i have thought about this so many times. i almost always keep my 1911 carry gun, with me even in the house. at night i put my sig 226 .40 & a extra mag on my night stand. but i usually leave my rifles put away, which means that i do not have quick access to them. for awhile i would bring my mini 14 and extra mag out every night, then secure them every morning, which got old very quick. after reading this i believe i should just start doing this agin. the little bag i used held an extra mini 14 mag in it, plus a small flashlight, knife, my p226 and an extra mag for it. this way it was all handy and secured at my right side with a shoulder strap, to keep my hands free for the mini 14. however i think an m1 carbine would be better for home defense(at least where i live). now if i lived in a more rural area, it would be the mini 14 for indoors and an m1a for outside work.
Is a handgun enough for home defense?
- Thread starter iyn
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therewolf
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The thing I like about the home scenario is all the creature comforts are at my fingertips. The gun is a great asset, but I wouldn't forget:-
A large flashlight,(if you can blind him in the dark, it will take 30+ seconds to recover his vision)
A phone,
Complete familiarity with my comfort zone,
Knowledge of where all the lightswitches and triphazards are, etc.
IMO, in your own home, you want to utilize ALL your advantages.
FIGHT DIRTY!! WIN!! Tell your grandchildren about it...
A large flashlight,(if you can blind him in the dark, it will take 30+ seconds to recover his vision)
A phone,
Complete familiarity with my comfort zone,
Knowledge of where all the lightswitches and triphazards are, etc.
IMO, in your own home, you want to utilize ALL your advantages.
FIGHT DIRTY!! WIN!! Tell your grandchildren about it...
A bad guy is not totally rendered ineffective by a burst of light! I am a major advocate of a high-quality light, but 30+ seconds is terribly optimistic. I have been doing night shift police patrol for over 26 years, and have hit folks' eyes with bursts of light, and have been hit with light in my eyes. Light is a momentary distraction, and works most effectively if the eyes are looking directly into the beam when the light is delivered.
True, it may take 30+ second for one's eyes to get back to near normal, after being hit with a burst of light, but combat can resume long before normal is achieved. (Actually, full normal night vision can take several hours to resume.) Moreover, even a blinded bad guy can bracket the area of the light source with gunfire, so move after delivering a burst!
My newest electronic "torch" is a Surefire LX2 Digital Lumamax, a tremendous weapon.
Overall, though, yes, therewolf, excellent post!
True, it may take 30+ second for one's eyes to get back to near normal, after being hit with a burst of light, but combat can resume long before normal is achieved. (Actually, full normal night vision can take several hours to resume.) Moreover, even a blinded bad guy can bracket the area of the light source with gunfire, so move after delivering a burst!
My newest electronic "torch" is a Surefire LX2 Digital Lumamax, a tremendous weapon.
Overall, though, yes, therewolf, excellent post!
easyg
Member
This is true.
And we must remember this also:
A criminal shooting blindly is still a tremendous hazard.
Sir Aardvark
Member
While a handgun might be adequate in most home defense incidents, I believe that a shotgun would be more of a sure thing.
I think the effectiveness of using flashlights to temporarily blind someone depends a lot on how night adapted his vision is. I think it might do you more harm to blast a lot of light in someones face if you just woke up in the middle of the night and your antagonist has been awake for some time or has broken into your house from outside where there might have been light from a streetlight or car headlights.
Getting back to the topic at hand though, I think that a handgun is perfectly fine for home defense if you can connect with the target and feel confident about your handgun. Still, a decent pump-action shotgun can be had at very reasonable prices. You can get your hands on a Mossberg Maverick 88 home defense for about $180.
Getting back to the topic at hand though, I think that a handgun is perfectly fine for home defense if you can connect with the target and feel confident about your handgun. Still, a decent pump-action shotgun can be had at very reasonable prices. You can get your hands on a Mossberg Maverick 88 home defense for about $180.
Everything I've absorbed about HD on this site and others( that makes it right, right ?) advises against "clearing" your home when you hear a bump in the night. So, if you barricade yourself in a safe, defensible room, call the police, and make sure using your weapon is your last option, a 1911 with Federal HST rounds would be outstanding. Especially if using something more substantial would incapacitate you because of your back problems. You may need to move some after things get hairy. Hope you see a chiropractor for your back issues though!
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The 1911 is fine. How about a shotgun too? A loaded shotgun stays close by my bed. My glock 21 is always within hand reach. My home is well off the road and my nearest neighbor is nearly a mile away. I dont have unexpected visitors. If my two dogs start acting nervous I get the shotgun.
I don't trust just handguns for HD. While I may be carrying a handgun, I am never more than a few steps from a rifle or shotgun.
To the OP: I have a bad back too, though it doesn't stop me from shooting rifles or shotguns. It does limit me some though. If recoil is an issue for you try a few carbines out. .30 cal. M1, 30.30 and 7.62x39, to name just three have light recoil and enough of power for most HD situations.
To the OP: I have a bad back too, though it doesn't stop me from shooting rifles or shotguns. It does limit me some though. If recoil is an issue for you try a few carbines out. .30 cal. M1, 30.30 and 7.62x39, to name just three have light recoil and enough of power for most HD situations.
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easyg
Member
Seriously???
When you check the mail?
When you're in the shower or using the toilet?
When you're mowing the lawn?
When you're carrying out the garbage?
Creature
Member
Yep! On all points!
easyg
Member
You seriously mow your lawn with a rifle or shotgun?
gatopardo
Member
A gun is enough
But you could have a variety, I prefer a 40 cal. semi. I like to have one ready and close all the time, it's easier to deploy than a shotgun, IMO.
But you could have a variety, I prefer a 40 cal. semi. I like to have one ready and close all the time, it's easier to deploy than a shotgun, IMO.
Creature
Member
My lawn service mows the grass.
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