Need advice on what to buy for Home Defense

[sm]

I was asked to weigh in...

..and why I don't know.

First off I commend the original poster in acknowledging the fact his responsibility is to himself and his wife and not protecting the storage facility.

This is why the facility has insurance to cover itself AND those renting storage units are strongly suggested to have insurance to cover their possessions.

Second, I have assisted storage facility on site folks with their personal security needs, and that of the facility itself.

So we all know about lighting, motion lighting, fences, keypad codes for gate entry, watch dawgs and the like. It sounds like the OP's facility has all this.
My only thing would be emergency lighting in case the power goes out in the office and living portion of facility.

My concerns have always been getting into and out of structures, which I include vehicles, and answering the door. Just a simple fact, one is more vulnerable getting from "point A to point B" .
In this situation, just as it is with any "retail" setting, is dealing with the public.

Let us be honest, when one deals with money, including credit cards, there are those criminals wanting cash and credit card receipts.

So MY recommendation is a handgun, one will have on person. Folks know I carry on about trying before you buy, to see what fits them, and they shoot best.
I always will.

That said, my experiences, and includes storage facility is using a dedicated, .38spl revolver.
The folks I have dealt with shot the Model 10 and its stainless twin Model 64 best. Not to mention good used police trade ins were really plentiful and affordable.

While some went with the "snub nose" version, I really really prefer the 3" version.
Longer sight radius, longer extractor, still easy to conceal and the darn 3" just has "pointablity".

The ability to use various stocks, allows this gun to fit so many hands, affording one to shoot effectively.

Others went with the Ruger SP01

One can still fine Model 10/64's that are trade ins for good prices, most are 4", and one will pay more for a 3" if found, still I feel the price difference is worth going with a 3".

Long guns were most often a Shotgun of some type. Again I had folks try various shotguns to see what fit them first, and then got these fitted better, then lessons on how to use.

Lever action .357s were another long gun put to use. This often had to do with being in a more remote setting, where other critters might be of a problem, and the fact some of the ladies and gents, with age, or other problems could handle the less felt recoil of a carbine better.

Now I and mine would set up stages, on private ranges to replicate the settings of folks, including storage facilities for folks. Software, not hardware if you will.


True, just to share an example of how one "situation" was handled.
College kids having used a boat of one of their uncles arrived after midnight to put the boat up. They obviously had been drinking...
They woke up the husband and wife and the one grandchild staying with them that weekend.
Video cameras showed what all was going on. Basically a party getting out of hand...really fast.

All they did was call the Law, and let them in the gate when they arrived. This couple never left the safety of the on-site home.

Sending best,

Steve

 

[mljdeckard]

(posting because I am in a briefing that is making me contemplate hurting myself or others and I need a distraction,)

I agree with post #2 completely. I often preach about the superiority of long arms over handguns, and in your particular case, because you have an elevated risk because of your environment, and more square footage to deal with, I would steer you towards the shotgun. I would look for something similar to a remington 870 police model, and a used one in a pawn shop would be fantastic. I like #4 buck, but 00 is universal and proven.

 

[vellocet]

For crying out load, OP, just get a shotgun and a revolver or two for around your 500 limit and go with it. All this other information just clouds your real question.

 

[Mike1234567]

Regarding Hi-Point; While I agree with everything USAF_Vet wrote, I'll just add that the misses may prefer the 9mm pistol due to size and weight. If you do decide to get one carbine and one pistol both in .45 ACP then your wife may prefer the carbine. If you buy 9mm she's more likely to be able to handle them both. And high-grade 9mm 147gr +P HP ammo is no slouch. You could also just buy two 9mm pistols... or one each .45 and 9mm.

ETA: When I mentioned carrying while on the job I meant for self-defense only... not to defend against property damage or theft.

 

[230therapy]

The $500 budget is too tight to buy two handguns and a shotgun...along with cleaning gear, ammunition, and so on.

As I stated earlier, it comes down to portability and concealment since you're dealing with the (unknown) public and a storage facility that contains (possibly) valuable property.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a shotgun for the house; I'm just prioritizing based upon the budget.

 

[GEM]

You would be best served by getting a SW Model 10 for about $250 and taking a reasonable handgun usage course with the rest of dough, then buying some big honker long arm without training and just firing a few rounds at the range.

Sure, most DGU participants have little training and come out ok. However, the training is much more important than all the babble about equipment (assuming you get something standard and reliable).

Shotgun, 00 magnum shells, just rack it.
1911, hit them in the thumb and they drop dead.
Blah, blah.

 

[Ranger30-06]

This is completely wrong. Dangerously so.

1) Less lethal ammo is extremely dangerous stuff. It can and often does cause death. Folks tasked with using it are given extensive training in how and when to use it to minimize that risk, but any time they're firing it at a person, it's in a situation where the death of that person is an acceptable risk. One of the conditions for "safer" use is distance. At home defense distances, you do not have that required space. Unloading your less-lethal shotgun rounds on someone from across-the-room distances will very likely kill them.

2) As stuckinsocal suggested, a firearm is lethal force. The police do not care at all what ammo you had loaded in the gun. If you fire that gun at someone, you are facing either a charge of Assault With A Deadly Weapon or manslaughter or murder, depending on the outcome. When you present your affirmative legal defense of "self-defense" you will be held to exactly the same standards as if that weapon was loaded with buckshot or a slug.

Less lethal ammo is a police or department of corrections tool for use in crowd/riot control under very specific circumstances. It has NO place in the toolset of a defensive-minded citizen.

