Home Protection Firearm

[TheLostGringo]

Been encouraged to take the Firearms safety class and the wife wants me to get a gun for the house.

I am sure that during the class I will get some ideas myself but wondered what the Forum thought would be a good first gun used for Home Protection primarily.

[replicant_argent]

Depends on the situation, your and your wifes familiarity with firearms. Generally? It is very hard to argue with a short barrelled 12 gauge with a very bright light mounted underbarrel. Whatever your choice, whether handgun, shotgun, or (rarely) rifle, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice. Make sure you know and understand what the lethal force responsibilities and legalities may be in your state.

[Zeuceone]

also do some research on ammo. some ammo can keep on trveling threw walls.

[bvilchez]

I applaud your concerns for safety. Do as much research as you can. AFTER you have taken a firearms safety class I would suggest going to a range where you have the option of shooting various calibers such as the .40 and 9mm.

If you are going to have it at home I would suggest your wife taking the class as well and going with you to try the different options also.

Originally Posted by Zeuceone

also do some research on ammo. some ammo can keep on trveling threw walls.

Please do not look into this type of ammo. There are 5 safety rules I go by:

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
2. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you intend to fire.
4. Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire.
5. Know youor target and what lies beyond.

You might learn something different while at your class but by all means think safety first. By the looks of it you're on the right track.

[markem]

Everyone. I repeat, everyone, in your home must be trained to handle any firearms in the home. The exception is with minors who cannot be trusted due to age or lack of maturity. Mind you, some adults cannot be trusted due to lack of maturity as well, you make the call.

In my opinion, you should take a firearms safety class followed by at least a firearms self defense class. Self defense shooting is a whole lot different from range shooting. Only then will you know what weapon you feel comfortable with, if any.

Personally, I like an aluminum baseball bat as the first line of defense followed by a short barrel shotgun followed by a handgun with shot shells alternating with hollow points. But that's just me.

Note that any weapon that is within easy reach of you any place you are in the house is within easy reach of a foe. Many times, the person breaking in knows the victim and all their hiding places.

At this point in my life, the best plan I can offer for self defense is a good escape route. I would encourage you to insure everything in your house because they are only things. Save the people with a great plan to get them out of harms way. Also, I would encourage an alarm with a panic button that has a remote control fob that can be worn on the person.

One last thing, in the event that your house is every broken in to, anyone escaping or getting to a window should yell "fire" as loud as they can. Most neighbors will respond to "fire" by calling 911 when they would ignore "help" or similar. At least that's what I'm told by some of my LEO friends.

[ucla695]

Originally Posted by Zeuceone

also do some research on ammo. some ammo can keep on trveling threw walls.

Great point if you have children or others sleeping in other rooms! Beware of collateral damage.

Originally Posted by Bruins Fan

12 gauge shotgun,nothing more scarier to a bad guy then a pump gun being racked.

AGREED! MY dad has scared off people in his back yard with this approach without confronting them

Originally Posted by bvilchez

I applaud your concerns for safety. Do as much research as you can. AFTER you have taken a firearms safety class I would suggest going to a range where you have the option of shooting various calibers such as the .40 and 9mm.

If you are going to have it at home I would suggest your wife taking the class as well and going with you to try the different options also.



Please do not look into this type of ammo. There are 5 safety rules I go by:

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
2. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you intend to fire.
4. Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire.
5. Know youor target and what lies beyond.

You might learn something different while at your class but by all means think safety first. By the looks of it you're on the right track.

Excellent points! Point #4 gets to your familiarity with the weapon. It shouldn't be in your house until you and your spouse know how to use it instinctively (worth mentioning I think).

Originally Posted by markem

Everyone. I repeat, everyone, in your home must be trained to handle any firearms in the home. The exception is with minors who cannot be trusted due to age or lack of maturity. Mind you, some adults cannot be trusted due to lack of maturity as well, you make the call.

In my opinion, you should take a firearms safety class followed by at least a firearms self defense class. Self defense shooting is a whole lot different from range shooting. Only then will you know what weapon you feel comfortable with, if any.

Personally, I like an aluminum baseball bat as the first line of defense followed by a short barrel shotgun followed by a handgun with shot shells alternating with hollow points. But that's just me.

Note that any weapon that is within easy reach of you any place you are in the house is within easy reach of a foe. Many times, the person breaking in knows the victim and all their hiding places.

At this point in my life, the best plan I can offer for self defense is a good escape route. I would encourage you to insure everything in your house because they are only things. Save the people with a great plan to get them out of harms way. Also, I would encourage an alarm with a panic button that has a remote control fob that can be worn on the person.

One last thing, in the event that your house is every broken in to, anyone escaping or getting to a window should yell "fire" as loud as they can. Most neighbors will respond to "fire" by calling 911 when they would ignore "help" or similar. At least that's what I'm told by some of my LEO friends.

Sage advice indeed!

