Having nothing more than a baseball bat isn’t going to give you much mental assurance or real physical protection in the event of a break-in while you’re at home.
Countless people have taken the responsibility to arm themselves appropriately for the protection of themselves, their property, and their families. There is little reason why you shouldn’t be prepared for the event of a home invasion for the same reasons.
Want to save this post for later? Click Here to Pin It On Pinterest!
Especially in the times we live in now, it is of the utmost importance to have the proper tools you need to defend yourself and your loved ones in your home. This last year, we have seen more social unrest alone than in most of our lifetimes. That’s on top of the economic recession, travel shutdowns, and the pandemic that has all resulted in the government introducing sweeping changes to how we live our daily lives.
People are simply more scared now than they have been in recent memory, and there’s no telling how worse things could get in the upcoming months. The massive economic uncertainty alone could very realistically lead to an increase in crime rates, which means that everyday people (such as yourself) could be at greater risk.
And if the massive social unrest we’ve seen continues to get worse, and if you live in a highly-populated area, then having suitable home defense firearms that are reliable and effective for defense (and knowing how to use them) is critically important.
With all that said, the following firearms are the best to keep your family alive in the event of a home invasion.
1. Mossberg 500/590
A long-standing consensus within the firearms community is that the venerable 12 gauge pump action shotgun is the best weapon for home defense. It’s reliable, devastating at close range when loaded with buckshot or slugs, and sometimes the sound of the pump racking alone will be enough to scare an intruder away.
Plus, shotguns and their ammunition are relatively inexpensive, allowing you to practice on the shooting range without breaking the bank.
For smaller statured people, a 20 gauge shotgun still offers devastating power with significantly less recoil (just make sure that the actual weight of the shotgun hasn’t been reduced, or the recoil between the two will be comparable).
When it comes to specific pump shotguns, the Mossberg 500/590 and the Remington 870 are easily the two most popular, and for good reason. Both are rugged, economical, have a proven track record, and can boast of a nearly limitless number of accessories to customize your weapon. Both will serve you equally well when it comes to home defense.
But between the two, an important factor tilts the balance in the Mossberg’s favor: the controls are more natural. Whereas the safety on the 870 is located on the rear of the trigger guard, the Mossberg’s naturally ambidextrous safety is located on the rear of the trigger guard.
The slide release (required to be pressed to rack the pump when a round is not in the chamber) on the Mossberg is located behind the trigger guard and is much easier to reach than the 870, where the slide release is found in front of the guard.
2. Glock 17/19
Any quality mid to full size 9mm duty pistol will work well for you for home defense: they carry a lot of rounds, have less than moderate recoil, and are cheap to train with due to the availability and low cost of 9mm ammo. Don’t think we’re limiting you to Glock. Beretta, HK, Kahr, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Taurus, and Walther all make quality pistols in this department that will serve you well.
There’s a reason why many people keep coming back to Glock. They may not be the most ergonomic or the most attractive guns on the market, but they have a lot of things going for them. They’re very simple when it comes to controls. You can learn how to field strip one in under two minutes. They go BANG practically every time.
They also have a proven track record that not too many other pistols can boast of. Spare magazines and accessories are very low cost and plentiful. Love it or hate it, the Glock has become the standard by which all other modern pistols are judged.
Even if you choose not to use a handgun as your primary home defense weapon, don’t discount it as a backup to a long gun. Hopefully, a fight with an intruder(s) won’t get that ugly where you need to fall back to your pistol, but it’s always comforting to have the option.
3. AR-15
An increasing number of break-ins and home invasions are sharing one thing in common: there are multiple intruders. If you have two or three or more people with bad intentions breaking into your house or property, you’ll want more than a shotgun or a handgun: you’ll want a semi-automatic rifle.
Shotguns have too low of a capacity for these kinds of situations, and a pistol means you may be outgunned if the intruders are armed with handguns and/or knives themselves. A semi-automatic carbine, such as an AR-15 in 5.56x45mm NATO, gives you greater capacity, longer range, and more velocity than a handgun.
Other good semi-auto carbines are out there, like AK-47s, Ruger Mini-14s, and IWI Tavor’s to name a few, but the AR-15 has the advantage of more common parts and accessories. Plus, if you’re on a budget, several affordable yet quality ARs have hit the marketplace from companies like Ruger and Smith & Wesson.
