Posted on 10/10/2008 12:41:21 PM PDT by doug from upland
http://www.learnaboutguns.com/2008/03/30/selecting-a-gun-for-home-defense/
Selecting a Gun for Home Defense
Published by the LearnAboutGuns.com
Many people purchase their first gun for home defense, and the question of which type of gun to pick is a common one. The three basic choices are a handgun, shotgun, or rifle. Of the three, I would recommend a shotgun for most situations, with handguns being recommended for people who lack the physical ability to handle a shotgun. My recommendation for the “ideal” home defense shotgun, and the pros and cons of each of these firearm types, in the order which I recommend them, are discussed below.
My ideal home defense firearm is a 12 gauge pump action shotgun with an 18″ barrel and a magazine capacity of 6 shells or more, such as the Remington 870 XCS Marine Magnum. 12 gauge is the most common shotgun gauge these days, and 12 gauge shells are amazingly effective when loaded with 00 buckshot (pronounced “double ought buckshot”). The 18″ barrel is the minimum length generally allowed by law, and does not make the gun too cumbersome inside a home. The pump action is the pinnacle of reliability, and makes it easy to keep the gun stored safely but ready to use at a moment’s notice. The gun will be amazingly effective at close range, and the risk of over penetration through exterior walls and subsequent injury to neighbors is lower than with a rifle or handgun.
The gun I listed as my 1st choice, a Remington 870 XCS Marine Magnum, costs about $900, which is nearly three times as much as as basic pump action shotgun such as the Remington 870 Express. The benefit of paying for this more expensive gun comes in the form of better build quality, a corrosion resistant coating, a nice recoil reducing pad on the stock, and the ability of the gun to easily accept magazine extensions. If you feel like spending more on the Remington 870 XCS Marine Magnum go for it, and if not the standard Remington 870 will still provide excellent protection for your home and loved ones.
1st Choice: A Shotgun:
Pros: Incredibly effective. Less risk of injury to neighbors due to over penetration of walls. Cons: Harder to maneuver with in tight spaces due to larger size than handguns.
I would generally recommend a shotgun for home defense, because shotguns are (rightfully so) generally considered to be the most effective short ranged firearm. Rather than shooting a single bullet with each pull of the trigger as a rifle or handgun would do, shotguns shoot multiple pellets. These multiple pellets are more likely to stop an attacker but less likely to pass through the exterior walls of your home and injure your neighbors (note that I say *less* likely, as there is always a risk to bystanders). The recoil from firing a shotgun is heavier than a handgun, but this heavier recoil is more than worth the increase in effectiveness (although there is more to the effectiveness of a firearm than the kinetic energy of its projectiles, you can compare the 500 ft-lbs of energy from a .45 caliber bullet to the 2000+ ft-lbs from a shotgun firing 00 buckshot). For those who are new to guns and not accustomed to recoil, let me assure you that you will quickly get used to it after a few trips to your local range. For those who have a physical condition that does not allow them to tolerate heavier recoil, I would suggest acquiring a gas operated semi-automatic shogun (such as the Remington 11-87) which will be more gentle than a pump action or double barreled shotgun. Another option is to use low recoil shotgun shells, which as the name suggests, will be more gentle than standard shells. Such low recoil shells are going to be slightly less effective than standard shells, but this difference is trivial in the home defense scenario, and some experts recommend low recoil shells for home defense over standard shells.
Another consideration that applies to shotguns and rifles is the length of the firearm. In smaller homes with narrower hallways, a barrel that is too long would make the firearm difficult to maneuver with. For this reason I would suggest a barrel length of 18″, rather than the 30″ barrel which might be more appropriate for hunting or trapshooting purposes.
There are also some accessories you may want to consider for your home defense shotgun.
2nd Choice: a Handgun:
Pros: Easier to maneuver with in tight spaces do to its small size. Lower recoil than most shotguns and rifles. Cons: Less effective than a shotgun or rifle.
A handgun, such as one from the Springfield XD line of pistols, would be my 2nd choice recommendation for home defense.
Handguns are generally less effective than shotguns or rifles, as their projectiles have less energy, but they do have the benefit of being easier to maneuver with in cramped quarters, such as smaller houses and apartments. Handgun bullets will generally penetrate exterior walls more than shotguns, but less than rifles, meaning the danger to your neighbors is higher than with a rifle but lower than with a shotgun. My recommendations for the proper pistol self defense calibers are here. Those who are unsure whether they should select a pistol or revolver will find this article helpful.
