All this crap going on looking for recommendations for home defense (no dog recommendations please)-
1) shotgun
2)handgun
3)rifle
thanks
I think the order you have listed is pretty good.
Some of your decision has to be based on where you live. How close are your neighbors? What are your state laws regarding home defense? Do you have the castle law? Are you allowed to defend your property&buildings besides you and your loved one's personal health? Are you in a rural or urban area? Do you own your residence or not? Apartment or home? How defensible is your home to begin with? Are you defending your self and home for 5 seconds or 5 days? How much do you have to worry about having bullets go through a window or wall and hitting a neighbor or car driving by. Then you have to consider collateral property damage. Do you want small holes in your walls/door or large ones. (Small holes means less stopping power, but less destruction in your walls). You have to consider what most likely are you defending against? Crazed drug addicts? Serial Murders? Burgulars? Riots&civil unrest? Invasion? Then you have to consider what is your level of expertise in firearms and how often do you practice those skills?
How easy is it to get ammo and what is the cost? Is what is legal today going to be legal in the future? There are a lot more questions that people could add I am sure.
I went with a home defense shotgun which some also call an assault shotgun. I think you can take the plug out so that it holds 5 shells. It's a shorter barrel so a little more manueverable than a regular shotgun. I don't have to keep practice with it to maintain a skill level like a handgun. I cannot hit the side of a barn with a handgun. The shotgun allows for a larger margin of error which helps at night in a dark bedroom/hallway and when your eyes are blurry and full of sleep. It has the least amount of carry to prevent hurting innocent people. You do have to worry about penetration into other rooms however! It can make huge holes in your walls depending on what you get. So don't forget about that!!! Don't want to shoot through a wall and hit a family member. Depending upon what shells or gauge you go with you can alter your impact/damage/stoppage power so you make it less likely you go through a wall. For me I wanted stopping power so I got a 12 guage with a small box of number 1 shells and also got a box of buckshot for reserve. I bought a very inexpensive weapon that I intend never to use but knowing it's there gives me peace of mind. I also got a bandolier to sling on in case my house is on fire or I have to leave the room to check any outside doors.
I ruled out a rifle because of the carry. To me it's a long range/longer term defensive type weapon that would be better in a rural setting which doesn't fit my home situation. Don't want to hit an innocent. And I know without trying the older I get the less accurate I am as my eyes are going.
More suited for large invasion/civil war type scenarios I think. So it depends upon what scenarios you feel you need to protect yourself against.
Ruled out handgun because I am not steady anymore and I think it takes practice to stay a good shot and like I said I can't hit a barn door. Also if your in a dark room it's harder to be accurate so less room for error. The boom of a shotgun is more likely to be more intimidating to a criminal than a handgun at close quarters??? Plus working the action on a pump is louder than cocking and pretty distinct and that might be enough?
A handguns has lot's of pluses for home defense though as long as your effective with it. Manueverable, easy to store, lots of options. Less damage to walls. (You can still shoot through walls though depending upon what you get...)
Maybe a .410 handgun is the answer....
And for those who have noted that I am weak and old. I would like to remind you that I am still a mean tough bastard who will defend myself as needed.
Also get off my lawn! (This statement is not related to the home defense topic but rather that I am cranky and old.)
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Looks like a ADV1 put out a good post for you. Ignore my post except for the stay off my lawn bit.