Have you ever used your sidearm in self defense?

[Norinco982lover]

Thanks!

Gentleman (and ladies),
Just wanted to say thank you so much for your posts! I have learned a lot of useful information from your personal experiences. I recently moved into an apartment alone and as I am 19 years old and I suppose a bit of a wimp I did not really enjoy living alone in the city. That is until I bought my first gun, a Norinco 982, at a gunshow last week for $120. I keep it loaded in my closet--but that is where my question is-- should I keep 6 rounds +1 in the shotgun---or should I just leave a couple? I'm worried that I may wear out the spring in the tube with all of those shells crammed in there. Also, since I am getting married in two months and my fiancee is 21 and I was thinking about having her get her CCW (KS recently got it) and that way she could pack when she was with me, and I'd feel safer when she was alone. I wonder what the legal repercussions would be if we were walking through town and a situation arose that I had to palm her gun out of her purse/small of her back? Thx!

p.s. feel free to relocate this post if needed

 

[BruceRDucer]

RRMerlin

"I'm curious if there aren't others out there that think that an unloaded (or blanks, used safely) gun is sufficiently effective. I only ask this because those that have fired a gun and later regretted it are probably not weighing in here. "---RRMerlin

Pulling any gun either with blanks or unloaded, certain can make someone back off, but like someone else said, there's absolutely no other recourse after you've pulled that gun.

If an antagonist also pulls a weapon, you have to either drop it or run, or plead for your life. Now, if you simply pull a LOADED gun, it's better, assuming you have to pull it.

But planning that the other party will be frightened at the mere sight of a gun isn't so smart. What if you encountered someone speeding on drugs? (or just adrenaline) Then you might actually have to USE that weapon.

 

[primlantah]

i have 3 stories:

1. I was 17 and on my way to take the SAT at a school on a side of town i was unfamiliar with. I was having trouble finding the place so i pulled over to look at my map. Some crack head walks up to the driver side door of my truck and starts jerking on the door handle telling me to let him in. I never put the truck in park so i cut the wheel towards him and tried to take out his feet. Drove off and never looked back. This isnt gun related but is the event in my life that made me decide to arm myself the day it was legal. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere, for any reason.

2. Was at home with my girlfriend. We just got out of the shower(our roommate was at work) and i heard a loud rustling sound from the living room. Buck naked, i grab my 45 and head to check it out. Apparently it was just our printer recalibrating itself... an unfamiliar sound since its usually off. Never been so startled by a nonliving thing. i could only imagine the reaction of a burglar seeing me come in the room the way i did .

3. Was with the girlfriend picking up some take out down the street. She had her hands full as we were starting back to the car. 2 guys looking fresh out of prison look at her and then eachother. They changed direction toward her... at the time they were walking up behind her. I dont think they saw me yet. I wasnt carrying on my person because i havent gotten my permit yet. However, where i live its legal to carry in your car without a permit. I saw this and alarms went off in my head for my girls safety. I locked eye contact with the guy in the lead, opened my car door and grabbed my 45. I didnt clear leather but it was enough to tell these guys they were messing with the wrong guy. They did a 180 and got in their car. before i left i made it a point for them to see me identifying their faces and car. My girlfriend was quite grateful that i had my xd and was watching her back.

 

[rainbowbob]

My 18 yo son and I were shooting handguns in a forest (a legal activity) when I got confronted by a man about the danger to hikers.

Bruce:
I would guess that if an angry hiker is standing there telling you he is pissed off about where you are shooting that you aren't far enough away from the trail to be shooting in the woods. Like I say, it's just a guess since I wasn't there. You say it is legal, but at least one person didn't think it was safe.

As for the trees in the forest story....that was a genuine incident in which we cut down several trees with our guns.

And you were cutting down trees with firearms? Unless they were your trees, that couldn't have been legal.

I gotta agree with Siglite that at the very least your posts are off-thread. And so is mine for that matter, so I'll end it here.

 

[cowssurf]

Norinco,

Two things. I have a Remington 870 which your Norinco is supposed to be a copy of. I keep it loaded with 6 in the mag. I'm not sure about the quality of Norinco's mag springs, but if you're worried, you could buy an 870 mag spring and swap it out with yours (I believe they're interchangeable).

