FL-NC
Member
That's 50% more than most revolvers, and about 1/3 more than a 1911. I prefer a full sized pistol with a mag that fits in the grip but holds as many as possible, but what you have will do the job if you do your job.
Is a 10 round 9mm pistol enough for home defence?
- Thread starter JB357MAG
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Yes, unless you're moving into "Gangland USA". The only problem with the Shield as HD gun is inability to mount powerful combat light on it.
Here is what I use......
The biggest advantage being ability to use it as a weapon even when one runs out of ammo. It makes for very nice hammer in CQB scenario.
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More than likely, it will be enough.
I try to consider what the probable scenario would be. A smash and assault in broad daylight? Not likely. We aren't home much through the day. Anyone breaking in would probably be doing so in order to avoid confrontation. Having a small child, I don't feel comfortable leaving firearms in multiple places around the house. I usually have my CCW on me during my waking hours, anyway.
The most likely break-in where bodily harm to my family is either possible or (God forbid) planned would be a late evening assault. They would have to get noiselessly through the door/window, past the dog, and up the stairs if they really wanted to secure us and not just try to quietly steal our stuff.
If I can roll out of bed quick enough, posting at the top of the steps while my wife secured my daughter would be my best bet. Even with multiple intruders, 10 rounds of quality 9mm may be enough. I would have the high ground as well as a choke point as our stairs go straight up.
My go-to HD gun has been the Beretta 92fs for some time. 15 rounds + another magazine should keep me in business. I like the 9mm for HD. I prefer 15 round mags, but if all I had was 10, I wouldn't feel undergunned.
I try to consider what the probable scenario would be. A smash and assault in broad daylight? Not likely. We aren't home much through the day. Anyone breaking in would probably be doing so in order to avoid confrontation. Having a small child, I don't feel comfortable leaving firearms in multiple places around the house. I usually have my CCW on me during my waking hours, anyway.
The most likely break-in where bodily harm to my family is either possible or (God forbid) planned would be a late evening assault. They would have to get noiselessly through the door/window, past the dog, and up the stairs if they really wanted to secure us and not just try to quietly steal our stuff.
If I can roll out of bed quick enough, posting at the top of the steps while my wife secured my daughter would be my best bet. Even with multiple intruders, 10 rounds of quality 9mm may be enough. I would have the high ground as well as a choke point as our stairs go straight up.
My go-to HD gun has been the Beretta 92fs for some time. 15 rounds + another magazine should keep me in business. I like the 9mm for HD. I prefer 15 round mags, but if all I had was 10, I wouldn't feel undergunned.
A couple of my house guns are revolvers.
But I will admit to having a bunch of speed loaders.
Any weapon is enough, until it isn't. I still reach, first, for a four-shot Remington 870P when I anticipte serious trouble at home. Standard practice, if there is time, is to top-up the magazine tube after chambering a round, for five shots. Then, if there is more time, I add a handgun, in a pocket, or, preferably, holstered, and/or add a small ammo pouch, with more buckshot.
The second weapon is more important, to me, than the capacity of either weapon. I do not think of a seven-shot 1911 pistol, or a six-shot revolver, as being ammo-deprived.
Why not an extended shotgun magazine tube? I prefer the more-dynamic balance of the weapon with the standard mag tube, and I like the ability to change barrels more easily. In addition to the 18" Police barrels, I have a 21" turkey barrel, and both smooth-bore and rifled slug barrels. This is for my two 870P shotguns, and, if she wishes, for my wife's Wingmaster, which has a folding stock and Surefire fore-end. (She is far from helpless, when defending the home.)
The second weapon is more important, to me, than the capacity of either weapon. I do not think of a seven-shot 1911 pistol, or a six-shot revolver, as being ammo-deprived.
Why not an extended shotgun magazine tube? I prefer the more-dynamic balance of the weapon with the standard mag tube, and I like the ability to change barrels more easily. In addition to the 18" Police barrels, I have a 21" turkey barrel, and both smooth-bore and rifled slug barrels. This is for my two 870P shotguns, and, if she wishes, for my wife's Wingmaster, which has a folding stock and Surefire fore-end. (She is far from helpless, when defending the home.)
blarby
Member
Unless your goblin is meaner than this :
https://www.americanhunter.org/arti...ishermen-from-raging-grizzly-with-9mm-pistol/
Id say yes.
https://www.americanhunter.org/arti...ishermen-from-raging-grizzly-with-9mm-pistol/
Id say yes.
revolvergeek
Member
Most likely either pistol would be fine. That said I would hunt around for a cheap ugly beat up 12 or 20 gauge to go with it if I could. Even a $50 single shot would be useful.
old lady new shooter
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Years ago when I lived in a very upscale neighborhood I had TWO drug dealers in succession living next door -- the first one owned a donut shop which was apparently a front for the drug operation, the second was a plastic surgeon who specialized in breast implants, I guess his prescription pad came in handy for his other "business". Mind-boggling.
