Mike1234567
member
Shotgun Ammo: I load #4 buckshot for the first two rounds and the remainder are #00 buck.
Best choice for home defense?
- Thread starter Rykkaru
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Well people, thanks for all the help. I'm not going with the shotgun. I made some measurements and it's way too big. I also don't want to risk overpenetration. I'm going with the .38 revolver (with +P Hollow Point ammo). It's also a lot cheaper than the shotgun (I can even buy 2)
Mike1234567
member
That's a perfectly viable choice. I'd get a couple of speed loaders too.
MtnCreek
Member
Do you have a location where you can practice w/ the pistol? For me, shooting a shotgun came naturally; a pistol took a lot of trigger time to get somewhat good.
CaptainChaos
Member
It sounds like you need a 12-bore *bullpup* pump-action shotty fed from a linear, removeable magazine. 
Forum members: *is* there such a thing available? (I wouldn't mind one, m'self...)
Regards,
Mark.
Forum members: *is* there such a thing available? (I wouldn't mind one, m'self...)
Regards,
Mark.
Franco2shoot
Member
Why not go with the Judge? load it with .410 in all six...
KKKKFL
KKKKFL
I will
I WILL practice with it. What I said about it staying at home was because a member asked about concealed carry for self defense outside the house. That's illegal here, but bringing the gun with me to a shooting range isn't. The shotgun would be too expensive and too big.
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Nushif
Member
The reason he asked about concealed carry is because for a lot of us it not illegal.
Oh, didn't know that.
Most are national brands. I'll probably have to ask around here. I'm thinking about buying a Taurus. Is it a good brand? I found some .38 revolvers with a capacity of 8 rounds (Taurus RT 838). It comes in 4 inch or 6 inch barrels.
http://www.taurusarmas.com.br/revol...orcasarmadas-colecionador-atirador-magistrado
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wlewisiii
Member
Looking at the "options I have" list, I'd say the .38 special revolver is your best bet to me. Load 158 gr LSWCHP +P (what is called the FBI load. Real world it's proven itself.) and learn how to use speed-loaders. If you have two of them with your revolver you have 18 rounds of very effective ammunition.
Fixed sights & a 4" barrel are the other two things I'd recommend.
Edit: so I finish reading and see you've already decided that. Good choice. Magtech makes good ammo. Buy as much as you can and practice even more than you think you should
Fixed sights & a 4" barrel are the other two things I'd recommend.
Edit: so I finish reading and see you've already decided that. Good choice. Magtech makes good ammo. Buy as much as you can and practice even more than you think you should
I'm a bit surprised to hear that the shotgun is too expensive. Now, I suppose there could be a bin of used .38 specials lying around at your local gun store and they're really cheap.
But here in America a pump shotgun is often cheaper than the pistol or at least about the same.
Some considerations
-You want to make sure your .38 will handle the +p. If your gun is really old it might not
-if you use a snub nose, which you shouldn't need for home defense, you can lose power
For the shotguns the advantage of a pump gun is that they are (usually) very reliable, even if bought used. Though you have to train with the thing so you pump it properly in a stressful situation.
A semi is faster and can be used one handed. But it'd be twice the cost of the pump at least, and the really reliable ones are in the vicinity of $1000 or more.
But here in America a pump shotgun is often cheaper than the pistol or at least about the same.
Some considerations
-You want to make sure your .38 will handle the +p. If your gun is really old it might not
-if you use a snub nose, which you shouldn't need for home defense, you can lose power
For the shotguns the advantage of a pump gun is that they are (usually) very reliable, even if bought used. Though you have to train with the thing so you pump it properly in a stressful situation.
A semi is faster and can be used one handed. But it'd be twice the cost of the pump at least, and the really reliable ones are in the vicinity of $1000 or more.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
Rykkaru,
Welcome to THR, I hope we can offer you some useful advice here.
I have a feeling this thread was moved here to ST&T overnight, because I didn't notice it here before I went to bed. What we talk about in Strategies, Tactics and Training is ... strategies, tactics and training. So far, this one has been all about hardware, though.
Now then, the question is, do you want to continue this as a 'hardware' (toolset) discussion, or do you (since the thread 'belongs' to you) want to do what we do here in ST&T - talk more about Mindset and Skillset, and not so much about Toolset as far as firearms themselves are concerned.
Because the simple truth is, almost any gun will do - if YOU will do. The standard advice here is to use whatever firearm you are best at using - revolver, pistol, rifle or shotgun. Because the shooter's ability to use any given firearm safely and effectively matters much more than the firearm itself.
So, how do you want this discussion to continue? It's your call... and we want you to have your questions answered as much as possible.
lpl
Welcome to THR, I hope we can offer you some useful advice here.
I have a feeling this thread was moved here to ST&T overnight, because I didn't notice it here before I went to bed. What we talk about in Strategies, Tactics and Training is ... strategies, tactics and training
. So far, this one has been all about hardware, though.Now then, the question is, do you want to continue this as a 'hardware' (toolset) discussion, or do you (since the thread 'belongs' to you) want to do what we do here in ST&T - talk more about Mindset and Skillset, and not so much about Toolset as far as firearms themselves are concerned.
