

To address home defense more specifically. Most of the time I am carrying the FN or it is by my bedside. If I have time, I will grab the AK or the Moss 500.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #3 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:42:18 AM »

Quote from: s2srea

I know everyone will have a difference of opinion on make and model and caliber, but what would you go with for home defense:

Shotgun
Handgun
Revolver
Other?

If you live in a built-up area you don't want to be shooting into other people's homes in the event you are defending yourself. So you can rule out a rifle.

.357 and .44 magnum revolvers are incredibly loud, with a lot of recoil, are very penetrating through walls, and you're limited to 5 or six rounds.

I've heard good things about the FNP9 - it looks like it's been improved.

My first choice for home defense would be a glock, followed by a semi auto shotgun. (I'd like a saiga 12 but I'm not sure it's the best choice)

Really gun selection is far less important than safety, planning, and training.

gunfighter · « **Reply #4 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:57:26 AM »

+1000 on training.

Not to be argumentative, but I have a different take.

My first concern is stopping an attack on me or my family. Shotguns and rifles are vastly superior to a pistol. The odds of a rifle round going through the walls of a house, going through the wall of another house and actually hitting someone are extremely small. Not impossible, but close.

OTOH, a bad guy doing damage after absorbing a few pistol rounds are not uncommon. Thus, if I can reach my AK, I would.

If I were to buy a shotgun today(I have had my Mossberg for about 20 years), I would probably pick up a Saiga 12 and convert it. It is an excellent weapon.

I also would not be too worried about noise. In a fight, most people experience an auditory exclusion effect along with tunnel vision. I would vote against the 357 and 44 based on capacity and recoil.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2011, 11:08:59 AM »

Since you're in California and mag size is limited, you might want to get one of thinner, more concealable models.

s2srea · « **Reply #6 on:** December 01, 2011, 12:36:18 PM »

Ya California sucks. They just banned open carry! Retard Brown.

Thanks for the input gents

Elizabeth · « **Reply #7 on:** December 01, 2011, 12:53:59 PM »

Quote from: s2srea

I know everyone will have a difference of opinion on make and model and caliber, but what would you go with for home defense:

Shotgun
Handgun
Revolver
Other?

My sister-in-law made a good point about shotguns. She said a short person such as myself would do best holding it against the hip because it would probably hit the target.

I have never shot a gun before, though. I am interested in the tiny revolver from the Lilliput Catalogue because it is adorable. I tried to find a link, but couldn't.

gunfighter · « **Reply #8 on:** December 01, 2011, 12:57:02 PM »

Quote from: Elizabeth

Quote from: s2srea
I know everyone will have a difference of opinion on make and model and caliber, but what would you go with for home defense:

Shotgun
Handgun
Revolver
Other?

My sister-in-law made a good point about shotguns. She said a short person such as myself would do best holding it against the hip because it would probably hit the target.

I have never shot a gun before, though. I am interested in the tiny revolver from the Lilliput Catalogue because it is adorable. I tried to find a link, but couldn't.

There are some cute pink guns. My wife hates them.

If you get a shotgun, try using Center Axis Relock or the push/pull method. Both significantly reduce felt recoil. Using CAR, I can shoot a 12 gauge holding it with one hand like a pistol.

gunfighter · « **Reply #9 on:** December 01, 2011, 03:02:24 PM »

Quote from: Telesphorus

Quote from: s2srea
I know everyone will have a difference of opinion on make and model and caliber, but what would you go with for home defense:

Shotgun
Handgun
Revolver
Other?

Really gun selection is far less important than safety, planning, and training.

Planning is also important. Creating a safe room with a fatal funnel is important. Communicating the plan with the people living in your house.

Planning on how to address a home invasion. Do you have a gun on your person. If not, how will you react, how will your house members react. Our plan is for me to attack the invaders and my wife to retrieve a weapon and engage.

How do you clear your home in the case it is necessary? Learning how to pie corners, move and engage in low light, dynamically enter a room, team tactics if applicable, employ distractions are all key things to plan out.

St Jude Thaddeus · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2011, 02:23:31 PM »

Quote from: gunfighter

Planning is also important. Creating a safe room with a fatal funnel is important.

Quote from: wiki

The "fatal funnel" is the dangerous area where the assaulter is silhouetted against his own entry point from the perspective of defenders inside the room.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_quarters_combat

There's the definition of a "fatal funnel" just in case somebody else didn't know what it was, either.

SeanJohnson · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2011, 07:39:03 PM »

Quote from: s2srea

I know everyone will have a difference of opinion on make and model and caliber, but what would you go with for home defense:

Shotgun
Handgun
Revolver
Other?

Semi-Auto Pistol w/High Capacity Mags (i.e., 14-16 shots).

Shotgun is great for psychological effect, but tough to wield around corners, and pumping takes too much time (Though a semi-auto would solve that problem).

Revolver has too few shots for my comfort.

Also, I advocate multiple guns all over the house: If an intruder surprises you on your living room couch, will you be able to make it to your one-and-only gun?

Because I have kids, I have a few small gunsafes spread throughout.

SeanJohnson · « **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2011, 07:46:01 PM »

Quote from: gunfighter

+1000 on training.

Not to be argumentative, but I have a different take.

My first concern is stopping an attack on me or my family. Shotguns and rifles are vastly superior to a pistol. The odds of a rifle round going through the walls of a house, going through the wall of another house and actually hitting someone are extremely small. Not impossible, but close.

OTOH, a bad guy doing damage after absorbing a few pistol rounds are not uncommon. Thus, if I can reach my AK, I would.

If I were to buy a shotgun today(I have had my Mossberg for about 20 years), I would probably pick up a Saiga 12 and convert it. It is an excellent weapon.

I also would not be too worried about noise. In a fight, most people experience an auditory exclusion effect along with tunnel vision. I would vote against the 357 and 44 based on capacity and recoil.

I think I am in full agreement with a post on this forum for the first time!

gunfighter · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2011, 07:54:34 PM »

I am not a big believer in the psychological effect of racking a shotgun. Yes, it may cause a criminal to loose control of his bowels and run. It may also change his easy day attitude to a tactical one. Instead of walking through your house fearlessly, now he is taking cover or concealment and waiting for you.

I like a shotgun, but it is not a foolproof tool. Being able to shoot from a CAR high position is important for dealing with corners and room entries.

gunfighter · « **Reply #14 on:** December 04, 2011, 07:55:17 PM »

Quote from: Seraphim

Quote from: gunfighter
+1000 on training.

Not to be argumentative, but I have a different take.

My first concern is stopping an attack on me or my family. Shotguns and rifles are vastly superior to a pistol. The odds of a rifle round going through the walls of a house, going through the wall of another house and actually hitting someone are extremely small. Not impossible, but close.

OTOH, a bad guy doing damage after absorbing a few pistol rounds are not uncommon. Thus, if I can reach my AK, I would.

If I were to buy a shotgun today(I have had my Mossberg for about 20 years), I would probably pick up a Saiga 12 and convert it. It is an excellent weapon.

I also would not be too worried about noise. In a fight, most people experience an auditory exclusion effect along with tunnel vision. I would vote against the 357 and 44 based on capacity and recoil.

I think I am in full agreement with a post on this forum for the first time!

Now I can retire from Cathinfo. :roll-laugh1: