Am I under-gunned without a 12ga for home defense?

[hso]

Not a thing wrong with the pistol you have for a defensive handgun.

I've had some training and have spent enough time at the range

What training have you had?

What sort of security measures do you have in place to keep BGs out of your home? The old phrase, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.", is very applicable when discussing security in the home.

 

[rspeer]

I took a basic handgun class at the local range, and we have an active, monitored home security system. We also have a set plan (a safe-room strategy) for intruder emergencies.

After reading the thread, I'm actually leaning toward more training with the GP100....

 

[ForumSurfer]

I wouldn’t feel undergunned with only the gp100. It is more than adequate. Maybe spend some of that hard earned dough on some nice speed loaders, a good tac light and a small bug out bag to keep it all contained beside your bed or wherever.

If you feel you want a shotgun, get it. I kept one for home defense purposes for years. I only switched once I started to get more involved (read: comfortable and accurate) with handguns. I still kept the shotgun for home defense in the closet, ready to go. I only retired it once I became very familiar (and accurate) with my ar15. I’m not saying the ar is a better choice, it is just what I prefer.

One not so well placed shot can take the place of 9-15 rounds of 9mm.

I wouldn’t say that. I’ve taken game with slugs, buck and birdshot. I’ve never seen a load of buck that would be as effective as 10+ 9mm rounds (standard ball, jhp or whatever) on anything except paper…assuming all rounds go on target.

Whatever the case...mindset and preparation make more difference than any caliber choice or platform choice ever will. Properly prepare yourself and your family and that gp100 will more than suffice.

 

[hso]

rspeer,

That would be my recommendation over spending that money on another gun. A basic handgun course is only the first step that you should take. Follow it up with a beginning defensive handgun course for revolver shooters that incorporates movement and use of cover.

Also, while a security system is great it doesn't prevent BGs from getting in. Look at the threads here on lights, doors, windows, dogs and fences that help prevent the BG from getting in in the first place so you don't have to respond to an alarm. Remember the monitored alarm just lets you and the security company know that someone is breaking in not prevents them from doing it.

 

[rspeer]

Thanks for your advice, hso, and everyone else. I've been lurking on THR for awhile now, and it's a great place.

We do have some other security-type things, like double-key deadbolts and some door jamb reinforcement, but if nasty people want in it doesn't seem like there's much you can do to keep them out. A dog is a good idea, but requires even more time and diligence than safely owning and operating guns, IMHO.

 

[Geno]

rspeer:

Welcome to THR! It's a great place to share, and get some low-cost information. Not to worry, the bill is in the mail.

I keep an M870 Tactical 12 gauge, and a Glock 19C as my typical home defense weapons. I have never felt unprepared.

I also have invested in about 10 courses involving Tactical Shooting, and Advanced Tactical Shooting. At an average cost of $150.00 per, these course have been great!

My thought: it isn't the hardware that matters, it's the software...the mind.

Geno

 

[hso]

A set of motion sensor lights are pretty inexpensive insurance. Steel residential doors have come way down in price. Making sure the striker for the deadbolt is mounted using 6" deck screws makes it difficult to kick a door. The right sort of dog that isn't very demanding (and that doesn't shed all over the place) but will make a racket if someone tries the door is good also.

Good luck.

 

[Al Thompson]

A bit against the grain, I'd get another firearm after a good training class. Always nice to have an extra if one breaks. FWIW, if your a revolver guy, stick with revolvers - helps to have one manual of arms.

 

[jon86]

The OP said this:

Seems like the shotgun would provide decisive firepower - but is that more valuable than having continual access to a smaller concealed weapon

Does this mean that you have a concealed weapons permit? Or do you plan on getting your permit soon?

If you have a permit or are getting it soon, then I would consider a small concealable handgun a much better choice than a 12 gauge for the house. You already have a 4 inch 357 for the house. I think always being armed, where ever you go, is much more important than owning a 12 gauge for the house. It can be debated that a powerful handgun like a 357 can be BETTER than a shotgun for HD. I will not get into that now, but I believe you should get a small pistol for concealed carry. Maybe stick to revolvers? A smith and wesson 642 can be found for $420, plus the $50 rebate they have going on now. A small 9mm would be great as well. I suggest glock 26. At any rate, whatever small handgun you have ON you at ALL times will trump the 12 gauge in the closet.

