In the middle of the night!

[TheLastBoyScout]

M4gery+EOtech+Chokepoint= WIN!

 

[the naked prophet]

I voted for the AR because I'm not leaving the second floor, I won't be going around any corners (except to get out of the bedroom into the hall). I generally won't go around corners in the dark, with a possible intruder in the house. I'll call the police and toss a key out the window when they arrive (with a glowstick attached to the key) so they can clear the house.

In my apartment, I keep a 12 gauge Mossberg by the bed, it's easier to get into action with less fine motor movement, and #1 buck shouldn't go through quite as many walls. I do keep a semiauto rifle handy in the safe 6 feet away, and plan to use that if I have the time to wake up enough and load the gun and turn on the red dot sight. The shotgun is by the bed because all I have to do is pump it and it's ready to go.

 

[grog18b]

Sks w/collapsible stock and 20rnd mag. Solid hitter, reliable, and easy to fire at night. No need to worry about multiple targets, or them getting up after being hit with the 7.62 regardless of vest. I live in the country, and have a fence around the property with two dogs. If they get by the dogs, they are mine. Dogs are there to perform the delaying action, to allow me suitable time to prepare for the ensuing action...

 

[ARKIESTEEL]

Stoger sxs 20 gauge loaded with 3" #4 turkey loads. CZ 75 9mm and springfield 1911 also ready. I wait in the bedroom with wife and child if bedroom door opens the shotgun will be fired(both barrels) from corner of the bed. distance 12 feet so the 20 gauge should be plenty even with the turkey loads. Dont plan on reloading will drop the shotgun and pick up the .45 to wait and see if bad guy had freinds the wife will be calling the cops with the CZ 75 in hand.


does this seems like a decent idea...........????

hope I dont have to find out

 

[caltek1911]

Pistol and shotgun are both together next to the bed. I prefer my 12ga with 00 buck followed by slugs.

 

[Rexster]

I did not vote in this one. First of all, "securing the area" means different things in different environments, and "environment" can include same ol' house, but in a differing circumstance, such as post-catastrophic-storm. Katrina and Rita were very near-misses here, and Alicia did slam us; we were without power, water, and phones for several weeks in 1983. Mobile phones were down over a week in 2001 after TS Allison, because flooding damaged the infrastructure for every provider except Verizon. (I now have multiple mobiles from two different mobile providers, and by next hurricane season will have my ham radio license; the wife is already licensed.) You can't call for the cavalry if you can't call, period! Secondly, there is NO choosing "only one" for me. That is pure silliness, unless you are the poor soul who has only one at the time. That being said, I see the shotgun as more suited for staying put, handguns as more suited for being handy while moving about inside structures, and the rifle as being something to dominate the "field" and deny cover to the enemy. At the same time, familiarity is a good thing, and I have much more familiarity and skill with the Remington 870 and certain handguns than I do with any rifle. I have searched countless structures and areas with handgun and shotgun as night-shift LE.

 

[Fozzy_Bear]

This is what I chose, when it happened to me.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=333399


Since then I have migrated to my new 12 ga. 18in barrol and extended mag from the factory; Knoxx stock (OMG these things are FANTASTIC... but that's another story/thread); light and laser with seperate slide mounted pressure switches (either or both at once)

Yeah, it may look like I went all TactiKool, but it all works really well together. ... And it's not for people to see anyway (nobody but my family have seen it since it had anything except the stock. And my Dad only saw it becasue I took it out to his property to shoot.)

 

[Rexster]

The "artillery" and "infantry" terms, regarding shotguns and handguns, were used by Mas Ayoob quite a long time ago, before Clint Smith was really in the gunwriting picture.

 

[98C5]

My SA Loaded with nite sites is never out of arms reach. Sold all my long arms, so pistols are my main defense.

 

[frankcostanza]

definatly a shotty

 

[B yond]

A semi-auto pistol with a flashlight joins me on occasions such as the one described. The shotgun (W/folding stock and flashlight) stays with the wife and kids barricaded in a room (and I don't want to hear any b.s. about folding stocks, mine works just fine).

I like the pistol for maneuverability, and I know where POI is in relation to the light beam so i could make a fairly accurate shot point shooting if I had to. The shotty's light beam is adjusted to be roughly the same as the pattern at 7 yards, so I feel comfortable with the folder on it, plus it's easier to maneuver in my narrow hallways if the family needs to move.

A shotty is great when you know where the threat is coming from, like the only door to a room. When you're out investigating and don't know for sure if there even is a threat the quick follow-up shots associated with a pistol could be useful.

