Shotgun as a primary defense weapon. Hand gun as back up. Both need to be high enough power to stop the threat and light enough to NOT kill your kids or nieghbors. I have a 20ga pump Remington with heavy bird shot and a 45acp Glock. Either way, the bad guy is going to have a bad day in my house. The shotgun is much safer in the house. But with the right ammo most handguns will be somewhat safe. (as far as overpenetrating walls)

Bottom line is that I hope to NEVER have to find out how good either work in my house.
Get a dog and a good alarm, then you should never need the guns. But keep 'em just in case.

I want my protection right next to me. As much as I'd love to hang my over under over the head board, probably wont' fly with the old lady. :D

The two are never far from each other. And the handgun is always close by. I don't personally do this but I have friends who have handguns stashed in every little corner they can fit them in. Under the couch cushions, in the recliner, behind the TV, kitchen cabinets and drawers too, bathroom cabinets.....you get the idea. I figure if I need that much firepower in my home with that kind of access, maybe I need to find a better place to live.:cheers:

xxxxx

:rofl:

I'll take my HK USP9 any day with a 15 round mag full of corbon +p.
I keep a small bright LED flashlight and my second chance Kevlar nearby.... just in case.

Of course if I had more money I'd take an HK 45.

OMG 15 round mag!!!:wow: Doesn't the Peoples Republic of California frown on such a high capacity killing-spree sort of magazine?

ROFLMAO!

My HK P30s have 15 round clips also. Fun at the range.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...toms/HKP30.jpg

The PRK only cares if they were purchased after the ban. How do they know when mine were purchased in Utah? :D

http://images49.fotki.com/v1520/phot.../PB10ss-vi.jpg


Steve - Diane Feinstein is going to track you down and take those Utah mags away. I am sure the black helicopters are on their way........

LOL
:lol:

It's funny, Feinstein and State Senate Don Perata at one time were the only two people in NorCal who had their CCW. So about a year ago, Perata is carjacked in Oakland driving his '07 State Owned Dodge Charger rolling on 22's. Bitch didnt even try and defend himself. I joked, too bad Feinstein wasnt riding shotgun. It could have been a good ole' ganster shootout. Hypocrites.

I'll stay with my K23, and my beta mag. You gotta love Florida..this thing is classed as a pistol! :D :lol:

And in the PRK, the taurus judge is a shot gun with a barrel length less than 18" and is therefore illegal.

http://www.gunblast.com/images/Tauru...e/DSC00272.jpg

Got something like that for the water moccosins here :lol:

I bought the Springfield Arms XD-40. Nice gun for the money and hopefully more than I should ever need.

Well, in WA state you can own a pistol-grip 12 gauge with a 6.5" barrel, but you can't own a rifle with a barrel less than 16". No SBR's for us :(. You can also own a supressor, but you can't use it in the state - it has to be used in OR or ID.

Craig, how do you like that idiot law. I live here too and see supressors in all the shops, drop in barrels for my guns and all kinds of cool stuff. BUT I can't use any of it here! That sucks, I have a cat problem in the area and don't want to wake up the nieghbors with the 12 ga. LOL!!

$20000.00 per bullet
 

They say that it cost $20000. for each bullet fired, to protect yourself in the court of law so the fewer the better. Also do not fire at some one running away from you!!!!! I personally would only fire at some one coming toward me or a family member.I would take a hand gun class, You can rent a hand gun for your wife at the shooting range to tech her how to handle a fire arm.

Home defense, buy a shotgun
Home defense, buy a shotgun
Home defense, buy a shotgun

1. the universal sound of shotgun being cocked will scare off most people.
2. you can always hold the shotgun down the hall and pull the trigger and most likely hit something.
3. great club if you need it.
4. swings like a bat too.

Facts
You're going to be asleep, tired, groggy.
You're going to be shaking, and you're heart will feel like it's going to come out of you're chest.
You're going to be nervous.
It's going to be at night.
You're not going to know if its the kids, your cat or a squirrel.

