Feel vulnerable with only handguns?

[LeonCarr]

I was doing household stuff today, and got to thinking. It has been mentioned many times on THR in various threads about having a well-rounded arsenal consisting of rifles, shotguns, and handguns for defense, and most of us know the obvious advantages of having the rifle available. I have several friends that own only handguns, are very proficient with them, and don't own a rifle or shotgun because they don't hunt or have interest in them.

Does anybody who owns only a handgun or handguns feel like they are vulnerable without a rifle or shotgun?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Rob1035]

All I have in my small apartment is my G26. I do not feel vulnerable just having that, as I feel that the g26 should take care of me in a majority of scenarios in these parts. However, I am shopping for a long arm just for those 'other' scenarios when the 26 is not enough...

 

[Shazam]

I started out with handguns only. Then I got into rifles (Ak47 and 74) and wonder why anyone would stop at a handgun. Handguns even bore me comapred to my ak's. I have a mossberg 590 but rarely shoot it. I think handguns and rifles are more practical. If you dont have a rifle then yea a shotgun would be a good long gun.

 

[The Tourist]

Like any endeavor, it's the man, not the metal. Consider this, the most decorated soldier of WWII was too short and too young to be a soldier at all.

The most dangerous man I know is 63 years of age and seldom carries even a gentleman's pocket knife.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Shotguns are so useful for so many things that there is no reason not to have one.

 

[berettashotgun]

Shotguns are more like toys to me than rifles/pistols/revolvers. I really like to "play" with them so much more. But, I do feel totally at ease with a pen knife; let alone a pistol or revolver ( but a revolver is so much more comforting than most pistols). Never leave home without your spyderco.

 

[Standing Wolf]

My only rifle is a .22 long rifle plinker I take to the range every couple years. I'm sufficiently proficient with hand guns that I don't feel at all under-gunned.

 

[DT Guy]

I've only recently gotten half-way serious about longarms. (Turns out ARs are as addictive as 1911s....god am I in trouble.)

And while I never felt particularly 'vulnerable' with only handguns in the house, I have to admit that the photos coming out of New Orleans made me glad I had something with a bit more range.


Larry

 

[Croyance]

Vulnerable? No. I do think a shotgun will do a better job though.

 

[Fun2Shoot]

I have always had confidence in my handguns for HD, but I have been considering the addition of a "coach gun" to my bedroom closet. A short double barrel shotgun like the Stoeger coach gun in 12 gauge would be just the right tool for some situations. Like the mad rush of a gang of home invaders.

 

[CAnnoneer]

Does anybody who owns only a handgun or handguns feel like they are vulnerable without a rifle or shotgun?

I don't feel underarmed. Rifles have a crushing advantage only at ranges that are unrealistically large for modern urban/suburban environments. Only in very few cases short of outright SHTF do they make more sense than a handgun.

 

[Cosmoline]

Rifles and shotguns, properly loaded, are ballistically orders of magnitude more potent than any ordinary handgun. A lot of people who are only used to handguns and who do not hunt, including many LEO's, simply do not understand what a long gun can do. The wounds from a SP rifle round at close range are unlike anything from a standard handgun, and will settle an argument *very* quickly. I've seen what a rifle round can do to an animal seven times the size of man. Handguns are backup weapons ONLY. For use with CCW and for keeping handy. If you have time, it's always a good idea to get something with more punch. Here's what I've settled on:

 

[GILROY]

If it's just to have that "less vulnerable" feeling, For around $500 you can pick up an Romanian AK-47, a few 30 round mags, 1000 rounds of Wolf ammo and a trip to the range. Your vulnerable feeling should go away. If not get a good, bad dog to complete the package.

 

[GILROY]

I would also comment that in times of civil unrest, which for various reasons America is more likely to experience more often, the visual of a man in front of his family and property with an intimidating very high capacity weapon such as an AK or AR is enough to make a crowd stand back. My advise is get one now while you can. This countries laws and values can and are changing rapidly.

 

[22-rimfire]

Gilroy, good points. I have a Mini-14 which occupies the niche of AK's or AR's. I'm just not particularing "into" those kinds of rifles.

