Your handgun seems great, until you actually need it.

[Kleanbore]

No []a shotgun is not easier to miss with].. Sorry about that.

3 1/2" = 18 pellets X 5 = 90 projectiles.
3" = 15 pellets X 5 = 75 projectiles.
2 3/4" = 9 pellets X 5 = 45 projectiles.

I'll take a shotgun any day.

That really affords one no material advantage at all.

Think about it. Every one of those pellets exits the muzzle at almost the same time, with a pattern diameter measured in inches at room distance. Easy to miss with. Very easy.

One can fire a second time, after a slight delay, but if the attacker is moving at five meters per second, that slight delay could prove very important.

An AR provides the defender with quite a number of opportunities to make up for misses.

Those who have tried both usually choose the AR.

 

[Hanzo581]

No concern firing rifles at 3am indoors? How's your vision and hearing during that fight after the first shot?

 

[strambo]

Vision just fine, flashiders work well (esp. my AAC Blackout). Hearing? Don't know, what is the avg decibel level of a 16" AR vs. an 18.5" 12GA? Seems close enough not to matter.

Here's a source: http://www.caohc.org/UserFiles/file/Shot of Prevention extra handout.pdf

Colt AR15 158.9 dB, Rem 870 12 GA 155.2-159.7 dB. G-17 163 dB

 

[Blue Thunder]

I am more hardened on getting into the house. Alarm system yes with all entry points monitored. Inside and Outside sirens with outside Blue Strobe light on the siren. Two front doors weigh 150+ pounds each. Keys to the city will not budge them. All other entry doors are 36 inch solid core doors with re-enforced hinges and strike plates. Two rear doors with glass partitions have double keyed entry which is against code but they are my doors. Anyone getting in will likely get out the same way or in a body bag. Interior armament is not discussed here due to security. I feel comfortable with what I have.

 

[Hanzo581]

I am more hardened on getting into the house. Alarm system yes with all entry points monitored. Inside and Outside sirens with outside Blue Strobe light on the siren. Two front doors weigh 150+ pounds each. Keys to the city will not budge them. All other entry doors are 36 inch solid core doors with re-enforced hinges and strike plates. Two rear doors with glass partitions have double keyed entry which is against code but they are my doors. Anyone getting in will likely get out the same way or in a body bag. Interior armament is not discussed here due to security. I feel comfortable with what I have.

I didn't see any reference to ballistic security glass, laser grids or crocodile filled moats. I'd say you have some work to do.

 

[Big7]

That really affords one no material advantage at all.

Think about it. Every one of those pellets exits the muzzle at almost the same time, with a pattern diameter measured in inches at room distance. Easy to miss with. Very easy.

One can fire a second time, after a slight delay, but if the attacker is moving at five meters per second, that slight delay could prove very important.

An AR provides the defender with quite a number of opportunities to make up for misses.

Those who have tried both usually choose the AR.

No advantage? Wrong.

Get out the abacus and do the E=MC2.

Plug in 2 1/2 ounces vs 55 or 62 gr.

And you can bet my Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 1/2 inch shotgun shoots just as fast as any AR.

No brainier.

 

[Jeff White]

And you can bet my Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 1/2 inch shotgun shoots just as fast as any AR.

But can you hit reliably at that rate of fire? Only hits count, volume of fire is not that much of an advantage.

The same physics that says your shotgun packs more wallop then a 5.56 also means that you can't shoot it as fast and as accurately. Not that your Benelli won't cycle fast enough, most people can't accurately fire it at that rate of fire.

Shotguns have been relegated to special roles such as breaching and deployment of special munitions and replaced by intermediate carbines by professionals for a reason.

 

[old lady new shooter]

A pistol is a way to fight UNTIL you can get to your SHOTGUN.

If I were in the OP's position, with that much time,
I WOULD have had my shotgun.

That's about as devastating a weapon you can have at close quarters.
Think what you want, but that is the fact.

AND YES.. I carry 24/7 unless I'm in the shower.
Then It's on top of the toilet tank.

Shotgun for me any day!

This is a tangent, but until now I don't have my gun in the bathroom while showering, I worry that the steam would be bad for it. Could you (or anyone) comment on that? (If it matters, my HD gun is a 4" 686 Plus.)

