Handguns are more convenient for home defense vs Rifles and Shotguns?

[Corpral_Agarn]

As for flexibility, get a two point sling. Most people can actually operate a carbine one handed if they have to, assuming the weight is reasonable, so you still have the option of using your other hand to carry a kid or whatever. And at least the sling gives you the option of using both hands, where a pistol you would have to actually set it down, or tuck it into your tighty whities and hope for the best...

While a agree that slings can be used to free up hands when necessary, I also recognize that it takes more time to sling up than just grab a pistol off the night stand.

Speed/maneuverability of a carbine with one hand is slower and more cumbersome than with a pistol.

Everybody has to make their own decisions.

Personally, I like to have both available to me.

 

[Jesse H]

Suppressed SBR, white light and sling.

Faster in getting rounds on target, more accurate, more capable round, more capacity. For me the trade off in one handed "maneuverability" is more than worth it.

 

[grampajack]

While a agree that slings can be used to free up hands when necessary, I also recognize that it takes more time to sling up than just grab a pistol off the night stand.

Speed/maneuverability of a carbine with one hand is slower and more cumbersome than with a pistol.

Everybody has to make their own decisions.

Personally, I like to have both available to me.

It doesn't take any time at all to throw a sling over your shoulder, and even if time is really that critical then the gun will still fire without being slung. It's not like the trigger goes dead until the sling is activated (although that sounds like the kind of asinine "safety feature" the ATF might like to mandate someday, makes about as much sense as magazine safeties anyways).

 

[Jesse H]

I think there's a ton of folks on here that overestimate their abilities with a handgun. Sure, it may be faster on target and easier to maneuver in tight spaces, but that doesn't mean you'll actually hit anything!!

Exactly!

Prior joining our SWAT team I was issued a patrol rifle, but due to having much more time behind a pistol even prior my LE career, I was much more comfortable with a pistol for many of the reasons folks have mentioned; being handier and ability to free up your off hand.

Being on the team and gotten the chance to train in vehicles and tight spaces with a rifle and shooting drills back to back between rifle and pistol, I'm grabbing the rifle every time. The shot timer and paper doesn't lie.

No, my team won't be with me, and no I'm not clearing my house dynamically with a full stack, explosive breaching, night vision and a perimeter team. Still doesn't mean that I'm not grabbing the rifle, which for me, works better.

I'm not doing anybody any favors if I suggest they do the same without training. Prior to being a "door kicker" I was more comfortable with a pistol. Hands down I'd rather have a rifle now, even in vehicles which are tighter than anybody's apartment.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

It doesn't take any time at all to throw a sling over your shoulder, and even if time is really that critical then the gun will still fire without being slung. It's not like the trigger goes dead until the sling is activated (although that sounds like the kind of asinine "safety feature" the ATF might like to mandate someday, makes about as much sense as magazine safeties anyways).

[Edited] You make a valid point that the carbine can be used without slinging it. but, with respect, it does take more time to throw a sling on. It might not take enough time for you to think it is an issue, but it is not as fast as just grabbing a pistol off a night stand.

You can try it. Get a shot timer. At the buzzer, grab a pistol off of a stand and engage a target.

Next, at the buzzer, grab a carbine leaning against the stand, sling it, and engage a target.

If you want to get fancy, you can try other variations of the same thing.
One handed shooting from low ready (or wherever) and compare it to carbine or shotgun.

Or at the buzzer, grab the weapon of choice, move to a position and engage a target. this will give you time to sling while moving to a position.

You and I agree that bringing as much gun to the threat is a good idea, and carbines/shotguns offer a lot of strengths that pistols do not bring to the table (accuracy, power, speed of target acquisition (with two hands), etc).
I am just not going to knock anybody for choosing a pistol over a carbine/shotgun for speed/maneuverability reasons.
Its a personal choice and they both work. They both have strengths and drawbacks.

How they are measured is up to the user. Speed may be the most important thing to the person. That's fine.

I know that for a few years I did not have a carbine by the bed because I only ever practiced with a pistol. It was a weapon I knew inside and out. I wasn't as confident with my carbine shooting.

 

[grampajack]

[Edited] You make a valid point that the carbine can be used without slinging it. but, with respect, it does take more time to throw a sling on. It might not take enough time for you to think it is an issue, but it is not as fast as just grabbing a pistol off a night stand.

You can try it. Get a shot timer. At the buzzer, grab a pistol off of a stand and engage a target.

Next, at the buzzer, grab a carbine leaning against the stand, sling it, and engage a target.

