Best gun for home protection?

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andym79

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What gun (calibre) do you think is best for home protection?

I know very little, but I am guessing a .357 magnum!

Am I right in thinking that in the states owning a gun for personal and property protection is a valid reason, and the use of a handgun in self defence is fine, even to the point of death?

If so God bless America, if not its still rules!
 
I would NOT suggest the .357 Magnum for home defense. I like the .38 Special for that purpose.

In most cases gun ownership does not have to be justified in the U.S. but it would be a mistake to assume that it is "fine" to shoot and kill someone. Any person (even the police) needs to have a very good reason in order to use deadly force.

I agree with you, that regardless of our laws or rules; America rules. It is not perfect but there is no better place to be.
 
20 gauge Remington M870 with short deer barrel and fiber optic rifle sights.
I agree with Universal - avoid magnum loads in a revolver.
JT

Andy:
In general, you are correct. Even in Massachusetts, I have a carry license. But please understand that the US has 50 different sets of criminal laws, and 50 sets of civil laws, rather like 50 countries.
 
Rifle depending on you location either a CAR-15 or a Ruger mini-14 loaded with 50-55 grain varmint loads that wont penetrate house after house. Rifles are easier to shoot for the majority of people. Just my .02.

Joe
 
I would add that in a home defense situation, with a stranger entering your house with criminal intent, it is highly unlikely that the authorities will question your use of force. We don't recognize such a thing as "excessive force" in that context.

I've heard that burglars in the UK look for occupied houses because often the doors are unlocked and the alarms off. Here, most go to great lengths to be sure a house is unoccupied before they break in, for fear of being shot by a resident. The more afraid they are to do a crime the better.

There's an infinite variety of scenarios in which force may be used, and each depends on its own facts. Generally, it's only allowable to use deadly force in a situation where you have good reason to believe your own life is endangered. Many states have statutes that allow the use of force to resist any felony, but there's still an expectation that you will use common sense. Stealing a radio from a car may be a felony, but it's going to be difficult to justify shooting someone because you caught them in that act.

BTW, while the .357 is an excellent round, the sound of firing one is incredibly loud. Indoors, it will deafen you at least temporarily, with some degree of permanent damage. That's why some people don't like it in a home defense situation.
 
Hi...
A firearm is like a tool and it's really best to use the correct one for the intended purpose. The correct caliber/load for a home defense weapon depends on the home and the anticipated threats. A mobile home with thin walls in a crowded park with the anticipated threat being on two legs would require a different caliber/load than a field stone home in the deep woods with the anticipated threat being a grizzly bear.
Now having said that..I need to add that a firearm is different from the caliber/load. Certain firearms lend themselves better for defensive purposes than others and certain loads/calibers are better too.
In my personal opinion (mine mine all mine and only mine!) the 12 guage pump shotgun is the best all around home defense weapon there is. A good quality one is very reliable and simple to operate, which is a big consideration for when waking up at three in the morning when the barbarians are at the gate. Plus, it can shoot a variety of loads..bird shot for the mobile home in the park, buck shot for the home in the country and slugs for the grizzly. (Ok, several of them!)
Another thing to consider is intimidation factor. My eight year old Grand Daughter is more intimidating with a pump 12 guage than my 6.2 partner with a 9mm pistol.
And finally, most states now have ccw permits and courses. Take a course regardless of whether you end up getting the permit or not. I'm pretty sure most of them concentrate on the legalities involved. It can be a real eye opener to realize what can get you a medal and what can get you into trouble.
Have fun and keep yer powder dry, Mac.
Mac's Shootin' Irons
Tuff-Gun Finishes. The Name Says It All.
 
What gun (calibre) do you think is best for home protection?

I'm fond of shotguns 20 or 12 ga. with Glock(9mm) as back up. I have not had to use either but feel if asleep and break-in occurs the shotgun would prove to be most effective in low light situations. I have also heard that the cycling noise of a pump gun is enough to send most would be bad guys running the other way.

Any firearm discharged indoors will ring your bell but consider the alternative!
 
