About a year ago there was a video going around the net of a home invasion that happened in Pheonix. Two armed men come running in through the garage, and the home owner defended his place with an AR. IIRC, he wounded several of the attackers and may have even gotten the guy who was waiting in the car as a get away driver. IMHO, if you are planning on only falling victim to the thief that is going to come in alone and only wants your stuff, then don't even buy a gun. It is probably only going to get stolen from you, and you are not going to be mentally prepared to handle a situation where you are required to use it. I believe that if you are going to arm yourself with the goal of defending your home, you need to have a realistic plan (including possible threats) and know how you are going to defend yourself. How are you going to react when someone starts kicking your door in (or is already in your house). How quickly can you get to your weapon? Is that get-away driver going to hear shots and haul ass, or are you going to be ready for him too when he comes in to help his buddies? Are you going to be reloading your 5 shot pistol with mini-shotgun shells when the 2nd wave comes in? Personally, I have 3 weapons located in different parts of my house that I can get to quickly if I need to. I shoot (on average) 100 rounds a week. There are a lot of ways to skin this cat and "be ready". Weapon choice is important, but will quickly become useless if you don't have a plan and/or don't know how to operate the weapon. Virtually every time I go to the range there is someone in there who is shooting a pistol that they bought 5 years ago, has no doubt been sitting in their nightstand, and they can't hit center mass from 15 feet. How the hell is that person going to defend their house in the middle of the night? If someone thinks that having a gun is going to help them sleep at night, send them to their doctor and have them get a script for Ambien. Hope defense starts with midset and is backed up with training and planning. Pardon me while I check my dry good stores, count ammo, and keep a lookout for black helicopters.
I agree as long as you are sure you can make hits with the handgun at night while under stress. At my house at night it would be Glock 21SF (night stand) until I can get to my FN SLP (corner or under the bed) then AR or AK depending on need and what part of the house I'm in. I have a couple of other things scattered around just because I can. I don't ever want a bad guy between me and a weapon. Plus I get a kick out of knowing there are a couple of weapons laying around just out of sight anyway. The women in my life have been carefully screened too. They either have been or are shooters or they don't bitch about it. KISS Order of Battle
I think this was it. Lots of assholes and elbows flying once they find out it's a fair fight. Night time home invasion solution. http://vodpod.com/watch/1837682-hot-woman-deals-with-home-invasionvideo
True, but the same applies to any gun. At "indoor" range, I don't think the difference in skill to hit with a handgun vs an AR/shotgun is that big. Not to mention the other advantages to using a handgun, such as better handling indoors. I agree with the choice of the Glock as first response though. 1)Light and small enough to put in most convenient locations, AND easy to handle in the dark...not likely to snag on anything. 2)Simple enough that it takes very few brain cells to use. Point/pull OR rack/point/pull. 3)Reliable and accurate...if you do the "shooter" part right, the gun will hit the target. If you worry about additional threats, keep a larger weapon to fight to and keep additional magazines nearby.
Sounds sweet, only shotty I have in the house is my Nova 12, (for the boyds), modified choke is what stays in that (except during turkey season). Meant to pick up an 870 to play home d with, but ended up buying an eotec rig for my AR instead... Whoops..
Reading through this thread, it is amusing to note that everyone comes to their own home defense solutions based on what they see as likely to go down. If the image in your head is a well coordinated home invasion by battle hardened burglars who are willing to die IOT steal your family's jewels and have no other sense of self preservation, then you need claymores and an M2 on a tripod sitting at the top of the stairs. If the image in your head is a bumbling stoner who wants to steal a dvd player and some pringles so he can go buy a dimebag with his buddies, then a large rock will suffice. In the end, arguing is pointless if everyone has a different perception of what the most likely threat is, and the best way to combat that specific threat. Spot on.
Well, there ya are. Presupposing is one thing, preparedness is another. Mind set is quite important when it comes down to shooting up close and personal. If you haven't already got it in order, you will be way too late. That is the unfortunate fact that many face after the fact.
You did a poor job of summing up. I think that most folks here like to plan for for the worst case scenario, with the knowledge that it's a lot easier to adjust to a less severe threat, than spool up to meet one that is more dangerous than previously anticipated.
can anyone recommend a home defense shooting course? I've taken a few NRA pistol classes, but those were mostly geared to people who had literally never shot a gun before.