Well I learn something new every day! The guy at the gun show sold me some bean bag ammo and said that they wont penetrate the skin or really do anything but seriously bruise as long as you don't hit them in the head or groin. Thanks!

 

[Axel Larson]

My suggestion is to go to a gun store and handle some shotguns, hand guns and rifles. See what you like. I say this because every has been suggesting Glocks. Now do not get me wrong Glock is fine weapon, but when I pick up my 1911 it just feels right. If the gun feels right to you than it might be what you need.
I will though give one warning 45ACP can be a bit much for someone with weak hands to handle. My wife does not like to shoot my 1911 because it has too much recoil for her, so if you plan on sharing a handgun at first ( not bad idea if cannot get to two right off) just make sure you are both comfortable.
Also I love my Benelli Super Nova Tactical but that is a little over 500. Yet I believe there are a few other pump shotguns that have a rotating bolt which is stronger than a breach block loading system. Although those hold up fine too.
Lastly do not put a double barrel out of the equation, and if you have time this thread provides a lot of opinions on combat shotguns--http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=355528&highlight=the+fighting+shotgun

 

[wolfrage]

First, get a good monitored alarm for your house. That said, for HD I'd suggest:

Pistol, if you have to pick one or the other. It would be far more versatile, easier to store, nimble.

Shotgun is bulkier and people tend to think that it will have a huge spread and therefore you don't have to aim -- which is not the case.

Now, that said, raise your budget and get both if you can -- or one now and the other later.

Also, if using a pistol for HD, use HP instead of FMJ.

 

[gym]

Pick up a carbine with a 31 round glock magazine, there are various ones out there in different claibers.

 

[vellocet]

We are not lawyers but some of us do play them on t.v.

 

[MCMXIautomatic]

LOVESBEER99...me too!
Our neighborhood is naturally intimadated by black dogs especially the ones that look like wolves...I have even considered a bunch of "Castle Docterine" signs but I don't want to not be able to back it up!!

I would advise against the Castle Doctrine signs. Regardless of the security system and the dogs, if thieves know that you own guns, they may try to break into your place and steal them when nobody's home. You would just be making yourself into a burglar magnet.

 

[msparks]

APROSODY HIT IT ON THE HEAD!!
I do have a contract and we would NEVER roam the property armed and on foot.
My only intention is to prepare for a disaster in the event that someone entered the domicile but I don't think it would be tactful to keep correcting people.
As far as a bump in the night goes I have the good fortune and good sense of living in FL where WHILE IN MY VEHICLE I could at least hope to lean on the CASTLE DOCTRINE but I am not a gun guy and I am not looking for trouble or to go beat the bad guys!

If you live at your job, and you job includes going into secluded places with unknown persons (like a storage facility) and you are not willing to be armed, then I wouldn't worry to much. Just have your phone in one hand and your rosary in the other. Call 911 then pray you won't be killed before the police get there.


If I worked at a place like that I would carry 24/7. If I wasn't a gun person my carry piece would be a 3" .357 for both me and the significant other. I would also have a shotgun for the house as a just in case.

But then again, that's just me

 

[Sgt_R]

We are an early forties couple that lives on-site as resident managers of a self storage facility in a really bad neighborhood in Orlando, FL.

In your situation, I'd want a rifle. You should be able to find an AR-15 from a reputable manufacturer for not much more than $500.

R

 

[VaGunNut]

Taurus Judge or Smith and Wesson Governor. This way you have both the shotgun and handgun in one package. Mix and match your ammo if you wish.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I've changed my mind a bit on home defense. I bought a Mossberg 500 pump for that purpose, but when my kids started walking, I stopped leaving it out and I rarely carried it downstairs with me anyways. Now, my home defense weapon is my everyday carry weapon... Glock 22. It's never more than a foot away (when I sleep) unless it is on my belt. I have 15 rounds to get to something else if the situation is bad enough.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

SOOOO Shotgun or handgun(s), what price range, pitfalls?

These are two different weapon systems that serve two different needs.

The big advantage of a handgun is convenience. It is easy to carry around with you everywhere. It is easy to conceal. It can be operated with a single hand while you hold a flashlight or telephone in the other hand. However, in order to obtain these advanatages the handgun is significantly less powerful and is harder to hit the target with.

The shotgun is powerful and easier to make hits with (assuming you can handle the recoil); but it doesn't do you much good if it is in the corner closet at the moment you need it.

An ideal system would be to have one of each; but your budget doesn't really allow for an ideal system, so you need to prioritize what is more important to you. My advice is to go with the handgun. The first rule of a gunfight is to have a gun. A handgun is more likely to be carried and be present when you need it.

However, if you know you aren't going to carry it regardless of how much sense it makes or what we say, then there is no point in sacrificing power and a better chance of making a good hit for convenience when you aren't going to take advantage of that convenience. In that case, I would go with a good budget shotgun.

Either way, remember the most important part is training. Training is much more important than the type of firearm. You don't buy a guitar and suddenly become a rock star the next day. It takes practice. If you only practice on your own, it takes a LOT more practice than having a trained guitarist teach you. If your overall budget is $500, I wouldn't spend more than $300 on the actual firearm - save the rest for some good formal instruction and practice ammo. Something like an NRA Personal Protection class perhaps?

In the under $300 range, I would wander over to the shotgun forum to get some options on shotguns or the handgun forum to get some ideas about what is available in handguns. Either way, $300 should give you good options in both.