 

[Joe Demko]

I own a Striker 12 gauge and a Baikal double barrel, both of which were gifts. I don't think I have even one box of 12 gauge shells around here. Shotguns can be fearsome weapons, but I've never had any great enthusiasm for them outside of busting small game.

 

[hirundo82]

I agree with jon86--if the OP is somewhere that he can carry and has the desire to do so, a good CCW should be top of the list. The S&W 642 is an excellent suggestion.

A GP-100 is an excellent HD weapon and I'd be perfectly comfortable using it as my only HD gun, but it's too big for most people to carry comfortably.

 

[mljdeckard]

Argued against and debunked are not synonymous.

 

[jon86]

mljdeckard, you are correct on that. I personally have a 12 gauge for home defense. But if I had to give up the shotgun or my EDC, I'd reluctantly give up my shotgun.

However, to answer the OP's original question, NO, you are not under gunned without a 12 gauge.

 

[oldbanjo]

12gaugecody: Last week their was a show on that showed them shooting birdshot at shooting glasses on a melon. The shot bounced off the glasses, did not go thru. I use two #1 buck, two 3" 00 mag then slug in my gun. Now I am in an open area where it's safe to shot these shells. For HD a GP100 is all you should ever need. I use SP101 & GP100 mostly for HD, but due to the open area I added a Mossberg 500.

 

[tkopp]

I like my 12ga, but don't rely on it like I do various other guns. Mostly because no local range allows the shooting of buck shot. Slugs? Sure! Trap? Of course! We have some great trap ranges. But I can't pattern, nor can I come off a full-power blast, rack the slide, and shoulder up for a second. One of these days I'll bite the bullet and go out to forest land and set up with the shotguns, but the lack of a flush toilet is a discouragement!

If you can find a venue for adequate practice with a pump gun, then by all means. They're certainly beefy enough.

 

[sm]

Am I under-gunned without a 12ga for home defense?

No.
You are the weapon, the world is your toolbox.


Access your environment, and do so from the perspective, you are a criminal, and how would take yourself down.

What areas of property, and home, make it easy to take yourself down, and which areas make it difficult?

MY concerns, have always been, entering, exiting, a structure, and answering the door. The handgun fits these needs, quite well, and most often better than a long gun.

Note: One suggestion, a strong one, is to have home guns, that the smallest person that might have to employ, can do so effectively.
"Small" is not meant in a derogatory fashion.
This not only refers to physical size, also age strength, any physical limits, experience, etc.

Keep in mind, YOU could have an accident, or be ill, or recovering from surgery, and in this context be "smaller" than you presently are now.

So, while a 12 ga is a good choice, some find a 20 ga to work best for their home /property needs.
Others may find a .30cal M1 carbine, Ruger Mini 14, or one of the AR platforms best.
While even others find a Lever action rifle in .357 works best.

Remember, none of us are going to be with you, and yours, when matters go rodeo.

So while we share experience, strength and hope, YOU still have to access, investigate, and verify what works best for you.


steve

 

[sidheshooter]

One more welcome to THR.

Lots of good advice above from folks that have much more experience than I.

The idea of more support for the gun you have over another gun rings true for me: I'm much more a "take another class and get another excellent flashlight before getting another platform to learn" sort of guy. Plus, I am in the "might need a hand for something else" camp when it comes to HD. I don't clear rooms for a living, and I don't go where trouble is expected, so the handgun and lots of training/practice works for my lifestyle.

As well, I like the idea of a concealable companion to the GP100 that you have. The GP is a proven option for a castle guard, so I'd look first at a carry tool before the shotgun.

Don't get me wrong; I have a couple of shotguns too (and a passing qualification score on record from a defensive shotty class), but that wasn't anywhere near my first priority when I started collecting gear and certificates.

FWIW.

 

[Guns and more]

Am I under-gunned without a 12ga for home defense?

Maybe, but I don't think a 12. ga. is the best H/D gun.

IF there are other folks living in your home, you might want to make them part of the decision. They might need to know how to operate it.

Exactly. That's why I like a pump shotgun with buckshot in .410. Yep.

