Easy choice, my revolver is on my bedside table but when I get up my go to gun is a shotgun. Make and model irrelevant, I have a variety to choose from and they will all work with any load I have in them. I have my personal favorites but anything will work better than no gun.
If you only had one gun!
- Thread starter KBP75
- Start date
Old Grump! Even though I feel the shotgun is the ultimate defense weapon, I in fact follow your procedure. I am not saying one should only have one gun, I am saying sometimes you might have to make a choice! Its possible you might even have to switch guns to adapt to changing threats. It doesn't hurt to think about these things (however unpleasant) ahead of time.
customaquatics
New member
mine would be my AK with the 75 round drum!!!! 
Whether I'm only allowed one gun or 50 the choice for "home invasion" would be the same, that being my little 642 revolver.
It's always in my pocket, always handy regardless where I'm at. My house is small enough nothing is out of range of that revolver and my abilities.
Rifles and shotguns are nice, but who keeps one in their lap while sitting on the couch watching TV 'n such?
Home invasion to me means some one crashing through the front door to do harm. My front door is 10 feet from my couch, the back door (the door everyone uses is 20 through the kitchen. Regardless, both are pretty short distances. I can fish my 642 out of my pocket faster then I can get up and cross the room to find a rifle or shot gun.
From my LE days I learned long guns more in the way then useful inside. I've tried heavy pistols and revolvers, but all too often, I found I left them in the truck or bedroom.
A small revolver in the pocket beats a heavy gun in the truck or a rifle in the gun rack any time.
I'm not a fan of one gun fits all, but for surprised home envisions the one that is with you 100% of the time is the "ONE".
If its not a suprise, then the bandit will find me not home. (Well that's not true but thats not the topic here).
I understand what you are asking and it was in my answer. go to gun is a shotgun and I really have no preference as to action or gauge. In my case my go to gun are one of my 20 gauges, it really makes no difference which one. I am more concerned with the ammo and even there I'm pretty flexible. Asking me for make, model, action type, gauge and choke is kind of pointless since so many choices will work just fine for what you have to do. The only firm answer I have is it would be a shotgun.
Carry_24/7
New member
First, I'd move back to America, Florida or Texas in particular.....
But, until I made travel plans, my one gun would be a 4" 1911 45 ACP.
But, until I made travel plans, my one gun would be a 4" 1911 45 ACP.
Maybe I should have titled the first post, If I had to choose one gun to defend myself! Ultimately, someday I am sure some of our readers will have to make this choice. Thankfully, I only had to pull my S&W 357 and cock the trigger back and the two thugs with crowbars instantly stopped in their tracks! The conversation went from "we are going to mess you up" to "we'll get you later" I just said "I'll be waiting for you". I got their truck lic. number and a good friend of mine in law inforcement looked up who they were and said they had been going around town beating up people. Now, I carry a S&W .41 mag with a 4" barrel and have special handloads just for them in case they need anymore convincing! I thank God for the facts that I had my S&W with me and that I didn't have to use it!
Local police were aware of these individuals criminal behavior. I found out their names and addresses. I had the advantage because I knew their names and addresses but they didn't know me or where I lived! I chose not to do anything because charges were already being made against them by others. My friend said he would notify me if they needed me to testify. Things worked out!
Now that we got that out of the way, I'll tell you what happened to my friend a few years ago. His wife was baking Christmas cookies and without warning his outside screen door was ripped off! He ran and got his deer rifle! The inside door was being pushed against! He loaded his rifle and was ready for the intruder! It was a bear! Luckey for him and the bear, it wasn't able to break down the inside door! Authorities were called. By the time they arrived, the bear was gone! I guess he sat on a chair for a few hours with his loaded rifle near the door! Must have been a bear that liked cookies a little too much!
Interesting question ... if I could only have one of my current collection for home defense, it would my XDm-9, 20 rds of Hornady Critical Defense ... lots of rounds (with a spare loaded mag in the nightstand alongside the gun), I shoot it very well at SD distances, it's easy to maintain and keep running and my wife is also familiar with its operation and has shot it ... the only drawback to me is the lack of night sights, which is why I keep a 1911 in my nightstand; if the XD was my only gun, it would have night sights installed. No levers to fiddle with, just pull the trigger ... I understand the idea behind the shotgun, but have read some interesting opinions about that; the key for me was that it takes two hands to run a shotty, especially a pump, leaving you without a hand to use a light, dial your cell, open doors, etc. Also easier to disarm you with the barrel out so much farther than your body ... at home, the 9mm seems the logical choice ... IMHO of course ...
I see a lot of people saying Shotguns. How many of you will have your shotgun ready, if you and your family are at wally world, McDonalds, or in Church, and some nut starts shooting? A shotgun is best for certain places, but not everywhere, unless you are going to pack it everywhere you go, and I don't think they would be very concealable.
checkmyswag
New member
Always a good debate.
I've settled on a number of guns greater than 1 and less than 100.
If only one, I like the shotgun or .357 handgun (4" barrel).
I've settled on a number of guns greater than 1 and less than 100.
If only one, I like the shotgun or .357 handgun (4" barrel).