What gun to purchase for home protection?

[SP33Demon]

I don't get to shoot my shotgun much as there aren't many ranges set up for them, the only one close to me is aimed for skeet shooting which I haven't done in YEARS.

Well at least you're honest. I try to get to the range with the AK shotgun at least 4 times a year. Mainly because it's fun to see the look on people's faces who have never seen one and their jaws drop. Oh, and deer hunting with slugs is fun as well if you've never been but I have to use a Remington 870 for legal reasons.

 

[DrPizza]

You're quick to make rash generalizations. It depends on the size of the barrel, if the barrel has a choke, and the ammunition used.

Hint: Slugs aren't that easy to aim with a regular bead sight.

Well, if you own all those guns, and have shot shotguns with slugs, and your conclusion is that they're hard to aim with a regular bead sight at 20 feet, then perhaps you should sell your guns and take up a hobby like butterfly collecting?

 

[BlitzPuppet]

Well, if you own all those guns, and have shot shotguns with slugs, and your conclusion is that they're hard to aim with a regular bead sight at 20 feet, then perhaps you should sell your guns and take up a hobby like butterfly collecting?

I have a, singular, shotgun. It's loaded with 000 buck and is next to where I sleep. Just because I don't like the way slug ammo handles in a light pump action shotgun means that I should give up shooting all together?

Right....

 

[DrPizza]

I have a, singular, shotgun. It's loaded with 000 buck and is next to where I sleep. Just because I don't like the way slug ammo handles in a light pump action shotgun means that I should give up shooting all together?

Right....

(Sorry, forgot the tongue thingy to indicate that the statement was meant as a joke.)

 

[BlitzPuppet]

(Sorry, forgot the tongue thingy to indicate that the statement was meant as a joke.)

Lol I was about to say..."Damn, Pizza is being a dick today." :biggrin:

I can proudly say that I'm not one of *those* AR-15 fanboys that thinks anything over .223 is "super hard recoil", so I like to think I can handle a little bruising since 85% of my collection are bolt actions.

 

[sourceninja]

Any long gun (rifle, shotgun) should be easier to aim (and by aim I mean point at center mass of a target) than a handgun.

I've seen new shooters completely miss targets 15 feet away with a handgun, none of them miss with shotguns. While it is true that the shot does not spread at short range, you are more likely to be on target with a shotgun/rifle. So many factors in properly aiming a handgun simply do not apply to a long gun.

That said, I never recommend buying a firearm for defense without training with it at least once every three months. Using a firearm is a skill, if you do not practice a skill you will quickly find yourself unable and unsafe when it you need it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Very simple. A semi auto AK platform shotgun (I use 12 gauge) like the Saiga or Vepr with 12 round mags or 20-30 round drums. Mags can be replaced in < 2 seconds for 12 more rounds. That's a lot of buckshot being fired at once and giving you the most stopping power in close quarters bar none.

Talk about overkill.

Any 12 gauge pump shotgun will be plenty of gun for home defense. Personally, if you want a reliable handgun I'd recommend a medium frame revolver in .357 magnum. If the OP is stuck on semi-automatic handguns you can't go wrong with a Glock or Sig-Sauer (Glocks are cheaper and just as reliable though).

 

[pontifex]

Any long gun (rifle, shotgun) should be easier to aim (and by aim I mean point at center mass of a target) than a handgun.

I've seen new shooters completely miss targets 15 feet away with a handgun, none of them miss with shotguns. While it is true that the shot does not spread at short range, you are more likely to be on target with a shotgun/rifle. So many factors in properly aiming a handgun simply do not apply to a long gun.

That said, I never recommend buying a firearm for defense without training with it at least once every three months. Using a firearm is a skill, if you do not practice a skill you will quickly find yourself unable and unsafe when it you need it.

such as???

sights work the same way (unless you're using a scope or red dot)
you have to hold both steady

I would say a rifle might be easier to shoot on target due to the longer sight radius.

 

[JulesMaximus]

From your list I would say a .45 revolver or .40 Baby Desert Eagle.

Half moon clips? Or were you thinking 45 Long Colt? In which case:

 

[JulesMaximus]

Any long gun (rifle, shotgun) should be easier to aim (and by aim I mean point at center mass of a target) than a handgun.

