Shotgun. I don't currently have any rifles at home, but I'd still feel more comfortable with the shotgun in an emergency situation. For me, a fist-sized cloud of lead has a better chance of hitting what I'm pointing at, especially if I've been woken up abruptly and am shaking from adrenaline.
Home Defense: Shotgun or Rifle?
- Thread starter Soybomb
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Helstrm
Member
.45 ACP it stays very close. The shotgun is a few feet away and body armor does not stop a head shot. If the fight ever moved outside then I would grab the AK, FAL or shotgun. They are all loaded so which ever one I grab first.
have thought about this more than once, and tend to feel that a .357 mag in one hand with a flashlight in the other is my best option. I don't want the light to reveal my exact location. With a revolver in one hand, the light can be held in the opposite hand away from my body and my weapon.
If I truly felt the intruders may be wearing body armor, then I agree with the AR or a 5.56 AK, this is the better choice. I like my shotguns, and they deliver tremendous power, but I have more confidence in the penetrating ability of the 5.56 x 45. If we are talking level IV vest, then it would take multiple hits to shatter the protection, and a high cap mag would be just the ticket.
If I truly felt the intruders may be wearing body armor, then I agree with the AR or a 5.56 AK, this is the better choice. I like my shotguns, and they deliver tremendous power, but I have more confidence in the penetrating ability of the 5.56 x 45. If we are talking level IV vest, then it would take multiple hits to shatter the protection, and a high cap mag would be just the ticket.
AStone
Member
870 any night
My answer is manifest in my user name.
Like others have asserted, the best weapon is what you're most familiar with.
I bought my first shotgun at 16 (nearly 40 years ago).
My current 12 ga. is loaded with 5 00.
One is in the chamber.
I have no need to 'rack' it until after the first boom.
For the first one, all I've got to do is <quietly now> click the safety off.
Body armour? Like others have asserted, the first shot takes the 'wind' out.
The second & third take the "head off" (only if necessary).
If I hear breaking glass or the sound of a door being hacked,
I've got the 9mm on my right side
(should I need back up getting to said 12 ga.,
which is only 30 steps away,
thus I'm betting I'll get to it before
"they" finish hacking a door or wall,
or crawling through broken glass,
with or without body armour.)
YMMV
Nem
My answer is manifest in my user name.
Like others have asserted, the best weapon is what you're most familiar with.
I bought my first shotgun at 16 (nearly 40 years ago).
My current 12 ga. is loaded with 5 00.
One is in the chamber.
I have no need to 'rack' it until after the first boom.
For the first one, all I've got to do is <quietly now> click the safety off.
Body armour? Like others have asserted, the first shot takes the 'wind' out.
The second & third take the "head off" (only if necessary).
If I hear breaking glass or the sound of a door being hacked,
I've got the 9mm on my right side
(should I need back up getting to said 12 ga.,
which is only 30 steps away,
thus I'm betting I'll get to it before
"they" finish hacking a door or wall,
or crawling through broken glass,
with or without body armour.)
YMMV
Nem
one45auto
Member
Winchester Model 94 Trapper rifle. More ammunition, faster reloading, more maneuverable - especially with that sweet 16' barrel.
ROAshooter
member
good choices
Good points made for all platforms..but the bottom line is still......"Its not the arrow.....tis the indian!"
Good points made for all platforms..but the bottom line is still......"Its not the arrow.....tis the indian!"
k_semler
member
AK. What once was cover, is now concealment. A wall will stop .410, and I only have 3 shots. Let's see any non-reinforced residential wall stop 75 rounds in less then 30 seconds if need be. "what wall?" comes to mind.
QUOTE
Winchester Model 94 Trapper rifle. More ammunition, faster reloading, more maneuverable - especially with that sweet 16' barrel.
END QUOE
faster than what at reloading. Its slower than a 223 carbine. And its slower to reload a levergun than a tube fed shotgun. Its a lot easier to get those shotgun shells in the mag vs those rifle rounds in the side of the reciever.
Pat
Winchester Model 94 Trapper rifle. More ammunition, faster reloading, more maneuverable - especially with that sweet 16' barrel.
END QUOE
faster than what at reloading. Its slower than a 223 carbine. And its slower to reload a levergun than a tube fed shotgun. Its a lot easier to get those shotgun shells in the mag vs those rifle rounds in the side of the reciever.