Two, I wouldn't keep a shotgun loaded with one in the hole (the +1 you referred to). I could be wrong (and I welcome any corrections) but I don't beleive shotguns are drop-safe. And if they are drop-safe, I don't think a Chinese copy of an 870 would necessarily be drop-safe. So I suggest loading the mag, but keeping the chamber empty. A pump is very quick to do any how.

 

[Werewolf]

I don't know you from adam. So, it might be unfair of me to assume from your post that you've never had to draw, never been shot at, and never been in a life threatening situation at the hands of people who want to do you harm.

Man SigLite: Take a chill pill.

I've never had to draw as a civilian but I have been shot at and have been in life threatening situations at the hands of other people who wanted to do me harm...

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

I thought the shotguns in the forest post was amusing bordering on good for a laugh.

Lighten up man. You take stuff way too serious.

 

[Dumpster Baby]

I almost shot a cat with a Browning High Power once. It sneezed at a time and place where a sneeze from any living thing was very ominous.

 

[fearless leader]

T-34 I See why you retreated...I think

Quote: Taking a closer look, I noticed that was was armed with a T-34. I decided that perhaps I was slightly under gunned and it would be wise for me to get the hell out of there---FAST!

It was self preservation using the best weapon I had--my legs.

Of course the T-34 is obsolete today and you probably couldn't find one in your local gunshop.

You young fellas and non-historians might not be familiar with the T-34. Just Google T-34 and let us know what you find.

Here it is. I guess I wouldn't have taken that on with a 45 either! I thought you were talking about a Tokarev.

 

[harbingerm]

One thing that's very useful in these posts are the people who include the city/state/year when these incidents occurred. Hopefully, everyone from now on will do the same. I'd sure like to know where I DON'T want to live!

 

[siglite]

Both times I drew occurred in McLean Virginia (very upscale DC suburb) in the late 90s.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

Elm Creek,

Not sure what yours means either.

You are both very cryptic and coy. No need to post if it's too painful to relate in full.

Nothing coy about it, cowsurf. Go back to my first post in the thread (#10). All shall be revealed.

ECS

 

[Illuminaughty]

http://ohioccwforums.org/viewtopic.php?t=17501

I've had a couple instances where I really wish I had a firearm. Both involved being in the wrong part of town and a large group of people trying to get into a fight with me. Luckily, I managed to get out of the situation without getting into a fight either time, but the one time where I was being followed I actually went to the police station, and the SUV full of punks pulled on the other side of the street. I was low on gas, I explained my situation to the cops inside and they would do NOTHING. So I waited inside for 45 minutes or so until the guys left. I decided from that point out I'm going to carry and I'm going to have enough ammunition for these previous encounters I've had. That's why to this day I'm never with less than 37 rounds of 45 acp and my Glock 30.

Also, I almost always have a trunk rifle too. Mine just happens to be getting refinished at the gunsmiths' right now.

 

[BruceRDucer]

T-34 Hey Fearless

Fearless:

Actually, when I saw your reference to a T34, I was thinking it must be some exotic handgun which I had no knowledge of; but I did the search, and right before the results popped up, it occurred you were referring to one of the greatest tanks ever built. Good point.

 

[cowssurf]

Elm Creek,

Thank you for the revelation.

 

[Kenneth Lew]

.......

 

[Elvishead]

Been on the other end with out a gun more than once. Still living!

 

[jkingrph]

A few months back there was a murderer on the loose in my area. He killed people my family knew, and apparently this psycho knew my father (Though not very well, my father owns a bar he frequented) also.

Well, about the time this guy started killing people, I triple-checked my Mossberg 500A every couple of hours and started carrying (Only inside the house, mind you, I was 20 at the time), my Kahr/AO 1911A1 GI condition three in a Don Hume IWB all day and night, never left my side unless I left the house. I got the night shift for watching the house, so a friend and I are just hanging around, chain-smoking Camels and watching TV, and I get up to go to the restroom.

The minute I got out into the hall, I heard a single, loud thump against our front door, and before I realized it, my cigarette was on the floor, my .45 was in my hand, and the sound of a slide racking was ringing in my ears. Everything went quiet. The TV was muted, I jerked to my senses and picked up the cig before it burned a hole in the carpet, and I flipped on the outside light just in time to see one of our big tomcats slam into the door again while chasing a female. I flicked the safety back on and said "False alarm." before returning to the room.

Scared me to death afterward, but I was downright robotic when the time came. I later found four bloody scratches in my side where my fingernails had torn into me on the draw. I never put my finger in the trigger guard.