 

[Hanzo581]

This is a tangent, but until now I don't have my gun in the bathroom while showering, I worry that the steam would be bad for it. Could you (or anyone) comment on that? (If it matters, my HD gun is a 4" 686 Plus.)

Maybe a waterproof case while it's in there?

https://www.amazon.com/Pelican-1200...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=W8Y661031TQEHVGD4MCY

 

[Big7]

But can you hit reliably at that rate of fire? Only hits count, volume of fire is not that much of an advantage.

The same physics that says your shotgun packs more wallop then a 5.56 also means that you can't shoot it as fast and as accurately. Not that your Benelli won't cycle fast enough, most people can't accurately fire it at that rate of fire.

Shotguns have been relegated to special roles such as breaching and deployment of special munitions and replaced by intermediate carbines by professionals for a reason.

"Professionals" should be the operative word here.

As in the thread starter OP described the situation. One assailant. Plenty of time and notice.

In that situation I would only have to shoot once. Take that to the bank.

And to say an AR or anything else for that matter would be more accurate at
distance described than a shotgun is just plain foolish and BAD info.

AND to say that a shotgun is not a far better "man-stopper" at that range
than ANY AR, pistol or pistol cartridge carbine is just plain foolish and BAD info too.

 

[hdwhit]

Balrog wrote:
When you are looking at an intruder at your back door in the dead of night, your handgun feels small and ineffective,...

I don't doubt that, but I can assure you my wife's AR-7 looked like a cannon to the guy who came through her back door armed with nothing more than a knife.

 

[strambo]

It's simple: The shotgun with buckshot has superior terminal performance at the expense of size, recoil, and lower capacity.

The AR has more precision, faster follow shots, higher capacity, lower recoil, at the expense of less terminal performance.

You can manipulate the variables on each weapon if you like to minimize some of the downsides. A semi-auto shotgun with a recoil reducing stock, RDS and extended magazine for example would close "shootability" gap with an AR quite a bit as compared to a stock pump gun.

They are both great options, the most important factor would be the training of the person wielding it...95% of whom (or more?) probably have none anyway.

 

[old lady new shooter]

Maybe a waterproof case while it's in there?

https://www.amazon.com/Pelican-1200...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=W8Y661031TQEHVGD4MCY

Thanks for the link. The concept is good but it won't fit in there, even diagonally, overall length is 11.9". I see there is a larger (and more expensive) version, food for thought at least.

 

[Balrog]

Maybe you're projecting your own feelings of inadequacy on the gun, after all your security was breached fairly easy. A gun is not the be all end all it's just a tool and does size really matter as much as the man behind the gun?

How was my security breached exactly? The guy never got inside my house, I was alerted to his presence, and able to observe him on camera until he left. I had time to arm myself and secure my family. He just walked up off the street on my property and there is not much way to prevent that. I realize that a gun is not the be all end all. But if I need a gun, I would far prefer a shotgun or an AR to a pistol. Are you saying you disagree?

 

[old lady new shooter]

How was my security breached exactly? The guy never got inside my house, I was alerted to his presence, and able to observe him on camera until he left? He just walked up off the street on my property and there is not much way to prevent that. I realize that a gun is not the be all end all. But if I need a gun, I would far prefer a shotgun or an AR to a pistol. Are you saying you disagree?

My one suggestion on your setup would be to consider putting a lock on the gate to the yard.

 

[Balrog]

My one suggestion on your setup would be to consider putting a lock on the gate to the yard.

I agree, and I have now done that.

 

[psyopspec]

What you're describing is a wartime situation, which varies quite dramatically from the OP's situation here (you could have just as easily found yourself in a position over there where a rifle was also inadequate -- whereas I doubt the OP's burglar was carrying any type of artillery). In the case described in this thread it's almost certainly a psychological dilemma he's facing, rather than a true weapon inadequacy like you were experiencing.

While there's no debate that a shotgun or rifle is more powerful than a handgun, there's also nothing in this thread that suggests that the OP wasn't going to be able to resolve that situation (should it have turned violent) by using that handgun. It was a psychological barrier he was dealing with, not a physical one. But, fortunately, the burglar never pushed the situation to the point that the homeowner had to find out what would happen.

That's an entirely fair point. The memory is pretty deeply embedded, along with the emotions so I think I went straight there after reading the thread title and reply.

