Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Opinion on home defense guns

Ditto on the cell phone.

I have a Glock 27 w/ night sights for "personal defense" but think that in reality, especially with kids in the house, a can of pepper spray and a baton would be a very bad thing for most perps and infinitely better than an unsecured gun.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Everybody has a scenario to deal with unique to their residence, and prejudice regarding firearms. I'm no different. As I trapse down life's path my scenarios change, or at least my expectations of what may occur change. My present home cannot be entered forcefully with stealth, the reasons will remain my own. I like shotguns and birdshot here, the ranges are close and I'm not disposed toward theatrics. If someone should come to visit while I'm home they get to visit the coroner's office, all in accordance with state law. If they are here when I arrive I shall hold back and call the law, and wait. Whether true or not, I must assume that they are armed once inside the house, I'll leave it up to the responding officers to decide if they are dangerous. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

The best home defence gun is the one you can grab in a hurry! Remember where it is and how to use it, period.

The correct thing to do is take your shotgun with you when you leave the house, unload it and stick it in your car (with ammo nearby). When you return take it out, load it and carry it into your house with you.

You should use your dogs to help clear your house. They should be able to indicate the presense of intruders and where they are hiding.

You also should have an alarm that will let you know if someone broke into your house before you enter.

I like my bennelli semiauto M1 Super 90 with 18" choked barrel and with surefire M4 mounted under the mag tube. You listen for the bad guys and blast them with the light before taking them out with the shotgun. This helps to prevent accidently shooting your children or wife.

Conrad

I thought I would share an experience. It was during the middle of the week and I woke up in the middle of the night. I started puttering around the house getting things done and hoping to get sleepy later.
I heard someone trying keys in my front door, then they would put their weight against the door. This went on again and again. It set my adrenalin going because they knew I was home with my truck in the driveway and lights on in the house.

So I got my pistol and when I turned the lights off, they left. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I guess they changed their mind or didn't want to come into a dark house with an alert person waiting for them.

Conrad,

Hmmm�I have to take a handgun AND a shotgun? Man, I�m going to have to start setting the alarm earlier to prep all this stuff�

When I return to the house, I�m thinkin� that reloading the shotgun in the driveway every afternoon might fire-up the neighbors. I suppose I could hope there are no bad guys already in the garage and reload there. The �shotgun in the car� tactic also leaves me a little short when I walk the dog. I suppose I could tie him to the trailer hitch�

Alarms are good, but they don�t prevent the bad guy from waiting for me outside and making me disarm it. The shotgun is a good solution for him, if he�s there, but the rest of the time I�d have to carry the newspaper and mail in my teeth�with a loaded shotgun�with the neighbors wondering what the heck is JOG up to now?

Firearm mounted lights can be good, except they require you to sweep a multitude of non-targets with the muzzle � possibly including my wife and kids. That ain�t happenin�. I guess I'll stick with a handgun.

Sorry to be a smartazz, Conrad � I couldn�t help it� <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I give up.

I am going to move to Faluja, convert to Islam, and enroll at a terrorist school.

When I graduate, I will return to the US with one of those Bomb Vests.

This will be the ultimate personal defense tool. I will live in it 24/7.

If some thug tries to nail me, I will trip the switch and take him out. Its the pefect solution. I will never be afraid to hitch-hike in East L.A. again. . . . . . . .

BMT

Yeah, but then there's those pesky Marine Corps snipers to worry about.

No matter where ya go, there ya are <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

On a more serious note . . . . . .

I still firmly believe that the best "safety" is between your ears.

I also beleive that your best tol in personal defense is visibility, attitude, and awareness.

Guns are great, and I will firmly stand beside the CCW guys who wish to carry, but if you need to draw a weapon, it means that other defenses have failed.

Thus, I keep the house visible from the street (no screens of foliage, etc.). I also have an outdoor light so we can see into the garage when coming in at night. A good set of locks on the doors and windows helps. And generally, I try to perpare the house as LEOs advise.

My favorite tip is "Keep the garage door closed." A few LEO buddies have informed me that PERPs will cruise neighborhoods on a Saturday and check out contents of the open garages. On a good sunny day, 1 in 3 garage doors are open as the homeowners mow lawns, wash cars, etc.

I once drove over the a friend's house and noticed his neighbor has 3 gun safes in the garage whcih were visible from the street. Every car that came by for 3 hours got a look at these.

I thought the neighbor should have been more discreet in that case.

I know that some of us live in the woods and no neighbors can see their home (which is great for quiet living). Those folks will have additional security challenges.

Anyway, my point is that buying a gun is the LAST item on a home security checklist. Making the home un-inviting to Perps is the FIRST item on my checklist.

Just my 2 cents,

BMT

Well, now that we've run the gamut of techniques and equipment...

I trained the dog how to operate the clacker on the claymore with this mouth and to recognize "FRONT TOWARD ENEMY" so he doesn't blow his cute widdle snout off.

Eyes that see in the dark, ears that can hear a mouse fart a block away, sharp teeth and high explosives.

Best of both worlds.

I'll Take It. PM sent <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I hear ya, Jim, but I can top that for home defense�

Mean as a snake, known to strike terror into the hearts of ALL mortal men, as cold as death, a financial black hole�

My wife lives here too.

Gents: I have read all this with great interest, but have yet to see the two most important self-defense components. This wisdom comes from many, many conversations with law officers of all types, numerous lawyers, and at least one judge.

1. A criminal lawyer who knows the D.A. and all the judges. When you blow someone away, you will need him and you will not have time to shop.
2. Roughly $60,000 to spend on legal fees.

When your primers blow you are finally getting serious.