How a cat made that much noise I'll never know. Turns out the guy got caught a tousand miles north of us the following day. Lucky me.
__________________
It's a one gauge...

That reminds me of an incident when I was in college. The school being in my home town I had to live at home and was asleep late one night when I was wakened by something shaking the window screen above my bead. The shadow looked like the outline of a man, so I jumped up and started loading my Win Mod 70 30-06. For some reason I wanted to get the magazine full and whoever/whatever it was left before I finished. Dad & I thought later it was a big housecat roaming the area.

No harm done & I was glad I did not shoot the window out, but I was scared that night.

A few years later I was a young AF officer going home on leave from Ga to La. In eastern Al. a carload of blacks in started pulling alongside me dropping back and repeating, then crowded me off the highway and got out of their car. My S&W K-38 convinced them that they had no business with me. No shots fired.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

You understand about the dreams that wake me up, then.

You're welcome.

ECS

 

[kingjoey]

Unfortunately here in AZ it has happened to me way too frequently.

I had to draw my Makarov:
Once when someone in an apartment complex started taking potshots at us with a .22. I couldn't locate where the shots were coming from but they were hitting all around us. This was in '95
Once when some tweaker pulled a knife and started walking toward me asking if I "wanted him to cut me", at 20ft I drew and he dove over a wall into an alley. This was in '95

I had to draw my Glock21:
Once when I refused to buy a shirt from a crackhead at 2AM so he could "go buy some rocks", he told me to give him my money and came thru the window of my car. I pointed the gun at his forehead and he ran away. This was in '97
Once to stop a local crackhead who tried to blindside me on my evening walk back in '97
Once to stop a guy from jacking us in the drive-thru waiting to get our order (I was in the passenger seat and caught a glimpse of him in the side mirror fortunately) back in '98
Once to stop 5 thugs who had just tried to rob two guys at the gas station then proceeded to chase the two guys down the street right towards us (I saw 5 hoodlums running towards us, two with guns in hand. I drew mine, they turned and ran, and I ended up chasing them all the way back to the gas station where PD was responding to the initial call about the attempted robbery). This was in '00

I've had to trade shots with people in the desert twice, there was several years around '99-'02 where idiots were trying to jack people out shooting or camping in some of the common desert spots. I don't want to go into details, but it was unpleasant and very, very stressful.

I grew up in a gang-infested neighborhood in CA and was surprised how much more stuff was happening here in AZ. Don't let anyone talk you into moving here, there is an unbelievable amount of crime here and in certain outlying areas you may run into meth labs or Mexican smugglers who will kill you rather than risk getting busted.

I moved out of the Phoenix Metro area and haven't had any problems in over five years, but still have the vivid nightmares sometimes. Having to be in a situation like that is very troubling, it brings out some of the most intense fear followed by intense anger because some criminally-minded idiot forced you into a situation you didn't want any part of Avoid armed confrontation/altercation at any cost, it is probably the worst thing that can happen to someone.

 

[kingjoey]

Also to the OP of this thread, if used in defense it is a weapon/firearm/sidearm, not a "piece". Not pissing on you, but "piece" is a very casual term and not fit for a very non-casual topic. Some folks may take offense at what may seem to be a nonchalant attitude towards the topic based on how it was phrased.

PS: Thanks for posting this topic, it is important for people to know what happens out there

 

[Seven©]

Mall Ninja... Meet the Pizza Ninja!!

i work as a pizza driver and i have seen some really weird stuff.

that being said i have pulled and cleared 3 times..

