What is Preferred for Home Defense?

[Andrew Colglazier]

Howdy, all.  I'm new to this forum, glad to have found it.  Though new to the forum, I'm not new to firearms nor to this particular issue.

The discussion about "Best for home defense?" comes up regularly, and is the cause for much debate and gnashing of teeth.

I boil it down to this; who are you, where are you, what can you?

Who are you = male, female, large, small, disabled, healthy, young, old.

Where are you = city, suburb, rural, state.

What can you = proficient, with what, how hard are you willing to work?

Everyone's situation is different, so there is no one-size-fits all answer, except ...... learn the law, get training, keep up to date.

If you aren't willing to do the work necessary to become proficient with your weapon of choice, then don't get a weapon, at least, not a firearm.  I know many don't agree with that opinion, they often point to incidents where individuals defended themselves effectively with the handgun that belonged to dead Granpa who brought back that rusty 1911 from wwII.....

Still.  Get training, become as proficient as possible.

Andy

[Long Armed Devil]

I would tend to stay away from any long gun for my home defense needs.  Others have mentioned having to go out and get their kids and bring them into their bedroom so that everyone is in the same place.  This is what I would have to do so the hunker down and wait is not an option for me.  It would be nearly impossible to carry my child and use a long gun of any type to any effect.  At least with a handgun I can, if need be ,shoot one handed no problem.  Also another thing to think about is that if you wake up and the bad guys are in your room, you may be able to bring  a revolver(or any handgun) in to play quicker. 

In running these types of situations in my head I always try to think of the worst possible things happening and how I would deal with them.  If you have a buddy with a shotgun or rifle try going through the house and see what your pros and cons would be.  I will add if your going to do this MAKE SURE THE GUN IS UNLOADED

Hope some of this helps.

[tombogan03884]

Even if you have military training you need home defense training. It's a TOTALLY differant set of rules, and potential hazards. When you clear a building in Bagdad you are working with trained pros when you clear you home you are working with your  untrained kids and wife. In a war zone it may be alright to shoot on sight, in many states if you are not directly threatened you can't shoot. If you shoot some one who has their arms full of you TV or computer, you may be convicted of murder.

[Michael Bane]

Whatever works...and generally that's whatever you've got.

I may have mentioned this in an earlier post, but whenever I move into a new place, one of the things I do (and that my girlfriend thinks is pretty funny) is "work the corners" with an AirSoft gun to give me a sense of how I need to move to counter various threats. I spend some time figuring out how I would break in...where I would go...how would I move...etc. You first use the information gleaned from that exercise to "harden" the weak points of your house, essentially to "funnel" the bad guy in the direction you want. Then you take the same information and use it to "game" the lines in your house.

The house I live in now is hardened at what I perceived as he weak points, with a sophisticated alarm system backing up the hardening. I also know where my shots are in a whole series of gaming exercises. Handy info to have if I need it!

Michael B

[texcaliber]

I like either the G35 with Corbon DPX, or a S&W1911PD 4.25" with CT grips. Along with 100+ lumes SureFire which has replacement bulb for LED installed and then placed under the grip of gun. Which is placed in a Multi-gun Minivault. The one with the Hand print on top for combo. Standard right. Well others like the shotgun,carbine, or classIII option, but not I. As odd as it sounds I think in CQB like apartments or small homes, it is hard to beat edge weapons. Moving fast to get your kids is easier with a edged weapon. Also 6'2" 250lbs of me coming around the corner with MACHETE..... lets just say that old saying racking a 12ga. vs. me w/Machete I am scarier. Now, do i prefer to be bunkered down, with family in check, and behind my front sight? You bet! But I do not feel "one-legged @ the kicking contest" with an "Edged option" either. You can buy a sub $8 machete at Walmart or go nuts(Love my custom Tomahawks) also. This is probably going to be the most unpopular post but at least its honest. 

Tex

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

MB, you should do a video on the techniques you use, and things to consider in hardening and gaming your defensive strategies.
Tex, considering things like house construction, misses and over penetration, your method may not appeal to most here (I'm 5'8" 150 lbs, but I've got this axe...) but may be the safest for your neighbors.

[Kelly Neal]

I would second Michael's recommendation of contacting a good attorney and having them explain your jurisdiction's self defense and CCW laws.  But don't just hire any attorney and certainly don't go to one who advertises on TV.  Instead, you want to talk to your local police and/or prosecutor and find out who they would have represent them if they got caught up as a defendant in a criminal case.  Find out who your local FOP hires for cops when they get in trouble.  Given the amount of money that you can spend on flashlights, guns, fancy ammo, holsters, Oakley's, 5.11 clothes, electronic ear muffs, folding knives, fancy training from some ex-Spec Ops superninja, etc. etc.  the $2-500 that you'll spend learning from a good criminal defense attorney is CHEAP. 

As for weapon recommendations, anything will do really as long as it works, it's powerful enough, and you are familiar with it.  For me that's a 16 in AR with a Leupold prismatic optic and BUIS, LMT stock, Surefire light on a VTAC mount, loaded with 75gr HPBT backed up by a Dan Wesson 1911 w/ 230 gr. Hydrashocks.  And I've not one but three good defense attorneys that I can contact at a moments notice. 

[USSA-1]

You're not supposed to count yourself.

I already decided long ago that I'm calling you. 

Erik

[RGJOHNS]

i guess my input on this would be: if it is home defense being that you are going to defend a location in your home the pump shotgun in 12ga. racking in a load it self should scare someone off. if you are going to move around the house clearing and checking rooms then i would check into the judge by taurus. it can fire 45lc and/or a 410 3"shotgun shell. of course you would have to take into account where you live and how close the next house to yours. what are you comfortable with? Is the last question to ask yourself. our family has a safe room. not like in the movie's this is a room which has a choke point. a small area\ doorway which is the only way some one can enter. which also has cover on the inside to defend from with a radio ,house phone and a cell phone in which to call the police. this works well with my wife when i am not home. also the area that you shoot at someone has a backdrop which i do not have to worry about missing the target and where the shot goes. i hope this was helpful. RGJ.

[Hazcat]

i guess my input on this would be: if it is home defense being that you are going to defend a location in your home the pump shotgun in 12ga. racking in a load it self should scare someone off.

Or you could always just shout "HEY, MR BAD GUY...I'M OVER HERE!".

Not trying to bust your balls, just pointing out another possible way of looking at that 'scary' sound idea.