LaEscopeta
Member
After numerous threads debating which is the best home defense firearm, perhaps a summary would be useful?
I am no expert; I am here to learn from people that are. I’ve listed the pro and cons below based on my understanding what I’ve read and heard here and elsewhere. I’m sure I don’t have all the factors and I’m sure I have some incorrect ones. I’m also pretty sure we will get postings fixing those problems.
This comparison is primarily for home defense situations; limited number of threatening people in your home, at short range, situations that are over when you stop the threatening people, chase them away, or the police arrive. We are not talking about self defense outside the home, neighborhood defense, riots, SHTF, police or military situations, where the threat may be at a distance, or where many people may come at you from different directions, or over a long period of time, or where you have to go stop the threat first. But I have listed a few auxiliary factors for each firearm type, that relate to non-home defense uses.
Handgun:
Pro;
1. Small, light weight, easy to store and carry.
2. Lots of places to practice.
3. Low power handguns may be quieter.
Con;
1. Harder than long arms to hit the target.
2. Low power handguns have limited stopping power; more than one hit may be required.
3. High power handguns have difficult to control recoil.
4. High power semi-automatics have to be held firmly to reduce recoil induced miss-feeds.
5. High power rounds may over penetrate through the target and/or walls.
6. Usually more expensive than similar quality shotguns.
7. Regulated, controlled, restricted in many places.
Auxiliary factors:
- Generally only useful for defense and stationary target shooting; limited or no hunting use.
- Longer range then shotguns (if you can hit the target.)
- Semi-automatics have large ammo capacity and are quick to reload.
Shotgun:
Pro;
1. Generally easiest to aim (point.)
2. Can fire a variety of ammo types, to fit different purposes.
3. Can be loaded with one shot stopping ability (at in-the-home ranges.)
4. Usually cheaper than similar quality handguns.
5. Pellets not deadly for very far beyond effective aiming range (especially after the pellets go through something.)
6. Not regulated, controlled, or restricted in most places.
Con;
1. Long, heavy, difficult to maneuver (shorter barrel ones less so.)
2. Some shotguns have excessive recoil with some loadings.
3. Can be very loud (especially with shorter barrels and powerful loadings.)
4. Slugs likely to over penetrate through the target and/or walls.
Auxiliary factors:
- Wide variety of hunting & target shooting uses.
- Short range only.
- Most models have limited ammo capacity and are slow to reload.
Rifle:
Pro;
1. Better stopping ability than handguns.
2. Easier to aim than handguns.
3. Generally less regulation, control, and restrictions than handguns.
Con
1. Long, difficult to maneuver (carbines less so.)
2. Many types of rifle rounds are likely to go through the target and several walls.
3. Most rifle bullets are deadly for a long distance beyond effective aiming range.
Auxiliary factors:
- Variety of hunting & target shooting uses.
- Effective at long range.
- Removable magazine and clip fed rifles are quick to reload; some have large ammo capacity.
I am no expert; I am here to learn from people that are. I’ve listed the pro and cons below based on my understanding what I’ve read and heard here and elsewhere. I’m sure I don’t have all the factors and I’m sure I have some incorrect ones. I’m also pretty sure we will get postings fixing those problems.
This comparison is primarily for home defense situations; limited number of threatening people in your home, at short range, situations that are over when you stop the threatening people, chase them away, or the police arrive. We are not talking about self defense outside the home, neighborhood defense, riots, SHTF, police or military situations, where the threat may be at a distance, or where many people may come at you from different directions, or over a long period of time, or where you have to go stop the threat first. But I have listed a few auxiliary factors for each firearm type, that relate to non-home defense uses.
Handgun:
Pro;
1. Small, light weight, easy to store and carry.
2. Lots of places to practice.
3. Low power handguns may be quieter.
Con;
1. Harder than long arms to hit the target.
2. Low power handguns have limited stopping power; more than one hit may be required.
3. High power handguns have difficult to control recoil.
4. High power semi-automatics have to be held firmly to reduce recoil induced miss-feeds.
5. High power rounds may over penetrate through the target and/or walls.
6. Usually more expensive than similar quality shotguns.
7. Regulated, controlled, restricted in many places.
Auxiliary factors:
- Generally only useful for defense and stationary target shooting; limited or no hunting use.
- Longer range then shotguns (if you can hit the target.)
- Semi-automatics have large ammo capacity and are quick to reload.
Shotgun:
Pro;
1. Generally easiest to aim (point.)
2. Can fire a variety of ammo types, to fit different purposes.
3. Can be loaded with one shot stopping ability (at in-the-home ranges.)
4. Usually cheaper than similar quality handguns.
5. Pellets not deadly for very far beyond effective aiming range (especially after the pellets go through something.)
6. Not regulated, controlled, or restricted in most places.
Con;
1. Long, heavy, difficult to maneuver (shorter barrel ones less so.)
2. Some shotguns have excessive recoil with some loadings.
3. Can be very loud (especially with shorter barrels and powerful loadings.)
4. Slugs likely to over penetrate through the target and/or walls.
Auxiliary factors:
- Wide variety of hunting & target shooting uses.
- Short range only.
- Most models have limited ammo capacity and are slow to reload.
Rifle:
Pro;
1. Better stopping ability than handguns.
2. Easier to aim than handguns.
3. Generally less regulation, control, and restrictions than handguns.
Con
1. Long, difficult to maneuver (carbines less so.)
2. Many types of rifle rounds are likely to go through the target and several walls.
3. Most rifle bullets are deadly for a long distance beyond effective aiming range.
Auxiliary factors:
- Variety of hunting & target shooting uses.
- Effective at long range.
- Removable magazine and clip fed rifles are quick to reload; some have large ammo capacity.