Because the simple truth is, almost any gun will do - if YOU will do. The standard advice here is to use whatever firearm you are best at using - revolver, pistol, rifle or shotgun. Because the shooter's ability to use any given firearm safely and effectively matters much more than the firearm itself.
So, how do you want this discussion to continue? It's your call... and we want you to have your questions answered as much as possible.
lpl
Well, this thread is leaned towards hardware. But I kind of already made my choice. The thread was moved here, but I don't think it belongs at Strategies, Tactics and Training.Rykkaru,
Welcome to THR, I hope we can offer you some useful advice here.
I have a feeling this thread was moved here to ST&T overnight, because I didn't notice it here before I went to bed. What we talk about in Strategies, Tactics and Training is ... strategies, tactics and training
Now then, the question is, do you want to continue this as a 'hardware' (toolset) discussion, or do you (since the thread 'belongs' to you) want to do what we do here in ST&T - talk more about Mindset and Skillset, and not so much about Toolset as far as firearms themselves are concerned.
Because the simple truth is, almost any gun will do - if YOU will do. The standard advice here is to use whatever firearm you are best at using - revolver, pistol, rifle or shotgun. Because the shooter's ability to use any given firearm safely and effectively matters much more than the firearm itself.
So, how do you want this discussion to continue? It's your call... and we want you to have your questions answered as much as possible.
lpl
Mike1234567
member
Rykkaru,
Is it legal for you to own a .357 Magnum revolver provided you only shoot .38 Special ammo for self-defense? If yes, then this is what I'd recommend. It keeps your options open... in case laws there change. Also, the stronger frame will easily handle .38 +P ammo. Since you can't conceal carry the frame size doesn't matter.
Is it legal for you to own a .357 Magnum revolver provided you only shoot .38 Special ammo for self-defense? If yes, then this is what I'd recommend. It keeps your options open... in case laws there change. Also, the stronger frame will easily handle .38 +P ammo. Since you can't conceal carry the frame size doesn't matter.
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Owen Sparks
member
- Joined
- May 27, 2007
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- 4,523
You need Buckshot for dangerous "game" in the 200 pound class. Bird shot is for the birds, and for practice. Barrel length is not going to be a factor if you take cover and let the bad guy come to you. This will give you a tremendous advantage in a home invasion.
mortablunt
Member
It's the shotgun, definitely.
No, any cartridge for a handgun that surpasses 407 J of energy is illegal for civilian use here. But if the laws involving firearms change, I will definitely switch to .357
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Yes, the police here is not something I would trust my life to... First of all, IF someone decides to break into my house, when I call 190 (police number) it will take MINUTES for them to get here. An attacker can kill someone dozens of times in that time. Second of all, the police here is know for being corrupt. It's actually common to hear of police officers involved with drug dealing, selling illegal firearms to criminals and killing witnesses. I'm not saying that every police officer here is bad. But the number of bad ones is just too much to trust them. But again, the good ones risk their lives for U$500 a month to keep us safe
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
It seems to me like you need to give some thought to what type of threat you might encounter. The main advantage of the handgun is convenience - it can be concealed, it can be operated with one hand, and you can carry it with you easily.
The main advantage of the shotgun is power and accuracy. It will hit harder and it will be easier to hit with as a general rule. The price for that will be that it can't be with you all the time and it may not be as handy indoors with a 24" barrel.
If you have a setup where you will always have plenty of warning of intruders and have a chance to "fort up" within your home, then I think the shotgun makes good sense since "forting up" minimizes the weaknesses of the shotgun and lets you enjoy its strengths - and it makes good tactical sense most of the time as well.
However, if your situation is more fluid and strangers can get fairly close without any warning, then a handgun may bet better despite having less power and accuracy. Because the first rule of a gunfight is "have a gun." A shotgun in the closet of your bedroom doesn't help you if you get jumped while working in the yard. However, if you aren't going to carry the pistol around your house, then you aren't really using the major advantage it offers (convenience) and might as well not sacrifice power and accuracy for a benefit you won't use.
Of course, the ideal would be both a handgun and a shotgun. That way you've got both situations covered.
The main advantage of the shotgun is power and accuracy. It will hit harder and it will be easier to hit with as a general rule. The price for that will be that it can't be with you all the time and it may not be as handy indoors with a 24" barrel.
If you have a setup where you will always have plenty of warning of intruders and have a chance to "fort up" within your home, then I think the shotgun makes good sense since "forting up" minimizes the weaknesses of the shotgun and lets you enjoy its strengths - and it makes good tactical sense most of the time as well.
However, if your situation is more fluid and strangers can get fairly close without any warning, then a handgun may bet better despite having less power and accuracy. Because the first rule of a gunfight is "have a gun." A shotgun in the closet of your bedroom doesn't help you if you get jumped while working in the yard. However, if you aren't going to carry the pistol around your house, then you aren't really using the major advantage it offers (convenience) and might as well not sacrifice power and accuracy for a benefit you won't use.
Of course, the ideal would be both a handgun and a shotgun. That way you've got both situations covered.
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