Related: 12 Budget-Friendly Firearms for Preppers
2. Ruger GP100/Smith & Wesson 686
Revolvers lack the capacity of a semi-auto pistol, and reloading times are also longer. Those are disadvantages you need to take into account. But a certain number of advantages still make the classic .357 double-action revolver with a 4-inch barrel a more than relevant home defense choice today.
Revolvers are inherently simpler, and some would say more reliable, than semi-auto pistols. This means that if you have any family members who are relatively inexperienced with firearms or who don’t like the slightly increased complexity of a semi-automatic, the revolver is a better choice when it comes to handguns.
The .357 Magnum round itself is a very powerful round that has gained a reputation for being a one-shot man stopper, and is sure to stop an invader. We recommend a full-size duty revolver, such as the Ruger GP100 or the Smith & Wesson 686, since they absorb the recoil better than a snubnosed revolver will and hold six rather than five rounds.
Another benefit to .357 Magnum revolvers is the fact that they can also chamber .38 Specials, which are cheaper to shoot for training purposes and offer less recoil for smaller statured people.
The GP100 is less expensive and more durable than the 686, being designed to shoot an unlimited number of .357 Magnum rounds thanks to its beefier frame and cylinder. The 686, while more expensive, has a nicer finish, an undeniably smoother trigger/hammer pull, and some models hold seven rather than six rounds. It’s up to you to decide what fits your preferences more, but when it comes to overall quality you’re not going to get any better than Ruger or Smith & Wesson.
5. Taurus Judge/Smith & Wesson Governor
The idea of a “shotgun pistol” has intrigued the imaginations of people for many years, but Taurus was the first company to convert that idea into a realistic home defense option with the introduction of their popular and economical Judge revolver, chambered in .410 Bore and .45 Long Colt. Smith & Wesson followed suit with the later release of their Governor model (take note, this is the only time Smith & Wesson has followed Taurus’ tracks, not the other way around).
.410 buckshot certainly doesn’t have the power of 12 or even 20 gauge, but one thing is for certain: an intruder is going to know they’ve been hit if they’re shot by one. .45 LC hollow points, while undeniably expensive, would arguably deliver even more knockdown power than the .410s.
The advantage to the Governor is that it holds one more round than the Judge and can also chamber .45 ACP with moon clips, boosting its versatility. On the other hand, the Judge arguably has a more ergonomic grip and can be had for a significantly lower price. For home defense, both will get the job done.
Bonus Gun: HK USP 45
We decided to add another great gun to the list. The HK USP 45 is a double-stacked .45 ACP pistol with a 12+1 round capacity. If you’re looking for a larger capacity .45 pistol, the USP is easily one of the best (if not the best) options available.
The USP is a double-action single-action hammer-fired pistol. The V1 version can be carried cocked and locked like a 1911; the V3 version lacks a safety but maintains the decocker.
The USP 45, along with its 9mm and .40 counterparts and its larger MK23 .45 cousin, holds the distinction of being one of the most torture tested pistols in existence. The USPs and MK23s went through extensive torture testing from Heckler & Koch, the United States SOCOM, and the German military.
USP pistols were subjected to extreme cold and hot temperatures, sand and mud, water, and being forced to fire through literally hundreds of thousands of rounds without a single stoppage. Perhaps most notably, a round was even lodged into a USP pistol and then fired out of it without any noticeable wear to the gun.
Overall, if you want a large capacity .45 ACP pistol that is of the utmost quality and has been tested to extremes few other pistols have, the USP 45 is arguably the best option that the market has to offer.
What To Read Next:6 Survival Guns You’ll Need After The End Of The World
Like this post? Don’t Forget to Pin It On Pinterest!
My favorite home defense weapon is by far the Kel-tech PLR-16. Short barreled AR-15, with a 100 round dual drum magazine. For a shotgun, the Saiga -12, a semi-auto with 12 round mags…
Any questions?
Which is the safest for in home activity? Will the bullets go through walls and hit someone in the next room?
I suggest a 12 gauge shotgun with some number 4 birdshot. It will be quite effective against a bad guy, but it is less likely to penetrate your interior walls. Check out Paul Harrell’s channel on YouTube for a good video on this very subject.
If you are concerned about over penetration you can still use a handgun as there are shot shells for most calibers 9mm 38 spl 40 s&w 45 acp even 22 basically it turns your handgun into a mini shotgun one point to be aware of is do not fire at the chest as so many have body armor go for the head or groin head is best your not likely to kill but you will incapacitate your intruders
My favorite home defense is our 4 pitbulls, sweet as punch to family but wonderful protectors of our home, I have a Beretta M9 if needed but an intruder will probably not get to the point I need to shoot him, unless it’s to save him the pain of being chewed up.
with dogs you have to feed them all the time. with a gun you only have to feed it when you use it!
I have a 9mm Taurus i bought from academy for 250 plus tax on sale. I bought ballistic bullets that I was told cut down on innocent bystanders. They shatter when they go in. They have what seems like candle wax in the tip. It came with 2 12 round clips and I have taken it to the country and love the feel and recoil. Never jams. Great pistol. Highly recommend!
When I left “” nam “” in 73 ‘ I send “ parts home “” of my M 60 ,,,, in 83 ‘ two persons broke into my very large home in L / A ,,, in found them in my living room ,,, one shot at me ,, the other one “” said is that real !!!! The “” clean up crew ,, took two days ,, too find all the parts !!!!! An the wall was not there !!!
Show me a news report.
were you in the 53rd coastal division(brown water navy)? I alternated on the M60 and 50 Cal on my boat. I’d love to see it, from a distance, but good for you!
I never respond to online articles but I just can’t stand to see this misinformation on the Ruger GP100/Smith & Wesson 686. I have done much research on the durability of the ruger vs s&w and the fact of the matter is Rugers are cast steel and S&W are forged steel. look it up. Look up cast steel vs forged steel and it will show that forged steel is generally tougher. The rugers need to be thicker to handle the 357, 44 magnum and 454 rounds. The S&W are not weaker. I have shot may years with s&w with no issues. The rugers are good guns too but don’t just think thicker means tougher.
fyi I’m not the same Edward from March 17, 2017 who hated the article
Statements like this: “But between the two, an important factor tilts the balance in the Mossberg’s favor: the controls are more natural. Whereas the safety on the 870 is located on the rear of the trigger guard, the Mossberg’s naturally ambidextrous safety is located on the rear of the trigger guard.”
Make me question all of your statements that are not supported by fact. You call out a serious difference in the two (in your opinion) but then state the same feature on both.
How can you say “an important factor TILTS the balance” and then state those factors are identical?
Relax. Obviously it was a simple mistake. The author is human, aren’t you?
The Mossberg IS considered by most to have better controls, because you do not need to break your grip to use them. The bolt release is located behind the trigger guard and can be depressed with the top of the middle finger and the safety (here’s what the author said incorrectly) is located on top of the tang and can be operated ambidextrously with either thumb, ALL while maintaining a firing grip.
The 870 requires you to break your grip to activate the forward mounted bolt release. It’s cross bolt safety can also be difficult to disengage for lefties or engage for righties without breaking their grip.
Hope that clears it up.
The best defense is your fighting not your guns. If you are nothing without your gun you should not have it.
Easy to say if you’re in your 30’s, 40’s or even 50’s. But if you’re over 60, a firearm is probably the only defense that would make an intruder have a change of heart and leave your property.
I’m 70 and we’ve had two intruders break in at the same time. Luckily I did not have to confront both at the exact same time. Fortunately I’m still in above average shape and no shots had to be fired. The butt end of my Remington 870 knocked then both unconscious long enough for LEO’s to respond. The alternative was 7 rounds of 00 Buck which didn’t have to be used. “House Cleanup was a breeze”.
Absolutely false. The law gives very specific examples in which it is justified to use a firearm in self defense, EVEN against an unarmed assailant. If all other self defense criteria are met, the following are justifiable reasons:
-If the assailants have numbers (3 or 4 against one).
-If the assailant is obviously physically dominant.
-If the assailant is known at the time to have special training (martial arts, boxing, etc.)
-If the assailant is a male and attacking a female (regardless of physical stature.
So, you see, your “if you can’t fight you shouldn’t have a gun” comment is 100% false.
*I am not an attorney or legal expert. I simply understand my rights and how the law applies to them.
Which state are you referring too? You see, there are 50 and they ALL have varying degrees of “requirements” where lethal force is justified…
Utah: ”
Castle Doctrine”
You must be an ex- superman. A blowhard that has all the answers on toughness.
Wow, where’s the logic in that statement, “if you can not fight you shouldn’t have a gun.” Owning a gun has nothing to do with fighting. Even if it did why would someone’s ability to fight entitled them to own a gun more than someone that can’t fight? If anything someone that isn’t skilled in fighting would need the gun for protection more. But more to the point, this article is about home protection. Someone one breaking into your house more then likely has a gun anyways. So I guess if you want, you can’t fist fight them.
Never bring a fist to a gun fight.
😄
Hmmm, let’s see. I’m 70, so I doubt if I’d have much of a chance against any intruder in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s or 50’s! I’d need to depend on a weapon other than my hands or feet to protect my wife, ( who’s handicapped ), and myself. In a SHTF situation, I doubt there will be any “rules” to worry about!.
That statement is patently false. The entire reason for a firearm is to be the equalizer or strengthen one’s ability to defend against stronger and faster forces. Period.
You should know that the best home defence weapon is the M72 LAW
Too much back blast.
A Beretta 92fs
It distresses me that you even mention racking a shotgun to scare off intruders. The only thing they should hear is the sound of the safety being switched off.
I keep the safety off and the chamber empty ( so it won’t discharge if knocked over) on my Mossberg 500 so all I have to do is rack it. In a stressful situation the fewer things I have to remember the better. I am a normal person, not a macho gun fighter.
Regarding racking a pump, I had a guy working to get thru my doorlock with a screwdriver (I was inside and could see him, unbeknownst to him).
I racked that 12-gauge and he ran so fast he dropped his screwdriver.
I am happy that worked for you, but I would not rely on it.
you guys..? Everybody calm down. look at the stats for home invasion that result in homicide and include the metric of where it is geographically? When was the last time this scenario happened in the news? Do you live there? It’s fine to be cautious, but not paranoid.
Question:
When a new neighbor moves on to your street:
-Do you introduce yourself? Or,
-Do you access the threat?
We are all in this together. WE ARE AMERICA.
Who exactly is trying to be your boogie man? The majority of crimes are opportunistic crimes.. Not planned out or organized…and they rarely happen.
Let’s be realistic… if a crew with organization and a plan came for you, and ‘cased’ you for a couple day’s, it’s over. The same way that I would have no chance if you and two of your buddies came for me. It’s not a fair fight, and none of us are Rambo.
You want a security system that costs nothing??? Go meet your neighbors, say hello, get contact info, discuss concerns, bring them cookies.
Would you join an Army where no one talked to one another?
While I don’t disagree with what you say, one of the topics of conversation I’d have with that new neighbor is about guns and self-defense. If a crew did come for me (or him), it would be nice to know that we had backup.
“right you are Ken.”
Desperate people will do desperate things when they are hungry, thirsty or need shelter!
Or need toilet paper…. just sayin
Funny to read this with what is going on today in the country with cities burning, rioters everywhere and innocent people being attacked. When Nov 3, 2020 comes, I would rather be prepared for the inevitable which will either be all hell breaking loose in protest or else defunding of police and loss of protection.
I live in a very liberal average size city. We have already had the protest marches go by. It may get tense. After Nov 6 it’s anybody’s guess. BLM people are getting bolder and bolder. They are regularly harassing regular folks trying to eat their lunch. Soon, they will be going door to door demanding support which will also tell them who is not for them. Only a matter of time before they target your house for “payback”. At same time our city is bowing to their demands to scale back on the police. We are entering uncharted territory. I’d rather have defensive weapons and not need them, than need them and not have them.
The “inevitable?” The problem is that too many people are in love with the thought of being afraid. It has a way of justifying the second mortgage to finance all of the weaponry acquired over the years.
Well there are many guns for home but some people like to get long barrel guns for their home, they think that thieves will gonna scream from it and go away, but according to the survey they won’t they also have a gun and they shoot on you without checking who is standing in front of them. So i think you need to get mavar type long barrel guns as these kind of guns are pretty costly but they are with long barrel and high range.
Why use the the term AK-47? Aren’t most imports, semi-auto AKMs, or Saiga variants? I fully agree that a 55.6/.223 round, especially a solid ball round, will over-penetrate drywall, lath and plaster, and most kitchen cabinets.
A couple of issues: (1) You state that the .45 has more stopping power than the .410. Yet you recommend a Judge or Governor before a .45 caliber pistol which has more capacity, better accuracy, and less recoil. Why? (2) Not enough emphasis on penetration of walls etc. and protection of other people in the house. That’s a concern with an AR-15, buckshot. A pistol with a spare magazine will have all the capacity of an AR-15, be safer with hollow-point ammo, be easier to protect from criminals taking it away, and in namby – pamby states, be easier to defend its use in court if you only wound the criminal and he sues you, or public opinion castigates your use of deadly force against the criminal who was endangering you and your family. (3) Any discussion of a rifle having better range than a pistol in the confines of a house is ridiculous. The only time a discussion of range makes any sense when discussing home defense is in a very large room and talking use of a shotgun using birdshot vs. buckshot, or perhaps with the Judge / Governor which has questionable accuracy (another knock on your recommendation).
You may have trouble shooting the Judge Accurately, I on the other hand don’t. I have two can shoot them both accurately with either hand or both
But you Shoot accurately enough you don’t need Anything more than a 22 caliber pistol most home Invaders don’t wear kevlar Head Gear
You might like them, but the Taurus Judge is a POS both as a shotgun and as a revolver. If you want a shotgun buy a shotgun. I would only buy a judge if I lived in rattle snake country.
Matt, do you own one? I am interested in buying one and you are the first I heard of who says they aren’t any good. Could you elaborate?
Any person interested in buying a Taurus Judge should do themselves a favor and watch Paul Harrell’s 3 part video review on them.
Hi,
I will be first time gun owner…. home defense and shtf purpose… will take classes and try to train but not an enthusiast. I was set on getting a Mossberg 500 20ga but am now leaning to a pistol caliber carbine or bullpub shotgun. I like the new Ruger PC Carbine, the CZScorpion pistol caliber carbine and the ISI Tavor 12….leaning to the Ruger.
i would appreciate thoughts…….. would you recommend the Mossberg or the PCC? If PCC, which one would you recommend?
I think a 9mm carbine is a great idea for inside the home. They don’t kick, have low muzzle blast and with 115JHP or 125 JHP +P ammo can duplicate the stopping power of a 6″ 357. Even Marshall’s books on stopping power using police statistics show the 125JHP 357 mag is the top loads to use.
A shotgun is good if you are outdoors especially at night or in a protected area such as a locked bedroom. However the muzzle blast inside would be very bad so have ear muffs available. It takes at least 7 yards for the shot load to open up significantly. A good 20 gauge is lighter, easier to maneuver and can do just as well as the 12 gauge to about 15-20 yards.
I have over 30 years experience with guns being in the military and an avid reloaded. I keep a 9mm pistol and carbine for inside the house and leave the shotgun and a more powerful carbine for the outside. We live out in the country so it can take the sheriff awhile to get here.
Great information. Thanks!
So much which is only partially true.
9mm is capable of reliably stopping an attacker only if you use the proper ammunition. Use the most common, full metal jacket of “ball”, and it will do the job less than half the time.
AR-15 (most of them) use the .223/5.56 NATO rounds. These have two problems for “home” defense. First, they are very penetrative, so even if you hit your target, an innocent bystander behind them can be hit. Even if they are in the next room, or outdoors, or in the house next door. Second, like the 9mm, standard FMJ ball ammunition is not reliable at stopping an attacker. Again, with the proper ammuntion, it can be a good choice, but that good ammunition is pricey. The concept that you have to have “more ammunition” than a pistol is silly. Pistols use magazines and with practice, you can change magazines in a second or two. And more importantly, if you are attacked by more than 17 or even 8 people, you are not going to win anyway.
.45 ACP is a good self defense round with less ammunition sensitivity than 9mm. If you use a revolver with “full moon clips”, it is almost as fast as an automatic to reload, with all the advantages of a revolver.
I use a 90 pound pit and growing . Just turned two . I have his back and he knows it . No training ,just a member of the house/property .
We have fought twice ,both times I almost had to shoot him off of me . I believe we know each other now and I feel for the dummy who attempts invading our house . Not to mention the damage I am throwing their way also .
I am thinking that too instead of gun. Maybe dog might be better for home protection. They will bark (Early Warning Detection) and if the situation escalates the dog will go after the intruder, but then you have to take care of him, feed him, etc, whereas a gun you buy once and then forget about it. lol. My family and I live in a bad area and I just don’t want to come home from work one day and find my whole house ransacked and worse find my family hurt. There are signs that there were attempts made by someone to break into my house.
If you buy a gun and then forget about it, you’re a fool – get the dog instead.p
Everyone had their opinions. For the evil red pill dog haters, and assault rifle worshippers, I’m a firm believer in mid-large dogs as first line defense, followed by firearms. Plus dogs are wonderful and loyal companions. I’m not hung up on breed exclusive dogs. I currently have a young male German Shepard/Golden Lab mix and an older Keeshond/Shepard mix. Both ran me $100 from my local SPCA. They’re excellent watch dogs, and run to the door or windows whenever a stranger comes, and bark and growl. I Currently keep a Para Ordinance P5 short slide 1911 colt .45. Swear by the 1911. Wouldn’t own a Glock if you gave me one!! In the process of getting a Mossberg 500 20 gauge (don’t need a 12 gauge). Looking at getting a smaller 9mm Zastava for my concealed carry arm. Good quality and cheap. I’m 62, work two jobs, not wealthy, and I fail to see any relevance in having a $1,200-$1,500 AR15 or some other pricey battle rifle that sits in a closet for a someday fiasco!! Why? Liberal D.A.s are less likely to fry you over Using a Mossberg 500 20 gauge with a 26” Or 28” barrel and a Sporting arm as compared to an AR15. I have a friend who owns a small farm, and he owns a Ruger 10-22. Swears by it. I think this love affair with AR 15s, AK 47s, SKSs, etc. is a person’s free choice, but a waste of $, not practical, and calls attention from liberals and Johnny Law,
What an ignorant scumbag. I can neutralize your trash dog in nothing flat. Get a life.
That was an asshole thing to say. Remember, there’s a reason Police and Military units use dogs. And the humans carry guns in all instances.
Lana, thanks for the info. Had no idea Tubelcain was an ignorant scumbag.
No such thing as a trash dog! There are however, trashy people! Look in the mirror!!! You should be ashamed of yourself!
My 4 ft 9 in lady friend was able to take out a charging full grown mastiff with a small blade. I once saw her punch the neighbor’s pit bull in the nose knocking it to the ground just as it was about to come over the fence to attack her. My cousin had a vicious airedale that ran out of the house just as she was walking up the drive. My cousin and I came running after the dog. She saw him coming said something and stuck out her hand. He licked it and they both came strolling to the back yard like old friends. That was her first contact with a dog who was known for attackiing strangers. One day the corner nieghbors three pit bulls got out chasing after this girl who could not have been over 15. She cut them off at the end of our drive way and drove them back into their fenced in yard. Dogs are great for giving you heads up on bad guys or as a deterrent for a not so eager intruder when your away. From what I have seen they are not that hard to get around.
guys you also need to think about rat shot to it might get messy but you wont have to replace walls and glass walls need to be considered to also a soft recliner wont stop a bullet
Yepper,my pistols first two rounds are rat shot . I prefer bird load for my shotgun .
Good spread . of course I am the kind of guy who returns fire on a drive-by ;).
Better to have a gun and need it . Than to need a gun and not have it . Promise .
You know nothing about home security and defense, or firearms mentioned. You going get people killed with this info, or they go killed their wife or kids in the next room with your suggestions.
I think maybe you don’t nose much as you think you do depending on your individual circumstances where you live who you live with Etc will weigh in on your decisions but that said a pump shotgun and a semi-automatic rifle AK-47 AR-15 Tavor whatever are the two best choices for home defense. People want to tap a handgun as being equivalent and in many ways it’s not even close main one being in a pressure situation an accurate shot with a pistol is much much harder than with a rifle or Shotgun If you don’t know that then there’s no point even discussing anything with you any further
A pistol also doesent bump into walls, corners, banisters, furniture, or your targets in close quarters either. Long guns are moronic against home intruders.
Both rifle and handgun have their place in home protection. It’s true a rifle can be difficult to maneuver, if not set up for home security. But, a 16″ barrel, and a collapsed adjustable stock make an AR very handy even in a hallway. And the firepower can’t be denied. However, high penetration has to be considered too. In a congested area, a hand gun has it’s place too. A .380 will do the job up close and is the minimum I’d ever consider. My 1st choice is an old trusty single action 45 LC revolver. It’s like part of my hand after so many years practicing with it. Loaded with 300 grain semi wad cutters, sub sonic. It has a low probability of malfunction.And it is devastating at close range. It’s not for everybody, and a double action is a better choice for many.
AK 47’s penetrate too well, I would know, I fired a Chinese AK47 in Kansas quite a bit. AK47 rounds are 7.62×39, and they will penetrate an Average sized Tree Trunk. Way too much penetration power for home defense. For home defense you want Impact Punch Power. A 12 Guage with 00 buck shot or slug will do the Job!
My Father is a weapons expert, and had taught me well about what works for a particular situation. A shotgun with a heavy load will make a mess, but rather a mess than Dead Family. Right?
May I suggest when purchasing a home defense choice you objectively look at your home as if an intruder had entered it. Are your hallways narrow and bedrooms small? Do you have large furniture higher than your waist? Are your stairways built with split level landings and turns? How would you navigate your home with a shotgun, AR15 or handgun? Understand clearly who you are. Would you seek to confront an intruder or would you sit tight and wait them out? If you want to move quickly a handgun is a smart choice. If you have lots of practice both in shooting and navigating your home with a rifle then the AR or shotgun may be the one for you. In closing, think about your home and how it will allow you to navigate it when the crap hits the fan. Either way you have the right to protect your life and your loved ones.
Well said, but you should RARELY engage in a home invasion. If they hear you coming you’ll get shot before you find them. If there are multiple, you may not have heard them all. Secure a choke point (stairway, hallway, etc.) If the bedrooms are together you want to protect your living assets. If you have a Master Wing separate from the rest of the bedrooms, you kinda have to wonder how much you cherish your kids anyway (jk). You still want to protect the hallways, but it may be a long shot. Figure out where you need to be to cover your kids hallway, ensure that your downrange is clear and I strongly suggest safety ammo in that it will make a horrible mess when it hits a target, but won’t go through drywall (because it sucks when your AR goes through drywall and 2 of your kids like a Deadpool shot). The biggest thing is to have advance notice and help coming. You should not be considering a home defense firearm before you have a home alarm. An alarm without a gun more effective than a gun without an alarm (I have both). You need an alarm that will call for help. If you are in the boondocks, you should have a two stage alarm that alerts (even just chimes) to activity outside, and alarms (including calling assistance) to a break in. Dogs don’t count. Your outside alert should also include floodlights so they know they’re seen. It should be full coverage and preferably include cameras (they’re cheap these days). You should have the area near your house free of hiding spots so that you don’t look easy and generally they’ll try someone else. They never tried is better than failed, scared off is better than they came in, and they left with your stuff is better than a shootout (they might get lucky, and the legal issues are needless trouble). If you’re in the boondocks (depending on your circumstances, you may want an alarm that contacts neighbors as they can be there soonest and a large crowd of armed people (even non-police) will convince most criminals to consider long term repercussions from violence. Also, consider that as many guns kill innocents as save people (~ equal). That’s because people don’t take them seriously (Wal-mart Mom shot by toddler). Ensure yours are stored safely. I use a fingerprint safe for my home defense weapon so kids (5 & 3) can’t get it but I can get it quickly. Everything else has a trigger lock.
John stated “You should not be considering a home defense firearm before you have a home alarm. An alarm without a gun more effective than a gun without an alarm.”
What are you going to do in the 5 to 15 minutes it takes for the Police to arrive? Gun 1st. Alarm 2nd. Unless PD is cruising by within 100 yards of your house at the time of break in, their job is to write a report and look for clues afterwards.
Protect your family, then alert the authorities.
Hole, you are absolutely right. It will take them good 5 to 12 minutes for them to arrive at your house. That is plenty of time for the intruder(s) to break in, kill anyone in the house, steal whatever they want and leave. Only then they will come and start doing their INVESTIGATION while your whole family lying dead on the floor. But then, John has a point. It is probably a good idea to have alarm and a gun. It is always a good idea to have an early warning system. So, that you can prepare ahead of time before the intruder breaks in.
Exactly. Well put. The police have absolutely no legal obligation or duty to protect the individual, and THAT is backed by several state court decrees. To protect an individual is entirely their choice. Their sole purpose is to provide evidence for the DA by writing reports. Period.
A 4 inch barrel, 7 shot, 357 magnum in the Taurus Tracker model can be had for about 600 bucks. It’s worth every penny. 357 magnum is the best one shot stopper in a combat caliber handgun
Also it has a ported barrel. I have have Smith and Ruger and the Taurus is right up there either shoulder to shoulder or right close. That’s modern Taurus revolvers I speak of.
Some people find the controls of the Mossberg 500 more comfortable to use. But it is just personal preference. If you train a lot and if you dry fire a lot you can get used to any firearm. I like Remington 870 more. But both shotguns are great and will do the job.
I find that people considering a Judhe/Governor, should shoot them first, with ALL the ammo those revolvers are capable of using, prior to purchasing them.
While I find the .45LC an excellent defensive round, many may not, especially or of either revolver.
There are lots of viable home or personal defense firearms choices out there folks. Exercise your Constitutinal Rights, before CzarinaHillary and HisBarackness completely banish law abiding ownership of them.
If “laws” make us safer from predatory firearms, why is Chicago the hotbed of Black on black genocide? Seems that the ProgressiveSlavePlantationOwners, always gloss over that issue.
45 LC is no joke. And can be loaded to near 44 mag. ballistics. My preferred load for home defense, high grain bullets, even subsonic, up close can end a confrontation quickly.
Taurus Tracker 7 shot 357 magnum w 4 inch barrel will go head up w the GP100 or 686
I totally agree…I’ve got the Taurus Model 66 4″ 7 shot and I must say that it’s right up there with the S&W or Ruger… Thanks
Glad to see the classic AR15 made your list! We have one for this very purpose. Sure handguns are nice, but the rifle is even nicer. We’ve talked about getting a shot gun, but really I think another AR would be just fine with me.
You don.t need an AR-15. You need a home alarm and some common sense.
Nobody asked you, putz
You don’t get to judge others, or tell others what they need. That’s THEIR decision.
AR-15 great for the task. Light bullets yaw and lose energy fast. It’s why police have been moving towards short barreled ARs over 9mm subguns in the past 10-20 years.
hmmmm didn’t you just judge him Freedom? Not saying people shouldn’t have a weapon but an alarm system doesn’t hurt and common sense is a mandatory.
Mind your business
That was to Stanley. Mind your business
Stanley, if you had a lick of sense – common or otherwise – you’d know an alarm will alert someone that something bad has already happened or is currently happening. How will that save yourself or your loved ones? And..
I agree with FreedomFirst – Lauren did not ask for your snotty condescension.
When seconds count, the cops are only minutes away.
COPS / Authorities ALL MOST ALWAYS show up after the FACT and then they will do their INVESTIGATION and FINDING CLUES while you and your family dead on the floor. With gun, you can at least hold the intruder in place or scare them off while POLICE come and get help you. lol
Well said Family Man
I can’t find a S&W Governor anywhere.
So you say that if multiple intruders enter your home we would want more than a shotgun or handgun and suggest a rifle like an AR-15. Problem is you won’t know how many intruders there are until you confront them, at which point it would be too late to switch weapons. It seems the AR-15 is the best then as you can’t predict ahead of time how many perps will be engaged.
Fire a .410 at a water bottle from 15ft. Some pellets will bounce, some will penetrate an none will pass through. Useless as a home defense weapon. Some of these tweakers have body sores that cause them more pain.
Your right Joe. Hickok 45 does a video shooting an air conditioner vent which is a littler tougher than a pie tin and it is pathetic. Load it up w 45 L colt and it’s a totally different story
the Mossberg’s naturally ambidextrous safety is NOT located on the rear of the trigger guard.
Thank you I was going to go there.. Also on #3 the comment is made that the AR gives you more range. Not sure how big his house is but that shouldn’t be a selling point for a home defense weapon.
Remember, rounds and buck shot can go thru sheet rock, so watch your distant beaten zone if at all possible. Practice and hit your intended criminal target.
The Judge will clear my hallway quite nicely.
As will my blades. and they wont hear them coming. tell its too late.
Come on Rambo. We are talking reality here. Gun beats blade everytime
he can’t spell till (let’s move on)
Um, no… A gun does NOT beat a blade every time. In fact, in close quarters, blades will win over guns far more often.
Standard martial arts 21 foot rule.
2nd Dan Hapkido. Also training in JKD, Kali, Arnis and several firearms systems.
IF you know martial arts use of a knife. To just start “slashing” will likely get you easily shot and likely killed.