If you want to get fancy, you can try other variations of the same thing.
One handed shooting from low ready (or wherever) and compare it to carbine or shotgun.

Or at the buzzer, grab the weapon of choice, move to a position and engage a target. this will give you time to sling while moving to a position.

You and I agree that bringing as much gun to the threat is a good idea, and carbines/shotguns offer a lot of strengths that pistols do not bring to the table (accuracy, power, speed of target acquisition (with two hands), etc).
I am just not going to knock anybody for choosing a pistol over a carbine/shotgun for speed/maneuverability reasons.
Its a personal choice and they both work. They both have strengths and drawbacks.

How they are measured is up to the user. Speed may be the most important thing to the person. That's fine.

I know that for a few years I did not have a carbine by the bed because I only ever practiced with a pistol. It was a weapon I knew inside and out. I wasn't as confident with my carbine shooting.

Well, I do sleep with my snubnose on the nightstand, so if it's a situation like that then you have a point. But I'm grabbing my rifle or shotgun at the earliest opportunity.

 

[FL-NC]

Most people WAY overestimate their abilities with EVERYTHING. However, in the confines of MY house (and most others) I believe the handgun to be a superior choice IF the user is well trained not only in marksmanship, but tactics as well as the use of mounted weapons lights. To go further, I don't believe that this training can be "self taught" initially, and whatever training is obtained must be sustained regularly. A plan isn't a viable plan until it has been rehearsed and all players know it.

 

[Kendal Black]

Anyone use handguns for your primary home defense needs even though rifles and shotguns are more effective?

I know my AR's or my Mossbergs would be better for home defense but with children in the house I don't have a fast way to access them. I've used an electronic GunVault for years that is very fast for my Glocks. Also when checking out things that go bump in the night on the outside of my house, I find the handgun with the weapon light is way more convenient that a long gun.

Now, once the children are out of the house I will probably lean a shotgun in a corner. But even so I don't know if I would grab it instead of a handgun to see if that noise was a possum or a prowler.

Anyone deal with trade-offs like this and what did you do?

Good for you that you put the kids' safety first and foremost. A pistol is more easily secured in a way in which you can access it quickly. I suppose that with a bit of ingenuity you could come up with some sort of instant-access long gun safe, though I've never seen such a thing for sale.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I suppose that with a bit of ingenuity you could come up with some sort of instant-access long gun safe, though I've never seen such a thing for sale.

LOL

 

[readyeddy]

That bed looks interesting, but those sheets have to go.

 

[benEzra]

It might have been more risky to neighbors than using a handgun

How would using a .223 carbine loaded with JHP or SP be more risky to neighbors than a handgun using JHP? The carbine penetrates fewer walls than a 9mm or 00 buckshot do.

 

[JeffG]

Over and over tests have shown that 223 rounds disintegrate in modern building materials faster than handgun rounds. A well stabilized handgun round penetrates deeper in walls and floors. With a wound channel resembling a football, I prefer 223/5.56. As for as one handed, research Center Axis Relock, that deals with those maneuvers. Dialing the phone? After the threat is down, dial the phone; and Servpro.

I'm sure you will want some citations, I can begin with this. http://www.olyarms.com/index.php?op...netration-information&catid=13:technical-info

http://z4.invisionfree.com/Gerrys_Campfire/ar/t334.htm

 

[bassjam]

LOL

I wonder how many takes he had to do to make it look that easy!

 

[Jason_W]

In theory, maybe handguns are more convenient for HD. I, however, am reasonably proficient with a long arm, but a terrible handgun shot.

 

[HOWARD J]

In the basement when reloading I keep a 45 handy
In the bedroom I keep a M 1 carbine with 15 rds. with
Hornady cartridges

 

[psyopspec]

What's not to love?

My tiny bedroom with more than one narrow entrance.

Yes, long guns are more powerful than handguns. But my chief concern isn't power -- it's selecting the right tool for a job with multiple considerations.

 

[grampajack]

My tiny bedroom with more than one narrow entrance.

Yes, long guns are more powerful than handguns. But my chief concern isn't power -- it's selecting the right tool for a job with multiple considerations.

It actually takes as much room to effectively shoot a pistol as it does the average long gun. For a six foot man, he will need as much room to shoot a pistol as he will to bring up an 18'' shotgun. If you don't believe me stand in front of a wall with a pistol and an AR15. You'll need about the same distance between you and the wall to point both.

