I prefer this.
Posted on 06/01/2013 4:01:47 PM PDT by marktwain
UVERNE, AL --(Ammoland.com)- When considering the defense of your home against intruders there are a few question you must ask yourself and realities you must face.
(snip)
Hardware Choices Given the previous information regarding potential attackers, we must consider the following. What is the most effective tool to engage and defeat these vermin as rapidly as possible? Handguns are carried for convenience, not power. No handgun, regardless of caliber or configuration, can produce the same effect as a centerfire rifle.
This is not opinion, this is physics. Crunch the numbers and even the mighty .44 Magnum pales in comparison to the 5.56x45mm or 7.62x39mm. Many years ago an instructor friend of mine offered that “a handgun is simply a rifle waiting to grow up”.
Also, it cannot be denied that a long gun (rifle or shotgun) as a tool is much easier to aim and index on a target than a handgun. Again, this is simply physics. A rifle has four points of contact with the body and a long sight radius. By comparison, a handgun has only two points of contact, the left and right hand, and a short sight radius. Rifles are infinitely more forgiving of slight errors in sight alignment and body movement than are handguns.
As a practical matter, during the panic and adrenaline dump of a life threatening attack, the rifle will be inherently easier to index on target and as an added benefit transition to additional targets more quickly than will any pistol, regardless of make, model, or caliber. While you might desire to argue this point, your energy might be better served elsewhere.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
Expanding bullets that do not over penetrate are an option in rifle calibers.
I prefer a handgun as the first line of HD because it doesn’t handcuff your off hand like a long arm does. If I have to beat a retreat for something bigger, I can. I also practice the handgun the most for CCW.
I wonder if that is supposed to be Luverne, Alabama? Not far from Troy.
I prefer this.
Really? How about if the perp comes out of doorway 4 feet away from you?
A bit illegal without a permit there. I think a shotgun needs a 18” barrel and stock. The head of Homeland security says that an AR 15 is an excellent for home defense.
5.56mm
Fire from the hip and keep firing.
Correct it’s Luverne not Uverne
The King of Home Defense?? Really? My interior walls are drywall. Even my exterior walls are hardeeboard. I don’t want to shoot the neighbor if I miss. I also want to be able to have a hand free to push the intruder back since my longest hallway is 12 feet and my longest room is 22 feet.
I’ll stick with my Ka-Bar and PX4Storm 45SD combo.
Just a personal opinion but frangible ammunition is one solution. A 12 gauge shotgun with double-aught will settle most uninvited guest situations admirably, with less aiming skill needed, and little chance of killing any neighbors or family in other rooms. A pistol is better suited for car and street “don’t leave home without it” security. But probably the best firearm in any situation is the first loaded one you can reach.
Yabut, will it stay in your hand, or break your wrist?
Ballistically, there is no doubt the 5.56/.223 outguns handgun calibers and they do make frangible. For a long gun in the house, I still lean toward my 8 shot, short barreled home defense shotgun. Of course, this is in addition to a handgun.
tubbs, is that you?
Practice makes perfect.
I use a Mossberg Maverick pump 12ga with 18.5 inch barrel. First round is #8 game load followed by 00 buck. At the 4 foot range of most home defense situations it can’t be beat and you want hit your neighbor across the street.
Yep! I can’t practically keep an AR-15 or other rifle ready on my desk like my 38 revolver or my 32 auto. I have my 32 APC right next to me right now and it is ready to defend myself and my wife if ever needed. I don’t need to move fast to get my rifle.
want = won’t
A handgun is easier to keep on your person, and for most close up encounters will do just fine- and it can at least buy time to get to a shotgun or rifle.
I like exposed hammers better....
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