leadcounsel
Moderator
I read the articles, and take some issues with some of the assertions. It's interesting that people have such wide selection.
Here's my opinion.
1. Pump shotgun, 870 or 500 or clone. You can get a reliable used one for around $200-400. 00 or #1 or #4 buckshot or low-recoil buckshot.
2. Semi-auto shotgun such as the Remington 1100. $500. Buckshot.
4-9 shots with a 12 gauge is significant firepower in an average sized home against a garden-variety threat. Given a pie-plate pattern for buckshot at in-home defensive situations, the threat is going to be struck with many shots and significant kinetic energy with each hit. If you've ever seen the wounds from a 12 gauge on a person or deer, you'll be convinced. It's often said that a single full power hit with 00 buck is 9, .33 caliber pellets, or the equivalent of a 9-round SMB 9mm burst. While anecdotal evidences says that people "can" survive this, I believe those survivors would be debilitated at best, and out of the fight due to the shock trauma and damage.
Anyone interested in learning how to combat reload a shotgun should watch this video. A person can learn how to easily add shells to a shotgun using this method while engaged in a fight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7AjaNwtKww
I suspect most people will look over their sights of a handgun, shotgun, and rifle the same at close range, and/or in low light. Both eyes open, point-shooting. In this regard, the difference in peep sight vs. post sight vs. bead sight are irrelevant.
3. AK47. $500+ 30 round mags of .30 caliber ammo. The most prolific combat rifle for a reason. Cheap, easy to use, reliable, and very effective at close ranges. The SKS is a cheaper substitute: $300. 10, 20, 30 round mags of .30 caliber ammo. Simple platform, cheap, reliable and very effective at close range. Mini-30 is another option firing this effective .30 caliber round.
4. AR15. $700+. I've included this because it is an effective weapon and is used by our military. It does offer a bullet that does less penetration than the shotgun and AK47 and even some handguns. It has high capacity and is generally reliable and effective. I think it's more complicated to learn to use than the other weapons mentioned, but YMMV. A substitute might be the Mini-14 in 5.56.
5. Tie: For people in unique situations living in gun-control states, there are good options too: Lever action .357 or .44 magnum or even .30-30 (same ballistics as the 7.62x39). Handgun caliber Kel Tecs and Hipoints. The M1 Carbine is a good choice too, firing a .30 caliber rifle round.
Overall, it's great that we live in a free country and have so many choices available for a person, even a novice, to pick up relative cheap home defense tools, and all are generally simple and effective for someone to learn to use with minimal training. Of course, more training is always better, but for busy soccer moms and career professionals working for a living, and living paycheck to paycheck, setting aside a little money will buy them some serious firepower and home security.
Of course, I believe that training is important. It's also clear that situations and circumstances are important. Someone in an apartment has different considerations than someone on a rural piece of land. Someone with kids in the home has different considerations than a bachelor.
Thank you for your opinions and keep them coming!
Here's my opinion.
1. Pump shotgun, 870 or 500 or clone. You can get a reliable used one for around $200-400. 00 or #1 or #4 buckshot or low-recoil buckshot.
2. Semi-auto shotgun such as the Remington 1100. $500. Buckshot.
4-9 shots with a 12 gauge is significant firepower in an average sized home against a garden-variety threat. Given a pie-plate pattern for buckshot at in-home defensive situations, the threat is going to be struck with many shots and significant kinetic energy with each hit. If you've ever seen the wounds from a 12 gauge on a person or deer, you'll be convinced. It's often said that a single full power hit with 00 buck is 9, .33 caliber pellets, or the equivalent of a 9-round SMB 9mm burst. While anecdotal evidences says that people "can" survive this, I believe those survivors would be debilitated at best, and out of the fight due to the shock trauma and damage.
Anyone interested in learning how to combat reload a shotgun should watch this video. A person can learn how to easily add shells to a shotgun using this method while engaged in a fight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7AjaNwtKww
I suspect most people will look over their sights of a handgun, shotgun, and rifle the same at close range, and/or in low light. Both eyes open, point-shooting. In this regard, the difference in peep sight vs. post sight vs. bead sight are irrelevant.
3. AK47. $500+ 30 round mags of .30 caliber ammo. The most prolific combat rifle for a reason. Cheap, easy to use, reliable, and very effective at close ranges. The SKS is a cheaper substitute: $300. 10, 20, 30 round mags of .30 caliber ammo. Simple platform, cheap, reliable and very effective at close range. Mini-30 is another option firing this effective .30 caliber round.
4. AR15. $700+. I've included this because it is an effective weapon and is used by our military. It does offer a bullet that does less penetration than the shotgun and AK47 and even some handguns. It has high capacity and is generally reliable and effective. I think it's more complicated to learn to use than the other weapons mentioned, but YMMV. A substitute might be the Mini-14 in 5.56.
5. Tie: For people in unique situations living in gun-control states, there are good options too: Lever action .357 or .44 magnum or even .30-30 (same ballistics as the 7.62x39). Handgun caliber Kel Tecs and Hipoints. The M1 Carbine is a good choice too, firing a .30 caliber rifle round.
Overall, it's great that we live in a free country and have so many choices available for a person, even a novice, to pick up relative cheap home defense tools, and all are generally simple and effective for someone to learn to use with minimal training. Of course, more training is always better, but for busy soccer moms and career professionals working for a living, and living paycheck to paycheck, setting aside a little money will buy them some serious firepower and home security.
Of course, I believe that training is important. It's also clear that situations and circumstances are important. Someone in an apartment has different considerations than someone on a rural piece of land. Someone with kids in the home has different considerations than a bachelor.
Thank you for your opinions and keep them coming!
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