You Are the Target in a Home Invasion Scenario. Which Defensive Weapon Do You Reach For First?
- Thread starter IJ1981
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XD mod 2 subcompact 3.3" in .45acp with a 13 round magazine which sits on my night stand. Maneuverable, powerful and concealable in a jacket or robe pocket if I need to go outside to check on something. I wouldn't want to try to maneuver inside with a long gun.
But the real fire power is a very protective German shepherd that is ready to rip anyone suspicious to shreads if they are foreign to her..
But the real fire power is a very protective German shepherd that is ready to rip anyone suspicious to shreads if they are foreign to her..
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IJ1981
Member
An amazing response on this issue! Thank you all. Great introspection, practical and logical reactions. .
A special shout out to Jeff White, who in two lengthy posts, covered most of the bases in this complex topic
A special shout out to Jeff White, who in two lengthy posts, covered most of the bases in this complex topic
JTHunter
Member
There is a gun rack on the wall next to my bed. On the bottom is a 12 ga. SxS, with an AK with a 40 rd. "banana" on the top.
Hanging on one of the hooks is the holster belt holding my .357, 2 speedloaders, and a pouch for a 50 rd. box. The 12 ga. has 2 each 3" 00 Buck and #4 Buck with 15 & 40 pellets respectively. As I'm literally backed into the corner of the room opposite the door, whatever "unknown" comes through the door gets peppered.
So I have all three types ready and "at hand".
Hanging on one of the hooks is the holster belt holding my .357, 2 speedloaders, and a pouch for a 50 rd. box. The 12 ga. has 2 each 3" 00 Buck and #4 Buck with 15 & 40 pellets respectively. As I'm literally backed into the corner of the room opposite the door, whatever "unknown" comes through the door gets peppered.
So I have all three types ready and "at hand".
Old Dog
Member
Here's what I said in a thread in the revolver sub-forum. I think it applies here. Some members apparently believe that a "home invasion" type situation could never happen to them.
Back before the turn of the century, the family was living in temporary accommodations (waiting on our new house), an upscale apartment complex with a great pool and fitness center. A creep that hung out there, constantly making the women feel uncomfortable, followed a young female resident home, apparently clever enough to realize the first thing she'd do would be showering, watched her enter her front door, then went around the side of her unit and entered through the sliding glass door. He found her in the shower, and her body was found in her bedroom; she'd been stabbed to death. She was not his first nor last victim. But she was one of two killed in our complex, and it could have been my wife or oldest daughter, who both fit his victim profile and spent time swimming, lifting weights and using the exercise machines.
I'm familiar with other cases where some serial armed robbers used to follow well-dressed (presumably businessmen) people into the restrooms of the city's transit centers (subway and train stations) and kick in the doors to toilet stalls and rob their victims.
I recall reading about a case in another state where some local tweakers, one apparently who worked as a laborer for a contractor that had done work on a guy's house, and was thus familiar with his habit of leaving his home unlocked while he worked on his large subsistence garden on his acreage, arrived and loaded up half his house. For some reason, the victim had needed to go back to his house (bathroom or meal break?), confronted the robber and was beaten severely.
Again, it's not the odds, it's the stakes. There are few safe places these days since the bad guys are mobile and gravitate towards areas full of unexpecting, compliant and convenient victims.
As a caveat, I would just say for those folks that have contractors coming in to work in/around/outside their homes, ensure you have a list of every worker on the project that ever comes on your property/inside your home. I speak from personal experience. Also a good idea, if you have teenagers, know who they bring into your home and don't ever, ever let anyone into bedrooms or the rooms in which you may keep firearms or have a gun safe.
Back before the turn of the century, the family was living in temporary accommodations (waiting on our new house), an upscale apartment complex with a great pool and fitness center. A creep that hung out there, constantly making the women feel uncomfortable, followed a young female resident home, apparently clever enough to realize the first thing she'd do would be showering, watched her enter her front door, then went around the side of her unit and entered through the sliding glass door. He found her in the shower, and her body was found in her bedroom; she'd been stabbed to death. She was not his first nor last victim. But she was one of two killed in our complex, and it could have been my wife or oldest daughter, who both fit his victim profile and spent time swimming, lifting weights and using the exercise machines.
I'm familiar with other cases where some serial armed robbers used to follow well-dressed (presumably businessmen) people into the restrooms of the city's transit centers (subway and train stations) and kick in the doors to toilet stalls and rob their victims.
I recall reading about a case in another state where some local tweakers, one apparently who worked as a laborer for a contractor that had done work on a guy's house, and was thus familiar with his habit of leaving his home unlocked while he worked on his large subsistence garden on his acreage, arrived and loaded up half his house. For some reason, the victim had needed to go back to his house (bathroom or meal break?), confronted the robber and was beaten severely.
