And surviving means getting away UNSCATHED.
If a bad guy gets into your home, and you must shoot while your family is there, you and/or your family are most likely not UNSCATHED. And that is if you win the shoot out.
I presume you have won all your shoot outs. I have lost a couple of mine. My Purple Hearts and the VA are the visible remains of those losses. Just a side note, that each time I was hit, I was using a M14, not a handgun. I won all the fights where I was down to my secondary sidearms either a 1911 or S&W Revolver.
I have great difficulty with folks opening their front doors to anyone day or night that they don't know. I will not do it for cops and a spy hole is NOT the answer. Properly laid out windows or monitoring system is the answer. Be very careful with the kids or wife opening to someone in particular when you are not there.
In my own case, my aged and senile mother let a "crazy" guy in the house when I wasn't home while living with me in the last years of her life. He also caused some problems with our neighbors but thankfully left Mom and our stuff alone. By the time I got home the Sheriff's office had him well in hand. In her whole life my mother thought it would be "rude" to not open the door when the bell rang or there was a knock. I was raised in the old south, and I have manners, but opening the front door isn't one of them.
Several folks have made good and strong suggestions to harden and layer the defenses on your home. (Understanding the limitations of a rental situation). Number one if at all possible is a noisy dog. The dogs job is as the alert signal. (No matter how big and mean your dog, if the BG's are armed, all they will do is kill your dog(s)). Electronic monitored alarms without wireless capability are simple to knock out too.
I know of no authority that recommends clearing a space by yourself. Ever.
You should know your own ground, both the home and the immediate ground outside and near neighborhood that you could run it at night, in the dark. Recon your own house and yard, then the neighborhood too. Know the sounds of your house, family, animals and neighbors. This stuff doesn't cost a dime. just time. Know which boards or steps squeak, which doors make noises, etc.....
Then prepare your killing ground, at or in your safe room or often at the top of a flight of stairs (I love being set up at the top of a flight of stairs. it channels the BG's, and you are shooting down into the ground as your back stop). It should be set up for your situation, weapons, spouse/kids and your capabilities, etc... if those BG's ever enter that killing ground, literally and figuratively LIGHT'EM UP!
If you have kids, you don't need to clear, you need to MOVE! Big difference, and yes there is risk. There is always risk, when in an armed encounter no matter what you do or don't do. The idea is to accomplish the mission, your mission, with the least risk to you and yours.
My mission may be much different than yours, just one example is that my children are grown, so no munchkins or the much more dangerous and often volatile teenagers around anymore. Some teens are a plus, but most will either panic or be part of the problem.
Which weapons you choose to use should be a function of your mission and killing ground. Also the depth of your defenses. Understand you will not always be near a longarm, but if possible arrange it so you are. I do wear my CCW/EDC while in the house, mine currently is a LtWgt Colt Commander in 45acp.
Next to my bed is the double barrel 12ga hammer gun loaded with #1 buck, next to that is the SCAR with the Aimpoint T-1 turned on 24/7, In the nightstand is a well used Kimber Warrior with a Surefire X-400 and DG switch. In the Bed with me is my current S&W 642 with Crimson Trace in one of the old 55L Bianchi holsters .(the centennial and the Old Body guard models could be shot repeatedly from under the covers or inside the sleeping bag without jamming. It will most often start a small fire though. Yes I do actually train for that and shooting out of the pocket too.)
Next to the longarms is the active shooter bag (Maxpedition w/o external pouch's) with another Colt Gunsite Government model, an additional three magazines for the SCAR and the 1911's, a box of #1's for the shotty, and two Bianchi speed strips for the S&W. First aid/trauma kit, folding knives, a couple additional SureFire flashlights, battery's a bottle of water, two sets of handcuffs, etc.... I have the same model different color Active shooter bag for my vehicle, similarly equipped with allowances.
It is your, home, your family, and your situation. Much of the work doesn't cost a dime, and you can do it during almost any free time you have. Don't forget to do your Recce's both during the day and at night hopefully while taking nice walks with your spouse. Get to know your neighbors. If the SHTF, most likely you will have to rely on each other for at least a while. Occasionally a neighbor will surprise you in a good way. It happens.
If you do not have the fighting experience, get training. Even if you have the experience update your training, and get it with ALL the different weapons you or your family may use. (active family members need training and practice too) Practice with and maintain your weapons.
I know one young fellow, who makes this a big family outing deal, both at home, when they run drills around the house, and when they go for training. He has all the older kids and Mom shoot an occasional IDPA match with him too. They have fun.
Even though each of us may have similar missions, each of us has a different situation. Only you and your loved ones, have to live or not with your solution. I profoundly hope you never have to use or find out if your preparations and or weapon choices work like you planned. Unfortunately they rarely do, it's that "first contact" thingy.
Good luck.
Fred