the first time i was going to a BIG BOX store for a run in monsoon like rain. i pulled up to a handicap parking space where in the spot to my left a man with his infant kid was getting out of there van. i did not think much of it as van doors slide open and there was plenty of room for me to pull into.so while i was getting the order together he is standing under an overhang i figure hes waiting for his wife or something as i approach he says something i did not hear him due to the rain and figured it was another brilliant weather report like ( its really raining huh? ) so i chuckled and said yep! then it got weird he gets in my face and says you think its funny did you not hear me? now i am confused *** is with this guy so i say no what did you say?he then goes into this rant about how i almost hit him and his kid and how i should not park there due to a handicap person needing the spot.so i turn and look there is 4 more handicap spaces next to me and 3feet or so between my car and his van.so i point this out to him and tell em if he wants he can call my boss but he wont care i am the head driver and in the 4yrs that i have been there he will make only my 2ed complaint so have fun. i walk into the store feeling jumpy i hate confrontation and decide to finish fast and get out as he did not fallow me in so i did not know if hes waiting to confront me again or calling my boss. i make my sale and head out the door he is not where i can see him but his wife is yelling something at the back of the van as i get closer to my car i see he is getting something from the back of the van and yep here he comes waving a tire tool at me saying he is gonna kick my ass i reach and grab my beretta 9000s ( .40 cal ) and point it at him and tell him to stop or he will get shot. i then here his wife yell at him to stop being a dumb ass and get back in the car before hes killed. dudes eyes got real big said i am so sorry and got into his car and drove off faster than any mini van i ever seen

he later called my boss and said he was so sorry and was thankful i did not shoot him.

the 2 ed time i came to a apartment building and heard screams coming from the one i was going to and thought ah hell what am i walking into tonight i went up and knocked on the door and pulled up my shirt to expose the but of my gun on there blind side so as not to spook any one. guy shouts who is it? pizza i say a woman comes to the door bleeding for her head and begging me to walk her to the car. i say ok and as she is pulling her son out the door with her the guy comes into the picture big dude gotta be 6'5" and all of 300 pounds he screams you aint leaving b***h and grabs the kid by the arm i take two quick steps and draw the muzzle is pressed up to his temple and i tell him in vary clear terms let go of the kid and get on the ground slowly and he dose so the lady has turned a vary pale shade of white i give her my phone and tell her to call the police the police so up rather fast and arrest him and give me a pat on the back as they are taking him away he says you never had the balls i should have rolled you the cop who had my gun in his hand turned to him and showed him a round was in the chamber safety was off and the hammer was cocked and had he tried to ROLL me it would have been the last stupid thing he would have done. his girl friend said she was always afraid of him and what might happen when he got out this time i gave he my gun shops card and told her it was her choice to be scared or armed.police said it was gonna be his 5th battery charge.

last one three men where breaking into a shop down the hall from my pizza store ( strip mall ) and i got on the phone with the police via my blue tooth and gave them a profile of three from a distance and guided them in for the bust they never knew i was there watching them all three went to jail on drug and burglary charges..

ps remember to tip the pizza guy at least 10%

 

[kingjoey]

Gawd I hope that story is completely fiction

 

[highfive]

Well only once had to pull it out, no shots fired. 4 guys walked towards my wife and me, yelling to give them money and the car. I showed them my taurus 627 with the barrel towards them. And my wife was showing them her bersa 380. they left very quickly.


few years before that, went out for a run, living in the country. While I was running i pass by a car. then when i was getting home the car was pulling behind me, 2 guys got out. began walking towards me. i said "can I help you?, they said "they wanted something to eat" this was really weird for me, so I just whistle and two big German Shepherds came running. The dogs stopped by me, told the guys you want food, I'll bring it to you here. Needless to say they left. Not gun related but probably what make me buy a gun.... if I didn't have those dogs at that moment, who knows, what would what happen

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

Seven©

After I retired from the Army in 1995, I too delivered pizzas for a short time. Late one night, I delivered one large pepperoni to the side entrance of a house. The guy who answered the door had obviously been drinking, grinned, and said, "How 'bout I just beat yer ass an' take the pizza fer free?"

I responded, "I don't think I'd like that much." The next sound was the hammer of my Beretta 950S .25 ACP going to full cock under the pizza box. It wasn't aimed at him, and he never saw it, but the sound was kind of unmistakeable. I don't really consider this a DGU.

The guy gave me a twenty for a ten dollar pizza, and I stopped by the house for a bigger gun.

ECS

 

[tpaw]

Werewolf states:

Closest I ever came was in the parking lot of a large mall near 9PM. 2 guys came towards me as I was walking up on my car. At about 20 yards away they seperated from each other in what appeared to be an attempted flanking maneuver.

It was summer and I was wearing an Hawiian type shirt. Lifted it up over my holstered gun, undid the safety and watched the two guys do a 180 and clear the lot.

I hopped in my car and drove away. No I didn't call the cops. What good would it have done?

Alerting the police would have given them the opportunity to give the area special attention by plain clothes officers who may have had the opportunity to question those guys and possibly prevent a mugging from occuring to someone else.