Why a pistol for home defense?
- Thread starter U.S.SFC_RET
- Start date
In my state, if I am firing at someone outdoors it better be because I have run out of options to escape, otherwise, I am going to jail. If a bad guy is in the house, I can shoot. When they are outside, I can't do anything unless I have a good reason, like they have a gun too or something like that. But if they are hiding or running, I better not be looking or chasing.
What I meant by outdoors was CCW away from home.
Glockgreat23
New member
I don't carry anything around the house, but keep identical pistols in locked boxes in every bedroom in the house, along with shotguns in family room and master bedroom . Never know where you will be and having experienced an intruder in the house before, I feel much more at ease with this set up.
U.S. FSC RET,
Military combat and home defense are two very distinct and vastly different topics. Here's what I've posted on another forum about the topic:
I wish I had a nickel for every time a homeowner has asked me for home defense advice. All too often, they have been told to buy a shotgun. A shotgun, all long guns for that matter, is a double-edged sword for home defense.
An 18" 870 with 00 buck or slugs is a formidable weapon; however, it can become a pronounced liability. As long as a homeowner can remain stationary within his home (crouched behind his bed with muzzle pointed at point of entry), it'd be hard to beat a properly loaded (no bird shot unless your invader is a bird) and good quality shotgun. It's when a homeowner has to leave his room to assure safety of loved ones will a long gun become a liability. A hiding invader who is half brain-dead will take it from a wandering homeowner. If there are loved ones in a home whose safety must be assured, I'd go with a 1911-A1 and a spare mag. Always keep a hand free to parry an invader. A 1911-A1 can be easily reloaded in total darkness.
If possible, never allow an invader get close enough to touch you. That would put you at a severe tactical disadvantage.
Walking around a dark home with a lighted flashlight would telegraph a homeowner's position; hence, he'd become an easy target. A wandering homeowner is at a pronounced tactical disadvantage against a stationary and hiding invader.
A revolver is marginal for home defense. A .357 Mag is a very bad idea. The muzzle blast is deafening when fired inside of an enclosed room leaving a homeowner disoriented and with ringing in his ears. Those are severe tactical disadvantages. Muzzle flash is blinding, which will demolish night vision, which is always a bad outcome were an invader shooting at a homeowner. Worse, a revolver is next to impossible to reload in darkness. If a homeowner were to drop a speed loader, he'd be deep up a stinky river without a paddle. Turn on a flashlight to search for a speed loader, and a homeowner would make himself an easy target for an invader.
If I were going to use a revolver for home defense, it'd be a 4" .38 Special loaded with the FBI load. A double action .44 Special or .45 Colt would be a whole lot better.
If you'll recall the one hand free to parry an invader tactic, a .357 Mag and larger caliber handgun will make it difficult to keep its muzzle pointed at an invader. A handgun's recoil must never jerk its muzzle off an imminent threat.
My primary home defense is our ferocious dog who's very protective yet loyal and loving family member. He loves to cuddle. He thinks he's one of my kids. He might just be. In reality, his bark would scare away all but the most persistent, but he's a teddy bear who has never harmed anyone. But were I to hear his alarming bark in the dark of night, it'd be all the warning I need to dial 911 leaving the send icon ready to tap. Firing a handgun inside of my home would be a last desperate act with no other option available.
One last and crucial point. You're going to need professional help defending your family and yourself from a home invader. Dial 911 immediately were you to suspect invader inside of your home. A dispatcher will keep you on line until her cops arrive. She'll ask you to describe yourself. When cops are on scene, she'll tell you to leave you gun in plain sight and your hands empty and clearly visible. Cops will have no clue of who you are until your ID as homeowner can be verified. Never, ever hold any gun when cops are responding to a serious felony in progress. That's how tragic and horrible accidents occur.
If you have an appearing vicious dog in your home, secure him before cops arrive. Tell a dispatcher that you have a dog and won't harm cops.
Residential burglaries/home invasions when homeowners and family members are home are committed by extremely dangerous criminals. I personally know of two murders of family members who were home when their homes were targeted for residential burglaries. That's why calling cops for professional help is imperative.
Military combat and home defense are two very distinct and vastly different topics. Here's what I've posted on another forum about the topic:
I wish I had a nickel for every time a homeowner has asked me for home defense advice. All too often, they have been told to buy a shotgun. A shotgun, all long guns for that matter, is a double-edged sword for home defense.
An 18" 870 with 00 buck or slugs is a formidable weapon; however, it can become a pronounced liability. As long as a homeowner can remain stationary within his home (crouched behind his bed with muzzle pointed at point of entry), it'd be hard to beat a properly loaded (no bird shot unless your invader is a bird) and good quality shotgun. It's when a homeowner has to leave his room to assure safety of loved ones will a long gun become a liability. A hiding invader who is half brain-dead will take it from a wandering homeowner. If there are loved ones in a home whose safety must be assured, I'd go with a 1911-A1 and a spare mag. Always keep a hand free to parry an invader. A 1911-A1 can be easily reloaded in total darkness.
If possible, never allow an invader get close enough to touch you. That would put you at a severe tactical disadvantage.
Walking around a dark home with a lighted flashlight would telegraph a homeowner's position; hence, he'd become an easy target. A wandering homeowner is at a pronounced tactical disadvantage against a stationary and hiding invader.
A revolver is marginal for home defense. A .357 Mag is a very bad idea. The muzzle blast is deafening when fired inside of an enclosed room leaving a homeowner disoriented and with ringing in his ears. Those are severe tactical disadvantages. Muzzle flash is blinding, which will demolish night vision, which is always a bad outcome were an invader shooting at a homeowner. Worse, a revolver is next to impossible to reload in darkness. If a homeowner were to drop a speed loader, he'd be deep up a stinky river without a paddle. Turn on a flashlight to search for a speed loader, and a homeowner would make himself an easy target for an invader.
If I were going to use a revolver for home defense, it'd be a 4" .38 Special loaded with the FBI load. A double action .44 Special or .45 Colt would be a whole lot better.
If you'll recall the one hand free to parry an invader tactic, a .357 Mag and larger caliber handgun will make it difficult to keep its muzzle pointed at an invader. A handgun's recoil must never jerk its muzzle off an imminent threat.
My primary home defense is our ferocious dog who's very protective yet loyal and loving family member. He loves to cuddle. He thinks he's one of my kids. He might just be. In reality, his bark would scare away all but the most persistent, but he's a teddy bear who has never harmed anyone. But were I to hear his alarming bark in the dark of night, it'd be all the warning I need to dial 911 leaving the send icon ready to tap. Firing a handgun inside of my home would be a last desperate act with no other option available.
One last and crucial point. You're going to need professional help defending your family and yourself from a home invader. Dial 911 immediately were you to suspect invader inside of your home. A dispatcher will keep you on line until her cops arrive. She'll ask you to describe yourself. When cops are on scene, she'll tell you to leave you gun in plain sight and your hands empty and clearly visible. Cops will have no clue of who you are until your ID as homeowner can be verified. Never, ever hold any gun when cops are responding to a serious felony in progress. That's how tragic and horrible accidents occur.
If you have an appearing vicious dog in your home, secure him before cops arrive. Tell a dispatcher that you have a dog and won't harm cops.
Residential burglaries/home invasions when homeowners and family members are home are committed by extremely dangerous criminals. I personally know of two murders of family members who were home when their homes were targeted for residential burglaries. That's why calling cops for professional help is imperative.
I'd advise not keeping loaded guns hidden at various locations inside one's home. It would put a homeowner in quite a bind were an invader to find it.
My advice is to keep only one handgun ready. Keep other guns in a locked gun safe. If there were to be an imminent threat (a carjacker loose in your neighborhood), carry your handgun with you while inside of your home. If you can legally carry a concealed handgun, carry it with you when you leave your home.
I'd sure as heck would hate to come home to an invader who's armed with my handgun that I had hidden inside of my home.
My advice is to keep only one handgun ready. Keep other guns in a locked gun safe. If there were to be an imminent threat (a carjacker loose in your neighborhood), carry your handgun with you while inside of your home. If you can legally carry a concealed handgun, carry it with you when you leave your home.
I'd sure as heck would hate to come home to an invader who's armed with my handgun that I had hidden inside of my home.
Bill DeShivs
New member
Then you wouldn't be very good at hiding things.....
When I was younger I lived in a high crime area , walking through the projects you didn't carry a handgun in a holster , it was in my jacket pocket with my hand on the grip. Pulled it out once when someone blind sided me , stopped him in his tracks.
Got married , kids , moved to a house in the subburbs , got a dog , just like in the movies. 9:30 at night both cars in the driveway & bam , attempted home invasion. Luckily old habits die hard. Sounds crazy but I do keep a handgun with me at all times .
