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

Just an interesting question. What so you have to stop bad guys? I am in the market for a new toy, more so out of need this time. 10-22 and S&W J frame will do untill the weekend or so. I am thinking something along the lines of an 870 with a 20" or so barrel. I have had the Win 1300's before. Camp Defender. I was not impressed. Not real fond of the Mossbergs with all the garbage on them. I had an 11-87 with a short barrel with rifle sights and liked it, just hate the tall sights on it. It is gone now and I find my battery lacking. I want choke tubes cause cylinder don't cut it. I am thinking being turkey season coming I could find something easily. Vent rib is not a must have.

Not in the least interested in lights on forearm or heat shields, but a 2 or 3 shot extension might be a good thing. Kind of think the side saddle and speed feed stocks are tacky.

So it will either be a modified turkey gun that an extra barrel for bird hunting (read CROW) or something AR'ish. Possibly a Mini 14. Recent prowlers and attempt to get in my parents house and grandmothers prompted the idea. That and a pole light in the yard.

The Rem shotgun seems to be what I will get, just wondering what else is used around the campfire? I think I know everything concerning defensive weapons, just very narrow in my view. Tell me if something comes to mind.

Worse case here with any shots houses are between 100 to 400 yards apart and mainly brick. No kids in the house so shotgun with something along #4 to #4Buck is in order. Seems like I shouldn't have anything much escape, and if so shouldn't do any real damage elsewhere.

Gee I miss my Kimber 45 now too.

You are on the right track. I had a Remington Home Defense that was nice. & shot extension and simple bead. An extra barrel can be had for under $150 and the gun itself cost me $250. Load it up with your shot and a simple buttstock carrier with slug for those longer shots that may present itself or going through a car door. Technically once he's out of the house he is no longer fair game but look for appications outside of the home. .223 you will probably get too much range and penetration where you are at. Illumination in the front and back yard is good, motion sensors set high will help save you electricity when you don't need it. Look it that 870 Home Defense, it sounds like what you are looking for. I got rid of mine only because I have an Ithica 37 Police so really didn't need two. Ryan

Search for 223 hp penetration data. It's not any more dangersous in a house than any other CF.

Personally, I have a Beretta 1200FP. I'm of the opinion that if 6 rounds of 12ga don't solve my home invasion problem I'm pretty much screwed.

At one time I hand a 44mag trapper carbine (180gr Cor-Bon). I've never found a comfortable & handy 223 (I did find one worth a bit of testing Sat).

The beretta mentioned is retailed a little more than I care to invest at this time. Fixin' to head to a few sites to browse the pictures.

The only problem with the shotgun, from the theoretical possibility perspective at least, is that we always seem to leave it IN the house, and if some bad guys get there before YOU do, they've got YOUR gun AND you're not expecting them to be there. Nobody seems to take it out of the safe each night and lock it back securely the following morning.

The handgun, on the other hand, has the primary asset that it's easily transportable. Thus, you can take it with you to and from the car much more easily and consistently. The downside you trade off by going to the pistol is that it's the hardest of the 3 (rifle, shotgun, pistol) to shoot accurately, and thus effectively.

There just ain't any perfect answer to your question, but the main rule of getting in a gunfight is and will always be to "Have a gun." ANY gun - and know how to use it effectively.

When I was growing up, we never locked our doors at night. It just ain't that way any more, and unfortunately, it's reasonable to deal with this issue BEFORE something happens. If you're lucky, no harm done. If not, it COULD save your life.

The main thing is to try to govern your mindset, whatever you choose to do, and notice things that would indicate potential trouble. If you see a strange, maybe shabby looking van in your garage, it's best to drive on by and use the cell phone to call for help first. THEN deal with it as you will and/or they advise. Even cops call for backup before barging into such a situation. It's crazy for us to do any different.

The first rule of a gunfight may be to have a gun, but the first rule of surviving a fight is to NOT BE THERE .... IF there's an option. After all, you can't know how many of them there are or where they're all at, etc., etc., etc.

I like the .45 auto. Maybe you could get that Kimber back? Or one like it? Once you're inside and known safe, a shotgun sure would be a good pick, though. Leverguns in calibers like .357 or .44 carry a good payload of rounds in the magazine, especially in the longer barreled "Cowboy" versions (but of course they're longer, too, and not as convenient in some situations), and they can be fed extra rounds to top off the magazine while still being "in action" as the glossy magazines are wont to put it these days.

There ain't no right or wrong answer, really. Just get and use what you like and are comfortable with, and know how to use it, and keep your eyes open. Most burglars are pretty much harmless unless cornered, and few are armed when they go in, but just ONE exception to that can positively ruin your day.

Life's not a certain thing, and neither are these type questions and situations. If you knew what you'd face, you'd arrange not to be there.

Just remember that the pistol is what you're most likely to HAVE WITH YOU. That counts for a lot. I stick mine in my belt when I go inside, and clear the chamber only after I'm inside. Some folks wouldn't like that much, but I don't care. It's MY house, and MY responsibility to do it right. Part of being a man, and one with liberties, is making these type decisions for one's self and family.

I just set my Claymore and trip wire in the hall before I go to bed. Sleep sound.

Now where did I leave that clacker? RANGER! NO! BAD DO.......

If you see me, I have the S&W. There is pretty much somebody here or across the street at all times. Not that that helps 100%. Somebody has tried to get in my dad's house 2 times within the last 3 years, while he was home. Once was early one sunday morning. He spotted the lookout kid in the front yard hiding behind a 12 foot tall spruce. Since then the spruce got bobbed at the bottom so a good 15 to 20 inches from ground to lowest limbs. The lookout alerted the other kid about dad waking up and they hit the road.

