UPDATE: POLL: Which would you rather have for home defense?

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BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,315
14,722
146
For home defense, IMO, a shotgut is far better than a handgun. Most people, in the heat of the moment, get nervous or scared, and their aim goes to crap. The aim with a shotgun doesn't need to be QUITE as accurate as a handgun, because it cuts a wider swath. Not that it isa good excuse for being inaccurate, but it is realistic.
 

swtethan

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2005
9,071
0
0
Originally posted by: BoomerD
For home defense, IMO, a shotgut is far better than a handgun. Most people, in the heat of the moment, get nervous or scared, and their aim goes to crap. The aim with a shotgun doesn't need to be QUITE as accurate as a handgun, because it cuts a wider swath. Not that it isa good excuse for being inaccurate, but it is realistic.

if a intruder heard you cocking your shogun, they would run.
 

preslove

Lifer
Sep 10, 2003
16,754
64
91
The sound of you chambering the round in your 870 will strike fear in your imaginary burglar.
 

acemcmac

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
13,712
1
0
Originally posted by: swtethan
Originally posted by: BoomerD
For home defense, IMO, a shotgut is far better than a handgun. Most people, in the heat of the moment, get nervous or scared, and their aim goes to crap. The aim with a shotgun doesn't need to be QUITE as accurate as a handgun, because it cuts a wider swath. Not that it isa good excuse for being inaccurate, but it is realistic.

if a intruder heard you cocking your shogun, they would run.

If they had any sense... but if they're breaking into my home in the first place... how smart do you think they are? I'd rather just do the whole world a favor and turn the guy into a heaping bloody pile of leaky meat.
 

everman

Lifer
Nov 5, 2002
11,288
1
0
I'd rather use non-leathal beanbag rounds in a shotgun, I wouldn't want to have a mess to clean up.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,315
14,722
146
And if you're close enough when you "pop the cap", a spray of "pink mist"...
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,783
5,941
146
Originally posted by: acemcmac
Originally posted by: swtethan
Originally posted by: BoomerD
For home defense, IMO, a shotgut is far better than a handgun. Most people, in the heat of the moment, get nervous or scared, and their aim goes to crap. The aim with a shotgun doesn't need to be QUITE as accurate as a handgun, because it cuts a wider swath. Not that it isa good excuse for being inaccurate, but it is realistic.

if a intruder heard you cocking your shogun, they would run.

If they had any sense... but if they're breaking into my home in the first place... how smart do you think they are? I'd rather just do the whole world a favor and turn the guy into a heaping bloody pile of leaky meat.

Fine and dandy, but your shotgun will just be added to the list of stolen items If your not home to wield it. dogs are a PITA and a huge responsibility, but we have good friends who house sit or check on the dog when we are away, and nobody ever messed with our stuff when the trained dog was on duty. 24/7/365 FTW!
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: jagec
Can't go wrong with the 870.
Yep. Gotta love the 870. There's no real reason to wait to be gifted one, as they are quite inexpensive -- less than $300.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: skyking
Originally posted by: acemcmac
Originally posted by: swtethan
Originally posted by: BoomerD
For home defense, IMO, a shotgut is far better than a handgun. Most people, in the heat of the moment, get nervous or scared, and their aim goes to crap. The aim with a shotgun doesn't need to be QUITE as accurate as a handgun, because it cuts a wider swath. Not that it isa good excuse for being inaccurate, but it is realistic.

if a intruder heard you cocking your shogun, they would run.

If they had any sense... but if they're breaking into my home in the first place... how smart do you think they are? I'd rather just do the whole world a favor and turn the guy into a heaping bloody pile of leaky meat.

Fine and dandy, but your shotgun will just be added to the list of stolen items If your not home to wield it. dogs are a PITA and a huge responsibility, but we have good friends who house sit or check on the dog when we are away, and nobody ever messed with our stuff when the trained dog was on duty. 24/7/365 FTW!
I don't follow your argument. The purpose of having a firearm for home defense is to protect yours and your family's lives, not your property. If it gets stolen while you're not home, who cares? Just report it and get another one -- they're cheap.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,391
19,709
146
Originally posted by: BoomerD
For home defense, IMO, a shotgut is far better than a handgun. Most people, in the heat of the moment, get nervous or scared, and their aim goes to crap. The aim with a shotgun doesn't need to be QUITE as accurate as a handgun, because it cuts a wider swath. Not that it isa good excuse for being inaccurate, but it is realistic.

How big is your home and how far away do you think you'll be firing from?

I ask because the pattern of buckshot in the average home would be no wider than a couple inches (2-3 inches at 20 feet or so with an 18 inch barrel). This does little to nothing to improve aim. At 10 feet or so, the average distance in a home defense situation, the pattern is 2 inches or less.

It's a huge myth that buckshot starts to spread by any appreciable amount at any distance one would be aiming in a home/self defense situation.

In short, a shotgun will not improve your chances of hitting your target at short range. The shot just does not have enough distancen to spread out.
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
Fiberwire and a pair of silverballers with a red laser, scope type 2 and silencers type 2.

maybe throw in a syringe sedative/poison.

That will earn you a silent killer rating
 

DainBramaged

Lifer
Jun 19, 2003
23,454
41
91
If it was a tight quartered house, I'd take the .45 1911. If I had a bit of room to move around, I'd take the shottie.