Home protection help

[blindndead]

I need some info for home protection firearm. I just bought a 2 family home with small rooms In the city right next to a 6 family on one side and a church on the other. What is a good firearm for the home? I live to close to other dwellings for a round going thru a wall and hurting someone. does anyone have any suggestions?

Rob

 

[1 old 0311]

For a novice a S&W, or Ruger, .38/.357 revolver is a great choice. Used ones run $250.00-$300.00.

 

[mike101]

Twelve Gauge Shotgun. Big blast, lots of knockdown power, you don't have to be a great shot, and no over-penetration.

 

[High Planes Drifter]

Well, the 12 gauge is always a good choice. Also, a handgun in a respectable caliber- 9mm and above (IMO) is a good choice. The 12 gauge would be less money in just about every case. You can go to wally world and pick up a Mossberg pump for under 300 bucks.

 

[aguyindallas]

Mikeburk is right on in my opinion.

A 12ga shotgun will work wonders. Less need to worry about shot going through the walls (no slugs for this purpose).

Simple, reliable, and the sound of wracking the slide in the middle of the night is priceless.

 

[Nathan Williams]

Remington 870, 18" barrel, loaded with 00 buckshot would do nicely.

 

[blindndead]

thanks

thanks for all the quick info

 

[The Cavalry]

Very glad to see another person accept responsibility for their family's safety!

I'd strongly recommend that you first take a firearms safety course, such as the NRA Basic Pistol. You might also consider a trip to NH for the SIGARMS Academy. Whether you go with a pistol or a shotgun, it's the right first step.

Go here:

http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/find.asp

And here:

http://www.sigarms.com/EducationTraining/

I'd recommend the Basic Pistol and the Home Firearm Safety courses from the NRA list, or talk to the SIGARMS Academy people about what training fits your needs.

After these, you've probably got enough information to head to the gun store and start shopping. Picking the right firearm, and especially ammunition, for your needs requires research.

After you've learned safety and made your purchase, it's time to develop skill. Another trip to SIGARMS Academy or some other training center is in order for practical instruction.

And finally...the short answer. .38 double-action revolver with Glaser blue-tip safety slugs. Simple and safe firearm, and the Glaser rounds minimize the risk of you putting a hole in the neighbor's house.

 

[Roadwild17]

+1 on the scater gun but....

Dont get taken in with idea of hanging 20 rounds with a light, lazer, red-dot, rocket launcher, death ray. The first thread will show you the entire range of HD shotguns from mild to wild. The second is a little over the top, but if its want you want, then go for it. Whatever you do, get plents of ammo and practice practice practice. If your really woried aobut over penetration, looking in to #4 buck shot, but I dont think you could go wrong with good ole 00 buck. The 3rd link is to box of truth, where they test ammo in a more back yard type of setup, which makes for really easy understanding of the results.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=211662&highlight=Show

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=209043&highlight=Monster

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm

 

[symr00]

12GA with a weapon-mounted light

Depending on the material of your walls, you could have overpenetration should a shot miss its intended target with some of the handgun rounds.

 

[Deanimator]

Simple, reliable, and the sound of wracking the slide in the middle of the night is priceless.

I cringe every time I hear that. If you're gun isn't ready when you confront an intruder, you may never get the chance to do anything.

A shotgun's ok if you have the room to effectively maneuver it. A lot of people don't, including me.

 

[Ala Dan]

Aw~! The Awesome 12 gague Shotgun

a most excellent choice, even for a novice~!

My choice is the aforementioned 12 gague in a Remington 870
Marine Magnum.

 

[ceetee]

Don't forget the rest of your home-defense plan.

1. Choose a "safe room" that everyone can go to in case of intruders.
2. Stock that room with a charged-up cell phone, flashlights (as many as people, with spare batteries)
3. Install a good lock on a solid-core door at the entrance to that safe room.
4. Have an evacuation plan ready in case you need it. Make sure everyone in the house knows what to do in case of different emergencies (ie: fire, or burglary).

Above all else, be prepared to use force when force is required. At the same time, be prepared to hunker down and let a bad guy have your stereo, if it means not exposing yourself or your family members to the risk of harm. Remember, things can be replaced. Lives can't.

 

[Will Learn]

+1 12GA with a weapon-mounted light.

 

[AJAX22]

Any pump action 12 gauge will work for what you need. Mossberg 500's can be had for very little, new they run around 200 bucks or less. I prefer the remmington 870 or the ithica 37, but they cost a little more.

If you're going to get serious about shooting it, spend the extra bucks, if not get something cheap.

For ammo I recommend remmington duplex for home defense without overpenetration.

It is composed of #4 and #6 copper jacketed shot with a magnum powderload. Buckshot works well, but it can go through walls.

