Is a handgun enough for home defense?

[oldfool]

I have 3 guns at hand

a 357 revolver, a 12 gauge pump and an AR15.

If I hear something that might be nothing I carry the 357.

The shotgun is for if I KNOW someone is in the house.

The AR is for if the car alarm goes off or something is amiss outside

heckuva good plan, G
but me, if "outside noises" happens, I just hit the monitored alarm or grab the phone (in my off hand)
would hate to lose my truck, but it costs a lot less than lawyers
and the neighbors don't much appreciate being used as a backstop

 

[oldfool]

Yes a gun with a caliber more powerful than a 380 is "enough," but a shotgun is better imo.

380acp is gun e'nuff as well, if it's what you shoot well e'nuff
(ditto post #34)

 

[Kleanbore]

Is a handgun enough for home defense?

First, consider the layout of your home. Then ask yourself these questions:

1. Where will you be is an intruder breaks in? (OK, you cannot know that)
2. Where would you plan on keeping your gun?
3. Where would the perp gain entrance? (You probably cannot know that, either)
4. What would you do in the event of an intrusion?

Then reflect upon the original question.

For decades, I kept a handgun in the bedroom. Never gave it much thought.

Then someone posted a question about whether people carry guns while they are at home. At the time, I thought the idea was outlandish.

Then someone asked whether people keep guns in every room.

That started me thinking. I very quickly soon realized that with the layout of my house, unless an intruder happened to break in while I was in the bedroom, I would either be cut off from my handgun or forced to engage in a footrace with the perp, perhaps leaving family members unprotected an/or losing the race.

I really didn't like the idea of stashing guns here and there. For me, the idea I had thought to be outlandish became the obvious solution.

A long arm wouldn't really work for me.

 

[smartshot]

depends on what you consider better. Handguns have more movability and concealibility but there is probably no debate as to whether or not one round of buckshot is better than any handgun round....shotgun wins hands down.

 

[Blacky]

About 3 years ago a guy broke into my second story bedroom. At the time all of my guns were in my safe. I wasnt sure of what was going on so I pulled my baby glock out of my safe, I should have also called 911. I confronted the kid (21) from the bottom of the stairs, I had the drop on him too. He shot me in the leg once and I dumped 9 rounds into him, 2 in the leg, 4 center mass, 2 in the head. When I got home from the hospital my brother in law had cut out all of the carpet and put it in the garage. It looked like a Saw movie and the smell lasted for months. At one point his family threatened revenge. I couldn't walk for over 6 months. Now I have an alarm and cameras, and I'll never give iyo my guns. I have my favorite guns, actually my kimber 1911 and my noveski but on that afternoon any of my guns would have done the job. It's good to be prepare but don't obsess. And if it ever happens it may not be exactly what you had planned for anyway. You really don't want to be in that position... ever, trust me on this.

 

[Guillermo]

Just can't argue with a sick mind

not sure who you are talking about...you or her (both)

would hate to lose my truck, but it costs a lot less than lawyers

I live in Texas. Our laws concerning protection of property are a little different than most. You can use lethal force to protect your life or property (or that of your neighbor)

Your point is well taken concerning neighbors.

As Oldfool alludes to, ALWAYS know what is behind your target...ALWAYS.

 

[Shadow 7D]

bring a gun to a gun fight
past that it's semantics

 

[ChCx2744]

If I can, I'm grabbing and using a rifle or shotgun. If I can't grab the long gun first, I'm using my pistol to get to it. For all other instances where I would need a gun but don't have access to the rifle or shotgun, the pistol will do just fine.

For ANY firearm related SD scenario, I would choose a long gun over a pistol any day, period. There are very few purpose-built SD options that I would choose over rifles or shotguns, excluding pistols and other improvised amenities.

 

[uspJ]

I believe a handgun is fine for home defense as long as you are proficient with it. I wear one as ften as possible. If I go to check something out I will use handgun with a weapon mounted light and a handheld flashlight. If I know there is a threat and there is time I will grab the shotgun. I feel very confident in 14 rds of 9mm or 13rds of .40 if there is no time.

