my house defense scenario - help me select a gun

[tuj]

Hi all:

Here is my situation. I don't carry and I don't keep a loaded gun in the house; I'm strictly a target shooter (bullseye, both 22 and 45). My wife and I have decided we could use a defensive weapon. However I am not sure what gun to select. I currently own all target guns, rifles and pistols, none of which I would feel comfortable with in a self-defense situation in the sense that they are sightly less than full reliable and have tube-optics mounted on them, etc.

Here are some of my goals and specifics about the situation I feel most likely to be facing:

-it will be at night
-my wife and I will both be in our master bedroom
-we have no other people in the house
-our exterior is brick
-I want my wife to be able to defend herself with this weapon
-my wife shoots .22 with a red-dot very well
-my wife shoots .45 not so well, iron sights or red dot
-my wife is recoil adverse

Here are some of the options I am thinking about, and the related pro's and con's.

-semiauto shotgun. obviously has the advantage of multiple projectiles, longer barrel for point-and-shoot, fast follow-up shots. cons are limited magazine capacity and potential for recoil (debating if a 20-gauge is a viable option or not...) and not much fun at the range unless I take up skeet.

-glock 17L. advantage of lots of rounds, decent caliber, longer barrel might help with point-and-shoot, plus would be useful for range fun. known for reliability, simplicity of operation. Ammo cost for practice not an issue, but might not be the most fun gun for my wife to shoot. con is that its a pistol, so not as easy to point as a long-gun, plus there is no active safety, which my wife might not be entirely comfortable with despite being familiar with guns and the glock concept.

-the third way; a calico rifle. I'm thinking 9mm, which offers 50 rounds, but I haven't entirely ruled out the 22lr version which holds an incredible 100 rounds. the obvious advantage is the overwhelming magazine capacity and relatively low recoil from either caliber given that its a rifle package. Seems like it would be a ton of fun at the range, so practice would be easy. cons are that I worry about storing the magazines with spring tension (or the time to crank the mag) and I worry if it will have the reliability I need.

Also open to any other suggestions. I like the idea of being able to mount a laser to whatever I get (as much as I despise lasers at the range) because it seems like a useful tool for any of these guns at night.

Our strategy if its just my wife would be for her to barricade herself and be ready to fire at someone coming through the bedroom door. If I'm there, I would likely try to exit the bedroom and see what is going on.

Your feedback appreciated.

 

[Ranger30-06]

Couple points you may want to consider:

If you choose the 20 gauge shotgun route, make sure you don't buy a "youth" shotgun. They are smaller and will recoil much more than a full sized shotgun.

I personally am not big on the Glock 17L. It's light and recoil is more than it needs to be for an HD gun. If you want a 9mm and it is just going to be a home defense gun, you may as well buy a heavy, full size handgun. The weight will keep the recoil to a minimum and you won't be lugging it around all day, so no worries there. Examples are the Beretta 92/M9 series ($500), S&W 5906 ($300 for a police trade in; carried a lot, used a little), CZ75 ($500).

I would drop the calico idea; they are relatively rare and if I recall correctly, they have reliability issues with little aftermarket support. A better alternative would be a Kel-tec Sub-2000, or a Beretta CX4. Both come in 9mm or .40 S&W, and I believe the Beretta also comes in .45 ACP.


Good Luck!

 

[Bobson]

I agree that a handgun is less than ideal for home defense, but by no means does that make them a poor choice. If your wife's use is a primary factor (and I agree that it should be), a shotgun may or may not be an option worth considering. I know recoil-sensitive women who hate shotguns, and I know some who find 12 gauge pumps to be perfectly manageable. Have your wife shoot one before you make your decision. I would stay away from a semi-auto, just because pumps tend to be far more reliable (so I've heard, no personal experience with semi shotguns).

If a handgun round is what you settle on, you may want to look at an AR platform in a handgun caliber. Some manufacturers offer reliable ARs chambered in 9mm, 40, and 45. Short of that, a handgun will still serve you well, IMO. And I wouldn't look further than a Glock for simplicity's sake. Reliable, easy to use, ...you know all the benefits. I wouldn't feel under-equipped with a Glock 17 or 19 for HD, and my wife doesn't mind them either. Negligible recoil, good capacity, acceptable caliber. Not my first choice, but nowhere near my last choice either.

