Test for yourself
rodwhaincamo said:
Home Defense Questions...Perplexed
Thanks for asking our advice. This is a question that deserves continuing examination.
I lost faith in "safety" slugs
What prompted your apostasy?
Currently I own a 44 mag and have a reloading bench. I've been considering loading shotshells with #2-4, but I'm uncertain as to how effective it would be and what kind of spread it would have at 10 yds
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Load up a few and test them. Then let us know how they did. Especially, get some sheet rock and make a mock-up of your apartment walls to test penetration of potential misses. Two layers of sheetrock separated by an air space (possibly filled with sound insulation).
I've been looking over pistols for defense [leaning towards 40], but they would indeed over penetrate in standard loadings.
Would loading light powered cartridges be a good answer, as long as they reliably chamber
In my experience, chambering would not be the concern. Reliable operation of the pistol with light loads is. I used to load target-powered 45 ACP. It would not operate reliably against a standard-weight recoil spring. If I held the pistol loosely, failures to eject occurred over 50% of the time. If I held the pistol firmly, it would operate correctly 90% of the time. Quite an educational load. But, I digress.
, or should I look into a high capacity 380 ACP that will handle +P?
I don't think there is a need to go to another gun. If there were, I would suggest a shotgun. Long magazine, short barrel and light loads. Ammo is cheap, long guns are easier to hit with in a stationary defense situation are unmatched.
If your choices are 44 vs 380, think of what you would pick up if you had to go tactical in your apartment. If both guns were on your nightstand, which one would you pick up?
And were I to come up with light loads should I opt for light weight bullets or heavier?
My personal preference is large, heavy bullets.
My shooting buddy has a 500 S&W that I think would be a great house gun, when loaded with some practice loads we made up for familiarization and entertainment. 325 grain slugs at 750 to 800 fps. They hit harder than military 45 ACP hardball, yet recoil like a 22 rimfire in that heavy gun.
Of course, his house gun is actually a Remington 870 12 Gauge with a tactical light in the fore-end.
Light, fast, frangible bullets tend to stay inside the target (if you do hit the intruder/badguy) and also tend to break apart when you hit your interior walls if you miss (the guiding concept behind the "safety slug" ideas of companies like Glaser, et al). But large, heavy bullets have more momentum, and I prefer them for most of my defensive preparation. But I am more concerned about bears than people.
Having said all that, comparing the 125 grain Winchester Silvertip out of a .357 Magnum to almost any of the decent 45 ACP loads, they have approximately equal performance . So, light, fast, expanding vs large, slower, more massive? They both perform well, so you do your research and make your choice.
Consider the 12 gauge, 16 gauge or 20 gauge.
Do some testing for yourself.
Lost Sheep
Remember, believe only half of what you see and one quarter of what you hear. That goes double for everything you find on the internet. Even this post.
), but you CAN buy them.