YOU'RE GOING TO MISS

96% of all shots are within seven feet
97% of all shots miss

The flash of a gun at night will blind you (especially a 9mm)
The sound of a gun at night will make you think you're deaf, added if it's in a closed room or hallway.


Buy a shot gun. Give yourself a chance to hit something.

Plus you won't find you kids playing with it. Something about a big, cold steel shot gun and the whole curiosity and kids thing seems to be diminished.



Mick

Well said Mick.

That is what I have a nice short Riot Shot Gun with 8 shells ready to go and 6 on the side. Night flash light and a nice laser site so you know where you are going to hit. Not that that really matters but it’s better to be safe and let your attacker know you mean business. I have double ot buck shot and then a slug one after the other so I am sure they will go down and stay down permanently.

If that fails I have a nice HK 45MM with laser site as well and a 9MM as back up with armor piercing bullets. You can never be to safe and at the end of the day its about putting the other guy down and protecting your family.

In theses times it is just as important to remember to have a damn good lawyer after any kind of situation involving shooting another person. No matter what the reason is. Even the guy that was going to kill you and your whole family can sue you after breaking into your home. If you only wound him you can still do a lot of time in prison. And if you kill the bad guy, you have a very high chance of becoming the bad guy when it ends up in court. These worthless lawyers that represent the families of the intruder try to make it seem as if you just killed a saint and that you are a mad man and out looking to kill people.
How would you like to pay damages to some a**hole that meant you great harm, in your own home. And because he broke in and forced you to defend your self and family now you are the bad guy. You go to prison, your wife has to sell everything you own to defend yourself in court and then pay restitution to this idiots family or to him directly. Now he is living the high life while you rot in jail and your kids and wife have no father/husband at home. Oh, wait. There is no home now. They live with relatives because with you in jail and every penny of income goes to the douche that wanted to kill you.
This crap happens all the time. But in the long run I would rather have him dead and my family safe. If that means I have to suffer so be it.
Sorry for the rant. Between the news and a few friends in law enforcement and the stories I hear I am a little wound up.:cheers:

There's more to having a home defense weapon than HUGE rounds or silly gadgets.

Big, powerful rounds can penetrate walls and kill people in the next room.. hell, in the next house.

Complicated weapons and "gadgets" are more of a hinderance if you're not proficient in thier use. You get ganked while trying to turn on your laser.

Keep it simple and "train, train, train"..

I have a HK .45 USP for my main home defense gun and it's loaded with either low velocity Corbon ammo that is designed not to over penetrate or, even better, Glaser safty slugs. The Glaser stuff is almost in the witchcraft catagory it's so cool. Great stopping power, but unlikely to blow through several walls and kill those it's not intended for.

Believe it or not 12ga bird shot in a home defense situation can be very effective at close range since it doesn't have time to spread. And unlike 00 buck you won't have a **** ton of pellets flying through walls.

So, the best handgun for home defense is a quality weapon that you train with and that you train your family on. For those that arn't mechanically inclined there's nothing wrong with a good revolver like the Ruger SP-101 since it can take 38 +p or .357 rounds. For an automatic there's a ton of choices from XDs to Glocks to Sigs.. the important thing is to train until the weapon becomes an extension.

Also, know your target.. it's sad when you hear of someone shooting a family member that came home late and just forgot thier keys.

Lastly, know the laws of your state.. it's a lot different in CA than say Texas or Florida. But, in the end the old saying "I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6" always applies.

Be smart, it's not like in the movies :)

I agree Steve. Train, train, train! Know how to use what you have, make your home safe and keep your head on straight.:thumbsup:

I threw a young man out of my house at 1:00 a.m. on a Thursday morning because he had previously given my daughter drugs and she ended up in the hospital. At the time I told him never to come back to my place or there would be trouble. I guess I was a little too rough (I didn't hurt him at all, just threw him on the floor and made my point "face-to-face"). The next day the police arrested me, cuffed me in my kitchen, and walked me down my drive and took me to jail. $4,000 later all charges were dropped, but I had to go to anger management classes. Those classes really pissed me off. Now I have a Sig P220, but still need to learn how to use it. As soon as the real estate market changes, I'm moving. Someone else can pay taxes to support the community.

http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_De..._FAQ/index.htm

More info then you can possibly imagine on this topic with pics.
You will have information overload at the end of it. :D

Myself....I prefer a .40 or .45.
I use to sleep with my 92FS Taurus 9mm.....until I discovered it has a nasty
ability to overpenetrate due to the higher velocity and can go through walls
and accidentally injure someone else you didn't intend to.

