What would be your choice for a home defense weapon if you had only one

[Redress]

If you were limited to one firearm, or other weapon, to defend your home, what would you choose. Many factors go into this including what sort of dwelling you reside in, and where you actually live, and who lives with you

I prefer not to live in fear myself.

 

[Court Jester]

Odds are said break in occurs when you are not home, thereby making a big dog the best weapon of choice in suburbia. After all, it is illegal to booby trap a home with a gun on a spring trigger. However, allowing a Pressa Canario to lie on the sofa while you are out is perfectly fine.

I prefer a handgun inside my home for self defense. But my old Ithaca M37 12 gauge is always at the ready in case someone's dog like yours is running around off leash.

 

[BahamaBob]

I have a 9mm in both night stands. Beretta 92FS on my side, and a Glock 26 on the witchy-poo's side.



Depends on the revolver: the model, the weight, the barrel length, and what kind of ammo?





The idea is to do the job in one or two shots. The downside of a revolver is capacity, but the upside is less likely to malfunction. Failure to eject, failure to feed, double feed--- you don't have any of those with a revolver. Therefore you will spend more time clearing a semi-auto than reloading a revolver, so best to practice, practice, practice. And yes, it will be very different under stress. Revolver is then just easier for many homeowners.

Revolvers work fine. A double action 6 shot revolver was the standard police sidearm from about 1895 to the early '90s. A proven track record.

I have a Beretta 92 as well. It was test fired by the military and went like 15,000 rounds without a failure or a jam. I have put hundreds of round threw mine without an incident. I think if you stay clear of the steel ammo you will be OK. I do agree that it is a matter of personal preference. A person should chose what they feel comfortable with. I have a half dozen revolvers but I still pick the auto.

My experience in Vietnam shows me the idea of doing it in one or two shots goes out the window in a firefight. When people are moving and shooting back you will use the walk the round in routine.

 

[AGENT J]

If you were limited to one firearm, or other weapon, to defend your home, what would you choose. Many factors go into this including what sort of dwelling you reside in, and where you actually live, and who lives with you

ugh . . .

well . .things have changed for me

I live in a single occupant brick ranch, so worrying about other occupants isn't a concern now, brick helps containment, neighbors houses are all brick and a chuck away

my answer varies depending on what I make up in my head as far as assailant goes lol .

Im guessing in NORMAL real world situations, . . just a burglar looking for goods, id stick to my semi-auto handgun its what I feel most comfortable with

2nd and 3rd option would be semi shotgun and then AR

 

[post]

I prefer a handgun inside my home for self defense. But my old Ithaca M37 12 gauge is always at the ready in case someone's dog like yours is running around off leash.

".. running around off leash." (X 4 ... couldn't fit fourth one in lower left corner, in the frame)

 

[Court Jester]

I prefer not to live in fear myself.

I prefer not to be low hanging fruit.

 

[post]

I prefer not to be low hanging fruit.

You've got company!

 

[BahamaBob]

I prefer not to live in fear myself.

Being prepared is not living in fear. You probably have tornado insurance. You are a thousand times more likely to have someone break into your house than it being hit by a tornado. Saying you live in a good neighborhood and are not concerned is foolish. Sharon Tate lived in a multi million dollar neighborhood. The BTK killer victimized many people with that attitude. While I didn't grow up in a stellar neighborhood, a girl who used to baby sit me was raped and killed by an itinerant worker. Before he killed her he broke her arms, cut off her breasts and slashed her face. She was one of the nicest people I ever knew.

The point being while it is not likely, there are people like this out there. Just like with tornado insurance, intelligent people know what the consequences can be so they take steps in case it does happen.

 

[Wayne Jr]

The downside of a revolver is capacity...

Is it actualy a "downside" when civilian lethal force events are over in 2-3 shots?

Civilians never, not ever need to reload during a firefight.

 

[GDViking]

I chose pump action shotgun because I sold many on just the deterrent of the sound alone.

An 870 being pumped has a sound like no other and only a fool would enter a room after hearing that on the other side of the door.

However personally I would prefer a blade if it were to be true combat in my own home, I always have knives all over, including an easily accessible machete...

It is close to a loaded wingmaster tho...

 

[GDViking]

I chose pump action shotgun because I sold many on just the deterrent of the sound alone.

An 870 being pumped has a sound like no other and only a fool would enter a room after hearing that on the other side of the door.

However personally I would prefer a blade if it were to be true combat in my own home, I always have knives all over, including an easily accessible machete...

It is close to a loaded wingmaster tho...

Odds are said break in occurs when you are not home, thereby making a big dog the best weapon of choice in suburbia. After all, it is illegal to booby trap a home with a gun on a spring trigger. However, allowing a Pressa Canario to lie on the sofa while you are out is perfectly fine.

