You Are the Target in a Home Invasion Scenario. Which Defensive Weapon Do You Reach For First?

[murf]

a holstered glock 19 under my pillow when in bed, an lcp in my pocket otherwise.

murf

 

[Old Dog]

Handgun at my bedside gets me to my shotgun strategically placed/securely hidden in my living room (center of the house).

One suspects that most prudent folks, in the event of a home invasion don't rush to their living rooms in the centers of their homes. Many would probably prefer to get to a room (preferably with an egress point) capable of being secured, even if temporarily.

But I could be wrong. (I was wrong once.)

 

[Mstafford88]

One suspects that most prudent folks, in the event of a home invasion don't rush to their living rooms in the centers of their homes. Many would probably prefer to get to a room (preferably with an egress point) capable of being secured, even if temporarily.

But I could be wrong. (I was wrong once.)

One also suspects that most folks don’t have over a decade of law enforcement experience and extensive training. But that’s only a small portion of the population.

But you’re right: In reality, I’d be more likely to post up with my handgun between my family and the threat. With the assumption that there is time to do so. If given the time, that’s where the long rifle comes in. Which seems to be a general consensus.

 

[The Night Rider]

One also suspects that most folks don’t have over a decade of law enforcement experience and extensive training. But that’s only a small portion of the population.

But you’re right: In reality, I’d be more likely to post up with my handgun between my family and the threat. With the assumption that there is time to do so. If given the time, that’s where the long rifle comes in. Which seems to be a general consensus.

So you're leaving a rifle in the center of the house for the bad guy to pick up?

 

[Mstafford88]

So you're leaving a rifle in the center of the house for the bad guy to pick up?

It’s in a hidden compartment and above where kids can get to it. Hopefully he wouldn’t make it that far anyway but any guests we’ve had over have never even known it existed. And I’ve utilized it when needed for a late night knock at the door while in the living room (the pistol that’s hidden in the same thing)

 

[Mstafford88]

So you're leaving a rifle in the center of the house for the bad guy to pick up?

Sent you a DM, I think you’ll like it but to each his own. As Mike Tyson said tho, and regardless of training: Everyone has a plan til they get punched in the face. So who knows. Hopefully I’d revert back to training, but at least I’m pretty decent with my pistol if I can’t get to the scattergun

 

[JTHunter]

20ga SxS with #4 bird shot is my first grab. It's beside the bed within arms reach. Across the bedroom, it would be effective enough without requiring precise shot placement...assuming I was awaken by the intrusion. I've never practiced shooting from my bed or half asleep and could be wrong, but it seems a shotgun would be more forgiving.

For starters, #4 shot is small and doesn't have much ability to penetrate heavy clothing. That's why I have OO Buck and #4 Buck in my SxS.
Second, depending on the choke that is in your barrel, "shot placement" IS advisable. The barrel that has the OO Buck has a Skeet #1 choke, just slightly tighter than a Cylinder choke (wide open). The #4 Buck has the next tighter constriction, Improved Cylinder. With these 2 barrels set the way they are, it only made a pattern about 10" vertical and 12" horizontal (it IS a SxS) at 10 feet from the end of the barrel. Backed into the corner of the bedroom, the muzzles are only about 8' from the bedroom door so the pattern will be even smaller. The idea is that, by aiming for either the groin or the neck, the trauma should be severe, even if they are wearing some kind of armor.

 

[JTHunter]

Rider - the problem with that is that there would be too much "collateral damage" to your home.
Outside is a whole 'nuther ball game.

 

[Ranger99]

This happens every day in America. So we have to have a plan to counteract it. . . .

Yes it certainly does
Unfortunately, because of the proliferation of woke government officials, the way
crime is reported and recorded these
days is scewed
Here locally, the woke D.A. and city
management and the former police chief
changed the way crime is reported because of the spiraling murder and
theft rate. The former police chief was
on television saying that criminals were
forced to commit crimes to make it,
and the D.A. won't prosecute theft and
the police won't respond to a theft call.
They won't enforce the law, and they don't want anybody to defend their property and their lives either.
I don't enable or make excuses for
criminals, and I don't care anything for
those that do.
A law abiding citizen should be able to
use whatever level of force necessary
to defend themselves against crime.

Like others have posted, I use whatever
I can get to first on my way to something
that will stop a criminal in the act, and
preserve my life and property
A law abiding citizen shouldn't face
any repercussions for defending what's
theirs

 

[luzyfuerza]

This happens every day in America.

Actually, a home break-in happens in excess of 8,000 times a day in the US. With 131 million households, this means that one in 45 is broken into (burglarized) in the US EACH year.

Not every one of these involves an occupied dwelling. But many do.

These are sobering facts for anyone who would minimize the risk of home invasion.

None other than Tom Givens addresses these numbers, and his recommended responses here:

https://ccwsafe.com/news/in-self-defense-podcast-116-tom-givens-on-home-defense-part-1/

and here:

https://ccwsafe.com/news/in-self-defense-podcast-117-tom-givens-on-home-defense-part-2/ (this is the same link @GEM posted above)



Tom's thoughts on any self-defense-related topic are always worth considering.

