How to build a home defense plan

[Pensfan]

Thanks for looking and offering some help! I have long been an advocate of everyone owning a shotgun, a handgun, a .22 rifle, and a long range rifle just to cover all basics of firearm ownership and use. I am not a doomsday prepper, but I would like to build up a small stash of reliable self defense ammo and firearms to have on hand for [insert end of world / zombiepocalypse / ancient civilization prediction / economic collapse / here].

However action pistol competition has pulled me away from that mindset and diverted my funds from self/home defense to the sport side of things. I need to get back to basics and begin working on my home/self defense firearms again. I know that prices are crazy for everything right now, but I believe that these will self correct soon and deals are still be had if you look in the right places.

I live in the suburbs of a large city, very safe neighborhood, though we live in a condo/townhouse with neighbors sharing walls. I currently have a compact daily carry pistol in 9mm, competition race pistol in 40sw, .22 semi-auto pistol, old pump action .270 rifle and .410 shotgun.

I am thinking of picking up a 12gauge pump, 9mm camp carbine, 9mm "combat pistol", and a .22 rifle.

Is this the right direction to move? And what would you prioritize based on where we live and what we own already?

 

[Skribs]

For HD, I would recommend having that one long gun that is your go-to long-gun. Personally I'd suggest a lighter rifle round (i.e. .223 or maybe .308) over a shotgun, but a 12-gauge shotgun is a very good option as well. The .223 will penetrate less walls than a shotgun, and both significantly less than a 9mm round, so if you're worried about overpenetration that's your best bet.

 

[poboy6]

Greetings from the other side of the state.

My first recommendation would be an accurate long gun. This would probably be a bolt-action with a scope. Hopefully you will want to be able to protect your family from a threat over 100 yards away. Your pump-action .270 may work, but a .308 or .30-06 would be my suggestion.

Once you have the ability to neutralize the zombie threat from a distance, then I'd focus on a "nightstand gun". 9mm or .40 (since you already have those calibers) with a light or laser or something to that effect. Don't forget multiple mags to go with it! And this panic-buying should illustrate the importance of having "enough" ammo on hand. Ideally you'd have enough ammo to last the rest of your life but it can get very expensive.

A tactical 12ga. is a great idea. I like the Remington 870 express.

Remember, handguns are your last line of defense. Ideally you would reach for something more powerful if you knew bad guys were coming.

The condo, overpenetration issue is a valid one, but if your door gets kicked in do you still expect your neighbor to be laying in bed asleep? He/she will hopefully come to your aid with a shotgun of their own. Maybe talk with those around you and develop some sort of self-defense plan.

I don't know if you're allowed to have dogs to warn you of impending danger but it would be a big help.

More important than which guns you have is your ability to create a plan in advance and be able to implement it. Your .22 rifle may be all you need (though probably not).

 

[Pyzon]

I am all for lots of HD guns and ammo, but would also hope we all do the easy and cheap things to make our homes a far less likely target for the criminal mind.
Granted, that is easier to accomplish in a single family home situation, with motion detecting lights pointed out into the yard and high security locks on doors and windows. Security cameras with all kinds of abilities for recording get cheaper and more user friendly every day.

Renters and condo dwellers can go a long way to keep the dark side at bay but landords and condo associations frown on a lot of it.

Do the best you can to keep the darkside outside, send them down the road to easier pickings and you won't be fighting them inside.

 

[GBExpat]

Remember, handguns are your last line of defense. Ideally you would reach for something more powerful if you knew bad guys were coming.

Actually, for defending my home from an intruder(s) who has gained access, a handgun is going to be my first choice.

"If I knew bad guys were coming" confused I would plan on meeting & eliminating any threat outside of my house (probably with a shotgun in-hand and a rifle slung), unless there was time for police to get here and take care of the "bad guys" for me.

OP, are your neighbor/contiguous walls firewalls? IOW, are you separated from your neighbors by brick/block/concrete or just sheetrock?

 

[Al Thompson]

Guns are sort of down the list. You've got that covered, IMHO.

Exterior lighting, perimeter security, alarm system, hardening the windows.... Make the bad guys want to go elsewhere.

