There are many theories/beliefs on self/home defense. Step A is having a reliable handgun. It’s needed for quick close encounters. Let’s face it, you cannot carry a rifle or shotgun around all the time. But a handgun you can.
Anything over 50 feet, such as your yard, needs a long gun for quick fire accuracy. That’s where a shotgun comes in. I have a very reliable semi-auto magazine fed shot gun that I have field trained myself with having fired over 400 rounds. It’s very effective at 30 yards and still capable at 50 yards. I alternate each round with military grade 00 Buck and #4 Pheasant shot.
Anything over 50 yards and the AR comes out.
The most IMPORTANT thing is range time. You have to run several hundred rounds through each weapon to be proficient. And keep running rounds through them on a routine basis to maintain proficiency. With range time you acquire muscle memory for quick target acquisition and firearm know how which equates to self confidence. Learn to fire the handgun single handed with either the left or right hands.
And don’t do the stupid Weaver stance while walking around with tunnel vision. I really dislike giving my full frontal body as a target with this stance or walking around with arms extended looking only down the sights while I trip over something or get attacked from the side or rear. This is mostly done on TV - don’t copy it!
Stay away from laser sights. They are next to impossible to acquire a target with, unless you happen to be in the dark. Get a good red dot.
“Stay away from laser sights. They are next to impossible to acquire a target with, unless you happen to be in the dark. Get a good red dot“
I respectfully disagree. I wouldn’t want a laser sight as my only sight, but they’re invaluable when defending yourself in tight spaces. Somethings you might not be able to get your eyes lined up with the sights, but could get a visual on the laser dot on the perps chest. Plus for the same reason you wouldn’t automatically be behind the gun while firing. The laser tells you where you are aiming even if you’re not able to look down the sights. That’s a plus in my book.