IF a gun owner feels vulnerable when they own a gun or two already, I think they need to practice more. But, you can always pick up a cheap 870 12 gauge shotgun. They have a way of making you feel a little more secure.

 

[Dienekes]

The only advantage a handgun has is that you can wear it all day long and fall into the creek, and still have it with you 24/7. As a weapon it is a frail reed in almost any caliber and load, and far inferior to almost any long gun.

The long gun is several orders of magnitude more powerful and easier to hit at distance with.

Although I am not particularly a shotgun person the Model 870 is just basic to even a minimal "tool kit". My serious social rifles are the humble SKS and from there the M1A.

A further consideration: a homeowner or store owner monitoring his turf holding a .30-30 lever gun or Model 870 makes quite a deterrent showing without any further effort. Applied psychology, if you will.

 

[gunfan]

Ahhhhhhhh... Not really! If i must shoot someone over 15 times with my Glock Model 20, he/she'll be "hurting for certain!"

Scott

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

As long as I have ammo for the handgun, I'm golden.

 

[BluesBear]

Vulnerable? Well I would exactly use that term. More like only semi-prepared.

For example I carry a Leatherman tool everywhere. I carry it not because it's the best for everything and certainly not because I think I'll be needing to work on something every time I leave home, but because it's good for those on the spot jobs that might arise when I'm out and about.
However I rarely use it around home because I can usually grab another tool that's more specifically designed for the task at hand.

I feel the same about firearms. One is better than none but some are better for certain tasks than others.
I carry a handgun because I really don't think I'll be needing to defend my life. But just in case I do I want something close at hand.

Now if I knew for certain the balloon was going up I'd rather be more substantiality armed.

 

[GlenJ]

In the past I have heard gun shots in my neighborhood and retrieved my 357 revo. I wouldn't say the feeling was vulnerability but more of a feeling of wishing I had "more gun" even though I have a solid home defense plan. That being said after seeing the Katrina footage IMO anyone serious about home/family/self defense shopuld have at least one long gun weather it's a rifle or shotgun.

 

[MachIVshooter]

In almost any concievable defensive scenario, a handgun or shotgun will do your bidding just fine. However, the motto "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst " is one I live by. I have a handgun on me or nearby at all times. It is a means to fight your way to a more suitable weapon in a worst-case scenario. At work I can keep tabs on my vehicle at all times, so I keep my G-3 in the trunk "just in case". At home, my AR-10A2 carbine with 1x red dot sight sits in the corner (a more practical choice for CQB than the long, heavy and scoped G-3). As others said, nothing can replace a rifle if you need real firepower. Call me paranoid, but the possibility of a "Red Dawn"-type event seems ever more possible with each passing day. I won't be caught napping.

 

[gringolet]

compared to what?

if I am in the field with combatnants well armed, damn right a handgun is not enough...BUT, on my day-to-day...with practice..a handgun is plenty...but overall I would not prefer to pack a mini-14 over my shoulder as opposed to a 66 in my jacket...

 

[egnash]

I've been carrying concealed and un-concealed for almost 40 years. Yeah, I'm an Official Old Fart.

I've never been in a gunfight outside a war zone and don't plan on being in one.

That said, I feel comfortable with my choices of concealed/concealable handguns. Notice I said choices, the right gun for the right situation.

If, and that's a big IF, I were headed to a gunfight, I'd bring the best battle rifle I have. And I have choices there, too. And you don't need to know.

 

[Boss Spearman]

I have two rifles, but I only get to shoot them 3 or 4 times a year because the nearest good range for rifle shooting is about 50 miles south of Indy.

 

[Sean85746]

When a handgun is not enough...

Hmmmmmmmmmmm...

I do own several rifles and shotguns, but they aren't really considered "defensive weapons" to my way of thinking. Obviously they really ARE defensive weapons, but only if one is carrying one!

Yes, I have an AR-15 and a CAR, as well as a Benelli Super-90...but, living in the city of Tempe...it is easier to pack a Glock or a 1911.

Now for my actual point...a handgun with which you are proficient is always a good thing!