Two weeks ago my grandmother heard something at the back of the house. We thought she was crazy....kind of part of her health...well that rocked on and tonight just before this post mom called and asked me to look at my grandmothers house. She had spotted someone slipping around.

There aint any reason for someone to be in her back yard/ side of my lot.

No real breakins in this general are, but I live within 5 miles of two states. And a lot of invasions just across the state line lately.

I need to check in on state law. Last I heard while at a gun shop in front of either DEA or ST. trooper I could use deadly force to protect life or property, or go in aid to someone to protect their life or property.

I know Tennessee was different at that time. If you can get out of the house and let them leave on their on, you can't shoot them. That was at Y2K though.

Marlin 44 magnum rifle. Looks like a hunters rifle in front of a jury, can be loaded "on the fly", and rates real high on the one shot stopping power scale.

My own beef against .223's for home defense is that they're so friggin' loud, after all is said and done I would prefer to have some hearing left.

I would second the Marlin lever carbine (or a Winchester etc), mine's in .38/.357 mag, takes the same ammo as my Mod 60 j-frame and, dependent upon the ammo, groups around 4"-6" at 100 yards. Fun to shoot too.

Birdwatcher

How about a German Shepherd?

I prefer the pump shotgun. When you rack that slide, people pay attention.

In Ga deadly force to protect property? Yeah, you need to check that one. Tn leave if you can? Uh, no.

This is just going to be general thoughts. I can't pick a gun for you as what suits me might not you and vice versa. So these then are just points to ponder on.

Shotguns/Rifles

Storage issues. They take up a lot of space relatively speaking.

They are unwieldy in close quarters.

They take both hands to operate, what are you going to open the door with, your teeth?

A dedicated self defense shotgun/rifle is a pretty specialized breed of cat. Mostly useless for general hunting.

There are overpenetration issues especially with rifles but even with shotguns. Even a charge of bird shot will sail right through dry wall.

Using either without shouldering it is a recipe for a miss and yes, at close range you can miss with a shotgun. If shouldered your periferial vision is mostly gone. There may be more than one bad guy in there.

Pistols

They are hard (relitively) to hit with.

Lazer sights/flash lights point at you too.

They are not as intimidating as long arms.(Racking a pump shotgun is a whole lot more attention getting than cocking a hammer or clicking a safety)

Without a whole lot of practice long range shots are pretty well out.

They are more dangerous than long arms in that the muzzle is a lot easier to point at something you don't want to shoot.

They are not as sure a fight stopper as a bigger gun.


As I said I won't make a recomendation. You pays your money and takes your choice weighing you own personal preferences and situation. The above are just things to think about in the thought process.


BCR

When we first moved into our neighborhood, our house was the only one in our cul-de-sac (sorry that's french). With me going on 6 month deployments, I proceeded as follows: first line of defense, a very irritating and aggressive Jack Russell Terrier. I mean nothing's to big for her to attack. In our room right behind the backboard is a Mossberg 500 12 ga, it's real short, with a magazine extension ( loaded with #6 shot, we have kids and thin walls), ghost ring rear sight, blaze orange front sight and a laser light. According to a lawman friend of ours nothing terrifies bad guys more than that light pointed at their chest. Next, she has a Glock sub-compact in in her nightstand ( or under the pillow) oaded with Glaser safety slugs. Lastly, we have an alarm. BTW, the typical response time for the law is about 15 minutes, so those of you (although probably not in this forum) that feel "safe" with an alarm system, a lot of mayhem can happen in 15 minutes! Oh yeah, down here in the south, we just shoot them no questions asked! jorge

If you decide you want a shotgun, I think you're on the right track with the turkey gun. Looks a lot better to a jury than a decked out "tactical" shotgun. Like it or not, thats something you have to factor in now days.

The Rem 870 home defence would be my vote. 18" barrel, and you can buy a short Turkey Barrel if you'd like. Or Just buy the 870 Turkey with a 21" barrel and put a cyl choke in it. Like someone else said, slide that action. Anybody that would break into your house will KNOW what that sound is.

This may seem a little off the wall but a while ago I bought a Reminton 870 youth as my dedicated home defense gun. Its short, easy to handle, should never fail, and I don't have to worry about blowing high velocity rounds thru walls. Plus I got it used for $150. I've taken the plug out and have high brass 6's close buy.

turkey gun, cyl choke, no. 9 trap or russian sxs double with same load; housebroken hound dog or other full-sized canine with a full voice.
i actually live in the 'hood. a full-voiced full-sized dog that is seen on a lead at least once a day by all n'hood kids is a MAJOR deterrant to any interest whatsoever in my home except as something to walk on by - on the other side of the street - and wave, smiling at the owner (me).
my bloodhound/redbone cross is a SUPERIOR watch dog - and a fantastic pet.

"cul-de-sac" jorge, is that that same thing as a circle? I like those big cressent rolls but I can't pronounce them so I order a biscuit instead. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
We have a stainless .357 with a 4" barrel for a house gun. I have the first two chambers loaded with magsafes and the other four loaded with 125gr lead hollow point +p .38s. There are two Safariland speed loaders with 158gr lead hollow point Nyclad +p 38s with it. I keep the 870 in the gunsafe with #4 buck in the side saddle shell carrier. The first line of defense is momma's puppy. He's a 60lb Dalmatian.

Leveraction Marlin 357 with 38 wad cuters.

11 rounds in the tube, one in the pipe. Looks like John Wayne's gun, and gotta hurt on the bad side.

Surefire light in the side. Rather blind 'em than bleed 'em.

What's not to like?

I hear this often. It's all good and fine as long as the bad guy scares easily. If he's experienced, high, desperate, etc., you've just given away your position and intent to someone who's likely going to respond in kind.

Slides are to be racked after a shot, not before. All my defense guns sleep with one in the pipe, and dead men tell no tales.

RSY