HD: pistol or shotgun?

[benEzra]

Ever fired an AR inside with no hearing protection? You'll wish you were shot instead.

No one considers the sound damage that their weapon will do. How often in an emergent situation are you going to stuff in ear plugs? An indoors AR muzzle blast will leave your head ringing and your vision fuzzy.

In terms of peak dBA, a 16" to 18" .223 is about the same as a 4" barreled 9mm/.40/.45, which is about the same as an 18" barreled 12-gauge. All are 5 to 10 dB less loud than a .357 revolver. Unless, of course, you run a muzzle brake on the carbine, or run an SBR.

Muzzle flash can be distracting with a 16" barreled .223 with some loads if you don't use a flash suppressor (or use a brake---see above), so use a flash suppressor.

 

[CraigC]

The need to maneuver with a shotgun is somewhat negated by the fact that generally you shouldn't be clearing the house, you're likely not trained for it.

You do realize that most houses have the master bedroom all the way across the house from the other bedrooms, correct? Children are often heavy sleepers, I would've slept through a tornado when I was little. That, IMHO, necessitates clearing the house, training or not.

 

[Inebriated]

It depends on what I'm doing. Hunkered down behind the bed? Shotgun.

Checking on a noise that I don't know what it is? Handgun.

Wake up in the middle of the night? Handgun on nightstand until I can get a shotgun.

That being said, I'm coming to the conclusion that a 5.56 carbine would serve better than a shotgun for HD if over penetration is a concern.

Pretty much my thoughts.

 

[M2 Carbine]

a pistol (handgun) or a shotgun for home defense in suburban - rural setting?

My preference is, in this order.
All are Streamlight TLR-2 laser/light equipped.

AR

Beretta PX4 9mm.

and
CZ 40P

last but not least, 12ga pumps with S&B 12 pellet 00 Buckshot.

I would like to know what do prefer a pistol (handgun) or a shotgun for home defense in suburban

My HD is as likely to be outside and up to a distance of 40-50 yards and in low light, so my primary gun choice is a light/laser equipped rifle. The rifle I choose is the AR.

Ever fired an AR inside with no hearing protection? You'll wish you were shot instead.

No one considers the sound damage that their weapon will do. How often in an emergent situation are you going to stuff in ear plugs? An indoors AR muzzle blast will leave your head ringing and your vision fuzzy.

You are going a little overboard.
I have fired a number of guns indoors, including the AR several times, without ear protection. While it's not something you really want to do if you can help it, it certainly does not "leave your head ringing and your vision fuzzy".
All it does is remind you that you had better not forget your ear protection again.

 

[Skribs]

You do realize that most houses have the master bedroom all the way across the house from the other bedrooms, correct? Children are often heavy sleepers, I would've slept through a tornado when I was little. That, IMHO, necessitates clearing the house, training or not.

I think it depends on the house. While I do have a friend who's home has the kids rooms on one side of the house and the parents clear on the other, the majority of homes I've been in have all of the bedrooms along a hallway.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Your first big challenge is to manipulate the weapon and make good hits and be able to do so subconsciously; because you will have plenty to occupy your mind. So in that sense, I always recommend using whatever you are most confident in.

Having said that, it has been my experience that a longgun is a lot easier for most people to make good hits with and packs a bigger punch usually. So if I have a choice, I'll have a long gun.

Ever fired an AR inside with no hearing protection? You'll wish you were shot instead.

Yes, I have - in a tiny concrete room no less. I did not wish I was shot. I did not have blurred vision. It was loud and it did leave my ears ringing for a couple of hours.

 

[grendelbane]

I am in the carbine camp, but the shotgun is a decent choice.

Handgun comes in third, but, nothing says that you can't have a handgun and a long gun at the same time. Time permitting, that would be my plan.

No time! That could easily happen. I would grab the AR first. All of my neighbors are over a 100 yards away, so if I did grab a shotgun by mistake, I would not worry too much about over penetration.

With the AR, no over penetration worries at all. The real penetration worry is the handgun.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

My wife and I are a couple weeks from having the place to ourselves as the daughter is going off to school, we live in the country, over penetration is not much of a concern.

My thought process has always been that the .45 gets me to the 870. The last round loaded in the 870 mag (first in the chamber) is a 2 3/4" slug. The rest are 2 3/4" 00.

Lately I've been thinking about my .357 lever carbine instead of the 870. I keep it stoked up with Hornady LE rounds. It's shorter and lighter, quicker around corners. Cowboy tactical.... for now.

choices choices.

 

[foghornl]

first up is the GI-45.."bedside table companion"

Under the bed is the Maverick 88

 

[Ehud]

Speaking as someone who has done a few autopsies, I have seen handgun wounds, and I have seen Shotgun wounds.
In the Emergency Department, they are both bad to treat.

BUT, based on my experience and what we are taught, I use a shotgun with 00Buck.

 

[el Godfather]

People who chose shotgun did not specify pump action or semi auto.

 

[Losov]

The judge.

 

[JustinJ]

In terms of peak dBA, a 16" to 18" .223 is about the same as a 4" barreled 9mm/.40/.45, which is about the same as an 18" barreled 12-gauge. All are 5 to 10 dB less loud than a .357 revolver. Unless, of course, you run a muzzle brake on the carbine, or run an SBR.