BTW, he uses a shotgun to defend his home. He explains how he came to that conclusion in part II.

 

[CoalTrain49]

HK45 with a light. Not a yuge fan of shotguns and rifles for HD. I have those but they're locked up in my safe.

I'll go out on a limb here and say the latest HD craze of shotguns for SD is an attempt by manufacturers to sell more guns and trainers to sell more classes. Granted, they're very effective at close range if one trains. But hardly anyone trains with a shotgun. Several reasons there. No place to train and ammo is very expensive. 00 buckshot is about 0.50/rd. 9x19 is about half that. I'll stop there but there are some other considerations also.

That's why the poll is so skewed in favor of a pistol for HD. Most people understand the disadvantages of rifles and shotguns for HD.

 

[Ranger99]

As long as you can accurately poke
a hole where one needs poking and
can penetrate whatever tac vest the
cul-de-sac commando is wearing
that violated the sanctity of your
home to make him cease his
threatening advance.
Whatever you're discharging needs
to be effective and decisive

Civilians in their own home and
police should never ever never
have to grapple with intruders.
I don't know where that manure
laden idea came from.
Use however much force is
needed to stop the confrontation

 

[Ranger99]

Can't make it post here
I always direct people to the
Clint Smith Thunder Ranch
yoofloob Defensive Shotgun
for 2 minutes 48 seconds
worth of free wisdom

 

[Old Dog]

But hardly anyone trains with a shotgun.

You've kind of hit the nail on the head here. Even in my last career where, as a firearms instructor, I had to convince, plead with, cajole, encourage and motivate my officers to get through the shotgun quals, I never really saw more than the oddball or two who actually enjoyed our shotgun training. Let's face it: it's just not that fun training to use 00 buck out of an 18.5 or 20 inch barreled pump shotgun. They're heavy, not ergonomic in the slightest, require conscious thought to keep firing, require good technique to master recoil and avoid bruising shoulders, chests and biceps, but in any case, with 00, still kick like a rented mule.

Whereas most folks loved, absolutely loved and wanted to keep shooting, the pistol qual courses. Experienced personnel learned to appreciate shooting the AR-15 patrol carbine.

I had a female officer tell me once after academy shotgun training, while showing me the huge eggplant bruising on her arm and shoulder, "You can't tell me everyone likes doing this."

Did I ever tell you my story about how one of our SRT officers completely missed a guy in a hallway from less than 10' away with his 870? Adrenaline, ya know. Apparently fired over the guy's left shoulder as he was running toward him (the suspect was taken out by another officer with a .45), but nice 8" - 10" pattern in the wall at the end of the hall to the right of a bathroom door.

 

[wayneinFL]

I have about 1500 square feet, and live most of my life in 300 square feet of it- the front bedroom office or master bedroom in the back. You would need a ladder to get to those windows, so an intruder is more likely coming in the kitchen or living room. The doors open out, and I keep them deadbolted religiously, so they're not just going to kick them in one kick and come in. Fastest way would be to pry them open, and while there's probably someone on here who's really fast with a Halligan tool, I figure I have at least 5-10 seconds. Unless they break a window and crawl over furniture to get in- 2 seconds.

The dog starts barking when they pull into the driveway or stop on the street. I should have minimum 4 seconds to get ready.

That's probably enough time to get to the AR by the bed or by my desk. I'd probably go for a handgun, since it's quicker and I'm more familiar with it. Half asleep without my glasses I'm probably better off with the night sights on my pistol.

If I'm in the bedroom at night It's dark, and there's a light on in the kitchen. Anybody coming into the bedroom is backlit and going through a 10' funnel to get there. I would be behind decent cover for handguns/223- there are two concrete block walls between me and the kitchen and one concrete block wall between me and the living room.

If I'm in the front bedroom, there is a concrete block wall and a fireplace between me and the living room.

The off chance that I'm caught with my pants down, completely surprised and away from any of my guns- I'm depending on the 6 round revolver in my pocket, and need about a 2 second draw.

 

[Kleanbore]

Did I ever tell you my story about how one of our SRT officers completely missed a guy in a hallway from less than 10' away with his 870?

A dozen years ago or thereabouts, there was the case where a man who heard someone trying to break in through a side door made a series of mistakes that proved fatal. He went out the back door with a shotgun.

He went around to the side yard.

He came up behind the perp and tried to shoot him in the back.

He missed.

He was killed.

 

[Old Dog]

He missed.

He was killed.

Yep, it seems there is still that group of folks out there that believe one doesn't need to actually aim a shotgun, just point it in the general direction of what/who you want to shoot... Thank you, Hollywood.

The dog starts barking when they pull into the driveway or stop on the street.

Territorial dogs are the greatest alarm system ever that cannot be replaced by, say, ADT or Simplisafe.

My GSDs woof if someone even stops a vehicle on the road anywhere near the mouth of my driveway (80 yards from my garage), and if a car whose sound they don't recognize actually enters the driveway, the barkage will commence.

