Remember, it's home defense, not offense. If you're ever really in this situation just call the cops, close and lock your bedroom door, get some cover (the bed will do), and then KILL THE LIGHTS. If someone sounds like they're really outside your door call out a really loud warning that the police are on the way and if you don't hear them running off just let them have it right through the door (be sure to aim low - panic situations tend to make people miss high). Game over. If he has a friend who still wants to play wait until that guy makes it to the same doorway and then let him have it too.
At this point just reload and stay put. Do not go and investigate - wait for the cops, or tell the 911 operator what just happened. If you hear one of the dudes moving around or something just order him to lie still or you'll fire again. By now he'll probably believe you.
If someone is in your home, you've warned them, called the cops etc., and they are still coming into your defensive room anyways, then all bets are off. When we ran simulations on this those that shot through the door or wall had a better chance of surviving than those who didn't because, tactically, the enemy was at fairly large disadvantage by being in a known position whereas the homeowner's was still unknown. Obviously this brings into possibility that the person on the other side of the door is just some random drunk or something, but that is a consideration for after the gunfight - not during! In the scenario I described, if you wait for the person to enter and be identified, there is a greater chance that gunfire will be EXCHANGED, and thereby that members of the defensive party will get hit. In my scenario when you shoot through the door or wall there's a greater chance you will shoot the mailman or something, but there's also a greater chance that you'll be alive to realize it. Draw your own conclusions.
That scenario was kind of shown in the movie Saving Private Ryan in the scene where the soldiers were in the room in the building and they heard someone coming up the stairs. They called out a warning iirc, but when the unknown party didn't stop they just said **** it and fired right through the wall and to hell with the consequences. They didn't know for sure that it was the enemy out there, and it probably went against what they were trained to do, but things are different when your life is on the line. They had a tactical advantage so they used it.
As far as weapon selection goes, a double-barreled shotgun would be just as good (and cheaper) because they really don't take that long to load and if you're in the above described scenario and you really need more than two shots, it's probably because you're dead.
Same goes for revolver vs. semiauto. Most people don't look after their guns properly and revolvers are pretty much guaranteed to fire no matter what. Most people also leave their guns loaded, or the magazines loaded for sure, and a lot of people swear that leaving them loaded like this wears out the spring and can cause a jam. Glock insists that's not true and I happen to think they make a fine product but that isn't the case with a lot of manufacturers and, again, the one time it doesn't work is the time you're dead. (Glock's also have a tricky trigger imo.)
A word on attaching a flashlight to your firearm. This is another trade off. The light's main advantage is that wherever it's shining is where the bullets go. The disadvantage is that it gives away your position and it's a real easy target to see and draw a bead on.
As for identification in a REAL combat situation identification is easy; anyone who isn't YOU is the [] enemy - don't forget it.
At this point just reload and stay put. Do not go and investigate - wait for the cops, or tell the 911 operator what just happened. If you hear one of the dudes moving around or something just order him to lie still or you'll fire again. By now he'll probably believe you.
If someone is in your home, you've warned them, called the cops etc., and they are still coming into your defensive room anyways, then all bets are off. When we ran simulations on this those that shot through the door or wall had a better chance of surviving than those who didn't because, tactically, the enemy was at fairly large disadvantage by being in a known position whereas the homeowner's was still unknown. Obviously this brings into possibility that the person on the other side of the door is just some random drunk or something, but that is a consideration for after the gunfight - not during! In the scenario I described, if you wait for the person to enter and be identified, there is a greater chance that gunfire will be EXCHANGED, and thereby that members of the defensive party will get hit. In my scenario when you shoot through the door or wall there's a greater chance you will shoot the mailman or something, but there's also a greater chance that you'll be alive to realize it. Draw your own conclusions.
That scenario was kind of shown in the movie Saving Private Ryan in the scene where the soldiers were in the room in the building and they heard someone coming up the stairs. They called out a warning iirc, but when the unknown party didn't stop they just said **** it and fired right through the wall and to hell with the consequences. They didn't know for sure that it was the enemy out there, and it probably went against what they were trained to do, but things are different when your life is on the line. They had a tactical advantage so they used it.
As far as weapon selection goes, a double-barreled shotgun would be just as good (and cheaper) because they really don't take that long to load and if you're in the above described scenario and you really need more than two shots, it's probably because you're dead.
Same goes for revolver vs. semiauto. Most people don't look after their guns properly and revolvers are pretty much guaranteed to fire no matter what. Most people also leave their guns loaded, or the magazines loaded for sure, and a lot of people swear that leaving them loaded like this wears out the spring and can cause a jam. Glock insists that's not true and I happen to think they make a fine product but that isn't the case with a lot of manufacturers and, again, the one time it doesn't work is the time you're dead. (Glock's also have a tricky trigger imo.)
A word on attaching a flashlight to your firearm. This is another trade off. The light's main advantage is that wherever it's shining is where the bullets go. The disadvantage is that it gives away your position and it's a real easy target to see and draw a bead on.
As for identification in a REAL combat situation identification is easy; anyone who isn't YOU is the [] enemy - don't forget it.
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