THIS JUST HAPPENED - analysis, advice?

[Vairochana]

I agree with the comment about reacting with your training.
I have reacted to noises a few times at night, I keep a shotgun handy and have carried this to check the house/yard etc: however on the few times where I have been serious (ie very sure there was a threat) I picked up either a knife of a sword.
I have done a lot of sword training and feel very comfortable with one, and I have used one in a SD situation.
I should add though that where I live there is a very small chance of someone breaking in with a firearm and if I go outside I send my mastiff and bull terrier out first ( I have trained them to search the yard).
We also hear gunshots fairly often but these are usually from the properties down the track and the targets are most likely foxes.

 

[Diamondback6]

+1 to Strambo's commentary. Good call arming up the SO and grabbing the rifle, not-so-good leaving the residence and not having good comms.

Small suggestion next time: get yours into an interior room with only one entry/exit, let the dogs prowl inside the house, wait for BGs if any to come to you, or the dogs to have 'em pinned down.

On the whole, a little fine-tuning would help, but you've got a good foundation and the wisdom to learn from errors before they become permanent mistakes.

DFW1911, keep that head up, and don't let 'em get to ya. Just keep on keepin' on...

To the rest of us, how 'bout confining it to after-action analysis like "what was right or wrong, and why", not lobbing invective at the OP. This IS the High Road, after all...

 

[plexreticle]

You grabbed the right gun. Handguns are for when you don't have a long gun.

 

[strambo]

Just keep on keepin' on...

Heh, reminds me of "Frank the Tank" in "Old School" when his wife says she wants a divorce. "You...just keep on truckin'!"

And...on topic; How to meet and approach and identify potential squared away neighbors for the high-speed (more than just a sign) neighborhood watch program? How do you start it? Ideas?...I guess I'll start with the local police and what they recommend and go from there.