Laugh if you want,

I've always kept a loaded 22 auto loaded with hollow points at arms length from bed.A weapon my wife OR daughter can and would use and not be intimidated by recoil,blast etc..

I also have a SA Ruger 44 mag but its not loaded. I'll stick with the 22 and empty the clip into his pump house faster than he can hit the floor.

Not dogging the last post at all but wanted to relate a story from a retired cop and current DEA agent.... anyway - he was on scene where someone was shot in the pump house with a .25. the small rounds do so little trauma that it actually took the bad guy around 7 seconds before he stopped his attack. he had to bleed out before he stopped his attack.....

consider that most self defense shootings are at a range of 7 yards or less and that it only takes a person 1.5 seconds to cross those 7 yards and you are in a LOT of trouble with an intruder.

Sawed off 12 gauge with bb's. You just slide the action and most people will freeze, and when you are looking down the barrel it looks 2" around.

Never ever ever ever ever ever ever rely on the sound of a gun cycling to deter an intruder.

If you are faced with the decision of if you should pull the trigger on an intruder or not you had damn well already have the gun loaded and ready to fire before you make any contact with the intruder what so ever.

If you have other family members in other rooms in the house and he has no way out the intruder may very well snatch up one out of their sleep as his personal shield if he hears you pump that shotgun. I know I would if I needed to.



Another misnomer is about shotguns. While I too agree that a shotgun with small buck shot is the absolute best home defense gun available if you have a shotgun with a 18 inch barrel with no/ open choke the pattern will not open up more than about 3 or 4 inches at the distances someone would shoot at an intruder in their house which is only about 10 yards at the most unless you have a very large house. You had still better be awake to be able to distinguish who you are shooting at and be able to properly aim what ever gun you choose to use as a home defense gun.

I agree with BibBulls on the subject of presenting an unloaded firearm to an intruder wether it is a pistol or shotgun. When/if you make the decision to aim your weapon, you need to be ready to fire it too.

I personally have my 12 gauge loaded with #1 Buck alternating with #4 Buck as a backup to my 1911 45. In my opinion, a pistol is easier to have handy and is more maneuverable inside a house.

In addition to keeping a firearm close at hand, a flashlight is just as important for verifying the threat.

Regardless of what caliber you choose, spend time at the range to maintain proficiency in shot placement and confidence in your weapon. Choose a premium self defense round (Speer Gold Dot, Federal Hydroshocks, etc) that you prove to yourself will function with 100% reliability in your firearm. I would stay away from handloaded personnel defense rounds; if you have to use your firearms this will provide a lawyer with additional "ammo" against you.

In addition, I would suggest purchasing some books on the use of firearms for self defense, and if money and time allow, attend some of the professional training programs (Gunsite, etc) with the gun(s) you plan on using for self defense.

The internet is great for gathering information, but don't trust your life on a "sound bite" from a forum.

22's what my grandad alway's kept handy. considerin he never had ta use it id say it was 100% effective

early

I've had luck with Federal Cartridge's Hydra-Shok JHP either 124 gr, which I use mostly to target practice or the 147 gr. bullet. I'm partial to Federal Cartridge. That's basically all I shoot.

Speer Gold Dot!

#1 buck shot.

I think Doc Holliday had the right idea when he carrieda double shotgun to the O.K Corral. Of course, he only had two quick shots beforehe drew hispistol.I bet he made those two shots count though. And no, my bet is that he did not fire them from the hip.

I have a 20 guage double coach gun by my bed with 5 #3 buckshot shells in the stock sleeve.I chose a 20 guage because it handles better than a 12, and at 10 yards who cares. I like the fact that I can put all 20 pellets in the size just smaller than a bad guys chest at 10 yards.

I think the most important thing is to have a plan for the most likely situation, and hope it never happens. I know there are different scenerios to where another weapon might serve better,but I personally don't see a long drawn out gunfight in a middle of the night. I am pretty confident that at least my first two shots will not be wasted.

C. Davis