 

[ACP]

Home defense is usually "esconced," meaning you stay put and defend against anyone coming through (take your pick: door, top of stairway, entering hall, etc.) while the calvary is on the way (i.e., you have already called them on a CELL PHONE you keep IN THE BEDROOM).

A stay-put weapon should be a long gun, and it should be a shotgun. I prefer 12 gauge pumps but a 20-gauge is fine. My only concern with an autoloader would be reliability with whatever load you choose for HD. I think the need for "fast repeat shots" in a HD scenario is overrated. The first guy to disappear in a pink mist of 00 buck sets a bad example for any of his friends who may still be hanging around.

Bottom line: shoulder weapon, shotgun, 12 gauge pump is my preference, 20-gauge semiauto is acceptable, JUST PRACTICE. Which I'm sure you will!

 

[NOLAEMT]

I would agree that a shotgun, in 12 or 20 gauge with reduced recoil ammunition would be just the ticket, provided she is comfortable with a long gun, and can handle the recoil.

The next choice would be something in 9mm, like a glock 17, or smith and wesson M&P, with a mounted light and perhaps even a crimson trace grip, finances permitting.

 

[Fred Fuller]

If I were planning for home defense in Houston, one of the first things I would do would be to contact the crime awareness/crime prevention folks at the local precinct (http://www.houstontx.gov/police/contact/substations.htm), for some advice/information on crime prevention - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C5Vw3O5B6c&feature=player_embedded . It's important to know what kinds of crimes are actually happening in your area, and when the majority of those crimes take place.

I'd be looking toward 'hardening' the home as much as possible, to make it more difficult for anyone to gain access. And I'd look to the landscaping, exterior lighting etc. to make it harder for anyone to wander around the place or linger unseen.

You don't mention having an alarm system, or a dog. Making use of an alarm can help, as can making sure all exterior windows and doors (even those on an upper story) are locked. Dogs are often good at deterring criminal interest in your home, even if they aren't of a stereotypical 'protection' breed. All they need to be is territorial, alert and loud if strangers come around.

The firearm or firearms you both decide on for home defense actually matter less than some other things, IMHO. First of all, if you haven't seen it yet, take a look at http://www.corneredcat.com/, especially the chapter on buying a gun for your wife - http://www.corneredcat.com/Buying_a_Gun_for_your_Wife/ . Just owning a defensive gun isn't really going to help out a whole lot, especially if it isn't kept in a place or condition such that it can be accessed and used instantly if required.

You have fire extinguishers at home, right? Where are they located? Kitchen, garage, workshop - places where fires are likely to start, correct? Give the same consideration to where you decide to keep your defensive firearms.

You say you're strictly a target shooter. Well, if you buy a firearm specifically for defense, or even decide to use one of your target guns as a defensive firearm, guess what - you aren't strictly a target shooter any more. The first thing you'll need to adopt is the mindset of a defensive shooter. The best place I know of to start working on that is a little book called Principles of Personal Defense, and you can find it here: http://www.paladin-press.com/product/Principles_of_Personal_Defense/Other_Combat_Shooting . I don't doubt that you have the skillset to hit what you shoot at with a handgun, but the mindset always comes first because it is the most important aspect of self defense.

I'd also commend a couple of other books to you. Both are from the same author, Rory Miller. You can see them at any number of places on the web, but if you want to get a sample of what Miller's writing is like, see his blog at http://chirontraining.blogspot.com/ . Miller is a corrections officer by background, and a martial artist by inclination. Since his job called for controlling people without actually breaking parts of them, he became very adept at the use of physical force - and learned a lot of lessons about violence along the way. He shares those lessons about violence in Meditations on Violence (http://www.amazon.com/Meditations-V...1181/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1331275358&sr=8-5) and Facing Violence: Preparing For The Unexpected (http://www.amazon.com/Meditations-V...1181/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1331275358&sr=8-5). If I were only going to buy one of them, it would be the second, Facing Violence. As I said, the mindset lessons are the most critical IMHO.

I'd also think about looking for some specific insight into self defense at home. IMHO a good place to start is the NRA's classes, notably one called "Basic Personal Protection In The Home." You can find a class description at http://www.nrainstructors.org/CourseCatalog.aspx, and a class locator at http://www.nrainstructors.org/searchcourse.aspx. The text for this class is available at http://www.nrastore.com/nrastore/ProductDetail.aspx?p=PB+01781&ct=e .