Yes, you can fire the pistol without fully extending your arm, from the hip so to speak, but you can do the same thing with a rifle. In situations like that, you also run the chance of either pushing pistols out of battery, or holding it so close that the slide hits you in the chest, causing a malfunction. In close quarters like that, there's also a good chance that someone will grab your pistol by the barrel, again causing a malfunction.

It would take extreme close quarters to make me give up a rifle for a pistol, like being in the crawl space or in a really small attic. But in a case like that I would just guard the entrance and wait for the police to show up. If your house is really that crampt then a bullpup would serve you very well, especially if you SBR it. You can shoulder a bullpup in less space than it takes to aim a pistol. You might even look into a PS90 SBR. The round is kind of anemic, but you have 50 on board.

 

[psyopspec]

It actually takes as much room to effectively shoot a pistol as it does the average long gun. For a six foot man, he will need as much room to shoot a pistol as he will to bring up an 18'' shotgun. If you don't believe me stand in front of a wall with a pistol and an AR15. You'll need about the same distance between you and the wall to point both.

Belief ain't got nothing to do with it -- let's let the pics speak for themselves. An 18" shotgun, 16" AR, and handgun. The shotgun is held in retention with the butt stock tucked below/into my armpit as far as I can practically get it. The AR has the stock on the shortest setting. The handgun from both retention and fully extended has a significantly smaller footprint than the long guns from retention–and anything in between those shooting positions remains a comfortable ready position that is easy to adjust in the space I have. For me and my circumstances those few inches matter a great deal.

Yes, you can fire the pistol without fully extending your arm, from the hip so to speak, but you can do the same thing with a rifle. In situations like that, you also run the chance of either pushing pistols out of battery, or holding it so close that the slide hits you in the chest, causing a malfunction. In close quarters like that, there's also a good chance that someone will grab your pistol by the barrel, again causing a malfunction.

Shooting a rifle from the hip isn't something I would rely on; my own experiements with it were little more than fun noisemakers. Since I believe shot placement is king I can't use that as a go-to method for shooting any kind of long gun from retention. By contrast, I've fired hundreds of rounds from the pictured retention position. No issues with reliability or hitting a contact distance target. In the event that it becomes a grappling fight, we're talking about an entirely different skillset that largely renders the experiement moot.

It would take extreme close quarters to make me give up a rifle for a pistol, like being in the crawl space or in a really small attic. But in a case like that I would just guard the entrance and wait for the police to show up. If your house is really that crampt then a bullpup would serve you very well, especially if you SBR it. You can shoulder a bullpup in less space than it takes to aim a pistol. You might even look into a PS90 SBR. The round is kind of anemic, but you have 50 on board.

As if I've said, it's entrances, as in plural, and narrow ones at that. I'd love to find a way to have a long gun at the ready while moving in/through/near such a thing without exposing the barrel too early or having to clear the funnel before being able to maneuver the gun, but from my own training no such thing exists. Less so the problem of guarding one doorway and having to turn to cover the other one in such a narrow space while keeping the weapon in a ready position.

 

[grampajack]

That's really strange. Are you sure you didn't shuffle your feet while you were changing guns? I just rechecked the experiment myself, and it works for me. If I shoulder a 16'' AR in a natural stance, not moving my feet, then switch to my pistol (G19), the pistol comes up about two inches shorter than the rifle. I can fudge it by leaning back or forwards more, but if I just close my eyes and pretend the wall isn't there I'm pretty much at the same distance from the wall with both guns when I open my eyes.

Then with my bullpups it's not even a contest. Even a plain old SBR would offer advantages over the pistol. You could do a 300 BLK with an 8'' barrel for example.

 

[psyopspec]

Probably differences in body dimensions–I'm a bit shorter than 6'. For the photos, I was careful to keep my feet the same and index my shoulder off of the wood picture frame in the background (which you can see in every photo except the pistol retention one).

 

[grampajack]

Probably differences in body dimensions–I'm a bit shorter than 6'. For the photos, I was careful to keep my feet the same and index my shoulder off of the wood picture frame in the background (which you can see in every photo except the pistol retention one).

That's really strange. I'm only 5,8 and have short arms. Or at least that's always been my perception of myself. Maybe I have monkey arms and just don't realize it.

I can wear long sleeved shirts off the rack with no problems though, so they can't be that long!

 

[tsieger]

I like a little of everything. A couple handguns placed strategically - and a couple long guns as well. A handgun is definitely easier though. In small quarters, maneuverability is key.

As with everything, though, it's all personal preference. Do what suits you.