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ajacobs

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I am a park ranger (not a law enforcement position) living on site of a large building built by the CCC. I am bassically the only occupant. The place is known for attracting hoodlums who just break in becuase the place is normally unoccupied this time of year. In the past I utalized my scattergun tech 870 and always had my carry pistol available for home defence. The longest open distance inside the house is 120ft. I don't want to keep most of my guns here do to the aformentioned problems, although I will have other valuables like tv, stereo and computer here (in a seperate additionally locked room).

Does everyone agree this falls out of shotgun range?

This left me with the prospect of choosing a rifle.

I have a preban SBR ar-15 but the atf paperwork to trasfer it seasonally to this other location would be a nightmare.

My other AR has a 20 in barrell

I have a pc9 with pleantly of realiable mags and a trijicon reflex on top and surefire barrell mounted light with presure switch.

I have an m1 carbine

I have both a mini 14 and a mini 30, the mini 30 has a 1.5-4x scope on it the mini 14 has a c-moore on a custom scout rail and I have reliable mags for both (pmi, thermomold)

I have lever actions in .44, .45, .357 Wild west guns co pilot, 45-70, 38-55, 32 spc

I also have assorted bolt actions

It is not far from a major road and people (ski area) but would be quite awile for the police to arrive.

I am willing to buy something new to fill this role or add things to something I have to make it work.
Frankly I am leaning toward the .44 mag lever action (it has fiber optic sites). The pc9 though is the only one (other than the SBR) that has a light on it. Do you think the light should be a major consideration overwhelming the relitive power of the 9mm within those distances?

What would be your suggestion for a rifle choice?

It is difficult to investigate bumps in the night with any rifle while trying to hold a flashlight (although I always bring my hangun).
and before I get flamed for this there is many many bumps in the night, if I just held my ground and called the police I would end up like the little boy who cried wolf.

Thanks in advance for you input
 
I wouldn't hesitate to take a shot at 120 feet (40 yards) with that 870 stoked with 00 buckshot. Plenty of deer get killed each year at that distance (or a little further) with buckshot, and their hide is a lot tougher than human flesh.

If you feel like you really need a rifle (and that's TOTALLY up to you, and no other opinion really matters), then the .44 magnum lever gun you're already leaning towards makes sense to me. And that good ol' M1 carbine would be right handy as well. You might even feel a little better with the added capacity.
 
If the police are far away and you are on your own, I would opt for something on the high capacity side, as well as something quick to reload. The carbine or the PC9 ought to keep you company fairly well. Any chance you have or could purchase a pistol taking the same mags as the PC9? Might simplify things for you in a big way. No doubt the 44 will hit harder, and the 12 will really hit hard and is certainly not out of the question, but if you run into multiple perps, it might be reassuring to know that when you grab either, you won't have to worry about which mags you grabbed in a hurry, and the added plus of keeping the pistol and mags with you.
In the end, don't worry about calling the law if there is something unusual going on. Sure, you're going to get critters around from time to time, but the two legged types are by far the most dangerous. You have to be alive for them to give you any noise about it. Let them know you're out there and alone.
 
You could load the 12 with slugs. From the rifles I would choose the 44 lever gun. You didn't say where you are but in some areas that bump in the night might be a 4 legged bruin and for that I would want more than a nine.
If you can handle quick multiple shots with it, then the Co-Pilot would also be a good choice (also much better for bears!)
 
ajacobs...

You have a number of perfectly good options at your disposal. However, based on some of your input I would suggest the M-1 Carbine. At least for human intruders. You can carry it ready to fire in one hand and have your flashlight in the other. With a 15 or 30 round clip in and a stock mounted double 15-round clip pouch you would have plenty of firepower, more than you should need unless you are expecting a LARGE raiding party. I don't advocate pray-and-spray but I also frown upon taking just the minimum amount of ammo into a unknown situation.

If you are worried about bear, then the 12 gauge might make the most sense in that you can load both buckshot and slugs for versatility. And if you have a flashlight mounted on it, you will have light as you hold your fiream, but that means that you will be pointing a loaded firearm wherever you shine that light.

Would love to see a pic of your "arsenal", sounds like you have some great firearms there.
 
IMO, 40 yards is very much within shotgun range. If you think you would be more comfortable with a longer-range weapon, the previous suggestions are fine. You also might consider installing a screw-in choke and using either a Full choke or a Turkey (Extra Full) choke.