Don't overlook the fact that your intruder's plans for you might be different from your plans for him (or them), and prepare accordingly...

 

[tuj]

Thanks for the advice so far. I will definitely take the mindset considerations under advisement and consider taking one of the mentioned classes.

I think the 12ga might be too much for my wife; she has a small frame. I know she can learn to shoot it, but I want it to be something she likes shooting as well. I feel that a gun you don't enjoy shooting is a gun you won't practice with (or at least this is true for my wife).

I like the CX-4 suggestion, especially the fact that the big magazines will work with it. I'm also thinking about the Saiga 410, which you can get a 10-round magazine for. I also like the Glock 17 because it would be more convenient to store in a bed-side drawer than a long gun. I'm also considering the Kel-tec KSG with reduced recoil buckshot loads.

 

[gallo]

Start with concentric perimeter security: fence and gate, thorny bushes, good locks and doors, good lighting, house alarm, solid core door with dead bolts on master bed room, cel phone, good old fashion revolver.

I would go as far building a safe room out of the bed room.

However, don't assume it will be at night and in your bedroom. It could be someone kicking down your door when you are having dinner or someone sneaking into your garage when you get home. It could be someone pretending to be a package delivery guy that pushes you in when you open the door.

 

[TarDevil]

I think the 12ga might be too much for my wife; she has a small frame. I know she can learn to shoot it, but I want it to be something she likes shooting as well. I feel that a gun you don't enjoy shooting is a gun you won't practice with (or at least this is true for my wife).

My daughter is a slight framed girl and recoil sensitive. Didn't take long to determine she isn't ready for HD with a handgun. We got her a 12 ga. pump and she is doing GREAT... LOVES to go shooting with it (she's going out again this weekend to pattern some new 2 3/4 and 3" 00 buck loads).

You know your wife and can make the determination, but I think once she shoots it a bit she'll be fine.

 

[tuj]

Yeah more and more I am thinking of going down the 12ga route. I really like the KSG but they seem to be out of stock everywhere (just like everything Kel-tec makes?). My wife in a defense situation would likely retreat to our walk-in closet and barricade herself in there, but I want something compact so it will be easy to move through doorways with.

Do you guys think the Glock 'carbine'/PDW conversion kits (which I understand make the gun a SBR) have any merit for a situation like mine?

 

[vtuck2]

tuj,

I stridently disagree with the advice NOT to get a "youth" model shotgun because of the increased recoil. In my opinion, if you choose a shotgun that is EXACTLY what you need.

My wife and I live just a few feet off a very busy rural Texas highway. Some 35,000 cars per day (and night) pass within 60 feet of our modest home.

I try to never leave my wife here alone although at times there's no choice. On one such occasion I decided to leave my old Remington model 29, 12 gauge riot gun (18" barrel) with her. It provided me great solace until I realized that she COULD NOT REACH REACH THE FORE GRIP to cycle the action with it in firing position.

I took her to an Academy Surplus store and, for less than $300, bought her a Remington 870 "youth model" 20 gauge shotgun. To my surprise, this shotgun, even though it has a TWENTY-ONE inch barrel, is exactly the same overall length as my Remington police riot gun. Not only that. It has a far better range than the riot gun. One night I killed a coon fleeing our chicken house IN MID AIR from a range of about 30 yards with BIRD SHOT. He was the biggest coon I'd ever shot and he was daid daid daid. Instantly.

If I had bought this Remington 870 "youth" 20 gauge FIRST I'd have NEVER BOUGHT ANY OF THE OTHERS. I love it that much. It is handy and compact as a shotgun can possibly be.

You've said your wife is sensitive to recoil. Well, so am I. But when your heart is in your throat and you're looking death in the eye IT WON"T MATTER! That will be the last thing on her mind.

Your wife (and you) can get proficient shooting dove loads. The guns come with a recoil pad but you can always buy a better one. Once she's fired it and is comfy with it simply load buckshot or whatever your research determines to be a proper defense load.

Take her to a Walmart or an Academy store that has one. At a Gander Mountain I even saw one in PINK!

Now that would be poetic justice. An intruder being shot down with a pink shotgun.

I can nearly promise you that if you let her pick one up and handle it she will embrace it with full enthusiasm and so will you.

Best,

Vernon

 

[metalart]

A hi-point 995st also comes in 9mm and has relatively little recoil, plenty of space to add whatever accessories she may want. I second the point of having her try out any shotguns for fit. My girlfriend has trouble with the length of the stock on many of them.

