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Best Choice For Home Defense?

1386 Views 96 Replies 33 Participants Last post by  Gun Nerd
So Im thinking, would a shotgun be the best choice for home defense? Shotguns have tremendous stopping power and they don't over penetrate the way rifles do. As such I think a good semi automatic or pump shotgun, ideally a 12 gauge, might be the ideal choice for home defense.
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Wife keeps a 9mm, I keep a 45.
same here, I do have a Mossberg500 12 gauge close as well
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Hmm...doesn't everyone have arthritic hands?
I’ll bet not as bad as mine.
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I prefer my large caliber handgun .500 S&W BFR. If I was in the market a my second choice would be a bullpup shot gun they are typically 18 inches long and easy to maneuver.
I’ll bet not as bad as mine.
When "Silent Calvin Coolidge" was approached by someone who said "I have a bet with my friend that I can get you to say more than two words", Cal said "You lose!". So do you.
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When "Silent Calvin Coolidge" was approached by someone who said "I have a bet with my friend that I can get you to say more than two words", Cal said "You lose!". So do you.
Well then I’m just not wanting to do any more damage to them.;)
A no brainer...Taurus Judge or S&W Governor.
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Go check out a bullpup shot gun and see how you like it. You get a long barrel in a compact size. I've got the RIA VRBP100 with a 5 round mag loaded with home defense rounds, just incase. It's not my 1st choice if someone breaks in, but it's there and ready if I need it to be.
Many shotguns are not rated drop safe. If you lean it up in the corner and it tips, it may go bang. There is also the question of capicicity, especially a coach gun. If I can't hit something in my house with 17 rounds of forty cal, well it's my own fault. 3 guys busting in your home and only 2 shots?
Just to elaborate a bit, losing your hearing in a home gunfight is more serious than we may think, at first.

Consider that you heard someone break into your house in the middle of the night and you armed up (even put your pants on) and found him in your hallway, pointing a gun in your direction. You manage to shoot first.

Even a smaller pistol will make a lot of noise in that small space and that noise is devastating to your hearing. You're deaf, even if only temporarily but now, you don't hear his partner coming around the corner at the end of your hallway. You can't hear the first guy saying, "Don't shoot me any more!" as he surrenders. You can't hear your wife telling you she's called 911 and the cops are on their way.

A cop comes through the door barking orders and you can't hear him. All you see is yet another dark form at the end of the hallway and you shoot again. You may not even hear that second shot although by this time, you and and bad guy may have exchanged shots.

Even if you get through it all, you'll have to interview with a cop to some minimal extent and you won't be able to hear him, at best, for a short time, if at all.

You really do need your hearing in a gunfight.

Does it make sense to have a set of ear muffs you can put on quickly as you get out of bed? Do you have time to put them on?

I don't have all the answers to any of this because each set of self-defense circumstances will play out differently. Just some random thoughts......

--Wag--
I actually do have earmuffs in my nightstand. Glock 17 red dot and light if needed. Hollow points to hopefully not over penetrate. Also have pepper gel which I think would be as effective in a dark environment. No shotgun here.
Pepper spray is not a bad idea but when you spray it in a small space, you're going to get affected by it too, just not as much as the bad guy. Hopefully.

--Wag--
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Pepper spray is not a bad idea but when you spray it in a small space, you're going to get affected by it too, just not as much as the bad guy. Hopefully.

