Handgun, Rifle, PCC, or Shotgun for Home Defense?

[Mosin77]

This is a question that’s come up before, of course. Problem is, most gun questions I can research, read, apply to my situation, and come up with a clear-cut answer, and this one I really can’t. I live in a wood, Sheetrock, and vinyl siding typical house in a typical rural- suburban neighborhood. Bedroom is upstairs with two turns to reach the spiral stairs and kids rooms obstructing much firing upstairs. Pretty terrible defensive layout unfortunately. I currently have a pistol, a shotgun, a Ruger PC9, and an AR which could be employed for home defense duty, and honestly if I woke up to someone breaking in my front door, I don’t know for sure which one I’d grab.

They all have pros and cons. All of them will potentially overpenetrate both in my house and into neighbors houses, necessitating great economy of fire and accurate shot placement. Pistol is faster and handier, less chance of it being grabbed away? But it’s a pistol so stopping power is not as reassuring and accuracy isn’t great. Shotgun probably has the best raw “stopping power” and that classic sound may well deter miscreants on the ground floor from venturing further, but could be short-stroked in the moment, and an 18” barrel is a lot less handy than a 5”. An AR is great on stopping power, accuracy, and capacity but is probably louder than a pistol or shotgun, and I think is the manual of arms I’m least familiar with, in terms of operating it quickly in the dark, etc. (Making a point to train with it thoroughly and regularly is always an option, of course.)

I think the question for me is that if I hear a “sound” and want to investigate, I’d probably grab the pistol from convenience/familiarity. If I heard something unmistakably criminal I’d want to grab one of the long guns (because long guns are superior combat arms). The kids’ rooms are between the master bedroom and the staircase, so staying put, per se, isn’t really an option I could get behind.

Typing this out I’m inclined to favor the pistol overall based on vastly better familiarity.

I’m curious to hear everyone’s thoughts on this.

 

[InTheSwamp]

Handgun is faster. Rifle close by.

 

[Kleanbore]

if I hear a “sound” and want to investigate, I’d probably grab

If "staying put"is not an option, it would be a lot more prudent to put in a hard-wired camera that would allow remote investigation than to either expose oneself to gunfire or to traipse forth with gun in and and possibly put an innocent at risk.

Back to the choice of weapons: Tests have shown that an untrained person can hit targets best with an AR, and that using the shotgun may be too much of a challenge.

For an experienced shutter the aR has its advantages, but it is harder to sing around than a pistol. And personally, I do not want my capacity limited in a shotgun--ther could be three of 'em in the house--two is most probable--and it is easier to miss with a shotgun than most people realize,

And--there is no reason to assume that one will be in the master bedroom when the balloon goes up. When that finally dawned on me, the choice was made--I cannot reasonably carry a long arm around the house all day, but I can carry a pistol.

 

[Russ57]

Alarm system, surveillance system, motion sensors, motion controlled lighting, better doors/locks, dog(s), perhaps a door at the top of the stairs. In short things to insure the police are on the way, and the kids have moved to my bedroom, prior to bad guys gaining entry (or at least breaching the door at the top of the stairs). I'm feeling like if I have to hear someone in my house, before I know someone is in my house, my home defense plan has been proven to be a failure.

Are "the kids" old enough to be part of the defensive plan. There are plenty of 6 year old's that can shoot. Is the wife willing to be?

Call me chicken but I am waiting for the bad guys to come to me, in a position of my choosing, and hoping my other measures have bought enough time for the police to arrive. I would never announce where I am or that I am armed. Ideally I could move to the top of the stairs and fight a retreating battle corner by corner back to the master bedroom. I would think the shotgun or AR would be an advantage but I would always have my pistol with me. So much the better if wife and children are armed, in suitable prepared positions, and can see me at all times on a monitor without taking eyes off the door.

 

[N555]

If you don want something that's going to blast through multiple walls a shotgun with bird shot is probably best.

 

[Jeff White]

If you don want something that's going to blast through multiple walls a shotgun with bird shot is probably best.

In most homes you are talking ranges in feet not yards. The birdshot will most likely be one mass of lead at 12-15 feet.

 

[film495]

to me depends on accessiblity and speed. pistol is easier to aquire and easier to move around with indoors - and quiter to fire. I don't reallly want to damage my hearing too badly. if I have time, I'm probably going to pull somethign that shoots .223 and throw on electronic ear muffs, but for a bump in the night, I'm likely just going to grab a handgun. but, no matter what the dog is doing or my wife is saying, my rule of thumb is I'm not going to get a firearm at all, if nobody thinks what is happening is worth dialing 911. and usually, someone thinks they heard something, but didn't, or the dog is just barking at her reflection in the window.

what's best? probably the one you're the best and most comfortable with. if I had to choose a best, just on characteristics, overpenetration concerns etc. probably a PCC, shooting 9mm hollow points. but, like most things - it is all personal preference. If I heard someone smashing down my door and I knew they were coming in, I'd really rather have a shotgun loaded with slugs or buckshot, but IMHO - anything that the defender is skilled with and confident and comfortable with is best.