Also, if you go the handgun route, I still am a fan of the sig sauer sp2022, picked one up recently with night sites for $379

 

[bubba15301]

a good .38/ 357 revolver and .20 ga shotgun

 

[MachIVshooter]

It's light and recoil is more than it needs to be for an HD gun. If you want a 9mm and it is just going to be a home defense gun, you may as well buy a heavy, full size handgun. The weight will keep the recoil to a minimum and you won't be lugging it around all day, so no worries there. Examples are the Beretta 92/M9 series ($500), S&W 5906 ($300 for a police trade in; carried a lot, used a little), CZ75 ($500).

+1

If your wife is recoil sensitive, a polymer gun may not be the best idea. Lots of good alloy and steel 9mm pistols to choose from. I would add another recommendation for the 5906. It's full size, ergonomic, accurate, reliable, durable in the extreme and, at a shade over 40 ounces loaded, heavy enough to mitigate recoil. And very affordable right now.

I would drop the calico idea; they are relatively rare and if I recall correctly, they have reliability issues with little aftermarket support. A better alternative would be a Kel-tec Sub-2000, or a Beretta CX4. Both come in 9mm or .40 S&W, and I believe the Beretta also comes in .45 ACP.

I also agree with this. the Calicos are neat, I had one. But they're more of a range toy. That said, I wasn't fond of my CX4, either. The only 9mm carbine I have now is a Marlin Camp 9. Incidentally, it shares magazines with the aforementioned S&W 5906-that has it's perks.

The Kel-Tec Sub-2000 can be had in configuration to accept Glock 17 magazines, S&W 59 series magazines or Beretta 92 magazines.

On the shotgun; As others have said, avoid the youth models unless your wife is very short statured. It's not so much the weight that can make them unpleasant-it's the short length of pull putting everything in the wrong place.

 

[needmorecowbell]

I'd go with a Remington 870 Express 12 gauge pump shotgun. To me that's the ideal HD weapon. With a little practice your wife will do just fine. Anyways, if God forbid she ever really needed to use it, I believe adrenaline would kick in and she wouldn't even notice any recoil. Most likely would only need 1 shot anyway.

 

[Ranger30-06]

I'd go with a Remington 870 Express 12 gauge pump shotgun. To me that's the ideal HD weapon. With a little practice your wife will do just fine. Anyways, if God forbid she ever really needed to use it, I believe adrenaline would kick in and she wouldn't even notice any recoil. Most likely would only need 1 shot anyway.

That's some bad advice there, no offense.

A) The OP specifically wanted a 20 ga
B) The OP wants a gun that if bought, can also be a range gun. His recoil sensitive wife will not enjoy a 12 gauge over a period of time as much as a 20 ga.
C) You should never be relying on adrenaline. Adrenaline can lead us to our best or our worst selves, and the last thing I would want my wife to do is not shoot a burglar because she was fearing for herself.
D) You should never rely on just one shot, for several reasons. #1) The double tap rule; I believe that if your gonna shoot, do it twice and #2) Simply put, drugs. Drugs do some weird things to people, and there are accounts of people all hyped up with staining multiple gunshot wounds to the major areas.

 

[Isaac-1]

Ok, here goes my thoughts, get a 20 GA, if a youth model fits her and you can shoot it without breaking your nose, then that is the answer (felt recoil will be worse on a gun that does not fit right). Choice of which gun opens a whole new can of worms, a gas operated semi auto will recoil less than a pump or recoil operated gun, but will tend to cost more and most will need proper cleaning to maintain reliability. Keep the barrel length less than 22 inches (less than 20 would be letter, legal min. limit is 18), add an extended magazine tube and an onboard weapon light (look at the surefire 618 family, there is also a new one on the market from another major name (I forget who), just now shipping). You don't want to be loading up a tube fed magazine when something goes bump in the night, so you will need to address keeping a loaded gun in the house.

Ike

p.s. if you insist on not having a loaded gun in the house, consider something with a detachable magazine instead, either an AR or AK platform would be my first choice.

 

[Loosedhorse]

It has been mentioned that focusing on "toolset" is of tertiary importance. But still important.

AR-15 platform, .223, adjustable stock, red dot, flashlight attached. If you can spring for it, legally getting a suppressor for it makes a LOT of sense.