Read this post http://forum.pafoa.org/50747-post-4.html

I just purchased a Sig P229 .40. Pretty slick! Either way it's not going to feel good getting shot with any of the rounds listed, and it's not like you only have a 1 round magazine.... :thumbsup:

New XD sub compact here. Great carry weapon and home defense too.

The authors of this site have some good perspective on all of this http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/propertycrime.html The whole site has good info, it's totally changed how I think about self defense.

I love guns and even have a conceiled carry permit, but this has been a much debated topic for me and my friends and coworkers. I think everyone should have guns and be trained to use them, BUT if you want to keep your family safe, using a gun in the middle of the night should be a last resort.

I don't yet own a house (4 years in Iraq and counting) but when I do, making the house secure will be a top priority. I know too many people that think they are bad a$$es because they sleep with a gun by the bed and think everything will be just like the movies if they actually have to use it. Sure if someone wants in they'll get in, but would you rather spend a couple grand on a security system and make most criminals choose an easier target, or have blood and bullet holes all over your house, a tramatized family, and possible go to prison?

Don't forget intruders aren't the only dangers at home. Got fire extinguishters and a plan in case of a fire? Got a good first aid kit? Are emergency numbers posted by the phone?

So true. So very very true.
A home security system is definitely a great deterrent if you can afford it.
I myself believe in a LARGE canine security system, but even those aren't foolproof.

My pit is my 1st line of defense, if I hear him barking, that's my queue
Living in IL , a very anti-gun state we had the Hale DeMar case which was pretty intense.
Almost made us feel like we were victims on standby......if you defend yourself you go to jail. :rolleyes:

I hope I never have to experience a break in while my family is home or not.

My gun is my LAST resort. 1st is a security system, then two dogs, then the maze it is to get to the sleeping area of the house. If they (an intruder) decide they want to make it that far, well so be it. The last thing I want is "blood and bullets" all over my house or to have my family subjected to anything of the sort.
Tha last thing I ever want to do in this life is to shoot another person.

BUT...when all else fails and it is us or them I will not let my family be victims.

I really do think anyone who owns a gun for protection should be fully trained in the use of that gun. Safety is the biggest factor. Anyone who does not take it serious is just asking for major problems and is better off not having a gun in the home in the first place.

Be safe!!:cheers:

Wouldn't you rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6?

When ever I hear this stupid saying I picture someone chanting it to themself while they put on all their gear and camo face paint so they can go out and LOOK for a situation where they need to shoot someone, and then claim it was self defense.

I'd rather avoid both situations at all costs, but if it comes right down to it, I won't hesitate to kill someone that's trying to kill me no matter how I have to do it. I also expect I'll be spending a lot of time locked up if I ever do have to kill someone. But really, why would anyone be trying to kill me? Anyone breaking into my house to rob me would probably wait till I'm not there. If not I'll have a security system and a dog or two, if those don't scare them off then the shot gun will be waiting, but shooting it will be a last resort. Any mugger on the street is either going to kill me before I even know he's there, or he'll probably just take my money and run.

I just think the chances of ever needing to shoot at someone are VERY slim if you take a few precautions. I always hear people tell me that in such and such state you can shoot someone on your property for any reason and it's totally legal. Well not a dang one of them had ever done any research on that, and even if the written law seems to agree, you never know for sure until you're in the court room for killing an intruder.

I know I got an email saying there was a response to what I'm assuming was my post lol. But it's not here now. I don't want to sound anti gun, I didn't mean my posts to sound that way. I love guns. I know the original question was which gun, but nothing else was said about the OP's security measures. I just want anyone that wants to keep a gun by the bed to REALLY think everything through. Shooting someone in the middle of the night is going to turn into a nightmare no matter how it plays out. So it's best to try to prevent ever needing to in the first place:cheers:

Your last line in the above post really says it all.