Another benefit of handguns is that they often have less recoil and can be less intimidating to some people. Indeed my girlfriend is more comfortable with handguns than with rifles or shotguns, as discussed here. You may also wish to consider certain accessories for your home defense handgun.
3rd Choice: a Rifle:
Pros: Generally much more effective than a handgun. Cons: Rifle bullets have a tendency to over penetrate walls, increasing the danger to your neighbors. A rifle would be my last choice for a home defense firearm, although it would certainly be preferable over throwing sticks and stones at a home invader.
Rifles are generally more effective than handguns, however rifle bullets are able to penetrate much further than the shot from a shotgun or the bullets from a handgun. This creates a much greater risk to your neighbors, without much benefit to you. Rifles are generally designed for longer range shooting (e.g. 100 yards, and much further +) so there is no appreciable benefit in rifle designed for long range shooting within your house, since if you are ever forced to shoot a home invader it will be at very close range. Indeed, shooting at someone who is 100 yards away is almost impossible to justify as self defense. Although rifles are great for many purposes, home defense is not usually one of them, since rifles possess the drawbacks of shotguns (heavier recoil, more physically bulky and difficult to maneuver with in close quarters) while having none of the advantages (such as less of a risk of over penetration). That said, pistol caliber carbines can be a viable self defense option.
Now that you have selected a gun for home defense, pick the proper ammunition.
Notes:
When discussing the risk of overpenetration, I assumed that the shotgun ammunition being used was 00 buckshot from a 2.75″ shotgun shell, that the handgun ammunition being used was somewhere between 9mm and .45 caliber, and that the rifle ammunition being used was somewhere between .243 and .30-06. Although the danger of over penetration may be lower with shotguns than with handguns or rifles, the projectile(s) from any gun can over penetrate and pose a danger to innocent bystanders. Even if you are forced to fire your gun in self defense or defense of your family, you should not endanger the lives of your neighbors or other innocent bystanders. Also, it should go without saying that firing at a human being is the absolute last resort and is only justified to prevent death or grievous bodily harm from being inflicted on yourself or a loved one. The decision to possess a gun carries with it the moral responsibly to use the utmost care and good judgment. Similary, it is the responsibility of the gun owner to ensure the gun is not stolen by criminals or misused by children, and to comply with any applicable laws on the storage of the firearm.
It was a few years back, so I might have got the charge wrong (my memory ain't perfect anymore, if it ever was). FWIW, and either way, it was next to nothing. In all honesty, and if my memory serves me correctly, I think Ruger did do it for free - I suspect they were as impressed as I was by the mileage that lady put on on that pistol...
12G BENELLI M3 SUPER 90
Atlas is shrugging!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So... that must have been the tremor I felt when the bailout plan was passed.
My wife had never shot a handgun until I started training her on the HK4 (with .380 barrel installed) for her Texas CHL. When it lost its (oil-damaged Delrin) recoil buffer, I handed her my P7M8.
To make a long story short, she shot within 10 points of perfect with it on the CHL test. Then she nearly gave me a heart attack when she called my son that night and told him she really liked the P7... (Have you priced one of those things lately?) '-)
~~~~~~~~~
Yep, the 10/22 mag would be nice -- but my trusty old (1967 model) 22LR 10/22 still does a fine job -- even after my son converted it to a folding-stock "assault weapon" with all sorts of aftermarket stuff...
Did you get the answer(s) you were looking for here?
thank you for a reasoned post.
I think all the doomsayers are expressing anxiety, which is ok, but after awhile it can become a self fullfilling prophecy.
this is an important thread. Your post I am sure is very helpful. I don’t own a gun, but funny..earlier today I asked two friends “What kind of gun do you think I should buy?”
It is time to get over my ignorance in this area. Regardless of what happens with the election, this is something I have been avoiding and now I realize I have a choice to have a gun avilable for protection once I learn how to use a gun effectively and safely.