The handgun also allows you to do things with your free hand that a long gun would make difficult or impossible. The handgun is also much easier concealed wich is nice when you realize the person coming up your back porch after dark is the little old lady who lives next door wanting you to open a jar for her.

 

[SSN Vet]

Yes...

Untill it's roving gangs of 10 or more looking to rape, pillage and plunder during a period of time void of civil authority.

Keep a semi-auto carbine with multiple high cap mags on hand for that little scenario.

 

[Mr. T]

The handgun can be adequate if you are properly trained. I would stick with .45 ACP or the .40 S&W or maybe even the .357 Mag for interior defense rounds for the handgun. I also would, considering your bad back still look to the shotgun option. A youth model 20 gauge would still be light enough and maneuverable enough...yet still provide that close range effective impact of a one shot kill.

 

[Dnaltrop]

I've got the Weak arm/ Strong arm situation myself, and I train myself every few weeks with drills for one armed reloading and shooting for those times when my shoulder comes apart.

THe M&P is the big exercise.

Firm grip between the knees while you insert the mag, and if you need to do more than release the slide, you push the rear sight with your heel, wallet, leatherman case, table... anything at hand.

.45 Schofield. Break, dump, tuck underarm or between legs, drop loader, close gun. It worked for Cavalry, it works now. (though they would have killed for the modern speedloaders)

Each of the 3 adults in the house can access a pistol very rapidly. The girls are too "uncomfortable" with larger weapons, and a man with One good arm sticks to short guns and rested rifles if he wants to keep his toes.

I might consider a light bulpup style rifle, but I'm really waiting for Calico to release a .40 or .45 model of their 100 round helical feed pistols.

 

[Mr. T]

Ahh yeah, the .380 is a "NO GO" option for sure!

 

[mcdonl]

Ahh yeah, the .380 is a "NO GO" option for sure!

Not true. I can dot the "I" and cross the "T" with my .380, not the bst choice in the world but I would take it over the .22, .25 or nothing any day of the week. I know how to shoot it.

 

[lebowski]

I prefer to have a long gun around but a handgun is enough, IMO.

The most important part of the OP was that he prefers shooting handguns - if you prefer the handguns, that is what you're going to practice with more and that's what you should use for HD.

If you don't like shooting shotguns because of the recoil, you may want to try out a carbine like an m4 or a pistol caliber carbine like the beretta cx9.

 

[JohnBiltz]

Is it enough? The answer is maybe, probably it really depends on what you are defending against. Some guy breaking in without a gun its almost certainly enough. A guy breaking in with a handgun means your only even with him. Two or three breaking in with handguns means your behind. Why make it harder? I can cut a small tree down with a knife, its a lot easier to do with a saw or an axe. I'd rather have every advantage I can scrape up and a shotgun or AR is an advantage over a handgun.

 

[Rexster]

I think a shotgun to be a great component of home defense weaponry, but would not want one to be my only HD weapon. When moving through tight spaces, there are ways to mitigate the shotgun's bulk, but not eliminate the issue. I don't like pumping a shotgun when prone; it is a very clumsy thing to have to do.

When I have "cleared" houses and other buildings, as part of my job, with a shotgun, I have only wanted to do it with other trusted, experienced folks working VERY closely with me. (I wear a big-city PD badge, and work nights.) In essence, as the shotgunner inside a structure, I become a specialist, backing up the generalists. Yes, a shotgun can be slung, but a legal-length shotgun hanging on a sling is a very clumsy thing. Best might be the scabbards made for carrying breaching shotguns; I have not used one, myself.

I have cleared a few structures with a 16"-barreled AR15A2 Govt Carbine, and greatly prefer the carbine, if I am going to be moving about with a long gun inside a structure.

When defending a fixed position, with cover and barricades being mostly vertical, a shotgun comes into its own, as a dominating weapon of mass destruction.

