Shotgun
Vs Pistol for home defense
Since 06-10-08
September 20, 2007 at 3:38 pm by Tom King
http://blogs.timesunion.com/guntalk/?p=38
Tonyb suggested this topic and it is a great idea. In today’s world of home invasion the choice of a defensive weapon is paramount to your loved ones safety. My choice contradicts Tonyb, I agree with the handiness of a pistol but give me the good ol’ pump shot gun in either 12 or 20. According to studies of career criminal the sound of a pump shot gun being cycled is universally recognized and feared. The sound alone may drive a bad guy from your home.
What do the rest of you think?
14 Comments »
1. That’s a great question - I’m actually in the process of trying to decide that myself. I might add that a pistol has been recommended to me on the grounds that, when held close to the chest, it extends less distance away from the user than a shotgun and therefore is harder for an attacker to deflect.
Comment by The NYCR — September 20, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
2. If someone has a permit, and is concerned about self-defense, they should carry a pistol on them all the time, even while at home. It is comfortable and easy to do.
So, yes, a pistol that is always with you is a great choice.
For a second choice, a long gun. This can be both a backup, or a primary for those without pistols.
From here, the question is whether to use a shotgun or rifle. Shotgun, with shot, is less likely to over penetrate through walls and into your neighbor’s house. But a rifle will allow you to reach out farther. So, you have to take those pluses and minuses into consideration.
Comment by Jeffrey — September 20, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
3. I agree, the shotgun can’t be beat for home defense. It’s only real disadvantage is difficulty navigating tight corners in a house, which is a problem with any long gun in a confined space. Nonetheless, a single shot of 00 buck is the energy equivalent of getting hit by a nine round burst from a submachine gun.
Of course, some have pointed out #4 buck as being superior to 00 buck in close quarters, because it has less penetrating power, which I think is a good point for apartment dwellers.
Comment by Sebastian — September 20, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
4. Not only that, but you can, if you choose, load a shotgun with a variety of non-lethal or less-than-lethal shells: lead powder, pepper powder, bean bags, rubber shot or slugs, etc. Even people opposed to killin’ can use a shotgun for home defense if they wanted to.
Or you can load a non-lethal round with some buckshot right behind it. Also, shotguns are better for inside because they have less penetration. Less of a chance to go through a wall and hit soemone in another room/the next apartment.
Comment by Guav — September 20, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
5. I’ve never been a pump shotgun fan so, between the two, I’ld choose a pistol. I keep my .45 loaded w/ Glasers along w/ the SAR-1. My dbl barrel split breach has light shot since it’s mostly used for coyotes.
The wife preferres her .32 (also Glasered).
It all depends on what we grab first.
Comment by thirdpower — September 20, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
6. Years ago I worked for Sports Authority - back when they had the balls to sell firearms, including handguns. Our hunting and fishing department did a cross training demo using a 12 gauge pump action shotgun on this very topic. It was the concensus of the department, which included decades of firearms experience and one fella from the national guard, that the shotgun was better for home defense and simply because the ammunition, save the glasers, would not penetrate your walls and hit your kids on the other side and because the sound of the cycling as Tom pointed out means trouble is coming. That said the problems of being able to get around corners can be solved when you expand your thoughts to other gauges. My choice is the 12 guage under my bed but also consider the 20 and 410 gauge which tend to have shorter barrels and can be just as effective. Also they can be used by women or anyone not used to shooting and might only get one shot off because of the recoil. I know my 410 packs a good whallop with a slug but of course the range is limited but that probably won’t be an issue with someone coming up your stairs.
I have a handgun permit but have yet to purchase one because I don’t have the money yet. I am seriously leaning toward a thompson contender because of the versatility of calibers and because i usually only need one shot with nuisance wildlife business and while hunting but does anyone have any thoughts on what might be a good home defense pistol?
As an aside firearms laws such as the castle doctrine would also be a great topic for the blog anyone agree?
Comment by Joseph Cea — September 20, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
7. I favor a shotgun and have a Mossberg marine model 500 stainless 12 gauge as sold. It is legal barrel length, has no stock, just a pistol grip. Very handy. Not desiring over-penetration, it’s stuffed with buckshot. I am also a BIG fan of .45 Glasers or Triton HiShok.
Here’s the big question: How many of you REGULARLY go to a range and drill in CQB with your [a] shotgun, [b] rifle], [c] pistol, [d] baseball bat, [e] whatever? The key is being ready and willing. Hooah! Airborne . . ..
Comment by AbnSF — September 21, 2007 @ 8:52 am
8. My choice for home defense is a high-capacity 9mm pistol.
I prefer a pistol because it keeps my other hand free for a flashlight/baton/wombat leash/etc.
Comment by Rustmeister — September 21, 2007 @ 10:58 am
9. Belt and suspenders for me.
My primary home defense gun is a 12 ga. pump, for all the reasons mentioned. But I also have a gun belt handy in which to holster my handgun. I expect that, barring a situation developing too fast for me to respond with more than just the shotgun, I’ll have both on me. Oh, and my flashlight is on the gun belt, too.
Comment by Boyd — September 21, 2007 @ 11:00 am
10. AbnSF:good point,maybe that’s one reson I prefer handguns,I shoot at least one of mine every week,and hardly ever shoot a shotgun.I guess if we were talking about a regular Joe who hardly ever shoots,then a SG would be the way to go.You guys all have valid points as to why you’d shoose a SG..I guess I am in the minority.
