Shotgun vs pistol.

[Sullyman]

Scenarios
1. Bad guy comes to door your with ill intent. 2. You walk in the house with your kids while its getting robbed 3: You are in the house and bad guys break-in while you and kids are inside.

What is better to confront the bad guys with? Shot gun or pistol?

I keep a pistol in the nightstand, but have thought a shotgun is easier for a bad guy to see and might be more of a deterrent.

Your thoughts????

Thanks

 

[Cosmoline]

It's better not to confront the bad guys. MUCH better.

But if you have no choice, the shotgun is always preferable if it can be obtained. The pistol is going to be the only choice for concealed carry. Outside of that use it has limited utility.

 

[hogshead]

Shotgun everytime. They are hard to cc though.

 

[Sullyman]

Agree better not to confront bad guys.

Just thinking if I hear someone prying open a window or door, a shotgun barrel poking thru the curtains might be more of a deterrent than a 9mm.

Also some crackhead shows up at the door, a shotgun might have more impact than a 9mm CZ.

 

[dayhiker]

In my home? I'd rather have 16 , 30 cal., 40 grain pellets with one squeeze of the trigger. (standard 12gauge #1 buck load).

For your situation #2. I would hope I would notice that something is amiss,like my dog feasting on the burglars , and not enter the house.

 

[theicemanmpls]

I would grab what ever is handy to defend my home and family.

 

[sidheshooter]

I'm a big fan of avoidance, so I'm with others regarding #2 (and possibly #1, situation-dependent). Beyond that, I'm a bit of a "bird in the hand" sort of guy, so I'd likely just default to the handgun. Not that I think it is the force equal of the 870, just that this is what I'm likely to have close at hand, plus I'm comfortable using the pet revolver and a phone/light/keys/door to boogie outta there/what have you at the same time.

Only one opinion, and only for me; lots of others differ from me on that one.

 

[scaatylobo]

TRAINING first

If your not getting real world training the answer is neither.

And those that stated "no confrontation" are closer to reality.

And remember that if you do confront,the shotty is easier for the perp to try to take from you.

ESPECIALLY if your not doing force on force training.

I have many options,and I go with the handgun as I have most of my training with it.

Including weapon retention.

 

[MtnCreek]

Situation #3 is probably the only one where you could have ready access to a shotgun.
Edit: Unless you carry a shotgun everywhere.

 

[Kleanbore]

Posted by Sullyman: 1. Bad guy comes to door your with ill intent. 2. You walk in the house with your kids while its getting robbed 3: You are in the house and bad guys break-in while you and kids are inside.

What is better to confront the bad guys with? Shot gun or pistol?

Good answers:

Posted by Cosmoline: It's better not to confront the bad guys. MUCH better.

Posted by scaatylobo: If your not getting real world training the answer is neither.

Back to the question:

Scenario 1: DO NOT CONFRONT. Get everyone into a safe place and call 911. Be ready in case Scenario 1 develops into Scenario 3.

Scenario 2: DO NOT CONFRONT. Get out immediately, get away, and call 911.

Scenario 3: DO NOT CONFRONT. Get everyone into a safe place and call 911. Be ready to shoot if they come to you. If you can get to your shotgun, use it.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Better to keep the bad guys out in the first place. Harden your home to make it an unattractive target first, before worrying to excess about how to handle interlopers.

1) DON't OPEN THE DOOR. It should be sturdy enough to avoid being kicked in, and you should be able to see and speak with anyone at the door without opening it. Wireless intercoms are not expensive...

2) Be aware enough to know when someone is in your house when you get there, and if you find a door/window forced open when you get home, or hear/see suspicious things inside DON'T GO IN. Go next door or elsewhere and call 9-1-1 on your cell phone.

3) I carry while at home, so there's a handgun on my person whenever I'm wearing pants. That's what handguns are FOR. Given the time/opportunity there's a couple of shotguns handy, but I always have the pistol. I don't own firearms to display/deter, I own them to use if I have to. And if I have to use a firearm at home in self defense I'd rather have a shotgun in hand than anything else, but it might not be my choice. I can't get an 870 in my pocket, but a S&W 642 fits just fine.

 

[huntsman]

I keep a pistol in the nightstand, but have thought a shotgun is easier for a bad guy to see and might be more of a deterrent.

I don't see how having any gun in another room will help in #1 and 3 #2 is simple, don't go in if it doesn't feel right.

In all three cases a pistol on your belt or in your pocket would be the best choice or a shotgun in the house if you're willing to carry it around with you.

 

[dayhiker]

or a shotgun in the house if you're willing to carry it around with you.

Kinda depends on the size of your house. And the number of shotguns you have.

I agree a pistol on your belt is better than a shotgun in another room. However my home is small, I have excellent warning (dog,good locks,etc) and a shotgun is not all that far away.

