shotgun or handgun HD

[musick]

Weapon-mounted lights are very important on HD weapons.

Most important thing said in this thread.

I dont like the idea of the light mounted on the gun. They can completely ruin your night vision and it goes aganist one of the MOST cardinal rules of shooting: Dont point your gun at anything you are not willing to destroy! As far as clearing your house (something I am generally aganist) w/ a light mounted weapon you are holding the gun out in front of what? Generally, the answer is your center-of-mass. Sounds like a bad tactical decision if you ask me. Lights work both ways. Were not on smoe SWAT mission here.

Are you people living underground or in such a rural area your houses are pitch black at night? Even on the darkest night, there is enough ambient light for me to see well enough to identify a target. But I live alone, so anyone in my house after hours should NOT be there. And those of you with kids, do you really want to check on them with a light mounted to the business end of your firearm!?!? Again, sounds like a bad idea to me IN A HD SITUATION.

We all have different environments, so there is no 100% right or wrong answer here. As always, the "right" decision is rarely so black-and-white as 'yes' or 'no' a mounted light is a good decision.

 

[B yond]

I dont like the idea of the light mounted on the gun. They can completely ruin your night vision and it goes aganist one of the MOST cardinal rules of shooting: Dont point your gun at anything you are not willing to destroy!

If you keep your weapon at low-ready and your light has a momentary switch you can completely flood a room with light without pointing directly at the potential target you're trying to identify. Lights are not lasers, they aren't straight beams.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

I can flip the Procyon on either gun momentarily to id a target, it will turn everything beyond the gun to daylight from pitch black.

I live far enough out that at night there is only starlight to shoot by. Any other light either comes from bad guy, moon or other lights. I prefer to fight in low or zero light.

If either me or the wife fires up the weapons lights at night versus a intruder it will totally destroy the intruder's night vision and has a flash pattern that will prevent intruder from re-establishing vision.

If so inclined we can lock the switch down and leave it run it is more than sufficient to render a bad guy's eyes useless and they would have to stay in place.

Failing that, there is a green laser emitter availible to us that was taken off a gun. We can use that to fight with because it emits enough illumination AROUND a intruder to enable identification. Dont be surprised if that laser burns into intruder's eyes.

And finally with the hand gun, there is a surefire LED light that just totally creates a tight beam that is just the sun into the enemy eyes or anyone on the street in particular while CCW'ing it will destroy that person's central vision long enough to get away.

In years past we used to have the old million plus candle power spots in the cab. We occasionally took out a troublesome car late at night out west once in a while. A blast from that thing will end the problem. Usually said car slams on brakes or runs off into median or fields. Nothing but a bunch of kids trying to harrass a semi on a schedule. BOOM problem solved.

I think I once lit something up about 12 miles distant near Lake Havastu down in the southwest. I aimed the thing at the truckstop there from the other side of the valley and plateau and it did a good job. Of course the CB radio erupted with complaints, OMG etc... =)

We are just too old to care about fancy tatics and in depth thinking. Just brute light against intruder and things will fall where they may.

That is one of the things that keeps my wife and I safe at night. We use a very small penlight to move about the dwelling late at night. That way no one falls out of bed grabbing for a gun.

If we dont have time and are running behind against a invasion, the muzzle blast will provide the illumination. 3 to 5 feet of fire is plenty.

 

[Templar223]

Thank you, David E., for laying out your bonafides then offering your opinion and then telling those who disagree that our tactics need attention.

It's not that difficult a decision.

For INSIDE the house, a handgun wins. The only exception to this is for the "safe room" where you can barricade the family and aim the shotgun at the door while waiting for the cops to arrive.

The handgun is MUCH more maneuverable in tight quarters than a long gun.(if you disagree, then your tactics need attention)

If you have kids to wrangle or doors to open, again, advantage goes to the handgun. Why? Because a shotgun requires TWO HANDS to keep at the ready.

Also, unless your shotgun is already set up for attaching a flashlight, trying to do both with a long gun is comical at best.

If the threat is outside where handiness of the gun is moot, then a long gun may make more sense, but for most people, the threats will be indoors.

Which handgun/caliber is another can of worms, but for your question, the handgun wins easily.

I've taken a class or two in my day and have taught for a day or two in my relatively short time on this earth. And, I can tell you that both a handgun and a shotgun have their benefits and liabilities.

I'm sorry to say, David, that the handgun doesn't win, hands down, inside the house. It has its place, and frankly, the shotgun doesn't win hands down either if one could substitute in a carbine rifle into the equation.

For a great many people, a shotgun is a far superior home-defense tool over a handgun.

For others, such as yourself if you have kids and anticipate meandering through your home in a critical incident, the handgun might be the right balance of portability, maneuverability, firepower and stopping power.

For me, if my spidey senses are tickled, I'm bringing an AR to bear against a threat.

There's nothing wrong with the tactics I've been trained in, either.

So, in Arfcom fashion, I'd suggest getting both a pistol and a shotgun.

But more important than your choice of gun is to GET SOME TRAINING.

John

ETA: David's second post in this thread was excellent, btw.

 

[BigGuy52]

My primary HD is a snub nose .38spl +P.

It's very small, but only 5 shots.

In my 'safe room', my last ditch weapon is a 12ga sawed off pump. 5 shells of 00 buck.

A HD gun choice depends wholly on your space size, and what you are comfortable with.

 

[PoPo22]

weapons choice

It seems this topic is eternal and everyone has an opinion, most are correct within certain perameters. Different folks are introduced into the "gun culture" using different weapons for similar and different purposes. A lot of my ex-military friends were indoctrinated with the idea that a "handgun" is only a "last resort" weapon if you cannot get to or your rifle in "non-functional". Within certain perameters I would say this is sage advice, a rifle has many advantages over a handgun in many situations, caliber, velocity, mag-capacity, range, etc. Above all, it is the "tool" they are most familiar and confortable with.

Likewise, many are introduced to shooting and guns through the use of a "handgun" or a "shotgun", and also more familiar and comfortable with a particular tool. Assuming that one does not have the "training and/or experience" to "know" which weapon he/she is most comfortable with in a given situation, then "training" is definitely in order. There are simply too many variables to say one weapon is absolutely superior over "all" others in every situation, to say so probably just shows ones propensity and experience with that given weapon platform, and considering that criteria, it is the best weapon (more experience and training with it).

If one is undecided and pondering this question then I would say that they should and would benefit from some professional training using different weapons. Then you will be able to make an "educated choice" based on your own situation and circumstances. If you are unable to secure professional training for whatever reason, get more experience shooting the weapons you have (watch and ask questions of knowledgeable people at the range) so that if a day comes, you are as familiar with them as possible. Avoid guru's and braggards, they can get you hurt. Good Luck

 

[Bookworm]

Well I'm in boxer shorts and ain't interested in carrying an extra mag in my arse

Ha Ha!! Maybe I had a couple too many, but that was funny.

 

[Prod]

I have both. If I hear something, and I need to investigate indoors, I'll use the pistol. If I'm going to go take a look in my backyard, I'll take the shotty. If I'm pretty sure someone is in my house or attempting to enter, I'll dial 911 and wait with the shotty.