--Wag--
Agreed. The gel I use emits a stream up to 18 feet. Dispersion happens but is minimal, unlike the spray. Prior to expiration of canisters, I always take them outside to test. Yes, outside is not inside but I can definitely pick up on it to your point. It would have a definite affect in closed quarters. But I would rather disable if possible. Just a tool. In a lawsuit, I would rather say I tried to stop with something non-lethal first. But I agree with you 100%.
So Im thinking, would a shotgun be the best choice for home defense? Shotguns have tremendous stopping power and they don't over penetrate the way rifles do. As such I think a good semi automatic or pump shotgun, ideally a 12 gauge, might be the ideal choice for home defense.
Shotgun is a great choice especially a small one such as a Mossberg shockwave or Remington tac-14 a longer shotgun is not ideal for being able to bring up quickly. The rounds you use is also a big deal a lot of people use 00 buckshot but that is a very powerful round and will go through walls very easily so if you have kids it can be dangerous. Birdshot would take on anyone at a close range Range without the worry of going through the hole house And possibly hurting the wrong person. If you can get ahold of a Taurus judge that’s a good option. But finding .410 rounds are very hard right now. Hope this helps some.
So Im thinking, would a shotgun be the best choice for home defense? Shotguns have tremendous stopping power and they don't over penetrate the way rifles do. As such I think a good semi automatic or pump shotgun, ideally a 12 gauge, might be the ideal choice for home defense.
Can’t go wrong with a shotgun but like other have said they can be unwieldy depending on how long the shotgun is. A lot of people are saying 00 buckshot on here witch is a great round but can travel through walls and potentially hurt someone you might not want to hurt such as kids or other family members. A mossberg 590 shockwave is a great choice or a Remington tac-14. I have family in the house so I keep birdshot in mine it’s affective and devastating at close range without the worry of going through the hole house and potentially hurting the wrong person. Also a Taurus judge is great for home defense if you want to go the shotgun route. Depending on the judge it can shoot several different rounds. The only thing is .410 rounds are very hard to find. Hope this helped.
A no brainer...Taurus Judge or S&W Governor.
Absolutely not. Only 5 rounds, the short barrel makes it so the bird shot is basically just a noise machine and the buckshot has like 3 or 4 slow moving pellets so not much better. Your best bet would be running the 45 long colt but even then its just an over rated hand cannon. They are fun but not practical.

Many shotguns are not rated drop safe. If you lean it up in the corner and it tips, it may go bang. There is also the question of capicicity, especially a coach gun. If I can't hit something in my house with 17 rounds of forty cal, well it's my own fault. 3 guys busting in your home and only 2 shots?
That's old fudd lore....many OLD OLD shotguns were not drop safe, but anything made as long as anyone here has been alive is absolutely drop safe, the companies would have been absolutely sued out of existence otherwise.
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So Im thinking, would a shotgun be the best choice for home defense? Shotguns have tremendous stopping power and they don't over penetrate the way rifles do. As such I think a good semi automatic or pump shotgun, ideally a 12 gauge, might be the ideal choice for home defense.
The 12ga Ithaca model 37 has always had my vote. They are well made, fairly cheap, easy to handle, and you can bob the barrel to 20 inches without much trouble. A full size replacement barrel cost about $150. on eBay. Load it with #4's so you don't risk over penetration on the interior walls. (y)
Roy
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Keep in mind, clearing your home with a long gun can be problematic .... navigating hallways, corners, etc. If I was going to use a shotgun for home defense, I would probably use something like a Mossberg Shockwave.
Many shotguns are not rated drop safe. If you lean it up in the corner and it tips, it may go bang. There is also the question of capicicity, especially a coach gun. If I can't hit something in my house with 17 rounds of forty cal, well it's my own fault. 3 guys busting in your home and only 2 shots?
:cool:
Can’t go wrong with a shotgun but like other have said they can be unwieldy depending on how long the shotgun is. A lot of people are saying 00 buckshot on here witch is a great round but can travel through walls and potentially hurt someone you might not want to hurt such as kids or other family members. A mossberg 590 shockwave is a great choice or a Remington tac-14. I have family in the house so I keep birdshot in mine it’s affective and devastating at close range without the worry of going through the hole house and potentially hurting the wrong person. Also a Taurus judge is great for home defense if you want to go the shotgun route. Depending on the judge it can shoot several different rounds. The only thing is .410 rounds are very hard to find. Hope this helped.
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Just keep the trigger squeezed and pump away.
As with all such things, there are pros and cons. It always "just depends."
That's my thinking. The best home defense gun depends on the home you are defending and what is beyond the home you are defending.

Ron.
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