Any firearm can be used self-defense in a pinch. Do you agree?

[The Night Rider]

 

[Miami_JBT]

Of course, that "on correctly placed round" will, in a self defense situation, by almost entirely a matter of luck. The defender cannot see the internal parts of the body that must be struck, and if he could, he would find it extremely difficult to hit in a dynamic encounter,

Yup, there's a reason why you shoot to spot the threat. Sometimes, that means more than "correctly placed round."

 

[luzyfuerza]

OP, thank you for touching on your specific self-defense-related skills with the hardware you own. I am glad that you have trained. And practiced. Hard. I believe that every serious self-defender should do this with their tools.

But I think that you'd agree that lots of gun owners say that

...would I actually be capable of defending myself and my loved ones with such arms? The answer to that is emphatically yes.

with little training, practice, or measurable skills to support this assertion.



Having drawn you out, I have to ask: "If you believe that

it is the Indian, not the arrow

why ask this question

What "fudd" guns do you own that you'd feel capable to use for self-defense?

when "feel" means so little when compared to actually having developed skills and proficiency?


Was it your intent to ask something more like "What "fudd" guns have you trained with hard enough to prove that you could use them effectively in realistic self-defense situations?" This version seems more aligned with your training background.

Just a question.

But, of course, your OP, your question, your thread, etc.

 

[dobedo]

Well, any firearm could work for home protection if:
1. It is not locked up in a safe.
2. If it is loaded and ready to shoot.
3. If you are proficient in using it.
4. If you are faster that the intruder.
5. If you do not hesitate like a deer in the head lights.
6. If you have situational awareness.

 

[1nighttrain]

View attachment 1204100

Well you can’t argue with that

 

[bearcreek]

can run a single-shot shotgun without any worry in a self-defense scenario and I've ran my through a Uncle Sam's shoot-house. Along with S&W and Colt revolvers, bolt-actions, etc...

Seems to me that "a self defense scenario" covers quite a vast array of possibilities. A single shot is better than nothing in almost all of those scenarios. So is a rock. The answer to your initial question is blatantly obvious. Any object can be used for self defense, including guns of all types. No one with any sense would question that. I'm just curious what it is that you're actually getting at though? While it's obvious that any object can be used to defend oneself, it's also obvious that some objects are more useful than others in that role.

 

[fastbolt]

...
The difference between a kubotan and a Bic pen might be just training.

Well, the difference between how a Yawara stick might be used, compared to spike bo shuriken (when retained in the hand versus being thrown) or pointed chopsticks, or a Bic pen ... or a pencil (popularized in the John Wick universe) ... can certainly be apparent.

The Yawara stick (Kubotan, etc) can offer more potential for 'come along' & 'pain compliance restraint techniques, while the bo-shuriken or pointed chopsticks (whether plastic or metal) may be somewhat more limited in their application, especially when it comes to possible injuries resulting.

The Kubotan, named after inventor Takayuki Kubota, came along in the late 60's, but became pretty popular with some LE as the 70's rolled in. I picked up a couple of them back then, carrying them as keychains. (Which introduces its own type of issues.) I still have an aluminum one I picked up from somewhere some years later.

A pair of chopsticks, especially in the hands of someone practiced in some Chinese styles (like one of the Mantis styles), can be pretty surprisingly versatile, unexpected and effective. I was first exposed to it in the 70's, when I was branching out from karate and muay thai into some Chinese arts, and it gave some insight into why sometimes young men could be seen with a pair of chopsticks in their pockets on the streets of San Francisco's Chinatown. Well, then there were some of the bamboo 'flutes' also seen sticking out of back pockets, especially ones with the 'mouthpiece' carefully cut so it was pointed and sharpened.

Many years later I adapted my Yawara training into carrying pens like one of the Parker Cap & Barrel styles (still do, at times), since they were rather ubiquitous and could be carried obstructively, although carrying a Cross Pen & Pencil set could easily take the place of 'chopsticks', in a pinch.

Of course, nowadays the 'tactical pen' craze has given us a huge variety of variations. Some can be fairly easily identified as 'weapons', and Hollywood has helped make the Public aware of how they can be employed as weapons, too. Then, there's John Wick's 'pencil' legend, but before that there was the way the 'promo' pen was used in Grosse Pointe Blank by Cusack's professional assassin character, Martin Blank. (The other assassin Cusack's character used the pen on in that HS hallway scene was played by Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, who is a martial artist recognized by us older martial artists. )

 

[.308 Norma]

"Any firearm can be used self-defense in a pinch. Do you agree?"​

I figure that even my .50 caliber Hawken muzzle loader could be used for self-defense in a pinch. However, I also figure that "once upon a time," a good many .50 caliber Hawken muzzle loaders were the weapons of choice for self-defense - not for just when someone was "in a pinch."
Regardless, if I had to defend myself, hearth or home with a rifle, I'd choose my Model 94 30-30 over my Thompson .50 caliber Hawken muzzle loader. Same with a handgun - my wife's .22 rimfire, single-action Ruger Bearcat could be pressed into service for self-defense I reckon, but I'd rather have my Smith 1911 ,45ACP in my hand at a time like that.