How I always know the brown truck is arriving with my goodies

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Honestly ? If I've any measure of time to prepare after the invaders kicking in a double security door, blundering through a fab shop full of equipment and projects, and kicking in a 2nd door; it'll be my 870 stocked with 5+1 00 buckshot. Zastava M70 stays nearby 24/7, but I'm reaching for the shotgun.

 

[hso]

Forcible Entry

Used to "Breaking and Entering". IOW, breaking into a house. Now the definition can be breaking and entering or entering by threat. Break a window to burgle - Forcible Entry. Kick a weak door in - Forcible Entry. etc.

 

[Littlef]

Used to "Breaking and Entering". IOW, breaking into a house. Now the definition can be breaking and entering or entering by threat. Break a window to burgle - Forcible Entry. Kick a weak door in - Forcible Entry. etc.

I concur.

 

[GEM]

Tom's thoughts on any self-defense-related topic are always worth considering.

BTW, he uses a shotgun to defend his home. He explains how he came to that conclusion in part II.

Tom teaches a great shotgun class. So if you do chose to go that way, Tom would say to take something like that and practice up. Not to speak for him, but I don't think he is favor of the shotgun (or any gun) as a wonder weapon without training.

 

[shafter]

Actually, a home break-in happens in excess of 8,000 times a day in the US. With 131 million households, this means that one in 45 is broken into (burglarized) in the US EACH year.

Not every one of these involves an occupied dwelling. But many do.

These are sobering facts for anyone who would minimize the risk of home invasion.

None other than Tom Givens addresses these numbers, and his recommended responses here:

https://ccwsafe.com/news/in-self-defense-podcast-116-tom-givens-on-home-defense-part-1/

and here:

https://ccwsafe.com/news/in-self-defense-podcast-117-tom-givens-on-home-defense-part-2/ (this is the same link @GEM posted above)



Tom's thoughts on any self-defense-related topic are always worth considering.

BTW, he uses a shotgun to defend his home. He explains how he came to that conclusion in part II.

Statistics can paint an incomplete picture. 1 in 45 comes out to 2.2 percent of homes. In a city of 100,000 people that's a little over 2000 break-ins. The overwhelming majority of those will be drug related and take place in trailer parks and slums. The numbers aren't spread evenly throughout the population. Crime can and does happen anywhere but it's important to not let the numbers lie.

 

[uuolf]

This happens every day in America. So we have to have a plan to counteract it.

in this scenario it is one man or women against the invaders.

Please explain your choice.

It really depends on the time and what I'm doing... I'm ALWAYS armed with my 10mm no matter when and where... so I chose handgun because of that... If I'm in the shop or bedroom it will be an AR though.

 

[uuolf]

Home invasions, multiple assailants have been on the rise in recent years. Millions of illegal immigrants are only going to make it worse in the years to come. Out of control inflation, easy access to drugs, most police departments understaffed, soft on crime judicial system, stuff just getting weird.

I've taken to being armed inside my own home. First up is my EDC. Either a 1911 and 4 mags or a Sig p365 with 4 mags. I keep a G-17 with a 33rd mag by the bed at night and within easy reach during the day. Still pretty good at rapid fire at close range, practice mag dumps often. It's going to get noisy in here. I can't compete with Jerry Mickulek, but I wouldn't want to be the first critter in line through the door.

Older, so I doubt there will be time to get to anything other than what I grab first. I'll have to repel boarders with whatever I happen to have on hand and hope for the best. Layered defenses aren't an option as I live on a boat, but I've hardened as much as I can.

Good security system with cloud connected cameras. At least the police will know who did it. Big plus, I don't look like I have anything worth stealing. Grey man lifestyle, I don't attract attention.

I have no illusions, John Wick I ain't. A determined crew of 3+ will put me down pretty quick so my only option is to get ugly fast and unleash hell in what very little time I will have.

Yes. I am working on moving as soon as home prices drop as I figure I'm more secure here than in an apartment.

Doing the best I can with what I've got. Just not much to lose anymore so I don't worry and lose any sleep over it

Nicely worded...

 

[luzyfuerza]

Statistics can paint an incomplete picture. 1 in 45 comes out to 2.2 percent of homes. In a city of 100,000 people that's a little over 2000 break-ins. The overwhelming majority of those will be drug related and take place in trailer parks and slums. The numbers aren't spread evenly throughout the population. Crime can and does happen anywhere but it's important to not let the numbers lie.

And, those who don't use statistics carefully can draw erroneous conclusions.

For example, there are about 2.5 people in an average US household. If 1 in 45 households are burglarized per year, on average, in a city of 100,000 residents, then that's actually 889 breakins per year in that city.

Much more importantly, a rate of one in 45 breakins per household per year translates to a rate of one breakin per just 4.5 households over the course of a decade.

Of course, we don't face risks like this for just one year. Instead, we often evaluate risk over the course of several years, or even a lifetime.

A last observation: I wonder how many members here live, or have lived, in a trailer park, a low-cost apartment, or a "slum". Are you saying that a breakin in a trailer park means less than a breakin in a manicured suburban home? Or a mansion?