Shotgun vs Handgun for HD & overpenetration

L

LH2

New member
I've always heard that part of the allure of a shotgun for HD is that it won't overpenetrate and hit your neighbor.

If you hit the BG, then a .38 +P or .45ACP shouldn't either, right?

Suppose you miss the first shot. I'd be worried about where that handgun round ends up - I live in a townhome and share a wall with a neighbor. But is a shotgun any better in this respect? Or is it still going to rip through several layers of drywall, etc?

At present my HD gun is a .38 Spl, but since I live in a townhome, close to neighbors, is a shotgun a better choice?
 
Let's put it this way...if you were shooting 00 Buck at a perp and missed, I wouldn't want to be on the other side of the drywall.
 
Unless your townhouse is really old, or really cheap, there's a pretty solid firewall in between all the drywall.

Don't know what that'll do to either projectile, just sayin' it ain't like shooting through the sheetrock seperating your bedroom from your bathroom.
 
You really need to take a look at http://www.theboxotruth.com/. He tested many different loads on many different materials. Good information! Bottom line, whatever load you're shooting (unless it's a BB gun or Air Soft), it's going to go through multiple walls...JHP or FMJ. Take a look!
 
If it can do enough damage to drop a perp it most likely will also be able to pass through some drywall. I seen a thread at shotgun world based on a newspapaer/magazine report where a guy attempted to commit suicide with bird shot shot himself in the chest but to no avail he just shredded muscle and skin but did not penetrate his ribs. Tried again and again still lived.
Finally shot himself in the neck and died.
The thread had pictures of the scene too. No birdshot for my denfense load.
I dont think anybody would try to drop a deer with bird shot at 3 yards if they could get that close. Deer would run wounded. People are sometimes bigger than deer. A 200 to 250 lb badguy may be twice the size of some deer hunted only with buckshot.

Solution can be to use either brick, block, or some kind of projectile resistant material in or on the wall if you can. Kevlar seems to work for pistol and shotgun rounds on http://www.theboxotruth.com/.
 
RUGER 44 MAGNUM SUPER RED HAWK-6" BARREL-6 SHOTS- #6 SHOT
Devistates anything in a 10 foot circle at about 20 feet.
Don't matter how Big and Bad they get, they can't do much if they can't see
and have that muck pain all over from head to toe.
Not much danger of penetration through walls,unless you live in a trailor house.
Don't sneak in on my wife late at night, Not much chance she will miss.
 
H defense pistols & shotguns

Brothers,

I use a Glock 19 w/a 33 rnd mag filled with 147 grain JHP + P Hornady loads. It will get the job done nicely.

I also use a Winchester Model 1300 Defender speed pump in 20g. It is lethal w/slugs or #3 buck shot.

I answer strange sounds at night w/these 2 weapons systems and I feel safe!

laterz, S Tzu

2 G-17
2 G-26
2 G-19
1 G-22
1 S&W 686
1 Ruger Mark 2
1 HK Benneli
1 Mosin M44
1 Model 1300 20g
1 M1 carbine
1 Socom 16
1 SLR 95
2 Mac 11
 
Nothing beats a scattergun when meeting up with an unpleasant visitor. I may have other guns with me, but the shotgun gets first call.
 
Handguns are quicker on the draw, aka, much less unweildly. but a shotgun with the right ammo is mutilating and superior in stopping power. I'd suggest a handgun for more practical purposes. Have a shotgun nearby to fight your way to if need be.:)
 
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