 

[Pensfan]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Sadly we can't do too much for hardening the exterior of the home that we haven't done already. We do however have external lighting and reinforced doors / windows on the first floor. I guess people could use a ladder to get to the 2nd floor, but the complex is extremely well lit and that would draw a lot of eyes haha.

We do not have an alarm system and I am looking into one now actually. We do not have a dog as a couple of us in our home are allergic, and frankly I don'r really care for pets at all. I have three kids and a wife that keep me extremely busy already!

I have been reading a lot of threads and articles re: "take any five guns" and variations as well as the bazillion home defense articles, and the common consensus seems to be a pump shotgun, lever action 30-30, bolt action 30.06, handgun, and Ruger 10/22. Thoughts here on that selection?

I would love an AR or combat style "assault weapon" but in all honesty the price tag is up there for a single gun. I live in an area with several thousand people within range of a .223 or .308 haha, not sure if I need long range sniping more than short range stopping power.

EDITED TO ADD: We do have firewalls between us and our one neighbor on the side. We are in an end townhouse so that helps as far as wall penetration is concerned. The wall I share is not a likely wall to be shooting towards due to the layout of the house. So I am not as concerned about penetration as others in an apartment may be.

Thanks again for the ideas, please keep them coming! My plan is taking shape and all input helps.

 

[Skribs]

Of the "take any five guns" you mentioned, all five are bad for home defense. Well, some are okay, but there are certainly better.

Pump shotgun: if you want one shotgun, a pump is a good choice. If you want an HD shotgun, a semi-auto with 18-24" barrel is your best bet.
Lever-Action 30-30: probably tied with pump shotgun for best of the list. A semi-auto rifle using a more modern cartridge with removable magazines would be better in every respect.
Bolt-Action .30-06 would have way too much recoil and be way too slow in a HD situation. Unless you're defending at 300 yards.
Handgun is useful until you can grab a long gun, unless you train almost exclusively with handguns.
Ruger 10/22 fires too weak a round compared with a rifle or shotgun.

These "if you could only have 5 guns" lists usually include guns for small game hunting and large game hunting, as well as a pistol for protection. For a pure self-defense gun, semi-automatic is faster than manually-operated, and you want something with the capacity to handle multiple attackers. You can make a lot of things work, but if you specifically want something for HD, my recommendations would either be a semi-automatic rifle with detachable magazines or a semi-auto shotgun.

 

[Pensfan]

Thanks Skribs, I was getting sidetracked away from the HD situations with all the SHTF situations much like I do with competition handguns. haha. Agreed that the "take five guns" lists are geared more for overall survival after a SHTF situation rather than simple home defense.

While I do train 3-4 days a week with handguns, it is for sport and that is 100% completely different than HD/SD and I realize that. That said, I am very competent with a handgun and have no qualms with using using one in my home if ever needed.

Thanks for keeping my ADD back on track! haha

 

[poboy6]

"If I knew bad guys were coming" () I would plan on meeting & eliminating any threat outside of my house (probably with a shotgun in-hand and a rifle slung), unless there was time for police to get here and take care of the "bad guys" for me.

Yes, depending on the layout of the surrounding terrain a fairly vigilant person would probably be able to detect people that are up to no good before they enter the home and like you said, you wouldn't knowingly greet them with a pistol. It would be something stronger (though a pistol on your hip in addition to a shotty is a great idea).

 

[el Godfather]

Well the important question to ask before we start listing our favorite guns is, how many personnel you have at your disposal to use these weapons?

If just you, then I recommend a Kalashnikov (or a clone in case you cant have automatic) and pistol. Choose any pistol that you can shoot well other then a .22 or some other weaker calibers.

Forget about penetration issue just yet because the prime objective is to survive the threat whatever the cost may be.

If you have you have more personnel available then get more Kalashnikovs and pistols for them to train with as well.

Rest is just fancy internet talk

 

[GBExpat]

(though a pistol on your hip in addition to a shotty is a great idea)

Hahaha ... I didn't mention a pistol in that scenario because there is always a "pistol on my hip" ... which certainly showcases part of my mindset.