I have one of those as well...

Edit: not tbe same breed just a big loud protective dog...

 

[Jason Warfield]

Well....usually when a person breaks in, they wait until you are out; negates the risk of getting hurt. At which point, whatever firearm you have chosen for home defense will be stolen if found and most likely sold to another criminal (assuming you leave it at home) or...if you show up while he is still there, it will be used against you.

Depending upon the firearm, if you happen to be at home, will you have quick access to it like carrying it on your person or close by you at any given moment? Easier for a pistol than a rifle or shotgun. Will you have it under your pillow or will you have quick-grabs located in various places in your home. And if you do these things...where in god's name do you live? I live in Baltimore and I don't have to do that.

Further, if you use said weapon in your home against an intruder, what are the laws that dictate the use in that situation. Like stand-your-ground laws. In some states, shooting an intruder in the back will get you arrested.

I don't think it's wrong to have a firearm for protection, I just happen to look at things through the lens of reality.

 

[Court Jester]

I have a Beretta 92 as well. It was test fired by the military and went like 15,000 rounds without a failure or a jam. I have put hundreds of round threw mine without an incident. I think if you stay clear of the steel ammo you will be OK. I do agree that it is a matter of personal preference. A person should chose what they feel comfortable with. I have a half dozen revolvers but I still pick the auto.

I like the 92FS as well. But for the poll I picked a revolver because he said only one gun, and there are other people living in my home who are not trained with my Beretta.

My experience in Vietnam shows me the idea of doing it in one or two shots goes out the window in a firefight. When people are moving and shooting back you will use the walk the round in routine.

Yeah true, but how many of your firefights were within 10 -12 feet? So, a little different probably inside your home.

I practice double taps (controlled fire not competition style). Two shots to the large body mass, and if he ain't alreading going down, two to the head. I've never been one to just mag dump, maybe due to so many years with a revolver?

 

[Court Jester]

Is it actualy a "downside" when civilian lethal force events are over in 2-3 shots?

Civilians never, not ever need to reload during a firefight.

I agree, I was just speaking to the other poster's concern about capacity. I pointed out that for most homeowners, they don't train enough to know how to clear any of the various malfunctions a semi-auto may present under stress, therefore a revolver may be the difference between life or death. Not only do you need to train more with a semi-auto, you have to keep the gun clean and in top condition. You could load a S&W model 19 in 1982 and put it in the drawer, and it is still ready to go in 2021 on the day you may need it. I'm not recommending that, but there is truth there.

 

[Aristaeus]

A good lock on my door.

 

[MaryP]

Where do you live, Beirut?

 

[dirtpoorchris]

I would want a self destruct button with an audible countdown sequence like on star trek. That would really **** with a crooks head lol

Have roombas with pretend C4 on it that play the song "Welcome to the jungle" and start driving around the house and red flashing lights.

 

[Mycroft]

Taurus .454 Raging Bull.

One look at the giant hole in the business end of this gun will likely cause a burglar to shit him/her self.

(Which is a good thing because this has a kick. And yes, I've fired one of these.)

 

[Bored in the USA]

Who here has ever actually had to kill someone in self defense?

 

[Bodi]

If you were limited to one firearm, or other weapon, to defend your home, what would you choose. Many factors go into this including what sort of dwelling you reside in, and where you actually live, and who lives with you

Only a scared and pathetic individual would need a weapon to feel safe.

Wits, courage, confidence and common sense save the other 99.9% of us from such mind-boggling fear.

 

[Bodi]

Who here has ever actually had to kill someone in self defense?

@TurtleDude will tell you of some fantasy were he blasted some muggers who would not listen to his calm reasoned view...

 

[Bodi]

Taurus .454 Raging Bull.

One look at the giant hole in the business end of this gun will likely cause a burglar to shit him/her self.

(Which is a good thing because this has a kick. And yes, I've fired one of these.)

What ***** bullshit... You either want a tactical nuke or you want your family dead...

 

[VySky]

If I could only have one firearm for protection then other things would have to had happened first. One will need a versatile weapon used for defense while out in public, not just at home. The Sig 335 is a good choice.

 

[Bodi]

I have a 9mm in both night stands.

I have a Glock in the glove compartment... dresser... both night stands... the glove box.... the toilet paper role and on my wet suit...

There are threats everywhere and the best thing to be is super scared of living a life devoid of people trying to kill you with guns.

 

[VySky]

Who here has ever actually had to kill someone in self defense?

I had a home intruder in April 2017. Kicked my door in at twilight. I met him in the living room. Face to face in front of my fireplace. Max 10’ away. I had him at gun point and legally could have dropped him dead. He was unarmed which prompted me to save his life that day. I couldn’t shoot him. He ran, I double tapped 2 over his head. He won’t be back lol.