Gotta disagree here. My goal is to get the intruder out of my house as quickly as possible without a shot being fired. Considering this may be accomplished with just the sound of the shotgun, I'm all about it. Down one round, but even 5 rounds better be plenty in a standard intrusion. If you need any more, like I said, it's not a break in, it's a raid.
The element of suprise will only get you into trouble.
So he's in the house and he thinks nobody's home, so he comes in the room you are in. Do you just shot him right off the bat? If he's unarmed you may find yourself in a courtroom shortly after that.
I'd rather rack the slide, have them hear it, then decide to either leave or not. If they are unarmed, they will most likely go, if they are armed they may stay but I'll be on the phone with the cops. If they try to come in the room I am in, I yell out "I'm armed and the police are on the way"! If they continue to come in and you are forced to shoot, it is clearly self defense. You won't even be charged.
You have to consider the legal consequences of your actions also. If you take someones life, you must be able to say that you were in reasonable fear for your own life.
The element of suprise will only get you into trouble.
So he's in the house and he thinks nobody's home, so he comes in the room you are in. Do you just shot him right off the bat? If he's unarmed you may find yourself in a courtroom shortly after that.
I'd rather rack the slide, have them hear it, then decide to either leave or not. If they are unarmed, they will most likely go, if they are armed they may stay but I'll be on the phone with the cops. If they try to come in the room I am in, I yell out "I'm armed and the police are on the way"! If they continue to come in and you are forced to shoot, it is clearly self defense. You won't even be charged.
You have to consider the legal consequences of your actions also. If you take someones life, you must be able to say that you were in reasonable fear for your own life.