 

[Fred Fuller]

tuj,

ST&T is generally more of a "software" forum than a hardware place. We have specific fora focused on shotguns, carbines, autoloading pistols and revolvers where "What gun for ??" questions usually get vociferous attention. Sometimes it seems to me that tossing out that kind of question on any Internet forum is like throwing a single pork chop in front of a pack of starving wolves, but that's neither here nor there .

I'd caution anyone against buying their wife the gun that the husband actually wants. If you want a Loudenboomer FelonBlaster Mark VIII, by all means get one, or three of them even. But please don't saddle anyone else with one, when it doesn't fit them physically, is too heavy, too long, too complicated and recoils too much for them. Once again, I suggest a long visit with Kathy at Corneredcat.com...

I'm lucky to have a spouse who's a better shot and often enough a better shooter than I am, who definitely knows her own mind where firearms are concerned, and who is willing to try new things and new ideas where guns are concerned, to see if they work for her. Over the years I've learned to never get too attached to anything that follows me home where firearms are concerned, because if she likes it she will claim it. And I go looking for another one . Hey, it's my job to make her happy, right? In my case, she was already trained when we got married, so I can claim no credit for anything save what has gone on since we were wed, and I have tried to keep us both taking advantage of various training opportunities that have come our way.

It's not my business to tell you or your wife what to do or how to do it. If I can save you time, money, effort and aggravation along the way those are all good things, as I see it. And that's all I'm looking to do here.

There is no one answer to anything having to do with home defense. That's part of the problem - TOO MANY options, it seems sometimes. The big thing is to find what works for the people involved. There's no "best" anything, as far as I can tell, in spite of the vast amount of electrons that give their lives in the constant search for "the best" this or that. Good enough is good enough, for most people. What works for someone that will do the job, will work. Doesn't matter too much if it's handgun, carbine or shotgun, a person needs to use the firearm that they can use the best, that they are most confident in using.

Confidence is a big thing with firearms, in my experience. It shouldn't be overlooked as a major consideration. Any firearm chosen for defensive use should be reliable in the extreme - that means it has to work as intended, no matter what kind of action it has. It needs to fit the intended user properly and be comfortable for them to use. It needs to be simple enough for the user to manage even under severe stress - and it's dangerous to overlook the physical effects of severe stress on fine motor control.

How powerful should it be? As powerful as the user can handle ably. IMHO it matters more that the user is not afraid of their firearm than what caliber that firearm is. With any projectile weapon IMHO, there are essentially two things involved in determining the effectiveness of any given projectile fired from that weapon - placement, and penetration. Penetration is mostly a function of the weapon and the projectile. Placement is mostly a function of the shooter. The two have to work together seamlessly in order to produce effective results consistently. People who are afraid of their guns are reluctant to practice and train, lack confidence in the gun and in their ability to use it well, and if ever called upon to use the firearm in extremis may well not be able to get everything together to make it all work.

That's dangerous.

That's not what any of us want to have happen, ever. It's a living, waking nightmare for someone. It's terrible to contemplate.

I try not to train women in defensive firearms use, I'd much rather leave that to my wife. She's an excellent trainer as well, and has decades of experience teaching women to shoot and to fight with firearms. But I do have some experience at it, and one thing I have learned is that with some women, skill engenders will. Some women come to the range believing for whatever reasons they could never shoot a gun and hit what they're shooting at. But when they actually DO it, and find out they can do it over and over, repeatedly, on demand, in increasingly difficult circumstances, it's amazing to see what happens.

Watching self-confidence be born in a person on the range is a wonderful thing.

All that said, I still say it matters not very much what kind of gun or what specific gun anyone decides on. It's a personal choice, and what works, works. I'v known of situations where the first live round a woman ever fired, killed her would -be assailant as he advanced through her shattered door into the muzzle of the single-shot shotgun someone had loaned her and given her a basic lesson on loading and firing a couple of days before. I once helped a firearms dealer friend with a female customer, a young single mother whose kids were being threatened on their own lawn by a neighbor's unrestrained and aggressive dog. I showed her how to load a HiPoint 9mm carbine, chamber a round, take off the safety, squeeze the trigger (unloaded, of course), unload the carbine etc. Buying the carbine meant she didn't have to go through the delay and hassle of getting a NC pistol purchase permit from the county sheriff (a 3-day process), that she could get the carbine and take it home with her that day.