I've seen new shooters completely miss targets 15 feet away with a handgun, none of them miss with shotguns. While it is true that the shot does not spread at short range, you are more likely to be on target with a shotgun/rifle. So many factors in properly aiming a handgun simply do not apply to a long gun.

That said, I never recommend buying a firearm for defense without training with it at least once every three months. Using a firearm is a skill, if you do not practice a skill you will quickly find yourself unable and unsafe when it you need it.

Where are you going to keep a shotgun for home defense though? I prefer handguns, I bought a small in the wall mounted gun safe for my bedroom and I have a loaded Para-Ordnance .45 in it with 8 rounds of hollowpoint ammo. Gun is safely locked up so kids can't get access to it but I can quickly access it if needed.

 

[pontifex]

I'd argue 2.5"-3.5" spread is significantly bigger than a 9mm, or whatever, as such aiming is less important.

But yeah, these, I don't know, near 1' spread you see in movies is comical at best. You need to aim any weapon.

To the OP: you can't really go wrong with a shotgun for home defense. In general easy to use/maintain. Don't use birdshot, unless, as the box o truth article mentions, you are being attacked by birds.

Revolvers for handguns, again, simple and easy. Speed loaders make reloading very fast with practice. Of course other typical semi-auto pistols will do the job. These require a little more understanding of the weapon, but it's not rocket surgery.

yes, but thats not what most of these people are implying.

 

[WackyDan]

So lets see...

You have stated you aren't going to secure the firearm.
You have stated that you aren't going to spend time at the range to be proficient with it.

My answer: Don't buy a firearm.

If you address those two items above, then I would seriously recommend a .38 with +P hollow points. You can't get anymore maintenance free and reliable than a revolver. A .38 is plenty for home defense though it isn't going to get you nine rounds. A crappy semi is still a crappy semi and for point and shoot, you just can't get any simpler than a revolver. I bought my wife a S&W 642 J Frame for that reason alone. We have an alarm for the early warning system. Sorry, but in the middle of the night you should not be reacting to broken glass or a busted door... but the alarm.

AS for those recommending shotguns... Please leave the thread. I know everyone has their opinions of what constitutes the best home defense firearm... But not one fucking meth-head or drug infused addict breaking into your home is going to give a flying fuck about the sound of a round racking into the chamber of a shotgun. Unless you've had specific military training or law enforcement training on the use of a long arm inside dwellings, the best piece for most people for home defense remains a handgun.

 

[DrPizza]

That said, I never recommend buying a firearm for defense without training with it at least once every three months. Using a firearm is a skill, if you do not practice a skill you will quickly find yourself unable and unsafe when it you need it.

Very true. My wife has shot a gun a few times; starting when she was a little girl. She's not afraid of them. BUT, every time, someone has helped her; she hasn't practiced on her own. I keep the magazine for my .22 loaded (with only 7 rounds, NYS, not the 10 that it holds, friggin idiots.. ) and ready to go. We had a coyote come into the pasture in the middle of the day (bad sign) and walking funny as it came down the tree line. Wife grabbed the .22. I had made her practice shooting with it just a few weeks prior - could hit a tennis ball sized target at 50 yards with every shot; good enough. Put the bolt in successfully, chambered it, took the safety off, and pulled the trigger. Nothing. Kept trying to get it to shoot and couldn't. Turns out that she turned the safety off when putting the bolt in. Turning the safety off was actually turning it on. She unloaded the gun - removed the magazine - and didn't even know that meant there was still one in the chamber - and put it away with the safety "on" which was now off. That's an accident waiting to happen, and now she won't touch it. Though, I now store it with the bolt in, rather than out, just in case she really needs it. My other rifle - bolt is out and stored with the ammo separately.

And, now, not for the sake of safety. For the sake of my wallet. If both of my sons came home for the weekend, and I was away for a few hours, they're likely to get bored and shoot all my ammo. I'm paying about $1.50 per round locally for my caliber (7mm-08) and see on the Hornady site online, over $2 per round. I'm still flabbergasted at how quickly ammo prices went up and haven't really come down. Remember the 500 round boxes of .22 ammo for $15? My kids wiped out my stock of .22 ammo just before it became incredibly difficult to find.

 

[WackyDan]

You're quick to make rash generalizations. It depends on the size of the barrel, if the barrel has a choke, and the ammunition used.

Hint: Slugs aren't that easy to aim with a regular bead sight.