While I fully agree with the wisdom of the scattergun, I personally prefer handguns for manueverability. It is much easier to aquire a target in the tight confines of a hallway with a handgun than any long gun. It also free's the other hand to hold a flashlight, etc. Also, it gives an attacker less to grab and even if the get hold of a pistol you can whack 'em with a 6-D maglite.
 
The type of gun depends on the home.

My home defense includes hundreds of feet around the house and a barn and several shops. So I keep a couple laser equipped pistols handy, especially for night use. I also have a few Red Dot sighted rifles handy for possibly longer shots.

The deadly force laws differ in different states.

For instance in Texas deadly force can be used to protect property and the rules even change somewhat between night and day.

Shooting, such as shooting through the door and killing someone that seems to be breaking in is legal.
Killing someone stealing you car is legal.
Etc.

So, the type of defense gun depends on such things as the bullet going through a wall and hitting a neighbor to having to shoot a criminal coming out of your shop with some of your guns in hand, 50 yards away.
 
Noise is only one drawback to magnum loads. Most gunfights occur in low light. The muzzle flash and cylinder-gap side flashes of a .357 can blind you temporarily. As well, sight recovery time for a second shot can make the difference in the outcome.
As Bill Jordan said, there is no second place winner in a gunfight.
JT
 
1st and foremost get some training.
2nd know your local and federal laws.

All that aside there is really two main considerations to HD in my mind and that is Power vs. Availability.

I am a big fan of the ole' 12 gauge shotgun for any HD range scenario. The launching platform is generally pretty irrelevant as long as it is a quality piece. Remington, Mossberg, Ithica, Benelli, Beretta etc. The problem with a shotgun or any long arm is they are not easy to keep handy at all times.

Based on that I personally think if you are only going to have one HD gun I would suggest a 3-6 inch .357 magnum revolver. Load it with .38 +P and practice practice practice. The reason for this is that you can keep that revolver near you at all times and in a home invasion scenario things can be done and over with in literally seconds. You may not have time to move from living room to whatever room has the shotgun/longarm. I have experienced this first hand several times as an emergency communication operator.

A good .357 revolver gives you a very reliable, inexpensive, versatile platform. You have the option of shooting the most mild .38 specials all the way up to fire breathing wrath of God .357 loads. You can load up snake shot if need be and you should never have any problems feeding any type or shape of bullet that will fit.

Revolvers are easy to load, unload and visually inspect. They may not be as sexy as black plastic but they still work and in many cases work even better then a bottom feeder alternative.

Just remember.
Training first.
Local and state laws on ownership and use second.
Try and buy the gun the fits you.
Buy the proper cleaning kit and materials. Learn to keep your weapon clean and in tip top shape.
Factor in safe storage when you are not in control of the weapon.
Practice, practice, practice, train, practice, train, practice.

Oh about that practice part, we call that fun around here. :D
 
I make my suggestions in light of your intended use and considering the probable conditions in which it would be used. For that reason, I would say stay away from any sort of long gun as they can get a bit awkward to handle in a home, especially at night in a panic situation. I would also stay away from magnums as the sound and recoil may be a bit much for the user. The cylinder flash can be blinding as well, as noted by an earlier poster. I would suggest as a good effective round, that will be easily controlled in a panic situation would be the 9mm. Find one that "feels right" and fits your hand properly and stick with one gun, so there is only one method of operation to remember. That may sound silly, but it becomes critical in a panic situation such as a home invasion. As other posters have said, get training and LOTS of practice so that firing the weapon becomes second nature to you.

If you do that, effective deployment and use of the weapon, should the need arise will be muck more likely to be successful.
 
I prefer a mild recoling short shotgun like a 20 gauge, as mentioned by others. Maybe the 18 inches or so. You can have about 6-8 shots of buckshot to launch on the intruder. If you run out of ammo, the shotgun become the billy club impact weapon at close range.

Otherwise, noise and flash works against you with magnum oads.

38 Spl, 9mm, 45ACP are pretty solid helpers inside the house.

Bottom line: It is not the gun. It is what the homeowner is prepared to do to react to someone breaking into the home.............
 
andym79,
This pistol suits my particular home defense needs also but it might not be available in the UK for private citizens. ;)

AK pistol.