She bought the gun and a 50-round box of ammunition, when she got ready to move she sold the gun and the box of ammo back to him (she needed the money and my friend can be a soft touch). Only the box was one round short - that round had killed the threatening dog when it leaped at her as she stood between it and her kids. It was the first and only round she ever fired with that carbine, as far as I know it was the only live round she had ever fired in her life.

Is that how I want to see things happen? Of course not. I'd rather see new shooters, especially when they already face very real danger, get more detailed and careful training. Fifteen or twenty minutes in the aisle of a gun store is not what I'd want to claim as "enough training."

But it worked, in this case. IMHO that had a lot more to do with the courage of that young mother than my ability as a teacher. But it worked for her. I heard from the local PD later about the incident, and the officer who investigated confirmed that the evidence from the entry and exit wounds on the dog supported her story that it was leaping at her when she shot it. After a short interview, the officer left her with her carbine and a quiet word of support for her actions.

So, what gun? Most any gun will do, if the SHOOTER will do. My favorite trainer, Louis Awerbuck, is noted for saying: "It's the Indian, not the arrow." My advice is to keep it simple, get something that suits the shooter, whatever that is, and make sure the shooter has good training and plenty of practice. My 85-year-old mom has a Beretta CX4 carbine in 9mm for a house gun. It has a TLR-2 combination light and laser on the short rail and a 20 round Beretta magazine loaded with 147 grain Remington Golden Sabers. We went through a HiPoint carbine and a KelTec Sub2000 in getting to the Beretta, after she declared that the recoil of her cut-down 20 gauge double barrel was too much for her any more. She handles the little Beretta just fine, though, and absolutely loves the laser.

Whatever works, works...

 

[tuj]

@Fred - thanks, I didn't know where to put this thread since I wasn't specifically looking for a shotgun / carbine / handgun; I still don't know exactly which will fit. I totally agree with your points about confidence.

We are going to be off to the range today to try some 9mm pistols and maybe a AR-15 9mm carbine and see how they work for my wife. She is a very good shooter with a 22 pistol or rifle; she just struggles with guns with heavier triggers and more recoil.

 

[Averageman]

I gave this some thought when I was in the Military and away from home alot.
I had a house out in the country that had a 20 minute responce time from the local Deputy. Being gone as often as I was and having a new Baby and a petite Wife I came up with this plan.
1) Lock and deadbolt both front and rear doors.
2) Keep the dog outside the closed bedroom door.
3) If the door is breached grab the baby and fall back in to the bathroom, close and lock the door, then fall back in to the closet and lock the door.
4) Call 911 and report the break in and mention the dog and ask for an ambulance. STAY ON THE LINE.
5) Place the 12 gauge under the closet door and stay to the side of the door.
6) If the knob turns pull the trigger.
She never had to shoulder the gun and had 4 doors and a doberman between her, my son and the bad guy.
Seemed like a plan to me, although I often wondered what a door knob would do to a body.

 

[SlowFuse]

As others have already mentioned, a pistol caliber carbine sounds like the best bet. A 20 gauge with reduced recoil loads would be a close second choice. As far as pistols, not my first choice for HD just because I prefer a long gun platform for this role. Its all about what is comfortable. Probably wouldn't hurt to keep in mind that what you like, she may hate. The AR15s are about the only one me and my other half agree on. There are other 9mm carbines to choose from besides ARs, but they make the most sense for the most customization to fit the user. KelTec make a decent one if price is a concern. Good luck.

 

[Kleanbore]

Posted by tuj: Here are some of my goals and specifics about the situation I feel most likely to be facing:

-it will be at night
-my wife and I will both be in our master bedroom

Do you have a basis for those assumptions?

Many people do start out with those assumptions, but it is reported that most burglaries occur during the daytime. See this.

 

[tuj]

@kleanbore - no I don't have much basis other than the fact that my wife and I both work, so we are usually gone during the day. So since we are around the house the most at night, that's the scenario I felt was most likely to involve self-defense.

 

[Fred Fuller]

How'd the range session go? Any closer to finding a solution/solutions?

Please don't forget that the more layers of security you have in place between you and the street, the more warning of an attempted intrusion you are likely to have, and the more time that will give you to respond appropriately. Look to CCTV, wireless intercom systems, reinforced doors/frames, improved locks, and whatever else is appropriate to your property to give you as much of an edge as you can get.