 

[old lady new shooter]

I agree, and I have now done that.

 

[psyopspec]

That would be war no? Take it up with Uncle.

What's to take up?

 

[Shaq]

This is a tangent, but until now I don't have my gun in the bathroom while showering, I worry that the steam would be bad for it. Could you (or anyone) comment on that? (If it matters, my HD gun is a 4" 686 Plus.)

I have a handgun in a lockbox in each bathroom cabinet. Never had any issues with steam or moisture. Leaving it laying around is not wise....for reasons other than moisture.

 

[Shaq]

When you replace the bulbs, replace them with LED's. Same brightness but 22 year average life.

 

[Hanzo581]

Thanks for the link. The concept is good but it won't fit in there, even diagonally, overall length is 11.9". I see there is a larger (and more expensive) version, food for thought at least.

I just meant that style case, they make a bunch of different sizes. Those cases are great though, but can be a little pricey. I wouldn't want to get all that moisture on my gun either. Hope you find something.

 

[RunninLate]

A couple years ago my system went off around 2:30. I have a Glock 30 next to the bed with a tactical hand held light. I live with neighbors no more than 30 to 40 feet away from me. I sweep the house with the 30 and the light. There was no problem. Mean while the security system came over the speaker asking if I was OK and the password. Told them I was OK and asked what censor when off and they said the garage. Told security to hold on while I go to the garage. Nothing. Came back in and told the security monitor we were good. Them she asked about sending the fire department.

A couple thinks learned that night.
There is 2 different alarm sounds for a break in and fire.
I felt 100% comfortable with the Glock 30 and light inside of the house
Was not sure about opening the garage with that setup (Glock and light).
Wife followed be through the house while sweeping it. WRONG MOVE

What I told the wife was if this was every happen again, get into the walking closet and get the shotgun and light ready. Shot anything that walks in without identifying themselves by throwing in a badge. Also, not sure about calling 911 because the secure monitor what in contract with us and could have make the call just as quickly as us for the bedroom. I put an electrical outlet in the closet and a old cell phone that if needed could be used for 911 calls only.

 

[herrwalther]

While on the subject of AR vs Shotgun for home defense, I would say they are darn near equal.

But if you are willing to go through the paperwork of getting a suppressor for your AR, that platform wins a distinct advantage in the HD market.

 

[scaatylobo]

A few nights ago at about 4:30 am, I had a chime go off on my security system alerting me to the fact that a door had been opened somewhere on my property. I grabbed my Sig while the wife called 911. Looking at the security camera monitor, I saw a shadowy figure about 5 feet from my back door. He had gone through my closed back yard gate and was standing between my house and the detached garage, about 5 feet from my back door. He had apparently found an unlocked door on the detached garage and opened it and was looking inside. After a few minutes, he walked off, closing the gate behind him. As far as I can tell, he made no effort to try to break into the house, and I don't think anything was taken.

I was a little troubled by this because he had to open a gate to enter the back yard area. You can't just wander into that area without going through a closed gate. My son plays outside in that area (not at 4:30 am, but still). He was also very close to the back door of my house. His face could not be seen on the video footage mainly because of poor lighting (light bulbs burnt out and not replaced). Also, some camera views were obscured by bushes that I had failed to keep cut back.

Police arrived about 10 minutes after he left, and he was long gone.

No harm done I guess but it reiterates a few important points:

1. An alarm system is nice as an early warning system.
2. Police response time was OK, but if this guy had done something bad (i.e., enter my home), by the time the police arrived, whatever was going to happen would have happened.
3. Keep your doors locked!
4. Keep your lights in working order!
5. Keep the bushes cut back!
6. When you are looking at an intruder at your back door in the dead of night, your handgun feels small and ineffective, and you sure wish you had picked up your shotgun instead.

To each their own ----- and I REALLY mean that.

Did a few thousand house & wharehouse and business searches as an LEO.

And still favor the hand gun for room to room & house security.

MUCH easier to hold a REAL bright light,can of Mace and whatever other less than lethal force you might actually get to use.

IF there was the slightest chance of a "home invasion" then I would go to a real weapon like the M-4 or 12 bore.

But as long as my house is secured [ and it is VERY secured ] then I will stick with the handgun for answering the door and other household chores.

As I stated = TO EACH THEIR OWN.