The whole gun issue is a tough one. There are a lot of different opinions on them. But like politics and religion, leave me out of it and let me live my life without your opinion and I will do the same for you. (meaning the general public and no one specific here:cheers: )

.45 or .40 SIGARMS, thats all I buy. Go to a gun shop that will let you rent them an put afew rounds down range and get a feel for it but nothing beats a SIG.

Your question has touched on alot of nerves, both good and bad. I did not read through all 11 pages of responces, so I'm certain most of my following post has been stated at least once.
My family lives pretty much, "Out in the sticks." Only ONE other home is in view and it's up a steep, single lane road in the woods that is just over 1/4 mile long. Isolated and out of site from just about anyone. We love it, BTW.
As for "Home Protection" a Dog or 2 is really your best protection. They will sound the alarm LONG before you ever realize that someone has broken into your home and afford you the opportunity (time) to respond in whatever manner you decide.
An Intruder can't reason with a Dog. "Lay face down, on the ground." Who is willing to risk serious injury breaking into a home with 1 or 2 Dogs present? Just not worth it.
We have 1 Dog and she is about 75lbs and as gentle as any you will ever meet. Never bit anyone in 11 years and probably never will. Hardly ever barks, BUT if someone unknown is close by. We can't shut her up.
Want to help discourage a "Home Invasion." and are really concerned it may happen. Leave a few lights ON at night, get a Dog, don't brag about your $$$ stuff you have, keep a low profile. Avoid attracking attention to you or your home. Statistics show that most break-in's are committed by someone the victim knows. A security system is fine but whoever is breaking in, is STILL IN before the alarm is sounded.
If a Gun of some sort is your answer. Almost anyone will agree that a Shotgun is the way to go. Hard to miss at close range and you wont tear up everything else in the process. Forget about a Hand Gun. Your upset, panicked and not REALLY ready to deal with what's happening.
Ultimately, IMO prevention is the key. Don't appear to be tempting. Buy sign that states, "Guarded by XYZ". The criminal wont know it's BS and wont risk finding out. Install a few motion sensors outside that will turn on some lights if tripped.
Think about being, "Proactive not Reactive."

I have 2 cents worth to add..

its really nor a question of weather its a sig s&w or a glock (id choose the latter) or if its .40 .45 or 9mm auto... its a question of having a gun you are familliar with, that doesnt jam or have elaborate safeties...

Its a matter of having it handy, being able to use it and making sure you never have to...

the DOG argument was a good one, as is lights, alarms and doors you cant run thru...

but when all the passive security fails and the dog is sleeping, or dead?? you need to be able to get your gear fast and have everything ready in one grab. and it needs to be what you get EVERYTIME you hear a noise...

some people swear by a pouch with 2! surefire or simmilar flashlights (two is one, one is none.. it never wioks when its supposed to) a a pepperspray, 2 mags or speedloaders and a sidepocket holding the gun...

and dont get a 500s&w ... i would choose a .357 DA revolver.. there is no safety to fool with.. doesnt require pumping or otherwise, it NEVER jams and 6 rounds of SJHP .357 will ruin everyones day.. and fired from a 4 inch revolver it wil rattle any intruder with the first warningshot aimed center mass...

If it were me that worried about intruders id have a lockable cabinet (unlocked) with a simple tactical or hunting vest that had everything in the pockets and the gun in a chest holster.. all you need is to get out of bed and put it on and you have everything.. flashlights, spary, gun, clips/speedloaders remote to the intruder alarm, keys etc... (the nech pouch is another option.. but not as cool :-) )

Best thing to do for home intrusion - just let the wife get out of bed and see what's wrong. If she doesn't come back - you can get on the internet in the morning to find the new car you're going to buy.

Greg, I don't know what to say. I am having a hard time finding the words. Because I am LAUGHING SO HARD!!!

I knew there was a reason I like you!:rofl: :rofl: