home defense, pistol or shotgun?

Question

i have both but i want to know realistically; from personal experiences, which is better to have near the bed etc...

Answer 1

I keep several pistols n revolvers near the bed and the long arms in the closet or gun safe. Why? Well I can better retain a handgun when I am groggy. A long gun is too easy to snatch when one is not fully awake n alert.

Best.

H

Answer 2

All things considered, a shotgun is the better choice. But yours is a unique situation. A shotgun can be a little much for a new user, a woman or when it's used indoors. Especially if the user is not familiar. I think a carbine, if you are proficient in its use, is more effective than a shotgun which is alien to you. A shotgun is loud, has heavy recoil, and can be hard to hit with. Contrary to what people will tell you, at "across-the-room" distances, the pattern from a shotgun will only spread a couple of inches in the first 20-25 feet or so. They will not "spray" buckshot, even with a short barrel. A 9mm carbine, firing +P or +P+ can equal or exceed the ballistics of a .357 Magnum handgun with lighter bullets. If you're worried about over penetration, there are plenty of light-bullet, prefragmented loads available to minimize penetration.

Answer 3

Any reliable 12 gauge shotgun, if you have a 20 laying around but no 12, this will work as second best. Keep length right at the legal minimum, this make for the best handling. I believe it is 18 or 18.5 inches for the barrel, but I like to leave about an extra 3/4' just to be sure I don't get one of my fingers over the barrel when working the pump.

For ammo, use a 2.75" shell with buckshot, I prefer 00 as that I don't have to worry about hitting anyone other than who intend to and it will be at less than 10 feet. I will not miss at that range. You could step up to 3" magnums but that will just inflict more punishment on you in the form of recoil.

Answer 4

If was only going to own one gun, it would be a 12 ga. pump. All it's usually going to take to deter a bad guy at 3 AM is to hear you "rack one". If Step One doesn't work, hitting him from across a poorly-lit room with a load of 00 is much easier than hitting him with a handgun. On the other hand, a handgun is much quicker and easier to grab, and is what I personally use for home defense. The .40 S&W is a great balance of knockdown power and ease of handling.

Answer 5

"j d" would be correct - the Remington 870 loaded with #4 Buck is a good way to go

Any "reliable" pistol that fires the 45acp would also be a good choice.

It depends on the circumstances and situation in which you live.

It's much easier to "clear" a home with a handgun - hopefully you will get/have training, but, it takes a lot more training to learn to clear a home with a shotgun than it does with a handgun.

Answer 6

357 Magnum near the bed.** 12 or 20 gauge shotgun with # 4 Buckshot with Improved cylinder or cylinder choke.**

Answer 7

have both personally I use a mossberg 12 guage with 20 in barrell and pistol grip loaded with tactical load (lower recoil) 00 buckshot my wife can handle it as well as I can and it will not over penetrate like my 45

Answer 8

shotgun without a doubt you still gotta aim it but no pistols has the same one shot stop numbers as a good ole 12g with 00 buck.

Answer 9

I would say the .45. Quicker to grab and better to turn tight corners with. I will say I am blessed never to have had to defend my home and family, I have however walk through my home simulating a break in.

Answer 10

id say any 12GA. with 00 B buck shot if your gun can use 3" use 3"(thats what the police use) but if you do chose the pistol get some safetyslug ammo its a lead bullet with lead pellets inside you can get these from http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/