Ah, now to the 1911, the best generalist's firearm in the world for battles inside structures, if the shooter has mastered the weapon, IHMO. Among handguns, I love the 1911, second only to a good fighting revolver. Ideally, I would want both of these weapons with me, in a fight inside a structure. On the clock, I actually must carry a different autopistol, a DA .40, by regulation, but in my ideal world, I would move through structures with a 1911, above all other handguns, with a 4" .357 sixgun in reserve. Outdoors, the roles might well switch. No, a .357 fired in a small room will not cause deafness, but I would rather my ears be exposed to a .45 ACP's boom than the sharp crack of a .357 Mag. (I have been exposed to both, unintentionally, when my hearing protection was not in place.)

 

[wep45]

Is a handgun enough for home defense?

you betcha.....................any S&W revolver will get the job done.

 

[easyg]

Is a handgun enough for home defense?

YES.

In fact, the handgun is usually the BEST home defense weapon for one simple reason:
It's the weapon that you will most likely have on your side when you need it most.


Who carries their shotgun or rifle to bathroom every time they need to use the toilet?

Who carries their shotgun or rifle with them to check the mail?

Who carries their shotgun or rifle while sitting on the back deck or front porch?

Who answers the doorbell with their shotgun or rifle in their hand?

Who carries their shotgun or rifle with them to the kitchen every time they go and get a drink or snack?

Who carries a shotgun or rifle when working on the lawn or working in the garden?

Who carries their shotgun or rifle when taking the dog out at night for that last pee of the day?

Who carries a shotgun or rifle while working on their car in the garage?


Long guns are great, but for everyday activities in and around the house, the handgun rules.

I enjoy shooting pistols, revolvers especially, but at the range I shoot a 1911 better.

Carry what you shoot best.

Personally, I prefer Glocks.
But there's nothing wrong with a 1911, if you don't mind the poor "weight-to-rounds ratio" for an everyday carry handgun.


Easy

 

[therewolf]

IMO a pistol is just better, all around.

Easier to aim, more shots,more maneuverable indoors, easier to carry.

YES, a pistol will definitely do.

 

[JohnBiltz]

If somebody kicks in my door in the next few minutes I agree its probably going to begin and end with me and the G26 I have on me. I'm going to feel that shotgun in my closet calling me though. A handgun is not easier to aim, its not as powerful, it lacks stopping power compared to a long gun and sure doesn't have as many rounds as an AR and five shots out of a shotgun puts 45 buckshot pellets in the air. A hand gun is what you use because its what you have not because its the best weapon to use. Its always been that way and probably always will be.
If its either/or I think I'd want the pistol but what I really want is both.
To go back to the title of the thread: Is a handgun enough for home defense? If its all you have you better hope so but if you are asking the question I think you already know the truth.

 

[Cosmoline]

I follow the 3AM rule. If I'm not perfectly able to hit a moving target at 3AM with the weapon in question, then I won't use it. I am not good enough with handguns to be confident with them with blurry vision and uncertain situations in the middle of the night. I adopted this rule after actually having to shoot something at 3AM--in that case an enraged muskrat. But I never would have been able to get it with a short gun.

I also follow the rule of using the biggest, baddest weapon available when my life is on the line. So if someone is coming to kill me, I'm never going to use a .357 revolver instead of the bear gun. All of them will "overpenetrate", but the big rifle stands a far better chance of ending the matter--in my favor--with but a single shot. That means one roll of the dice for possible third party injury instead of six rolls of the dice. And it means I have a much better platform to aim with, reducing the chance of missing.

 

[Kleanbore]

Hard to argue with Post #69.

Where will you be should the immediate need for a weapon arise?

Where will your weapon be?

Where will the assailant and possibly his accomplices be?

Where will your family members be?

 

[mljdeckard]

therewolf,

Why do you say that a pistol is easier to aim, or that it has more shots? More shots than what?

As for handling, I will trade the small difference in handling ability for better leverage and a stock to butt-stroke with.

 

[mljdeckard]

And easyg, yes I keep my handgun for all of those things. But if I have five seconds, I will get my shotgun.