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What firearm(s) would you recommend for home protection?
Self

Posted on 01/06/2013 9:42:01 PM PST by ru4liberty

This question pertains to a diminutive woman in her mid-60s. She has a .38 handgun but has been told by a few people (shooting range owner, RTC instructor's cousin, co-worker, etc.) that the best thing to have is a shotgun. They pretty much said that sometimes the only thing a perp needs is to hear the cocking of the shotgun and he'll flee the scene.

I wanted to tap into the expertise of those FReepers who are knowledgeable of such things so I can pass along the info. Also, her funds are limited (fixed income), so any recommendations that would keep her from having to spend too much and where would be the best place to buy it would be helpful.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; banglist; guncontrol; gunrights; secondamendment; selfprotection; vanity
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To: eyedigress

I would not dismiss a 22 but in the middle of slumber in the dark ye old shotgun rules.

Just identify your fear before pull the trigger.


41 posted on 01/06/2013 10:00:54 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: eyedigress

Gumby 23?


42 posted on 01/06/2013 10:02:03 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: ru4liberty
Nothing wrong with the .38 if she gets a lot of range time. For greater accuracy and capacity she might want to look into a semi-auto 9mm or .40 cal (Springfield Armory XDM series), and range time.

For home defense, get a German Shepherd: great companionship and fear-inducing bark/look.

43 posted on 01/06/2013 10:03:14 PM PST by DTogo (High time to bring back The Sons of Liberty !!)
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To: ru4liberty

Ithaca Mag-10 “Roadblocker”

Seriously a nice pump 20 ga. should work fine. Get some light field/skeet loads if you are recoil sensitive. This is close range work anyway.


44 posted on 01/06/2013 10:03:25 PM PST by headstamp 2 (What would Scooby do?)
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To: ctdonath2

This is about indoors.


45 posted on 01/06/2013 10:03:31 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

I name my guns. Glock .40


46 posted on 01/06/2013 10:03:39 PM PST by eyedigress ((zOld storm chaser from the west)/?)
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To: ru4liberty

There have been many stories here on FR about women breaking off attacks and in some cases killing the attacker with small handguns. As others have said, she’s good with what she has, especially if she’s comfortable with it. The macho men are steering her the wrong way.


47 posted on 01/06/2013 10:03:58 PM PST by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: ru4liberty

She could get the Beretta Xtrema2 12ga. semi-auto shotgun and has minimal recoil (can be fired with one hand). It can fire 12 rounds in less than two seconds. Check out the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk2mFcsa7mw


48 posted on 01/06/2013 10:04:08 PM PST by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America
Shotguns are heavy and unwieldy for an older woman..

I beg your pardon???

49 posted on 01/06/2013 10:04:29 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Psalm 83)
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To: DTogo

Puppy is just ‘sposed to wake me so I can grab the shotgun.
LOL


50 posted on 01/06/2013 10:05:26 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: SJSAMPLE
and certainly not ideal for an elderly woman.

ELDERLY????

51 posted on 01/06/2013 10:06:04 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Psalm 83)
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To: eyedigress

A 38 revolver is fine if that is what she is comfortable with. She can load one or two shot shells if she want to get his attention without killing him.

In the news today was just such a scenario where a lady shot a perp 6 times hitting him in the face and neck 5 times with a 38. I’m surprised the guy lived but so far he is. One really lucky bad guy.


52 posted on 01/06/2013 10:06:04 PM PST by Boomer
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To: ru4liberty
They pretty much said that sometimes the only thing a perp needs is to hear the cocking of the shotgun and he'll flee the scene.

I used to think that as well. Thinking further into it, I'd rather not give my position away and give that second or so away to an intruder. It should be ready to fire when you encounter the intruder.

That said, I agree that a shotgun, with an 18" barrel, and #4 buckshot is the best firearm for home defense. At this person's age, depending on her health and strength, maybe she could handle a 20 gauge more easily than a 12 gauge.

BTW. These kind of questions on FR always end up with tons of responses. IBOHR (In Before One Hundred Replies)

53 posted on 01/06/2013 10:06:38 PM PST by Washi (Socialism is Slavery)
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To: ru4liberty

A good salesman at Academy recommended the Mossburg 20 gauge shotgun for me as it is light but effective and was $100+. I am 5’5” and 125 pounds. I held the shotgun and it was fine. I have a Remington 870 shotgun and it is too heavy for me.


54 posted on 01/06/2013 10:08:16 PM PST by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. Going Galt is freedom.)
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To: ru4liberty

There is nothing wrong with the .38 if she can shoot it well and is comforable with it.

But if the shooting range owner has seen her shoot and says “Get a shotgun,” that might be an indication she doesn’t shoot it well. If these other people have seen her shoot, and say the same thing, that’s an indication the .38 is not working well for her.

In that case, the 20-gauge pump with buckshot is probably the way to go. It doesn’t “spray” anything at across-the-living room distances and she does have to aim, but aiming a long gun is much easier than a handgun. She should practice with light target loads before trying buckshot.

What does she want to do?

(If she stays with the .38, make sure she uses modern defensive loads from a major manufacturer.)


55 posted on 01/06/2013 10:08:32 PM PST by Cincinnatus.45-70 (What do DemocRats enjoy more than a truckload of dead babies? Unloading them with a pitchfork!)
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To: entropy12
my thinking is a shot gun would be best. It sprays the shots,

No offense, but you may want to rethink that. What I have seen from shooting one, and from other info, is that at inside house ranges, the shotgun load might as well be solid.

There is no "spray". Even the old timers that tried to crate that with the Blunderbuss found the shot just plain refused to "spray". Oh well, there are always grenades for those encounters that you do not have time to aim. You still have to aim the damn thing, shotgun or handgun.

A flame thrower now, that is a different animal from my one experience firing one. Just be sure you are on the right side of the damn thing, and God help your house.........But "spray" you do have.

56 posted on 01/06/2013 10:09:03 PM PST by doorgunner69
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To: Boomer

I read that. The 38 airweight is a fine weapon. One add I would give. That perp would be dead if she had a mosquito. JMHO. 22lr hollow points a given.


57 posted on 01/06/2013 10:09:29 PM PST by eyedigress ((zOld storm chaser from the west)/?)
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To: eyedigress
Ahh...
Dammit Gunby!


58 posted on 01/06/2013 10:10:11 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America
Shotguns are heavy and unwieldy for an older woman..

I know 60 year old women who trap shoot, hunt upland game and ducks with shotguns. A open choke shotgun is a perfect home defense weapon.

59 posted on 01/06/2013 10:10:11 PM PST by Alaska Wolf (Carry a Gun, It's a Lighter Burden Than Regret)
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To: ru4liberty

She already has the right gun, IMHO.


60 posted on 01/06/2013 10:11:11 PM PST by Hugin ("Most times a man'll tell you his bad intentions, if you listen and let yourself hear."---Open Range)
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