9mm S&W 659 - Rubber Bullets?

[The Lone Haranguer]

Originally posted by zapsilent:
... However, let's say worst case scenario the intruder shot and killed each of my dogs ...

The intruder has gotten into your house and has exhibited wanton violence. If this does not justify deadly force with the most effective ammunition possible, nothing does. Your only other alternatives are to evacuate the premises (and there is nothing wrong with that), or surrender (which, if the situation is this dire, will probably get you killed anyway). There is just no "in-between" level of force you can use here.

 

[Kindrox]

The problem with less lethal options, be it an under powered gun or rubber ammunition is it brings more uncertainty to the situation.

Now instead of you KNOWING you have deadly ammunition, you are now uncertain if your ammunition will still kill, or will be completely ineffective.

How is your mind going to resolve the uncertainty? Are you going to lower the threshold at which you pull and or use your gun in the hope you can somehow defeat the threat before you are actually in fear for a life? You can see the foolishness of that.

On the other hand, if you pull then gun because there is no alternative, and your attacker is immune to the result, you just escalated a bad situation to a worse situation.

IMHO, either do pepper spray/mace/stun gun/taser, or do a firearm with lethal ammunition. Courts and bad guys recognize the general non-lethal nature of the former, and pulling a gun with out all the faculties needed to use it is a very dangerous decision in my mind.

 

[Diggers]

Z,

From what you said you would like, I have to agree with what many others said, it seems a Tazer is really your only choice. It is the only thing out there that has a good chance to stop an attack that is less than lethal. (mostly)
I saw the police use one once on a combative psych patient, big guy 6-2 230 ish, he was on the ground in about 1.5 seconds. Pretty amazing. They shot him from about 10-12 feet.
I think Tazer models for civilians just came out a few months ago, so you can get one in the color of your choice. (no joke)


Also thanks to those who commented on bird shot being lethal also at close range. I have argued that point in other forums more than once with people who think a 12 gauge slug is the ONLY way to go.
To me # 6 birdshot always seemed like a good choice for a shotgun in a home where wall penetration was a worry.