At 21 feet, 00 Buck through the average shotgun has a spread measured in the width of a tennis ball.

Most houses do not have rooms where you have 21 feet of length. I'd argue that most shots have a potential to well inside that.

 

[PliotronX]

Half moon clips? Or were you thinking 45 Long Colt? In which case:

45 revolvers are a pleasure to shoot!

 

[BlitzPuppet]

At 21 feet, 00 Buck through the average shotgun has a spread measured in the width of a tennis ball.

Most houses do not have rooms where you have 21 feet of length. I'd argue that most shots have a potential to well inside that.

I'll take a baseball-tennisball sized hit to a marble

 

[Mloot]

A Taurus 608 or Smith and Wesson 627 will give you 8 rounds of .357 or .38.

 

[JulesMaximus]

45 revolvers are a pleasure to shoot!

I'm not a big fan of 45 long colt as a home defense round nor most of the guns that are chambered for it. I haven't shot any .45 ACP revolvers so I cannot comment on them but half moon clips just seem like a PITA if reloading quickly is something you will need to do.

I'd rather go with speedloaders for a revolver chambered in .357 magnum for home defense. You can shoot .38 special rounds through it for target practice but load up the hot magnum rounds or +P rounds for home defense.

 

[smackababy]

If low maintenance and reliability are big factors, you can't go wrong with a revolver. Sure, you don't get the same number of shots, but you know every single one will fire.

Also, I know you said you weren't going to go to the range with it, but please reconsider. You need to know how the gun feels and how you react when shooting it. You don't have to go every weekend, but every 6 or so months (I'd be okay with every year if you are that lazy) and fire off a few rounds. If the safety of your household is why you are getting the gun, dropping it or not firing because you aren't used to it or afraid is only going to render it useless.

 

[Phoenix86]

So lets see...

You have stated you aren't going to secure the firearm.
You have stated that you aren't going to spend time at the range to be proficient with it.

My answer: Don't buy a firearm.

Truth.

AS for those recommending shotguns... Please leave the thread. I know everyone has their opinions of what constitutes the best home defense firearm... But not one fucking meth-head or drug infused addict breaking into your home is going to give a flying fuck about the sound of a round racking into the chamber of a shotgun. Unless you've had specific military training or law enforcement training on the use of a long arm inside dwellings, the best piece for most people for home defense remains a handgun.

Not one single person in this thread mentioned a shotgun for the purpose o racking it to scare someone. Actually, the only people mentioning racking a shotgun specifically are making fun of that being a benefit (and one post simply talking about the cycle of the weapon). edit: ok, one guys does.

There's no "best" weapon for home defense, just as there is no best ammo. There are good arguments and scenarios handguns and shotguns.

Accuracy and proficiency are important, some people just can't hit shit with a handgun (especially under stress). Other people might not be able to handle a shotgun, maybe it kicks "too much" or it's just too large.

 

[edro]

OP is in for one hell of a thread when he checks back in.

Nothing like a "What gun?" thread to stir ATOT up!

 

[smackababy]

There's no "best" weapon for home defense, just as there is no best ammo. There are good arguments and scenarios handguns and shotguns.

My AR-15 begs to differ... =)

 

[Phoenix86]

My AR-15 begs to differ... =)

You know, we were having a wonderful rock-paper-scissor discussion with shotgun-revolver-semi and you want to add Spock to the mix?

Dick.

 

[DrPizza]

Accuracy and proficiency are important, some people just can't hit shit with a handgun (especially under stress). Other people might not be able to handle a shotgun, maybe it kicks "too much" or it's just too large.

Actually, hence my recommendation of a shotgun. If you're not going to practice, it only kicks once - and you're far more likely to be on target than with a handgun you've never practiced with. People shooting one for the first time don't tend to flinch as much as they pull the trigger.

 

[smackababy]

Actually, hence my recommendation of a shotgun. If you're not going to practice, it only kicks once - and you're far more likely to be on target than with a handgun you've never practiced with. People shooting one for the first time don't tend to flinch as much as they pull the trigger.

Which is exactly why I recommend practicing at least once a year...

The idea of just having it "in case" and never using it is pretty stupid and wouldn't fly for any other real emergency thing. "Oh, I have never driven a car before; I am going to get one just to have in case of an emergency. I won't ever practice driving it though!"