Again, it's not the odds, it's the stakes. There are few safe places these days since the bad guys are mobile and gravitate towards areas full of unexpecting, compliant and convenient victims.
As a caveat, I would just say for those folks that have contractors coming in to work in/around/outside their homes, ensure you have a list of every worker on the project that ever comes on your property/inside your home. I speak from personal experience. Also a good idea, if you have teenagers, know who they bring into your home and don't ever, ever let anyone into bedrooms or the rooms in which you may keep firearms or have a gun safe.
The Night Rider
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Meteor Shower?
The Night Rider
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Worth the 8 minutes
Ethan Verity
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My dedicated home defense option is a fully loaded AR-15 rifle under my bed in a quick access safe, loaded up with 62gr Federal XM556SBCT3 softpoints.
That's assuming I have enough forewarning of a break in, or happen to already be upstairs. I also carry a S&W Model 642 revolver as my 'around the house' gun... that will either save me right then and there, or give me a good fighting change to get to my AR-15.
That's assuming I have enough forewarning of a break in, or happen to already be upstairs. I also carry a S&W Model 642 revolver as my 'around the house' gun... that will either save me right then and there, or give me a good fighting change to get to my AR-15.
JeffG
Member
I wear a Glock 43 on my hip all my waking hours. I have a Glock 23 on a magnet mount in the XXXXXX. Then I go to the M1a.
Space Ghost
Member
I'm just gonna guess the scenario was for a night time invasion...
Right beside the bed, and leaning up against the wall, and the headboard leg, is an SBR of the AR variety. It has an 11.5" Sig 516 upper with a Midwest Industries handguard. The Aimpoint Comp M4s red dot sight, provides near instantaneous targeting. Surefire provides low light vision and sound suppression with a Scout light, and a 762 SOCOM MINI2 suppressor. Trigger is a Fostech Echo AR-II, sling is Blue force, and the magazine has 30 rounds of the IMI 77 gr Razor Core. (MK 262 Mod 1 clone)
As asked for... there are reasons I chose this up.
1. The MK 262 has shown itself to be a very capable anti-personnel round. Exactly what's needed for home invaders.
2. The AR-15 has (since it was first developed in the mid 50s) evolved into the quintessential American defensive/sporting rifle. A shortened version (SBR) is even more handy within the confines of a home.
3. The use of a suppressor mitigates much of the blast that would be greatly increased by shooting a rifle indoors, while the piston driven system (Sig 516) helps keep the weapon cleaner, and cooler, especially when shooting suppressed.
4. Having a weapon mounted light allows for searching areas, making positive ID of threat/friend, and can also be used to disorient a threat momentarily.
5. The sling allows the weapon to be held by the body, while hands can do other tasks, and can greatly aid in a struggle for retention.
6. The binary trigger 30 rounds of quality ammo is, well, self explanatory. Anything worth shooting, is worth shooting twice... and quickly.
7. Most importantly, (and this is a biggie) the AR platform just happens to be what I'm most comfy with in my hands.
I spent 28 years in the U.S. Army, and have deployed to war multiple times with similar weapons. After spending half my life with one in my hands... the weapon system is just second nature to me.
It's what I'm best with. It's what I've used in battle to save my life before, and I have no doubt it would serve well in that role again if need be.
Anybody chooses a weapon for home defense should IMHO choose the one they know best. (be it rifle, handgun, or shotgun)
In that moment of fear & panic, you must react instinctually, and without pause. You will not have time to remember steps.
Right beside the bed, and leaning up against the wall, and the headboard leg, is an SBR of the AR variety. It has an 11.5" Sig 516 upper with a Midwest Industries handguard. The Aimpoint Comp M4s red dot sight, provides near instantaneous targeting. Surefire provides low light vision and sound suppression with a Scout light, and a 762 SOCOM MINI2 suppressor. Trigger is a Fostech Echo AR-II, sling is Blue force, and the magazine has 30 rounds of the IMI 77 gr Razor Core. (MK 262 Mod 1 clone)
As asked for... there are reasons I chose this up.
1. The MK 262 has shown itself to be a very capable anti-personnel round. Exactly what's needed for home invaders.
2. The AR-15 has (since it was first developed in the mid 50s) evolved into the quintessential American defensive/sporting rifle. A shortened version (SBR) is even more handy within the confines of a home.
3. The use of a suppressor mitigates much of the blast that would be greatly increased by shooting a rifle indoors, while the piston driven system (Sig 516) helps keep the weapon cleaner, and cooler, especially when shooting suppressed.
4. Having a weapon mounted light allows for searching areas, making positive ID of threat/friend, and can also be used to disorient a threat momentarily.
5. The sling allows the weapon to be held by the body, while hands can do other tasks, and can greatly aid in a struggle for retention.
6. The binary trigger 30 rounds of quality ammo is, well, self explanatory. Anything worth shooting, is worth shooting twice... and quickly.