[Eleven]

Originally Posted by markem

Everyone. I repeat, everyone, in your home must be trained to handle any firearms in the home. The exception is with minors who cannot be trusted due to age or lack of maturity. Mind you, some adults cannot be trusted due to lack of maturity as well, you make the call.

Amen. We taught my youngest son (the only one still living at home) how to shoot when he was 9. My wife pretty much learned along with him.

He was a very mature 9, and the range masters at my local range took extra time with him, helping him out. We were able to just go there and rent the guns for him and my wife to shoot, my S&W 9mm was a little much for him at that age.

[timo]

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...2_757751_image

[hotreds]

A shotgun cocking is enough to scare most any intruder. And, the scatter if you hafta shoot means you'll likely hit the intruder, and the pellets likely won't travel too far to endager neighbors et al.

[68TriShield]

Originally Posted by hotreds

A shotgun cocking is enough to scare most any intruder. And, the scatter if you hafta shoot means you'll likely hit the intruder, and the pellets likely won't travel too far to endanger neighbors et al.

Pete is right but in terms of weapon only,what Hugh said is the safer choice.If you can call firing a shotgun at someone safe.

Hence the bright light,be damn sure of who you might have to shoot.

[neoflex]

Originally Posted by hotreds

A shotgun cocking is enough to scare most any intruder. And, the scatter if you hafta shoot means you'll likely hit the intruder, and the pellets likely won't travel too far to endager neighbors et al.

This is my next purchase. I currently have a .40 and .45 in the house but the reasons above are why I am adding a shotgun as the first line of defense for the house.

[BlindedByScience]

Kudos for seeking out training and instruction first.

I'm very partial to a quality handgun in 9mm or larger. Equipped with a blinding LED flashlight and maybe even a laser sight, it's a very intimidating package that may prevent you from ever having to use it. My "things that go bump in the night" weapon is a Glock 23 in .40 with a Streamlight LED light / laser mounted on the rail.

Many training facilities and ranges have weapons you can rent. Try out several and ask the advice of folks you trust before you make a purchase. Then practice, practice, practice.....and practice some more. Did I mention practice...??

Lastly, along with the weapon, you need a way to secure it. I have a large floor standing safe, but bought one of these for daily storage. If we leave on a trip, the guns go in the big heavy safe, but the Gun Vault is pretty cool for daily storage, and is mounted near my bed so I can get into it quickly if required.

....did I mention practice...??

Be safe and good luck - N.F.H.

[Zeuceone]

dont forget to bolt the safe to the ground. heard many stories where they take the huge safe due to not being bolted down.

[Bruins Fan]

12 gauge shotgun,nothing more scarier to a bad guy then a pump gun being racked.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Bruins Fan

12 gauge shotgun,nothing more scarier to a bad guy then a pump gun being racked.

Shotgun for sure, especially if it comes down to using it. You won't miss in an inside home situation.

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Shotgun for sure, especially if it comes down to using it. You won't miss in an inside home situation.

You would be surprised to find out how easy it is to miss a target in an inside home situation, even with a shotgun. Extreme close quarters firing with a shotgun must be PRECISE firing. What you failed to realize is that when the shot leaves the barrel of the shotgun, it is not in the spread out pattern that it will be in 15-20 feet or so. When the shot leaves the barrel at that close of a range, it is in an extremely tight grouping. Again, train, train, and train. Take several different loads of rounds out to the range and do some practical shooting at very close distances(if possible, not all ranges allow things like this). Try shooting your selected rounds at a range of 5-10 feet and see what kind of grouping you get. You will be surprised just how accurate you must be to hit a target. Just because you have a shotgun does NOT mean you will automatically hit your target because you are aiming in the general area of the target.

[gettysburgfreak]

I'd go with an ar, they are easy to handle, you can keep it by your bed in hot standby, and you have a lot of ammo in one mag. Plus they are fun as hell to shoot.

[MarkinAZ]

My Remington P870 with #4 buck...

ps. safety, safety, and safety; practice, practice, and more practice!

Originally Posted by Bruins Fan

12 gauge shotgun,nothing more scarier to a bad guy then a pump gun being racked.

...Yes!

I currently use my Remington 870 20 gauge as home protection, but in a week I will be using my H&K 45 USP for concealed carry and home defense with a bed holster. It really all comes down to preference and what type of housing you are in. What ever you do, do not be tricked into using something crazy like 00 Buck for home defense. Those bad boys will go through your target and more than likely through your walls, endangering your neighbors. If you miss your target, you will REALLY endanger your neighbors. Since my shotgun is technically a hunting shotgun, it has a mag cap of 3 rounds that I outfit with #3 Buck, Birdshot, then another #3 Buck. Whatever weapon you decide to use, be extremely comfortable with it, familiarize yourself with the weapon and practice, practice, practice as much as you can. Range time helps tremendously, but also practicing clearing techniques specific to your house can be some of the most practical training you can do for free. Plan, practice, and hope to God in heaven that you never have to use it. Just my two cents.

[floydpink]

Me: Mossberg 500 for house. Smith and Wesson Airweight 38 for going out.