I've seen a chart indicating the same but i believe there is more to the story. For example, the duration of the sound can be just as important as the peak. Experience has shown me that in general a 16" AR causes more ear discomfort than a 9mm or .45 handgun.

 

[Skribs]

You also have to factor in that most pistols aren't equipped with a muzzle brake that is sending the sound back towards the shooter. Depending on where the microphone is when doing the recording, that can make a difference as well.

Personally, I think that for basic HD, i.e. bunkered down, carbine > shotgun > handgun.
For going to grab your kids on the other side of the house or to check and see if that noise was just the cat, handgun > carbine > shotgun.

 

[kayak-man]

Whichever one has a light attached to it

 

[C0untZer0]

Kleanbore I have a problem with that YouTube video.

A S&W 686 doesn't represent all pistols. Pretty massive chunk of metal there with a hard recoiling cartridge. Most people don't recomend putting a 357 magnum in the hands of a new woman shooter.

I think the results would have been different with a Five-seven, or a lot of nines.

And I'm assuming El Godfather is not a godmother so I'm not sure what the YouTube video shows him, except that maybe an AR is a good HD weapon for a new female shooter who doesn't want to practice...

 

[allaroundhunter]

Since this is in ST&T, I will point out a few things that I disagree with first.

I am not a shotgun guy so I prefer my Mark23 at night. Durable, reliable and caliber enough power that when BG is well hit- he/she stays down and neutralized.

A pistol is a pistol is a pistol. Your Mk 23 does not fire a more powerful .45 ACP round than a 1911, and either way it is still a handgun. As for power to stop a threat immediately, handguns suck.

I will take a shotgun/rifle over a handgun for 99% of HD applications. The 1% against that being when I have to go through the house to find a family member and guide them back to the safe room.

Thats exactly how i feel, but may be not AR rather a G3 or AKM.

Why not an AR? It has more power than your Mk 23 that you have loads of confidence in....

If it is all you've got, then by all means, use it. But it seems that you have much better options available to you and you are making poor preparations for possible situations.


Anyways, my answer: If I have to decide on either a shotgun or a pistol for HD, I will take a shotgun (pump or semi, but one that I had tested).

 

[C0untZer0]

IMO the time when pumps were more reliable than auto-loaders is past. There are very reliable models out there now the odds that a defender is going mess up the stroke is greater than the odds that a quality auto-loader is going to malfunction.

Consider this:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=668945&highlight=m4

 

[justice06rr]

The need to maneuver with a shotgun is somewhat negated by the fact that generally you shouldn't be clearing the house, you're likely not trained for it. And when the cops do it, they don't do it alone. Staying hunkered down in a safe position but ready to shoot if someone unknown comes through the bedroom door, while waiting for the cops to arrive, may not seem as manly but is likely a much more survivable scenario.

I've heard this arguement many times, but people always disregard that you may have children and family you want to protect. So in essence trying to clear rooms in your house is a must when the BG's come breaking in in order to ensure your family's safety.

As far as the OP's question, handgun of appropriate caliber and ammo should suffice. I've always believe shotguns are not the most effiecient HD weapons do to the long profile and having to rack every round. The pistol is superior in this case. If i was to use a long gun, it would be a short-barrel AR15 with a flashlight. If I was hunkering down in a room with my family or defending against zombies, the shotgun would be a good choice. That is only my opinion and preference so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Justice, what makes you think that you have to rack every single round with a shotgun? Have you not heard that they make them in semi-automatic form as well?

Sent from my HTC One X

 

[mljdeckard]

I will never grab a handgun if I have time to grab a long gun.

 

[Mr.510]

If I'm hunkered down in the master bedroom waiting for them to come to me shotgun all the way. If I'm moving around inside the house my first choice is my XD45. I know I can put rounds where they need to be more quickly with it than any other weapon I own. That's why it's my home defense gun of choice.

In a perfect world I suppose I'd have a Saiga 20 bullpup for home defense with a 15 round magazine and a good light. I'd also be as good with long guns in tight spaces as I am with pistols. Sadly this is not a perfect world so I go with what I feel gives me the biggest advantage.

 

[Jason_W]

I like a pump shotgun: It's inexpensive and packs a decisive punch.

A few manufacturers are now making sintered slugs and buckshot that limit over penetration though I don't know what terminal performance would be like.

 

[MedWheeler]

Rexster writes:

FWIW, trying to reach innocents located elsewhere within a structure, when it is known an intruder is active, is a bit different from "clearing" the structure. I just thought I would throw that out there as food for thought.

You must still "clear" any area between yourself and those you are trying to reach to protect. Typical clearing strategies still apply, such as the use of cover/concealment, and "pie-slicing" rooms as you approach them.
That is still "clearing."

 

[BBQLS1]

Ever fired an AR inside with no hearing protection? You'll wish you were shot instead.

No one considers the sound damage that their weapon will do. How often in an emergent situation are you going to stuff in ear plugs? An indoors AR muzzle blast will leave your head ringing and your vision fuzzy.

For that reason alone, I prefer my handgun as its closest, always loaded, easier to retain if it comes to hand-to-hand combat, quicker follow up shots, and carries 3x more rounds than my shotgun.

My first job would be to ensure that my family and myself survive. I'd pick the tool that best helps me accomplish that task and then worry about the noise.