 

[bond007]

I'm most comfortable with a pistol and would really want a hand free for opening/locking doors, turning on lights, calling 911, holding a flashlight, etc.

 

[Firepower!]

Well my vote was for an assualt rifle. However, I also feel comfortable with a pistol or revolver if I am in urban setting. But where I live I chose assualt rifle cuz it always has 75rd drum mag.

My friend chose revolver because he belives that in stresfull situtation its best thing to have- since no jamming issues.

 

[SsevenN]

A unpredictable situation like this calls for an adabtable weapon. Since my goal in a situation like this is to keep my friends/Fam alive....NOT waste a BG... I would grab a autoloading handgun with a high cap mag. Incredible close range accuracy, lightweight, and concealable. allows you to defend yourself from immediate threats but doesn't affect your "flight"

 

[abrink]

I'd usually pick a shotgun for home defense if no one else is home but since you mentioned the family part i chose a handgun. Despite what everyone thinks buckshot goes through the wall just as easily as everything else.

Also what if the BG is in my kids room? If i shoot him i also run the risk of hitting my kids. If i had a handgun loaded with glaser safety slugs i won't have to worry about that as long as i can hit a pretty big target at less than 10 yards (and yes i can!)

 

[VARifleman]

7.62x54R will probably go through stack of intruders! But I am thinking....which 54R is made in assualt other than SVD.

SVT38, SVT40.

 

[enfield303]

Thanks Rexster. It has been a while since I saw that article. I'm really not sure how to take Ayoob sometimes. he seems to get a bit bombastic for my taste.

 

[Firepower!]

Is it perhaps that Americans mostly do not carry assualt rifles? I see lots of votes for shotgun, but I would be some what skeptical of palets going off target.

 

[TurboJeff]

If the threat is closing in quickly, or I hear the BG already on my squeaky stairs, I'd grab my Glock 30 that sits beside the bed, along with a 3 battery Maglite. I'd also prompt the wife to grab the Colt Lawman MKIII .357 snubby by her side of the bed. If I had an extra moment, I'd grab my Mossy 500, 18.5" 5+1, starting with a .00 buck, then alternating #4 buck and .00buck. My wife also has a model 36 S&W .38 special w/ +Ps. We live alone. I would set up shop upstairs, and cover the stairs while wife calls 911. I would NOT go searching the house.

 

[Rachen]

I voted "revolver". A good revolver like a Ruger Super Blackhawk chambered in .44 Magnum hollowpoints or a Remington 1858 cap and ball will definitely ruin a BG's day.

Assault rifles may sound like more firepower at your disposal but then a person under stress and probably just woke up will easily fall victim to the "more firepower" mentality. Which means using more than the required rounds to stop the threat. This is exactly where the term "spray and pray" comes from. Not to mention the bullets possibly overpenetrating.

Aiming well with a single shot is generally more desired than hitting a few enemies with a massive barrage, a waste of powder.

A HP generally does the trick. It deposits a solid amount of energy into the target and effectively neutralizes the threat right there. Also HP's are less fatal when used correctly, because it will drop the attacker right there on the spot and that means medical attention can come quicker. Hollow points are the best choice in any situation, well non military situation, from hunting to defense.

 

[Gingerbreadman]

Grab the 12guage from under the bed, sit tight and try to make sense of the situation. Act accordingly.

 

[Browning]

Normally I'd grab a shotgun and a pistol, but if limited to one for whatever reason I guess I'd take the pistol just because of the short ranges involved (at 1500 Sq. Ft. my house isn't exactly extravagent). The longest shot I'd have to take would be about 7 yards, but there's some tight hallways, small doorways and there's also a staircase involved.

 

[littlegator]

If you have the high ground though you are at the advantage.

Wise words Obi Wan (if only Anakin had listened...)

 

[Navy87Guy]

My situation gets a little more complicated -- we have a teenager with a room in the basement and everyone else is on the second floor. So I'll probably leave my wife or 17-yr old son to secure the top of the stairs with my Saiga 12 ga semi-auto shotgun (10 rounds of #4 buckshot plus another mag in standby). It's equipped with a weapon light. They will move the smaller kids into the master bedroom then set up the security at the top of the stairs.

Then I'll have my Beretta PX4 Storm (17 rds and light) to head down and secure my son's room. In the meantime, use the phone (cell in the bedroom as backup) to call 911 and wait for the police. We'll also set off the alarm using the panic code, which the BGs will hear and which also notifies the monitoring center we are under duress.

Jim

 

[shadowalker]

If I'm able to stay stationary or the BG has not yet made entry I'll probably go with the SG, otherwise a handgun.