Sheepdog1968
Member
For,now you should be fine. At some point your funds will be a bit more flush and you can buy another long arm of your choosing. It's mostly about your skill level and mindset with the weapon anyway.
toivo
Member
I only have nine rounds of 9mm in the gun on my nightstand -- a SIG P239 -- but there are two more eight-round magazines in a paddle holder right next to it. Across the room is a small keypad safe with three more loaded handguns in it: a Smith & Wesson 64, a SIG P238, and a Kel-Tec P32. If I counted right, that's 47 rounds without leaving the bedroom.
I'm from NY. That's how we cope with mag capacity limits.
Actually, I think you'll be fine. It probably wouldn't hurt to have a couple of extra mags on hand, just in case.
I'm from NY. That's how we cope with mag capacity limits.
Actually, I think you'll be fine. It probably wouldn't hurt to have a couple of extra mags on hand, just in case.
Getting to the Basics
The fact that one is unlikely ever to need a firearm is irrelevant to the question.
How many rounds may be likely to suffice is not germane.
What one may "feel comfortable with" may be interesting, but it is not the answer.
One's results on a stationary target do not give us anything much to work with.
And what may seem ideal in those imaginary movies that we play in our mind may or may not help at all.
Let's think about it: when we consider what kind of firearm or other would work for us in a home defense situation, many of us tend to go right to the scenario in which we have already have it in our hands and are still alive and ready to use it.
We really need to back up from there quite a bit.
The gun that we do not have with us when we need it is of little use.
I posted this earlier:
Training has been mentioned here---training, not practice.
Every trainer worth his or her salt will tell us to not set out in search of whatever went bump I'm the night. Good advice always addresses getting to a defensive position. But whether or how one can do that will vary.
Probably the last thing to owner about should be whether this gun might be better than that one--unless one cannot access that one timely.
One the thing--even if we have labored for years on the assumption that no one in his right mind would force entry until we have turned off the lights in our bedroom, it would really not be prudent to base any important decisions on that assumption.
The fact that one is unlikely ever to need a firearm is irrelevant to the question.
How many rounds may be likely to suffice is not germane.
What one may "feel comfortable with" may be interesting, but it is not the answer.
One's results on a stationary target do not give us anything much to work with.
And what may seem ideal in those imaginary movies that we play in our mind may or may not help at all.
Let's think about it: when we consider what kind of firearm or other would work for us in a home defense situation, many of us tend to go right to the scenario in which we have already have it in our hands and are still alive and ready to use it.
We really need to back up from there quite a bit.
The gun that we do not have with us when we need it is of little use.
I posted this earlier:
Training has been mentioned here---training, not practice.
Every trainer worth his or her salt will tell us to not set out in search of whatever went bump I'm the night. Good advice always addresses getting to a defensive position. But whether or how one can do that will vary.
Probably the last thing to owner about should be whether this gun might be better than that one--unless one cannot access that one timely.
One the thing--even if we have labored for years on the assumption that no one in his right mind would force entry until we have turned off the lights in our bedroom, it would really not be prudent to base any important decisions on that assumption.
SSN Vet
Member
very short answer...
Yes!
Yes!
Phaedrus/69
Member
I would feel reasonably well armed with 10 rounds of 9mm, and occasionally I CCW a Beretta Nano. At home you will have the luxury of a little more control over the engagement, or at least you can if you prepare. I'd rather have a Shield on my night stand and a few hundred bucks of good security measures (eg 3" screws on all door hardware, strong deadbolt locks, night locks, door jamb armor, windows with locks and security film, etc) than an Hk 416 and 3/4" screws holding my $10 Wal mart lock in. If you can, set up your new home with security in mind.
I don't think I would make such a positive statement about any risk mitigation strategy, much less a defensive handgun.
Now, add a few conditions--I start with gun in hand, I see him before he sees me, his accomplice has to step into my field of view when he comes to see the person his partner has shot, there's no driver outside--and the defender would be in pretty good stead.
Excellent thinking!
Of course, that only works well at night, or when the defender otherwise happens to be next to the night stand....
stonecutter2
Member
The weapons will more than likely be fine, however make sure you have a plan and practice it multiple times, in different lighting situations, and different states of consciousness 
If something wakes you up at night, see how it goes getting to your stuff and being ready.
I find quiet times alone where the family is gone, and go through a dry run of what to do in what situation home-defense wise. What do we do to be ready for a fire? Fire drills. Same idea. Devise a plan, practice, hopefully never employ it.
I also agree with others, I carry at home just because you don't know when something is going to happen, and it's good practice for when you're out and about. I don't carry all the time at home, but really I should get in the habit...hmm maybe i'll get on that.
If something wakes you up at night, see how it goes getting to your stuff and being ready. I find quiet times alone where the family is gone, and go through a dry run of what to do in what situation home-defense wise. What do we do to be ready for a fire? Fire drills. Same idea. Devise a plan, practice, hopefully never employ it.
I also agree with others, I carry at home just because you don't know when something is going to happen, and it's good practice for when you're out and about. I don't carry all the time at home, but really I should get in the habit...hmm maybe i'll get on that.
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