Home Defense

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dh1633pm

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I wanted some opinions. I know they are like behinds, everyone has one. So how about some on home defense.

Red Dot - Yes or No - You can see a Red Dot from both sides in the dark.

Firearm - Shotgun or Rifle? Don't have a pistol so don't suggest one. One floor home. Master bedroom on one end. Dawgs since we moved into the country have a better sense of what belongs and bark at sounds much quicker than in the city. My Siamese cat is equally aware of surroundings and yowls loudly when things are out of sorts.

Got three shotguns to choose from two are Semi and one is over under. One semi has a pistol grip and loves double 00 and the other is extra long and loves everything you feed it except for those short ones.

Have three mini's, although they all have scopes, but 1-4x with illuminated reticles. Have an AR but its single shot. One Marlin 9, M1 Carbine, and an SKS are the only semi's. Oh, one Garand. Have four lever guns, although my wife choose one as her go to. All in 45 Colt.

No Children in the house except during school breaks. So what to keep within easy reach? I don't exactly live in a high crime area. But we are secluded to a certain degree.
 
I thought that too Gunny. So last night I turned on the Red Dot on my rifle. Placed in on a table. Then turned off the all the basement lights. Sure enough I could see the faint dot from the other side of the scope. Then I adjusted it higher and could see the dot brighter.
 
I thought that too Gunny. So last night I turned on the Red Dot on my rifle. Placed in on a table. Then turned off the all the basement lights. Sure enough I could see the faint dot from the other side of the scope. Then I adjusted it higher and could see the dot brighter.
Well, if it’s so dark that an intruder can see and the glow of the dot in the sight , you need a flashlight to see what you are shooting at.
There are four guns in my bedroom. A Taurus Mod. 85 on my nightstand. A SBR AR 15 and Remington Tac14 12 gage next to the nightstand, and a Glock17, at the foot of my bed, in my duty rig.
I’m not sure why some people feel the need to limit themselves when it comes to home defense.
You have a nice assortment of weapons that can be used. Just make sure that you are proficient, in light as well as the dark, with the ones you choose to use.
 
Red Dot - Yes or No - You can see a Red Dot from both sides in the dark.
Light is a tool just like your weapon. You need to learn to use it. You control the environment in your home. You can and should set things up so the lighting in your home gives you the advantage. Learn to use the lights in your home and handheld and weapon mounted lights to your advantage. You aren't going to engage a target you can't identify in your home. You aren't on patrol clearing caves in the Hindu Kush, you're protecting yourself in your home and the chances of shooting someone who shouldn't be shot makes target identification mandatory. So it really doesn't matter if the intruder can see an unidentified red glow from the front of your sight. Like Gunny said, if it's that dark you don't know who you're shooting.

Software, not hardware is the most important factor.
 
I thought that too Gunny. So last night I turned on the Red Dot on my rifle. Placed in on a table. Then turned off the all the basement lights. Sure enough I could see the faint dot from the other side of the scope. Then I adjusted it higher and could see the dot brighter.

That depends on the brand/type of RDS, too. The cheaper the sight the more likely you'll be able to see the dot from the front of the tube for a variety of reasons. In a home defense situation I can't imagine that would be a serious issue.
 
What are the shotguns?

As far as the rifles go if I had a great deal of experience using one of the Mini’s with the 1-4 LPVO I’d go with that. For inside a structure I’d rather have a red dot.

If not then iron sights rule the world and I’d choose the M1 Carbine followed by the SKS and then the Garand (only because of the possibility of reloads).

They'd probably run, be dead or would’ve probably killed you before you run through 10 rifle rds, but it’s better to have a plan B before it’s needed and have to try to come up with something on the fly (“FIX BAYONETS”)
 
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I would put a white light on the marlin 9 or a mini and call it good. The problem with red dots is that you need to remember to turn them on, and/or you may not have time if you are surprised.
 
Good point FL-NC. I knew the scopes had to go for inside work. Loose the slings as well. I can pull the red dot. Shotguns, Barretta, Benelli, and Stoeger. Oh Mini's 5.56, 6.8 SPC, and 7.62x39. Sks seems long like the Garand for indoor use.
 
Loose the slings as well.

No! Don’t lose the sling. You are going to need to free up a hand to open doors, hit light switches, etc. A sling is a requirement on a long gun. You may want to look into a tactical sling rather then a carry strap but you can make a carry strap work if that’s all you have.

If you are contemplating using a long gun indoors you need to seek out some training on how to properly use one in close quarters.
 
We practiced close quarters when I was in the military. And yes, I need to practice again since that was a while ago.
 
I use a G17 with tritium sights and keep a couple small lights on.

I can see anyone in the house but nothing is giving me away.

I have used this gun/sight combo in very low level light IDPA comps and they work very well.
 
I've always thought a mounted laser was an excellent deterrent. Only an idiot would ignore a red dot moving across his chest, anyone else would be diving for cover and trying to find an exit.
 
The real world is not likely going to be you stalking in your house as both you and the intruder play a game of cat and mouse where the light dim or a red dot is the thing that brings upon your doom.

More likely it will be a HOLY ****TAKE!!! Moment for both you and the intruder as you both trade shots while both of you realize there are about 100 other places you both need to be at that moment.

White light to identify, red dot to speed up rounds on target. Escape plan.

Gun doesn’t matter much. Software does.
 
I would put a white light on the marlin 9 or a mini and call it good. The problem with red dots is that you need to remember to turn them on, and/or you may not have time if you are surprised.
I just bought an Aimpoint where the battery lasts for 5.5 years, I keep it on all the time by the nightstand and change it after 3 years.

Now with EOTech that was totally a problem.
 
Keep in mine that a light that is to bright is not a good thing. How bright should you light be? That will be up to your house. If the color of your walls are light and you have a very bright light, the light reflecting off the walls could impair your vision. I find that a light under 400 luman work better for indoors.
 
I have just enough light in the house at night that I can go from end to end without the need to turn on a single light. Its bright enough to identify friend from foe. Dogs and cat give ample warning of something amiss. Cat seems to be more aware of his surroundings than the dogs. His yowl is unmistakable. Defense is hold up til help arrives.
 
I have just enough light in the house at night that I can go from end to end without the need to turn on a single light. Its bright enough to identify friend from foe. Dogs and cat give ample warning of something amiss. Cat seems to be more aware of his surroundings than the dogs. His yowl is unmistakable. Defense is hold up til help arrives.
I assume that this statement is true when the power is operating as normal in your home and/or the surrounding area. Remember that in an emergency such as a hurricane, batteries are among the first things to disappear from the store shelves.
 
Our contingency plan in the case of a home invasion is to stay at the top of the stairs and fire down on anyone trying to climb up. They would be facing my SAIGA 20 gauge and my husband's AR-15. Our assumption is if an intruder is determined enough to get past the outside dogs then our safest course is to force them to come to us.

Keep in mind that at the top of the stairs are two very bright "spotlights" that illuminate the stairwell or leaving us in relative shadow. The theory is anyone trying to climb the stairs would be blinded and at disadvantage.

We are also aware of what my uncle called Bodel's theorem (#8 I think) that no plan survives contact with the enemy.
 
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