Police were there in 3 minutes . Ended with out a problem , thanks to my hand gun .
Got married , kids , moved to a house in the subburbs , got a dog , just like in the movies. 9:30 at night both cars in the driveway & bam , attempted home invasion. Luckily old habits die hard. Sounds crazy but I do keep a handgun with me at all times .
Police were there in 3 minutes . Ended with out a problem , thanks to my hand gun .
Big4Freedom
New member
My pistol is attached to my bed via Titan gun vault. In couple seconds it can be in hand ready for work, providing I wake up in time...I can't have a shotgun or rifle lying on floor next to bed or in corner of room by bed or draped over night stand.
So reachabilty and maneuverability are my biggest reasons. And with the capacity of my .45 rounds at my disposal between full size glock mag in it, and the extended mag on night stand, I should be able to eliminate most threats, providing I have a few seconds to arm myself. If I'm awakened to three guys standing over my bed with guns, in the 15 seconds before my alarm goes off, it won't matter what's next to bed I guess
So reachabilty and maneuverability are my biggest reasons. And with the capacity of my .45 rounds at my disposal between full size glock mag in it, and the extended mag on night stand, I should be able to eliminate most threats, providing I have a few seconds to arm myself. If I'm awakened to three guys standing over my bed with guns, in the 15 seconds before my alarm goes off, it won't matter what's next to bed I guess
I think it all depends. I rely on a .45ACP handgun. But I live in an apartment in a low crime community with lots of armed neighbors willing and able to come to my aid. If I lived in a higher crime area or in bear country I would have a long gun handy. I figure my handgun is for when I am not expecting trouble. If expecting trouble my strategy is "don't go" but If going is unavoidable, long gun. I do think the shotgun is a bit overrated for home defense. There is the issue of corners and the issue of getting to it. Just like going outside, a handgun is more likely to be on my person.
(thats humor for the humor impaired)
Elliottsdad
New member
This, this, this, this, and this.
1. It should be on you (especially in the house, as this is where a large percentage of defensive shootings occur). Nearly impossible for long guns.
2. It can offer a free hand for other tasks.
3. It is less likely to overpenetrate/overtravel
4. See number 1 again. As many others have stated, defensive situations don't announce themselves ahead of time. You do not get to pick when a thug threatens you or your family. Always be ready.
I have long guns, but really they're for sport, collection, and SHTF (I know, I know, that acronym is a naughty thing to bring up at TFL, but it is an arguably legitimate insurance policy for defense in disaster scenarios, and it gives me a reason to buy firearms I want but have no other reason to buy).
If I had a crystal ball to predict when evil was coming over, I'd have time to get the Mossberg ready. I have no crystal ball, so the handgun wins.
Too many people fall for the "point and pull" myth of the shotgun.
This probably needs more discussion, especially of the legal ramifications, but I think Charlie Askins got it right when he referred to the "belly gun-you press it against your opponents belly and pull the trigger."
I recommend a careful assessment of one's home environment and defense needs. In my case, single guy, live by myself, a cat for companionship. If I hear banging at the front door, forced entry, footsteps, I know they're not hers.
I wear glasses, single vision, near sighted, really need them mostly for driving and bicycling. I have found I can get by with just safety glasses at the range, focus on the front sight, the groups are tightening. Longest distance in my apartment about 12 feet.
Yes, Ye Olde 38 Special will do nicely. Been decades since I was in any sort of armed confrontation, but I think we have gotten too hung up on this "zapped by lightning" idea of stopping power. Yes, I know, drug use does affect reactions to pain and gives people a feeling of invincibility, but does not make them invulnerable.
This probably needs more discussion, especially of the legal ramifications, but I think Charlie Askins got it right when he referred to the "belly gun-you press it against your opponents belly and pull the trigger."
I recommend a careful assessment of one's home environment and defense needs. In my case, single guy, live by myself, a cat for companionship. If I hear banging at the front door, forced entry, footsteps, I know they're not hers.
I wear glasses, single vision, near sighted, really need them mostly for driving and bicycling. I have found I can get by with just safety glasses at the range, focus on the front sight, the groups are tightening. Longest distance in my apartment about 12 feet.
Yes, Ye Olde 38 Special will do nicely. Been decades since I was in any sort of armed confrontation, but I think we have gotten too hung up on this "zapped by lightning" idea of stopping power. Yes, I know, drug use does affect reactions to pain and gives people a feeling of invincibility, but does not make them invulnerable.