 

[ThomasT]

When I got married in 1977 I owned two guns. An Ithica double barrel 12ga and a Winchester 190 22lr semi auto. The shotgun was loaded with buck and the 22 with CCI Mini-Mags and I never felt the need for anything else. And if you tried to come in my house I promise you wouldn't try it more than once.

Now like all the rest of you I have a lot of choices. In the situation in the OP the first gun I would load up for home defense in my Marlin 9mm Camp Carbine. I have 3 20 round mags for it and several more 15 round mags also. Then a couple of 12ga pumps.

Remember a couple of world wars were fought with bolt action rifles and pump shotguns. At close range a 22 from a rifle is damn deadly. I have a couple of bolt action 22 mag rifles that would be fine SD rifles and they hold 13 rounds of a really good cartridge. Even my machete and a couple of tomahawks stashed around would be decent weapons. I almost forgot the two swords I own. All deadly when used correctly.

You DON"T have to have an AR to be well armed.

 

[nofendertom]

YES, I agree.
A 1911 .45acp will do nicely.

 

[jmr40]

I prefer a handgun indoors. There are darn few places where you can't at least own a revolver and use it inside your home. Carrying it isn't an option in a lot of places.

As long as you don't have an excessively long barrel any pump or semi-auto shotgun is enough for close to moderate range use indoors or outdoors. I turkey hunt quite a bit and have several 12 and 20 ga shotguns with barrels ranging between 20-24" that would be every bit as effective as a tactical style shotgun. A 28" or longer barrel would be somewhat of a handicap, but I'd use that if it were all I had.

And don't forget common 22's, especially rifles. Many of the tube fed rifles held 15-19 shots and are still legal in most places. I know a 22 isn't ideal, but better than nothing.

A dedicated home defense carbine like an AR or PCC would be ideal to bridge the gap between the moderate range of a shotgun and longer-range work. But those aren't an option for everyone and if I couldn't have one then I'd be OK, I could still be well armed with common hunting rifles and shotguns.

I am a HUGE fan of bolt rifles along the lines of Cooper's Scout concept. Not just for defense, but a short barreled scoped rifle in a moderately powerful cartridge makes a fine hunting rig and a better defensive weapon than many realize. Large, heavy, long barreled rigs chambered in magnum cartridges wearing high magnification optics are less than ideal.

Remember every army during WW-1 used bolt action rifles and they were still the primary weapon used by most of the armies during WW-2. They work.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Any firearm can be used self-defense in a pinch. Do you agree?​

What would be the alternative? You only use hunting rifles/pistols/shotguns for hunting, self defense rifles/pistols/shotguns for self defense, and target/competition rifles/pistols/shotgun for targets and competition?

The firearms all simply launch a projectile(s) down range in a controlled manner. How that function is applied is up to the user.

They have all been used for self defense in a pinch. They have all been used for robbery in a pinch. They have all gone to war, in a pinch.

I’m relatively convinced that a fake weapon would suffice in about 80% of situations.

I think your estimate may be low. Given the hypothetical millions of gun self defense uses where no shots were ever (and events usually not reported), guns not need be loaded, functional, or real in those situations.

 

[HB]

Just be aware that your hypothetical fugitive may be better armed:

Escaped Pennsylvania killer Danilo Cavalcante taken into custody after he was subdued by a police dog | CNN

The convicted murderer who escaped a Pennsylvania prison nearly two weeks ago was taken into custody on Wednesday morning, Pennsylvania State Police announced, ending a manhunt that drew hundreds of law enforcement officials to the area and left the surrounding community gripped with fear.

amp.cnn.com

Numerous security lapses led to escape of Texas inmate who then killed 5, reviews say

Gonzalo Lopez fled a prison bus in May, killed a man and his four grandsons during three weeks on the lam before being gunned down, authorities say.

www.cbsnews.com

A deer rifle could suffice I suppose but odds are a criminal is armed with a semi auto today.

 

[Robert]

This has created far more static and not nearly enough signal. I don't think anyone will argue that any firearm is better than no firearm. Use what you want and allow that others might see it differently.