 

[Pensfan]

Yep, same here. Holster has been surgically attached to the hip as well. I have been in several situations where I was very glad to have had my pistol on me and now I never leave the house without it. Heck I wear it at home 90% of the time I am awake as well.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[psyopspec]

I enjoy owning and shooting a variety of firearms, but having a collection at home has little to with HD IMO. The single best firearm for the task at hand is the one that the user is trained and familiar with. Beyond that, you can break it down into the 2 categories of constant companion at home (pistol) and the one to get to if there's time (long gun).

Mindset, skillset, toolset. When you get to the bottom of the list, go as wild as you like with a small battery, or as mild as you like and stick with what works and is familiar. But since you're at the bottom of that list, it's splitting some mighty fine hairs.

 

[BLB68]

Guns are sort of down the list. You've got that covered, IMHO.

Exterior lighting, perimeter security, alarm system, hardening the windows.... Make the bad guys want to go elsewhere.

Exactly this. I'll add communication to the list as well. Make sure you have a cell phone (that can get a good signal in your building) in your bedroom and charged at all times.

 

[RoboDuck]

A well trained protection dog. Two dogs are better than one. You pick the breed , rotweiller , german shepherd , belgian malinois .

 

[bayesian]

Yep, I want to back up what several folks have indicated, and that is first and foremost, keep an eye on the most probable kinds of situations that you will face. Once you get past the part of deterring entry by making one's home unappealing (e.g., appearing both protected and hardened), then what looks like the most likely kind of threat?

I have spent a decent amount of time walking around my house trying to figure out why someone might look at the house and decide to give it a shot... Lighting is a big deal. If someone is going to break in, then they need to get in, *and* get out with the stuff. I've made it pretty difficult to get in, and if they choose to get in from a less visible location, they are going to have to carry everything out that way too, or else make alot of noise and damage where everyone is going to see them (two way keyed bolts on doors so they have to break out as well as in).

After that, really what is the scenario? Really? Ok, let's go with home invasion. So they manage to gain entry either by conning their way in or by breaking in at night, when they really know that someone is likely to be there. In both scenarios, the most important issue is going to be, what you have on hand. That is where a hand gun that you have worked with, is familiar, and accessible will make all the difference.

Granted, a shotgun is great if you hear a crash in the night. But you've gotta keep it close and that's where, for many of us, a handgun is way more likely to be close at hand than a shotgun. My wife, bless her heart, is willing to put up with alot, but keeping a loaded shotgun leaning against the wall next to the bed just isn't one of them. So, I keep my Walther PPQ close. Moreover, I also keep in mind that I've already addressed the vast majority of issues just by deterring attempts by making my place look like more of a hassle, and I live in a fairly safe neighborhood where I know the neighbors and we keep an eye out for each other's property.

Be vigilant, but don't be paranoid. Frankly, if the idea is an AK is what you are going to need for HD, then, at least in the US, I think your S may have already HTF, because you aren't in Iraq, it is, after all, just freaking Stl. (lived there for 6 years in graduate school, not great neighborhoods.)

 

[TRX]

My area isn't favorable to the use of firearms in intrusion situations, so my "home defense" consists of discreet window bars, good locksets, latching drop bars behind the two entry doors, and a video monitoring system.

Local law changed more in favor of the homeowner a few years back, but until I see how the prosecutors and courts are handling things, armed defense isn't part of the plan.

"The law" and "the local criminal justice system" don't necessarily go together...

 

[mhuxtable]

I live in the suburbs of a large city, very safe neighborhood, though we live in a condo/townhouse with neighbors sharing walls. I currently have a compact daily carry pistol in 9mm, competition race pistol in 40sw, .22 semi-auto pistol, old pump action .270 rifle and .410 shotgun.

I am thinking of picking up a 12gauge pump, 9mm camp carbine, 9mm "combat pistol", and a .22 rifle.

You already have a 9mm pistol, I'd say you don't need another, unless the carry gun is a tiny single stack 7 rounder,

A 12 ga pump is nice, but you have a 410 already so that seems redundant.

I have a 9mm carbine (Hi Point) and its really fun, but my handguns hold more rounds that it does.


I'd definitely focus more on doing drills in your condo, knowing your exits, adding a security system (I love Simplisafe), getting a dog IF you like dogs and can physically and mentally care for one...any large breed will do, just get a mutt from the shelter.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I am a lover of the 30/30 since it negates the Evil black rifle attack anti gun DA' s like to play.