If your home defense plan requires you to have a gun in your hand in half a second, IMHO you have more important things to worry about than which gun to choose. Like better doors, locks, warning devices,etc..

So ,for me, a shotgun is the choice.

 

[mortablunt]

1. Bad guy comes to door your with ill intent.

Shotgun, though I wouldn't be so quick to assume anything and begin waving guns at anyone who gets within 21 feet of my door.

2. You walk in the house with your kids while its getting robbed.

Bed pan, watering can, and rope. I'm still a virgin and would very much like to investigate any miraculous fatherhood claims.

3: You are in the house and bad guys break-in while you and kids are inside

Potato sacks, zip ties, and watering cans for everyone!

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

And remember that if you do confront,the shotty is easier for the perp to try to take from you.

I keep hearing that but hear people stating on the contrary also. This is from the box o truth on this page: http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu143.htm

Myth - I don’t want to use a long gun, because they can easily be taken away from you by the bad guy.

Fact – With proper training, a long gun is actually harder to take away from a shooter than a handgun.

“They say you can’t use a rifle or shotgun indoors because a bad guy will grab the barrel. Yeah? Well, he better hang on, ‘cause I’m gonna light him up and it’ll definitely be an "E" ticket ride."- Clint Smith

Get some professional training.

 

[MtnCreek]

If someone is holding the long gun with the muzzle high, then I guess so. Wouldn't that also be true for a handgun as well.

 

[JustinJ]

Shotgun will obviously be more effective at stopping a threat but the concussive blast could disorient you ecspecially if fired in a a very confined space. A shotgun is also longer and easier for a bad guy to assume control of. Follow up shot may be slower, depending on if we're talking pump or semi.

 

[Kleanbore]

Posted by JustinJ: Shotgun will obviously be more effective at stopping a threat but the concussive blast could disorient you ecspecially if fired in a a very confined space.

Good point.

I've never fired a short 12 ga indoors, but I do know that I do not want to. Years ago a friend brought a Model 97 riot gun to the skeet range, and I found shooting next to him to be most unpleasant.

Many people do advise using ear protection in a home defense situation.

 

[Ramone]

And remember that if you do confront,the shotty is easier for the perp to try to take from you.

ESPECIALLY if your not doing force on force training.

I have many options,and I go with the handgun as I have most of my training with it.

Including weapon retention.

My experience is quite the opposite- while it might be harder for a BG to get a pistol away from you, it is MUCH easier for them to either control or thwart your control of. In close quarters, you want a long gun.

if you have done force on force, try it with a long gun replica, and see if it isn't easier to keep the muzzle away from yourself than with a pistol...

 

[SigMic]

Scenario1: Get kids and ole' lady into my room and standby with shotgun.
Scenario2: I'll have my handgun with me, so I'd go with that.
Scenario3: IF....door holds up long enough for me to gather all into my room, the shotty. If it's in the middle of the night and the alarm goes off and dogs go crazy, then I have to roam down the hall to gather kids with too many doors and hiding spots - handgun.

 

[Al Thompson]

Have not seen this mentioned, so:

I keep a pistol in the nightstand

First place bad guys look. In scenario #2, smart bet is that the bad guy is now armed.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Shotguns are far more deadly than handguns and easier to hit with. The only advantage a handgun has is that it is concealable and easy to carry. That is not a concideration in your house. Take cover and ambush the bad guy.

 

[1911 guy]

If I have a choice, it will be a long gun every time. With a drawer full of .45 autos, my HD gun is a rifle, backed up by a shotgun, backed up by a 1911.

Just remember to get training, as mentioned. You'll find out on day two (since day one is just the basics for newbies in most places) that a longarm is a firearm, a pugil stick and a kickin' substitute for the proverbial tire iron.

If I'm in a HD scenario and down to the handgun, you're either one tough mother or you brought lots of friends.

 

[shiftyer1]

If i'm answering the door I have a handgun on me. I keep a revolver in the nite stand and a couple carbines scattered around. I figure the handgun is for when it's to late. If I hear something go bump in the nite I grab a lever gun. Used to be a shotgun....but now I have coyote's around so I grab keep a rifle close.

If someone is in the house I really don't plan on playing boogey boogey BOO listen to the SCARY sound of me racking the slide and look at my big barrel. So the way it looks doesn't really enter in to my decision.

 

[ChCx2744]

In my case, I have quicker access to my pistol, so that's the first thing I'm going to grab. However, If I have enough time to access my shotgun (Which would probably take me about 3 more seconds than my pistol) then I would definitely pick the shotgun over the pistol. At the distances in my home (Even at the furthest points, which would be from my back porch to my front door) I am quite surgical with my shotgun.