 

[1 old 0311]

Come on guys....For a novice you are going to recommend a 12 guage

 

[ronto]

Just another suggestion

In addition to getting a pump shotgun and learning how to use it, get a good watch dog.
I'd rather have an intruder scared-off by a barking dog while he's still OUTSIDE your house than by the sound of racking a pump shotgun when he's already INSIDE your house.
They make pretty good back-up fire alarms also.

 

[Sunray]

"...For a novice...a 12 guage..." Yep. A 20 guage will do though. A 12 ga., short barreled(18 or 20 inches) pump gun using 4 buck(more pellets). Defending your hearth with a handgun takes far more training and practice.
Duplexes built in the last 20 years or more have a solid concrete or brick wall between the units for a fire break. No penetration issue at all with buckshot or slugs. Assuming the whole house is brick, shot won't penetrate anything but the windows, so the church is safe too. Getting some training anyway is a good idea though.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I cringe every time I hear that. If you're gun isn't ready when you confront an intruder, you may never get the chance to do anything.

You might want to search the various threads here for explanations of why most shotguns be stored "cruiser ready."

This thread has some good information in it.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=205770

After you read it you might cringe more thinking about all the shotguns that are leaning in the corner with a round in the chamber and the "safety" on.

 

[mike101]

Good advice from ceetee about the safe room. A watch dog, if you can swing it , is a great idea too. If you get a 12 gauge, be sure to have it planted firmly in your shoulder when you fire it, and a little training wouldn't hurt either. Maybe you have some friends who hunt, who could show you the ropes.

I don't mean to insult your intelligence, but if you have kids, be 100% sure that gun is stored securely. Can't emphasize that enough.

 

[blindndead]

Thank's everyone

I just wanted to thank everyone for all the great info and all the links on home protection. Roadwild17 #9 reply on this thread sent me a cool link with a bunch of picks on HD shotgun's. Why does it look like all the shotgun's look shorter than normal? Are they custom or is this how they come? Can someone give me more info or links on this topic? Thanks.Good people good website.

 

[ceetee]

Why does it look like all the shotgun's look shorter than normal? Are they custom or is this how they come?

1. They are.
2. Yes.

That said... most shotguns made for hunting birds or shooting skeet/trap-style games are made with 26 or 28 inch barrels. It may be more difficult to maneuver a shotgun with a barrel that long around interior walls and corners, so many companies make special versions with shorter barrels (either 18 or 20 inches).

You can also buy a field-grade shotgun, and buy an aftermarket barrel that's shorter, and have one gun that can do both things equally well. (There's an old saying... "Beware the man with only one gun - he probably shoots it extremely well.")

As far as that goes, there's almost no end to the gadgets and widgets you can buy for your shotgun. Extra ammo carriers, advanced sights and lights, lasers, recoil-reducing stocks, etc. One thing you can't buy is skill. (There's another saying I learned right here: BA-UU-R... "Buy Ammo - Use Up - Repeat". Good advice.)

 

[Roadwild17]

Im always willing to pass on a bit of info to help out a fella THR member. The reason all those shotguns look shorter is because they ARE shorter. Your average hunting shotgun ahs a barrel that ranges from about 26 inches up to 30 inches (most of the time, there are 24 and 32 inch barrels out there)

These longer barrels are to control the pattering of the shot. Now, could you imagine trying to sweep you house with a 28" barrel, I did it once, was NOT EVVECTIVE AT ALL. That’s why you chop the barrel down to 18-20 inches and it gives you a more nimble gun to maneuver.

I wish I had the link to the test, but testing shows that there is a very minimal velociety difference between an 18" and a 26" barrel.

Some would say that having one shotgun with two barrels is the way to go, however I would have to disagree with them on the sole point, who is going to reconfigure the shotgun from HD to hunting EVERY TIME they change uses.

I would prefer getting 2 of the same model gun, one for hunting and one for HD.

As far as being custom or buying like that, its both ways. You can buy a HD/Police gun already set up or you can go to a pawn shop, get a used gun, and build to you taste.

 

[Mark Whiteman]

18-20" Pump 12ga with 2 3/4" target loads gets my business. At in-house ranges, the shot arrives virtually all at once, beyond the first wall it scatters quickly and the danger is minimized. Target loads are cheap, on sale the most, making practice more likely. If you take up hunting, you can swap barrels for something more appropriate for birds. Make sure you dial 9-1-1 first. If the badguy penetrates your refuge room, do what you must. Having the police enroute during all this is better than waiting until its over. Oh, and practice! Shotguns kick back aka recoil, but it gets to be fun hitting the target. Vegetables like squash or melons make good ones.

 

[Deanimator]

+1 12GA with a weapon-mounted light.

I don't like the idea of providing an assailant an aiming point on ME.