Pat
I have both - a 1300 with Federal Tactical 00 and a AR-15 with Hornaday TAP. Thus, I will carry one in each hand like the Terminator.
Actually, the AR for reasons above. It has tritium iron sights and a Surefire. I shot it in a match yesterday. I like it.
I put a twenty round mag in it for the evening, just for a little more compactness. It's really a safe room gun.
Oh, as far as missing with a shotgun at close range. Yes, you can.
Actually, the AR for reasons above. It has tritium iron sights and a Surefire. I shot it in a match yesterday. I like it.
I put a twenty round mag in it for the evening, just for a little more compactness. It's really a safe room gun.
Oh, as far as missing with a shotgun at close range. Yes, you can.
I want something that will shoot thru a car, parked 50 yards away. All it takes is one carload of tweakers out on a midnight crank run to ruin your sleep. Pemanantly. Some wacko's sitting in thier car firing on your house is a perfectly valid threat potential. It's called a driveby. It would be desirable to be able to put some fire down on thier vehicle.
High Planes Drifter
Member
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Sounds of racking...
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In the dark in a home defense situation, might the sound of a lever action rifle being cocked sound very similar to the sound of shotgun being racked?
Just curious, since I'll be buying a Marlin 1894C soon.
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Similar. But the sound of any weapon being chambered can draw fire.
If you have an intruder in your line of sight; lets say he's going thru your entertainment center, and you rack the pump(or lever action) and there is another intruder out of your peripheral vision, that noise will alert that second intruder. He spins around, sees that he has the drop on you and BANG.
Never go into a potential firefight with an unchambered weapon. You wouldnt take an unloaded Glock, or 1911 and simply insert the mag before going into a firefight, a shotgun is no different. That BS about the ch-chunk sound being able to deter a situation is just that - a chunk of BS. He who is going into a shootout should be ready/prepared to shoot.
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In the dark in a home defense situation, might the sound of a lever action rifle being cocked sound very similar to the sound of shotgun being racked?
Just curious, since I'll be buying a Marlin 1894C soon.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Similar. But the sound of any weapon being chambered can draw fire.
If you have an intruder in your line of sight; lets say he's going thru your entertainment center, and you rack the pump(or lever action) and there is another intruder out of your peripheral vision, that noise will alert that second intruder. He spins around, sees that he has the drop on you and BANG.
Never go into a potential firefight with an unchambered weapon. You wouldnt take an unloaded Glock, or 1911 and simply insert the mag before going into a firefight, a shotgun is no different. That BS about the ch-chunk sound being able to deter a situation is just that - a chunk of BS. He who is going into a shootout should be ready/prepared to shoot.
psychophipps
Member
All about the shotgun, you ask me. It has the most versatility in regards to stopping power, minimizing the chances of overpenetration and the sound of a shotgun's slide being worked is so ingrained in the american psyche from TV and movies that you can probably get 95%+ of burglars from your home with just that sound coming from your bedroom.
Did you know that most arrested burglars say that they're more afraid of an armed homeowner than the police?
Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )
Did you know that most arrested burglars say that they're more afraid of an armed homeowner than the police?
Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )
No, we cannot give it up as if we do, the universe will explode.
Long arms are unchambered for safety reasons. When you pick it up because you think it is needed, you chamber a round. If the BG hears it and flees that is a side effect.
However, I have friends (with no training) who chortle how they will come to the top of the stairs and loudly rack the shotgun as the BGs will flee. I told them that if I were the BG, that's when they die. They sulked and said all BGs aren't like me. They also said shot will fill the room. I told them spread was about 1 inch per yard. They then tested it and sulked more.
Long arms are unchambered for safety reasons. When you pick it up because you think it is needed, you chamber a round. If the BG hears it and flees that is a side effect.
However, I have friends (with no training) who chortle how they will come to the top of the stairs and loudly rack the shotgun as the BGs will flee. I told them that if I were the BG, that's when they die. They sulked and said all BGs aren't like me. They also said shot will fill the room. I told them spread was about 1 inch per yard. They then tested it and sulked more.