 

[FL-NC]

Handguns are my "go to", and are very versatile for a number of reasons. IMO a PCC is the superior choice to a more conventional caliber in a rifle or a shotgun. A handgun can also be carried discreetly on or off your property. If I lived somewhere like a ranch in extreme southern Tejas, I definitely keep something like a fully kitted AR at the ready, along with various other items. That situation doesn't apply to most of us though.

 

[Armored farmer]

I think after you have spent a considerable amount of time using all three disciplines you will favor one of them.
For me personally, I like the shotgun. I have spent a great deal of time hunting, shooting, competing with shotguns.
Don't forget the Mrs....
I always figured that if something happened ...it probably wouldn't be when my big ol 4x4 pickup was sitting in the driveway.
There's a pretty good chance you won't be home if things go south.
I like his/hers Glocks too.

 

[JohnKSa]

I would pick your loading and firearm based on properties other than overpenetration. Pretty much anything you would want to use for self-defense is going to shoot through multiple sheetrock walls. I've seen birdshot go through a closet door (hollow core wood), two sheetrock walls (4 layers of sheetrock), then through a third layer of sheetrock and embed in the outside brick wall. Presumably it also went through whatever was in the closet at the time.

The advantages of the pistol are all to do with portability. You can carry one with one hand, you can use it with one hand. That leaves your other hand free to do things--and there are very often things you might want to do with your other hand. Turn lights on/off, open doors, carry a light, grab a kid, hold a phone, fight someone off to gain space, etc.

Long guns are easier to shoot and are more powerful--even the PCCs usually get a decent boost from the longer barrel. They are easier to mount things to--lights, optical sights, etc. Portability and retention are more of an issue with long guns.

 

[PWC]

By stairs, I assume the bedrooms are up stairs. Take your defensive position at the top of the stairs with the shotgun and next to the light switch. When the sound comes to you, bump the light switch on then decide what happens next. Everything worth protecting is behind you, anything infront of you may or may not be covered by insurance, but they are just things. You are not trained to clear rooms by yourself and when you move away from the bottom of thre stairs your family becomes xposed.

 

[Kleanbore]

Take your defensive position at the top of the stairs with the shotgun

Will that not hinge upon where the defender and his family are at the time?

 

[Anchorite]

I’m running a six-shot Colt Agent loaded with 148gr wadcutters. From the moment I wake until I lay my head down on my pillow it’s on my belt/in my pocket. When I go to bead it’s the bed side companion.

Instinctively I’d reach for that (and a flashlight) for the go-investigate-the-bump-in-the-night noise.
There‘s a Winny 1300 Defender 8-shot within reach should it be a big “bump.”

 

[Shodan]

Not missing greatly reduces over penetration being an issue.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Not missing greatly reduces over penetration being an issue.

Things aren't so tidy in real life.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

In most homes you are talking ranges in feet not yards. The birdshot will most likely be one mass of lead at 12-15 feet.

I suggest shot no smaller than BB.

 

[PWC]

Will that not hinge upon where the defender and his family are at the time?

By the OPs description of the situation, the kids rooms are between the master bedroom and the head of the stairs, I have to assume he's in the bedroom and the kids are in theirs sometime after they have retired. All friendlies should be behind him and of necessity behind the muzzle.

Any other time with the rest of the family's whereabouts are unknown, should not warrant a DISPLAY of a firearm. Using a night light in the room at the bottom of the stairs would help the defender pick up any movement in that room.

 

[Kleanbore]

I have to assume he's in the bedroom and the kids are in theirs sometime after they have retired.

Yeah, but will the event occur after they have retired?

That is not usual.

 

[PWC]

Yeah, but will the event occur after they have retired?

That is not usual.

Are you in your bedroom before your kids are in bed?

 

[Kleanbore]

Are you in your bedroom before your kids are in bed?

That has absolutely nothing to do with when a home invasion might occur.

 

[PWC]

That has absolutely nothing to do with when a home invasion might occur.

OP set up the situation in his post, I replied to that. Out.

 

[Kleanbore]

OP set up the situation in his post, I replied to that.

He described the locations of the bedrooms.

 

[nettlle]

Depends on how you feel your threat will come. I expect mine to come in my bedroom in the middle night and armed. No time to get up and shoulder an AR or shotgun. So I have a handgun on my bed stand I can grab and swing while still in bed. If I expected my threat to come and make a enough racket for me to get out of bed, pick up a long gun, and shoulder it I would pick a long gun. My reality isn't that of others. And my reality may not be correct.

 

[Kleanbore]

I expect mine to come in my bedroom in the middle night and armed.

Why?

 

[nettlle]

That is the time when I am most vulnerable and prepare for the worst.