7. Most importantly, (and this is a biggie) the AR platform just happens to be what I'm most comfy with in my hands.
I spent 28 years in the U.S. Army, and have deployed to war multiple times with similar weapons. After spending half my life with one in my hands... the weapon system is just second nature to me.
It's what I'm best with. It's what I've used in battle to save my life before, and I have no doubt it would serve well in that role again if need be.
Anybody chooses a weapon for home defense should IMHO choose the one they know best. (be it rifle, handgun, or shotgun)
In that moment of fear & panic, you must react instinctually, and without pause. You will not have time to remember steps.
Hugger-4641
Member
I voted handgun because I always have one on me. However, if I have enough reaction time, a shotgun is probably what I'm reaching for. It really depends on the circumstances. 3 or 4 attackers, shotgun is probably adequate. 2 carloads of aggressors in a SHTF scenario, I'll be grabbing something else.
Howland937
Member
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.
If I'm already awake, the gun I'm carrying right now is never more than arms reach away. So it really depends on when the intrusion occurs.
If I'm already awake, the gun I'm carrying right now is never more than arms reach away. So it really depends on when the intrusion occurs.
Have you patterned the shotgun at that range? The pattern wouldn't be wider then the bore unless you have a huge bedroom.
So few people seem to realize that....
Yep, when folks just praise the shotgun - I think you need to take a shotgun class or two and then run it in competitions also to practice it's manipulation and use under some stress. I've done this and it was well worth it. I've read expert shotgun trainers pointing out the utility of shotguns for those who are to speed (appreciate the limited rounds) and the manipulation skills vs. know errors. People may mess up the pump rack and not really have a reflexive motor skill set for the excellent semis.
Trying to deal with multiple assailants in a 3D shoot house with a coach gun suggests Uncle Joe doesn't really understand more than shooting the DoorDash guy through the front door.
Yeah, patterning is important. Saw a guy get quite surprises when his rifled slug barrel shot a big old wide donut pattern of shot. Oops. That wouldn't have worked well for him. Also, on the run, guess what - close up you can miss with 00. The pattern is tight.
Trying to deal with multiple assailants in a 3D shoot house with a coach gun suggests Uncle Joe doesn't really understand more than shooting the DoorDash guy through the front door.
Yeah, patterning is important. Saw a guy get quite surprises when his rifled slug barrel shot a big old wide donut pattern of shot. Oops. That wouldn't have worked well for him. Also, on the run, guess what - close up you can miss with 00. The pattern is tight.
Howland937
Member
I have checked it at 15 feet. The pattern is roughly the size of a golf ball, which makes me like my chances better than trying to hit something important with a projectile about 1/5 that diameter. Add longer sight radius if I choose to shoulder it. I've also found while shooting indoors, the farther away my ears are from the muzzle, the less it hurts. 26" barrels VS 4.25".
I did mention though that I've never shot any kind of gun from my bed or when I wasn't fully awake. I do know that dexterity is a concern and think (hope?) the shotgun would be easier to manipulate as it has bigger handles.
Wouldn't it make sense to set your home up with physical security features that would preclude having to engage an intruder from your bed?
Howland937
Member
Just laying out a worst case scenario...home invasion, don't hear them until they crash into the bedroom searching for valuables. There are other security measures in place, not counting the lego and hot wheels booby traps I seem to find on my way to the bathroom at night.
I wake up if my kid sneezes at night, but I did sleep through a tornado that missed my house by about 200 feet. The sirens that went off did wake me up, but they were a few minutes late.
Aren't those outlawed by the Hague Convention? I don't think my grandkids signed it............
.308 Norma
Member
beeenbag
Member
Depends on the scenario…
A suspicious sound or something unknown I’m going to have to go cautiously check out for peace of mind, my handgun that I carried that day and laid on my nightstand.
An obvious and abrupt home invasion, I’m reaching past the handgun on the nightstand and grabbing my 870 with flashlight and buckshot.
A suspicious sound or something unknown I’m going to have to go cautiously check out for peace of mind, my handgun that I carried that day and laid on my nightstand.
An obvious and abrupt home invasion, I’m reaching past the handgun on the nightstand and grabbing my 870 with flashlight and buckshot.
Atavar
Member
The problem with having unsecured guns scattered around the house is that you are as likely to arm the evildoers as you are to defend yourself.
That’s sorta like the people who put up gun warning signs on their property. It translates to "This place is worth burgling"
That’s sorta like the people who put up gun warning signs on their property. It translates to "This place is worth burgling"
Howland937
Member
No, but they can still go skating across the hardwood floor...sometimes that seems worse than bare feet and Legos. I've even told the kid to pick his stuff up so I don't get sued when some burglar breaks his neck trying to rob us.
I wouldn't count on the home invader(s) being barefoot though.
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