IllHunter
Member
Shotgun
Specifically Rem 870 with the short deer barrel (with sights ) is .3 inches longer than the 8 round ext mag tube loaded with alternating 00 and slugs. Since I have concrete floor under the carpet, I wonder if the old Navy trick of bouncing shot down the hall would work. I believe it might get stuck in the carpet and padding and not clear the hall as well as it does on a steel ship. The pattern does fill the doorway from 12' and as the hallway leading in is just larger, I figure armor or no I'd hit something with my eyes screwed shut.
Specifically Rem 870 with the short deer barrel (with sights ) is .3 inches longer than the 8 round ext mag tube loaded with alternating 00 and slugs. Since I have concrete floor under the carpet, I wonder if the old Navy trick of bouncing shot down the hall would work. I believe it might get stuck in the carpet and padding and not clear the hall as well as it does on a steel ship. The pattern does fill the doorway from 12' and as the hallway leading in is just larger, I figure armor or no I'd hit something with my eyes screwed shut.
epijunkie67
Member
To be fair to this discussion, either a shotgun or a rifle will serve well for home defense. I don't care what kind of body armor you have on. If you get hit with a full load of buckshot, a slug, a .223, or a 7.62X39 at HD defense distances you're going to be in a world of hurt. The box of truth did some testing of armor against handgun, rifle, and shotgun rounds over a thick layer of clay to simulate body tissue. I wouldn't want to be on the receiveing end of any of them. Here's a link.
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot16.htm
They are all lethal at 20-30 feet and if somebody in armor gets hit at that distance they are going to be pretty distracted. A head or gut shot from any of those rounds is going to be lethal pretty quick so even if they have armor they aren't out of the woods yet.
I think the most important issue is using a weapon you are familiar with, comfortable with, and shoot well. If you can load it in pitch darkness and clear a jam or hit your target quickly and naturally without thought then THAT is the weapon you should be using for home defense.
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot16.htm
They are all lethal at 20-30 feet and if somebody in armor gets hit at that distance they are going to be pretty distracted. A head or gut shot from any of those rounds is going to be lethal pretty quick so even if they have armor they aren't out of the woods yet.
I think the most important issue is using a weapon you are familiar with, comfortable with, and shoot well. If you can load it in pitch darkness and clear a jam or hit your target quickly and naturally without thought then THAT is the weapon you should be using for home defense.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
1st line of defense, Remington 12 ga 870 Marine Magnum stoked with
#6 shot, alternating with #4 buckshot~!
#6 shot, alternating with #4 buckshot~!
Vern Humphrey
Member
Not so long ago, I posted a picture of a cardboard box shot at 15 feet with #8 shot. I would heartily recommend repeating the experiment with #6 shot before choosing it as a defensive load.
Box of Truth is not science. I'd take anything I saw there with a bag of rock salt.
Clay is not a good simulation of human flesh. You can't make any kind of guess on what kind of wounds occur after someone is shot while wearing body armor. The NIJ tests also used clay, and for this reason they have never been considered reliable.
People are shot wearing body armor all the time and are not killed and they don't receive serious internal injuries from backface deformation.
I am amazed at how many people are so concerned about encountering a home invader wearng body armor. Bad guys wearing body armor is a pretty rare occurance. There is nothing wrong with preparing for the worst case scenario, but many people in this thread need to do a serious, realistic threat assessment. Most people would be better served spending the money they are allocating on the newest most effective home intruder buster on ammo and range time.
Jeff
_N4Z_
Member
hmmmm
For home defense I'm not sure what I would reach for.
Current options include, but not limited to -
Rem870 w/ 00buck(2 3/4) and Slugs(2 3/4)-try your luck at some combo madness.
AK47 clone w/ 30 rounds of commie pinko 7.62x39 goodness.
GP100 w/ 6 .357mag sjhp 158gr problem solvers.
Probobly whichever is closest. Any of the above will get the job done.
For home defense I'm not sure what I would reach for.
Current options include, but not limited to -
Rem870 w/ 00buck(2 3/4) and Slugs(2 3/4)-try your luck at some combo madness.
AK47 clone w/ 30 rounds of commie pinko 7.62x39 goodness.
GP100 w/ 6 .357mag sjhp 158gr problem solvers.
Probobly whichever is closest. Any of the above will get the job done.
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