AK75rdpistol.gif
 
For home defense, nothing beats a shotgun. Something reliable, and powerful, my recommendation would be a Remington 870 pump shotgun in 12 ga.

If you need to use a handgun however, there are many choices. Best is to pick a caliber you're comfortable with, a platform you prefer, and the type of trigger action: DA/SA, SAO, DAO etc...

My personal preference to protect my house is a Colt 1911 that resides on my bedside. I use it because its a gun that's reliable, most comfortable, and something I shoot well.

Its all personal preference. Use whatever gun you like.
 
Texas rules, what other states allow you to do what you never want to, but one day might need to to protect your loved ones?

So no Magnum loads then!

A 9mm with 15 mag?

How often to self loaders fail compared to revolvers?

No hope of ever owning a handgun here, the choice is shotgun.


But I will be moving to Canada (they are not in to hom protection/self defence either)!
 
Well, personally I will always default to a shotgun combat loaded with 00 buck for home defense. However, my home defense guns basically boil down to these three choices.

1. The aforementioned shotgun, and for me the only choice is a Remington 870.

2. SKS. The one that I prefer for HD is a Chinese model imported by Polytech called the "hunter". Basically, its an SKS with the barrel cut down to right below where the bayonet lug would be on a normal SKS. While I would like a 10 round clip for it, I actually use a 5 round clip because thats what I got, basically. Anyway, I have shot this rifle a ton and I am very confident with it's ability to function reliably, and in the 7x39mm round in a home defense situation.

3. For pistols, I have several options, but my number one choice is my Ruger P90, which for those not in the know, is a .45. I have mentioned my P90 about 16 million times on here, but I love, love, love that pistol and I have a ton of confidence in it and in the .45.

To me, the most important aspects of any home defense gun, apart from caliber choice, are familiarity and confidence. Consider that rarely will you be called upon to use a home defense guns in optimal conditions. Its most likely gonna be dark, your gonna be scared and wired, and while I (and chances are most of you) have enough general experience with firearms to be able to operate most guns we lay our hands on, when it comes down to an intense experience like sending rounds downrange to protect home and family, I want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I trust whats in my hands. Each of my three choices represents a ton of shooting (at least 2500 rounds down this particular 870, probably the same for my SKS and about triple that for my .45) and I know what each gun can do, how they handle, and am comfortable in each. I could rotate in a AR-15 for my rifle choice, as I am very, very familiar with that type of rifle from my time in the USMC, but I don't happen to own an AR-15, so there you go. Caliber choice for me is very individual and depends on a particular persons situation, but I think my three choices are sufficient for just about any conceivable situation that I might encounter in my home. There are plenty of good options with caliber, and these happen to be mine, I guess.
 
Keeping this to handguns, I really like .357 Mag wheelguns. The cartridge is very versitile and it's easy to find just the right weight of bullets. I favor 158 grain HP's.
 
Home Defense

You might want to use an old school 45. Thats what I use with Federal Personnal Defense Hollow Points. Practice shooting from the hip and using point of aim techniques. Unless your house has 25 meter long hallways and rooms. Most important thing about point of aim is grip. Get a good grip, even if someone gets a hold of your gun they wont get it if you rip off a round. See what happens to a paper target and the cardboard backing at point blank when you go the the range to start buying a gun. You will be amazed! Imagine if it was flesh even from the side of the pointy end. Sights go to the way side in the dark. So dont waste your money on things like novak night sights. SOF and Cops use lights. They have back up if they are seen (body armor). Train, Train, Train...and You dont want to start turning on lights casting your shadow and letting someone know where your at. I trained at Blackwater and have shot in kill houses. A 357 (and some others) are the reason Im getting 20% disability when I get out of the Navy. My single hearing pro fell out and everybody opened up! I couldnt hear anything for a couple of hours!! 357's and confined areas don't mix.

45's are the way to go!

Willyboi
Its Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6
 
For home D' I like a 12 ga scattergun loaded with #6 shot as a first choice. Backed of course, with a few rounds of #4 buckshot, then as a last
resort a couple of rounds of #00; just in case one escapes the first barrage
of gunfire. :D

For handguns, I use a SIG P220 stoked with Hornady's 200 grain .45 caliber
XTP projectiles.
 
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