I've been toying with the thought of getting one of these:
What a name! It's based on the fact that many judges are now carrying it into the courtroom with them - and for good reason. We know of no better self-defense firearm. Whether loading all 45s - all .410s or alternating them in the cylinder, the Judge is the ultimate shotgun/revolver duo. New for 2008, we're giving you the Judge in Ultra-Lite forged alloy. You'll also be amazed how light this gun is and how easy it is to tote around. Also new is the Judge 3" Magnum. Larger and more powerful, this Judge gives you the extra firepower you need when you have to lay down the law. 
TAURUS MODEL 4510 .45/.410 (3" CHAMBER) MATTE STAINLESS REVOLVER
Or if you think that size does matter (and can remember your earplugs) you can just get silly:
RAGING BULL MODEL 500, .500 MAGNUM REVOLVER IN STAINLESS STEEL
Taurus' Raging Bull® 500 has a well-earned reputation for outstanding strength, reliability and accuracy while delivering the world's most powerful revolver round. Chambering the powerful new .500 Magnum, the Raging Bull 500 has won the respect of hunters world-wide for its big bore capabilities, comfortable feel and "one-shot, one-kill" performance. From big bears to monster bucks, you'll feel confident knowing you're holding the biggest and best hunting revolver on the planet.
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The way it is done,and the way you are taught in the military,is you keep one eye closed. The beauty of a handgun is that you can shoot with either eye open, unlike a rifle, and you simply open the other eye after firing. We used this technique with parachute flares(giving my age away?), you close one eye and shoot the he** out of the enemy then open the other one after the flare goes out, this saves the visual purple in the closed eye and retains your night vision. The sound is another matter that you will just have to deal with. Beats he** out of being killed by some intruder.
Choosing the right firearm is very important, too. When you start thinking of purchasing find a really reliable shop that will have resources to teach you about the weapon, the various types of ammunition available, safety matters, a shooting range, how to protect yourself with your firearm in various situations. One thing a famous target shooter said about his children and guns was that he taught them about the firearm...what it was for....what it could do...and he taught them how to unload the gun and for them to do that before any of their friends came into the house. His premise was that if you educate children about firearms then they will appreciate them the way they should. If you don’t teach them, then it is the unknown that will attract them and they will get into serious trouble not knowing how to handle the weapon. He said kids that play with guns have not been taught about guns. Anyway...those are some thoughts....I remember the first time I fired an automatic weapon...WOW...was that a kick!
THANKS.
The Judge can be judged as an inaccurate .45 Colt or an ineffective shotgun used against garden pests. Those two revolvers are the ones you buy after you have simply ran out of ideas on what to buy.
After you buy:
A defensive semiautomatic handgun
A defensive shotgun
A defensive rifle in .308
A semiautomatic .22 pistol
A Ruger 10-22 rifle
A bolt action target .22
A target bolt action .308 rifle
An AR-15 in .223
A pocket defensive revolver in .357 Magnum
An M1 Garand
A 1911 in .45 Auto
A Browning High Power in 9mm or .40 S&W
There are others like a German Luger or Uberti 1873 lever action rifle.
You’ll also need a Dillon 550 reloading press.
Well, I like revolvers also, keep several around the house and use them for CCW use also. However, I will have to disagree with your statement that you have to chamber a round in a semi before you can use it. If it is for self defense and if it is a double action only, and even if it isn’t, you can safely keep a round chambered ready to go. You might have to worry about the spring in the Magazine getting weak, and some of them jam and tend to break, but waiting until you have a break in to jack a round in is foolish. I keep two semis as well as several revolvers spotted around the house(I live in CA and we have a high home invasion rate here)and keep one in the chamber at all times in the ones I don’t have locked up. This is JMO and not intended for a recommendation to others.
It's just intrigued me as a close quarter weapon
I haven't heard good things about Taurus steel either
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My training in semiautomatics was to take out the clip and then check the chamber to make sure it was unloaded. Many people forget the second step and end up in trouble.
Home defense is not just for the person, but often also the wife and family. Anyone can easily be shown how a Revolver works and one good lesson will serve you well for decades. A semi is a more precision instrument, much more complex.
And the last thing you need is your wife attempting to use your semi for home defense in a panic and forgetting from her lesson three years ago that there is a SAFETY that must be taken off before the thing will fire.
REVOLVER for home defense. REVOLVER.
“I thought he was going to kill me,” Chandler said. “The most thing I need to stress is that 911 did not respond.”
Not any more!
Perhaps I'm being obtuse, but what does The Bible have to do with home defense?
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