The key is to envision various scenarios and work with your (empty) weapon and your flashlight--you want to make sure two hands is enough. Fumbling during a "real thing!" event is definitely a Bad Deal.

Art
 
Thanks for all the input.

bears are not a consideration, I just let them rumble around outside, they don't bother me I don't bother them.

Realizing there are allot of factors involved, what size pattern can I expect at 40 yrds with a 000 buck out of my short barreled (18" ) scattergun tech with a vang comp barrell.

I ask becuase I have to pick this gun up at home and bring it a considerable distance to this place and I will not be able to fire it untill I get it up there. If the pattern is too spread out I may be better off with one of the rifles.
 
I check the zero of my shotgun with slugs at 50 and 100 yards. Buckshot can do the job at 40 yards too. Shotgun still works.

Nice collection by the way.

I'd pick the M-1 carbine as the first choice, its lightwieght, hi cap mags and if Johnny Law does come calling it doesn't have 'evil black rifle" syndrome. Stoke it with soft points. Only downside I can think of is there isn't any place to put a flashlight on a carbine.

The shotgun has light mounts made for it, as does the AR, however too much stuff on your rifle can make it unwieldy. Practice with whatever set up you choose.

At the relatively short range you are talking about a 'real" rifle caliber is overkill. Sure a 45-70 CAN do the job, but a miss at a high angle mean you just launched a 405 grain bullet at the interstate. Any of your rifles in a pistol caliber should do the trick and not be as much of a threat to the neighbors.
 
Anything mentioned would work...but -

Considering the situation of shooting indoors, for the sake of my hearing, I'd confine my choice to the buckshot loaded shotgun and the M1 Carbine, maybe the .44Mag levergun loaded with .44Spl. a Leveraction can be loaded as you go, keeping the mag tube topped off, but the guide guns with their ported short barrels are simply too much gun...Noise, Flash, Recoil...one of those big guns would certainly take out an intruder, but would be nearly as likely to take you with it if you let it off in an enclosed
space:p
Oh yea, load the carbine with HP's, not the FMJ's.:cool:
 
Guess I didn't realize your scattergun has an 18" barrel, and that it's not presently with you.

Based on that, and a little more thinking on my part, I'd say the M1 carbine would be the ticket.

A little help: Is soft-point ammo available for the .30 carbine? If it is, that's the way I'd go.
 
"I am willing to buy something new to fill this role or add things to something I have to make it work."

You have twenty + guns and you might need a new one to fit the need? Good lord you sound like me. I can't wait to tell the wife that there is someone as bad or worse than me. ;)
 
"I am willing to buy something new to fill this role or add things to something I have to make it work."

Yes.
My friend, it seems obvious to me you need a new SR25.
With a dedicated light, of course.

Let me know when you're done with the scattergun/vang comp.
I could use it for my next mixed-media art installation.
 
Addressing spread of OO Buck....

The shotgun you have is a good gun for up to about 100 yards. (200 yards for some of the more experienced shooters)

Your OO Buck shot will begin to spread about 1" for every yard it flies....Thus your OO Buck will have about a 3 and 1/2 foot diameter shot pattern at 40 yards....As I am responsible for each and every one of the 9 projectiles that I just set loose.....this would not be an acceptable first choice.

Anything beyond about 15-25 yards is slug territory.... (1) percisely placed .73 caliber, 1 oz. projectile would be perfect here. No need to by another rifle.

Spend a few bucks and buy some low flash, low recoil slugs, learn how to rapidly change your shells and consider a sidesaddle for you shotgun to facilitate shell change-ups.

You have the right gun, you just have to make it more versitile.

SDnR :)
 
Since you should take into account the operation of your weapons outside as well as inside your house, .44 lever gun would be first choice, probably the mini-14 if you want firepower. I don't think the M-1 carbine has got the type of stopping power you want.

They sure must pay you rangers well for you to have accumulated your collection!
 
Most of what I have seen and done with a shotgun with buckshot would indicate that you probably want to 'slug up' at somewhere around 15-20 yards because you will not get enough pellet hits past that range. I have heard talk from Vang shooters that you can do headshots at 30yds +, but the 2 Vang guns that I saw patterned didn't do it. The shotgun might be ideal because there is rather wide spread respect of the shotgun as a fight stoppper. I have even heard it suggested that a lot of potential bad situations de-esculate as soon as someone pulls out and racks a round into the bbl of that trusty old pump. On a still night I bet a visiter could hear and identify that sound quite a distance.
 
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