 

[Averageman]

Both of those guns cost $150 a piece when I bought them, they were a great deal, but both took time and effort to turn in to "Home Defence Guns".
If you feel you need training, thats good, go get some, get some for the Wife too.
I used to deploy a lot in the Military, My newborn Son slept with my Wife. Any intruder would have had to break four doors to get to Her and my Son, he would have also had to kill a 90 lbs Doberman to have got that far. In the end I told my Wife to stick the barrel of the shotgun under the doorknob of the walk in closet and wait until it turned, then pull the trigger while sitting with her back to the wall.
Some times a plan is better than training. Sometimes training is better. Your Mileage may vary, so plan for it.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The .357 you have is certainly adequate, and I'd take a handgun over a shotgun as my only HD weapon for one simple reason: It's much easier to manage other tasks while armed with a weapon that only requires one hand. If I answer my door at O'dark-thirty, I don't do it with a shotgun. I look through the small window, and if I open the door, I do it with my weak hand. My strong hand rests on the doorknob on the inside of the door, with a pistol in it. Much quicker to get into action, should I need to, and the person at the door never knows I'm armed. With a long gun in this instance, either you're not ready to use the weapon as immediately if needed, or you're gonna scare the crap outta that next door neighbor who locked herself out of her house.

However, If I KNOW I'm faced with a threat in my home, you can bet I'm going for the shotgun or the AR-15, then getting into a concealed defensive position and covering the point of entry.

The shotgun is vastly over-rated for HD.

Care to elaborate? While certain individuals or groups tend to exaggerate it's intimidation effect (the same people who advocate racking the slide as a deterrent), the effectiveness of a properly set up scattergun for home defense is undeniable. I use a Remington M11 12 gauge, shortened on both ends to a 37" OAL. It's stoked with 2 rounds of #4 buck, followed by 2 Foster slugs. Those first two shots put fifty four 1/4" pellets downrange with a 7-8" spread at 7 yards from the short cylinder bore barrel. Anyone not wearing body armor is unlikely to be standing after that, even if only half the pellets find their mark.

 

[gun guy]

a shotgun is hands down the best close quarter weapon, period. it will even outperform a submachinegun in firepower and energy on target. the kicker is the shells, everyone reaches for the 00 buckshot. unless you have a problem with indoor deer, consider a different load, if you live in an apartment, definitely consider something other than 00 buck. about the heaviest i would consider indoors, is #4 buck, if i lived close to neighbors, or in an apartment, duckshot is an option to consider. the pattern isn't going to open up much, even with a riot gun at down the hall distances. you got alot of pellets, good energy still, and less overpenetration problems. cook off a 3" magnum duckshot load at the range next time, ask yourself if you really want more hit than that. plus from a legal standpoint, it could be argued, you loaded it with buckshot, just to kill someone, with duckshot, you were going bird hunting, the bad guy said quack, there ya go.

 

[mothermopar]

Having a 12gauge handy is NEVER a bad idea. Given that, whatever you have to use for defense, just make sure you're very familiar with it/them and are well practiced.

The adage about a man with one gun is true... However that same man with two guns (and just as well practiced) is that much better off.

I feel good about my Colt 1911 at bedside and my 357 in the room too... But rest assured, I'm still getting a 12 gauge.

Few if any practical home defense weapons are one shot stoppers... The 12 gauge with 00 buckshot is one of them. A time tested and proven defensive weapon.

A short barreled 12ga loaded with buckshot has few if any equals for defending a home... If you're well versed in it.

 

[Sgt_R]

My first firearm purchase was a Mossberg 590, which I set up for HD. I love that gun.

These days it sits in a locked case, unloaded. I have 3 kids in the house, and keeping a loaded 12 gauge anywhere where they could potentially get their mits on it strikes me as a bad idea.

Meanwhile, my Glock 22 lives in a V-Line Top Draw in my bedside drawer. It wears a Streamlight TLR2, XS Big Dots, and carries 31 rounds of Speer Gold Dot 180gr JHP's (15+1, plus a spare mag). I even have room in the box for a Surefire 6P LED. I don't feel undergunned, and just as importantly, there's no way the kids are ever getting their hands on that weapon.

R

 

[bikerdoc]

Jeff Cooper said ," Youre only outgunned if you miss". Practice, train, think, and plan.

 

[rspeer]

Yep, it seems a lot easier to secure a handgun. And I'd rather fire a .38 near the kids than a 12ga.

Also, a couple of people mentioned dogs; I'd rather have a Doberman than a shotgun (that's for my own personal needs and situation, and not a general statement), but it just isn't in the cards right now.

Based on the thread, I think I'm going to spend the money on training. I am also considering getting my CCW and a good IWB holster and carrying the GP100, at least around the house (I'm a big guy). I know many people would see that as impractical....