Comment by tonyb — September 21, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
11. This is so easy as to be ridiculous IMHO. With a pistol, you have to be a decent shot to get a incapacitating hit. That is really hard to do at night, in the dark, with the bad guy in the house. Add the fact you are under some serious stress at the time. You will tend to send a few rounds “everywhere” in the vicinity of the target without some real training and practice (punching holes in paper at the range doesn’t count!).
With a shotgun, the margin for error is much less. At a few feet, a shotgun has much more “spread” and is more likely to hit the target and has less likelyhood of killing the rest of the family in the room next to you. And, look at the barrel of a .45 and a 12 gauge. Bigger is better sometimes….
Personnaly, I have a Benelli Nova 12 by the bed. I also have a Ruger GP 100 in the nightstand. I choose a pump and a wheel gun for a reason. An auto is more likely to jam no matter how well made. For competition and carry I use an auto. For the “HOLY CRAP” in the middle of the night, when I may not be totally awake, I want to be able to pull the trigger and know I don’t have to do a failure to feed drill. A DA wheel gun and pump shotgun gives you that. Wheel gun–pull the trigger again. Shotgun–rack the slide.
When your (or your family’s) life depends on it, would you have it any other way?
Comment by Jamie — October 5, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
12. As a former soldier and iraq war vet, I was always told you use a pistol to fight your way to a rifle. Pluse the shotgun is the most lethal close quarters weapon ever devised.
Comment by rick — October 25, 2007 @ 2:16 am
13. I agree chasing the bad guy with a scatter gun is the way to go. I have a 12guage coach gun, and this gun is designed for one thing and one thing only.It has a twenty inch sxs barrel and kicks like a mule.I can only imagine what happens on the other end.That is what wells Fargo used them for.If you can get a pistol permit or own a pistol than you have to decide what you want to do.Myself give me that old shotgun.Some one once told me that a shot gun is the kind of weapon that a bad man hates to stand up to.
Comment by Paul McDermott US Army Ret — November 9, 2007 @ 8:04 pm
14. Former Albany Mayor Erastus Corning agreed with most of you here that a shotgun is a more practical weapon to defend home and hearth. I’m ignorant of some of the terms used in this discussion. Please enlighten me.Is a 12 ga. a larger bore than a 20 or 410? What is a legal barrel length? I’m used to buying musical instruments on-line, is this a good way to purchase firearms or a firearms store? Should I join a local rod and gun club to get some training and target practice?
Comment by Harry Coyle — February 18, 2008 @ 8:12 pm
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Home
Invasion Ends in Shooting
Investigators want to track down two intruders following a home invasion
early Monday morning. The Laurens County Sheriff's Office says three people
kicked in the door of a home on Fairview Road near Fountain Inn around 12:45
am Monday.
The homeowner reports being dragged out of the bedroom and beaten. Deputies
say the man went for his gun and shot at the robbers. One suspect was hit
and made it to Saint Francis Hospital. He is now at Greenville Hospital
System. We don't know his condition.
The homeowner went to Hillcrest Hospital in Simpsonville.
Deputies ae trying to track down the two other home invaders. If you have
any information call 9-1-1.
Another
homeowner shoots, kills armed would-be robber
A homeowner shot and killed a suspect who was allegedly trying to break into
his West Valley home early Thursday morning.
It happened at about 1:30 a.m., in the area of 59h Avenue and McDowell Road.
Police said the family of four was asleep at the time.
The homeowner reportedly woke up when he heard somebody kicking in the door.
That man grabbed his shotgun and waited near his bedroom door.
When the bedroom door swung open, the man said he saw a man with a gun.
That's when he opened fire.
That suspect died on the scene. Police did find a gun near him.
Investigators said there were two other suspects who took off, running to
where their truck was parked a block away. Those suspects are still on the
loose.
Police said the homeowner was acting in self defense so he likely will not
face any charges.
None of the family members inside the house were hurt.
Neighbors said the family keeps to themselves, but they did notice what they
believed to be suspicious activity nearby Wednesday morning.
"The neighbors said at 5:30 yeasterday morning he saw two guys on bikes that
were at the house next to them, and they looked like drug addicts," said
Brenda Mcolough.
Investigators are trying to determine the motive for the break-in.
Man shoots
bear in backyard
David Jenkins woke Wednesday morning to the barking of his dog, Sammy. He
soon discovered the cause of the commotion — a black bear in the backyard of
his Henderson County home.
Jenkins said he grabbed his shotgun for protection. He told his wife to stay
in the house as he went to try to scare the bear and rescue his dog.
“The bear was standing up on his hind legs and I knew it was going to kill
my dog. ... I had to do something,” Jenkins said.
After an attempt to scare off the bear failed, Jenkins said he knew he had
to protect his dog and himself.
So Jenkins fired his shotgun in the direction of the bear. The shot hit the
bear.
“The bear started to wander off and I didn’t want to leave a wounded bear
wandering around the neighborhood,” he said. “So I followed the bear and
shot him again.”
Jenkins said he immediately alerted the local game warden about what
happened. He said a biologist came to his house first and extracted a tooth
from the bear to determine its age.
Jenkins said the black bear was about 2 years old. It weighed about 250
pounds, he said.
“When the game warden arrived he said that I was fully justified in the
shooting because I had attempted to scare the bear away before firing my
first shot,” he said. “It was a very unfortunate situation.”
Times-News efforts to contact Henderson County authorities with the N.C.
Wildlife Resources Commission were unsuccessful Thursday.
Jenkins said he has never seen a bear in his neighborhood off Howard Gap
Road, though he has seen deer, coyote and wild turkeys.
“I was scared to death of the thing,” he said.