First situation involving someone trying to get into my home

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Seems like the guy thought he was at someone else's house.... I can remember people being so drunk that they thought they were in different states (geographically, not states of mind). So I could see how someone who was really drunk could have thought they were at a house there weren't...
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A buddy had that exact incident happen. The drunk pounding on the door at 3AM, and the cops hauling him away. Later a check proved he really belonged at a nearly identical house 2 blocks away. The 'perp' nearly got shot because his drunk pals dropped him off at the wrong house!
 
Trent said:
Were you groggy when you woke up? How long did it take you to get 100% alert and on your feet?
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To be honest, it didn't take me more than 2-3 seconds to be on my feet, pistol in hand. I felt pretty alert too. I am a pretty light sleeper and have a little experience waking up ready to move/react. For a number of years (six?) I took care of about 16-20 horses. At night we would put them on over-head lines and I would sleep next to them to make sure they didn't get tangled or to put them back on the line if they got loose. I was also responsible for critter visits should they occur.
Not entirely sure if that is a factor but it could be. Nobody expects to have to be so alert in their home, though.

My question is, did you have the cell phone in the bedroom with you or did you have to go fetch it? After reading other posts I now keep my cell phone on the nightstand, just in case. It had been left on the charger on the counter at the opposite end of the house.
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I use my cell phone as an alarm clock so it is on the floor next to my bed. I would encourage everyone to keep a phone in their room. A wireless land-line would be okay but I think cell phones would be better.
 
Sounds like you did everything perfect within your training and skillset. The threat was outside your home, you didn't go after it, waited for the police etc.

Corpral_Agarn said:
I wanted a rifle. A rifle with lots more bullets and a spare mag close.
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I doubt it. A rifle would have likely complicated things. Rifle needs two hands to operate, how would you have used your phone or looked out the window? Sure you can add a sling or have your wife do those tasks. But having a handgun gives you that free hand to accomplish those tasks easier. A shotgun in the bedroom is a good idea for when things get hairy but a handgun is much simpler for close up defense. And the danger of overpenetration with a rifle is more common than with a handgun. But that is another weekly thread on THR. Glad everything turned out well for you and yours.
 
herrwalther said:
Sounds like you did everything perfect within your training and skillset. The threat was outside your home, you didn't go after it, waited for the police etc.
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Thanks!

herrwalther said:
I doubt it. A rifle would have likely complicated things. Rifle needs two hands to operate, how would you have used your phone or looked out the window? Sure you can add a sling or have your wife do those tasks. But having a handgun gives you that free hand to accomplish those tasks easier. A shotgun in the bedroom is a good idea for when things get hairy but a handgun is much simpler for close up defense. And the danger of overpenetration with a rifle is more common than with a handgun. But that is another weekly thread on THR. Glad everything turned out well for you and yours.
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Actually I did want a rifle. The pistol is my go to when something goes bump for all the reasons you stated, but I had time to assess the threat and call 911. There was lots of time to pass the phone to my wife and wait in the doorway adjacent to the room with the potential entry points with a rifle. At the distance (7 yards maybe?) there would have been fewer misses should he have decided to break through the window or kick the door in. In my apartment there are only two viable entry points (door and large window) and they are right next to each other so covering the danger area would have been pretty simple. I like shotguns too and will likely put one in the bedroom.
I just would have felt more comfortable with a little .223 rifle with 30 rounds.

Sadly, here in Cali we have to have bullet buttons (forget a reload) and 10 round mags. :eek:

Thanks again for your comments! Great discussion point.
 
herrwalther said:
And the danger of overpenetration with a rifle is more common than with a handgun. But that is another weekly thread on THR.
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And you'd think with how often it comes up that people would get the picture and quick giving out false information but this proves once again that that is a false hope...

The quoted statement is wrong.
 
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Thank you for sharing this experience and your thoughts through the 'engagement'. Glad all ended well for everyone.
 
allaroundhunter said:
And you'd think with how often it comes up that people would get the picture and quick giving out false information but this proves once again that that is a false hope...

The quoted statement is wrong.
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Science begs to differ. Collateral damage caused by over penetration aside, a handgun is still easier to manipulate than a rifle or shotgun.
 
herrwalther said:
Science begs to differ.
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No, it doesn't. It has been tested repeatedly and proven time and again that a proper defensive bullet from a 5.56, 7.62X39, and even some 7.62x51 will penetrate less than a quality defensive handgun round or 12 ga 00 buckshot load.

If you don't want to believe it, that's fine, but don't go saying that science backs up your opinion when it clearly doesn't.

The only part of your post that you are correct on is the point on maneuverability.
 
You want to teach that perp a lesson??? Find him when he is sober.....and gently inform him that his life would've ended if he'd gotten into your house. Maybe it will change him a bit.
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No, no, NO, nonoNoNO! Do NOT do that. NO good will come of it.

You did it right. Adrenaline's fun stuff. Fear is natural, and useful if mastered. Sounds like you did.

Stay safe. :)
 
allaroundhunter said:
No, it doesn't. It has been tested repeatedly and proven time and again that a proper defensive bullet from a 5.56, 7.62X39, and even some 7.62x51 will penetrate less than a quality defensive handgun round or 12 ga 00 buckshot load.

If you don't want to believe it, that's fine, but don't go saying that science backs up your opinion when it clearly doesn't.

The only part of your post that you are correct on is the point on maneuverability.
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Stand corrected I am. Watched a few ballistic videos and for the most part rifle rounds did not penetrate more than pistol rounds. Still the benefit of a free hand and easier maneuvering around corners is crucial in an enclosed space.
 
Glad everything worked out ok.

The day I "grew up" was the day, about 2 years into my marriage, when my wife's ex walked into the house thinking she was home along with the kids. He was extremely close to finding out what the "other side" was like when he made the smart move and left. I had spent the first 2 years trying to get my head around the fact that I may very well have to pull the trigger some time. That's when I knew that I would pull it. That was also the day that he realized I wasn't messing around. He was much easier to deal with after that.

Matt
 
The day I "grew up" was the day, about 2 years into my marriage, when my wife's ex walked into the house thinking she was home along with the kids. He was extremely close to finding out what the "other side" was like when he made the smart move and left. I had spent the first 2 years trying to get my head around the fact that I may very well have to pull the trigger some time. That's when I knew that I would pull it. That was also the day that he realized I wasn't messing around. He was much easier to deal with after that.

Matt
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I assume you've had to interact with him since that time in social settings. That must be awkward. "Hey remember that time that I almost had to shoot you?"
 
answerguy said:
I assume you've had to interact with him since that time in social settings. That must be awkward. "Hey remember that time that I almost had to shoot you?"
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It was for a little while. For a long time he also claimed he never saw the gun. At the time, I was in much better shape than I am now, so it must have been my gloriously intimidating physical presence. :scrutiny: My wife and I moved out of state for a couple of years for school and he was a much mellower person when we got back. His dad kept harassing us and kept demanding that I apologize to him. That tells me that he did see the gun and told his dad about it. He finally chewed his dad out in front of everyone at one of their family gatherings for bringing it up again and that was pretty much the end of it. We're not what you'd call good friends, but we're cordial and friendly.

When my wife and I got married, she brought two kids with her. Guess who they call Dad! :) (And no, it's not my wife. That would be weird.)

Matt
 
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