I'm going to guess you already have but if not you might consider taking your current state's CCW class to start. Not for the shooting but to learn the local law. I've taken a couple of local fighting carbine classes that taught me quite a bit. I need to take a fighting shotgun class but haven't yet. I like to shoot in the local 3 gun shoots now and then. I shoot those with the same guns I use for self defense. I think they've helped me sharp with tac reloads, transitions etc.
Might I suggest obtaining a Utah Concealed Weapons Permit. It has reciprocity with 33 other states. For a hundred bucks one of my local gun shops does all the paperwork for you, but I don't see any reason why you can't do it yourself. Link http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci/concealedfirearms.html
A double barreled shotgun with buckshot smaller than 00, maybe even #4 seems to be the best combination for home defense IMHO. Stoeger Arms agrees - look what they just released: two shots, easily reload in a pinch if you need more, and no action to mess with under stress (semi auto or pump).
I can't imagine using a double barrel for defense. If working a pump is too difficult for someone then there are semi-autos and they probably have bigger issues anyway.
No because its the one online FPS I consistently get my ass kicked at... I will, however, petition Infinity Ward to include a "rack slide" button in the next game, and use it to intimidate the other team while bunny hopping across the map
If you're headed towards Jax area... In St. Auggie there's a tactical training center http://www.attac-fl.com/ ...never been there...but...I've heard good things...but...... maybe it's just me but some of the local gun club 'tactical' classes are a little usefulness and a lot of garbage.. seems like some of the out of shape instructors have spent too much time around charlie during their spec-ops-agent-orange-impossible mission force-a team-cia escapades bottom line... from now on I think I'm going to demand to see some sort of credentials or take it from a reputable training center.
So a shotgun is not enough for a worst case scenario and your assertion is that you need a bedside AR to TRULY be prepared? Blindly ramping up the "worst case scenario" without any logic isn't being more prepared, it's just being retarded. What if they have hand grenades and high explosives? Clearly you are just paying it lip service unless you dig a fighting hole with a sump. I hope you have the range card for your house and yard filled out and it will take some effort...but unless you register the FPF you can't truly be safe either. I own a 6.8mm AR (among others) and no shotgun, and after this thread I feel like going out to buy a new 870...blah.
I don't think anyone's making the above case. However, incidences such as Katrina show the possibility of a localized many on one type of situation if we end up with marauding armed looters. In that case an AR would certainly be helpful. Or if you live in one of the Southwestern states and one of the cartel 'Zeta' hit teams that are beginning to operate on this side of the border (yes, that's actually what they are called) gets the wrong address. Ask rare21 if you want but I think there's a reason most departments carry an AR in the car instead of a shotgun. Not necessarily a bedside AR either - if you feel comfortable with a lower assumption of risk, keep your AR in the safe but loaded and ready and keep your shotgun/pistol close to your bed (to handle the majority of scenarios which may be pothead low end TV deals) and then you can fight your way to the AR if attacked by a mass force. Like Bevo said, it's not so much about going paranoid for the worst case scenario as having a continuum of force options.
Now you are just being obtuse. Hopefully you are doing it intentionally in a poor effort at making a point. I really hope you are not as dense as that last post makes you sound.
Clearly I am intentionally being obtuse...I did not literally mean that you should start setting up a defensive battle position in your house. The same way you have been obtuse with everything I have said previously. It is just irritating when I have stated several times over that we are debating two completely different topics, and you still keep going back to the same shit. Oh well, never been happier to get "negative rep" from someone.
I've had a CCW for about 8 years now. I found that the best self defense weapon is the one you actually carry. A weapon that is too big and bulky, and therefore not carried isn't too effective. I carry a Keltec P32. It's s tiny .32 ACP that I don't even realize I'm carrying most of the time. I picked up a Galco pocket holster several years back and it's great. As for cleaning, frankly, it gets cleaned and oiled about every two months - when I remember. Still, no rust, and it goes bang when needed. I know that my pistol has prevented me from being robbed on multiple occasions. About 18 months ago I was almost robbed while pumping gas - almost. Thankfully I saw the fella before he got on top of me. I was able to take a couple steps back and reach for my Keltec that was in my right front pocket. I didn't need to pull it out. As soon as the fella realized he was burned, he turned and ran. Now, had I bluffed without a gun, and he called, I would have ended up robbed and wounded. Instead, I drove away one in one peace with all my possessions.
