Suggest a smaller weapon to wound but not kill

Elviscaretaker · Apr 10, 2011

Lets not forget about dogs. Even a beware of dog sign is a deterrent for the common thug. A real one even more so.
Otherwise I'd have to go with the shot gun but teach her to shoot it first. That said, most folks can't get to their guns quick enough unless it's on them. Even then you need to draw before the perp gets within 10 feet or you risk "losing".
Sprays can help but ... there are issues there also.
Have you considered any self defense classes?
She should learn to react and not think, otherwise what ever you get her can be used against her. Most people tend to freeze up without training or experience under stress.
So, I'm back to the dog

. Not a toy but a real one and a breed that is loyal/protective to it's owner without training. Check into a Caucasian if you know how to handle dogs. There is a sub breed out of Russia that would be ideal

Esquire's Caucasian Ovcharka News
I prefer a WELL trained standard/royal poodle for the wife. They don't scare the neighbors as much ...

RSKY · Apr 10, 2011

I's a little late with this discussion but I want to put my $.02 in.

My wife can do things that terrify me. Such as stand up in front of a crowd of a couple hundred people and talk for five minutes with only a few seconds warning. I have seen her do this several times. She is cool and calm in many situations that would leave me trembling in fear.

But.......if someone were breaking into our house I have no doubt she would NOT be able to load, chamber a round, and take the safety off an auto pistol. Same thing with a shotgun. Nearly everyone here is looking at the situation as if they had plenty of warning somebody was going to break in their house. Get the weapon, load it, wait for them, yep....I hear them breaking down the door.

Waking up in the middle of the night, after a hard days work, and going to bed exhausted only to be startled awake by the sound of someone trying to beat open the bedroom door is another matter. So is a woman living alone and somewhat fearful. Keep it simple and make it quickly accessable.

I bought my wife a S&W bodyguard revolver. It is double action only and has a grip activated lazer. All she has to do is point and pull the trigger. No safety, no hammer to pull back, simply point and keep pulling the trigger until it stops shooting. Just keep the little red dot on the target.

Also less danger to the user. A friend's wife left the hammer back on her pistol and had it in a 'fanny pack' while riding her bicycle. The little Smith has an enclosed hammer.

And being hit by two or three 38 Specials at close range will ruin anybody's day.

The Haymaker · Apr 10, 2011

Harry Palmer said:
I'm sorry, but .22 bullets can and do kill people. Two weeks ago a man was sitting in his living room watching TV. A few 'gang-bangers' decided to shoot at his house. The bullets struck the man and he died. Now they are in jail waiting trial on capital murder charges.
By the way, the US Military fires a 5.62mm round in the M-16 and the M-4 rifles. These are very close in size to the .222/.223 caliber you find in varmint rifles.
I have several pellet guns; at close range they work pretty good. Another choice would be .22 caliber birdshot. Birds really hate it! My Grandad used to protect his watermelon patch by loading his shotgun with rock salt. My Dad said the salt really encouraged him not to raid the watermelon patch.

A .22 will go down a 5.56 chambered rifle, but other than that you can't compare the two. What's going to stop an intruder, a 65 grain slug traveling at 3240fps or a 40 grain at 1300fps?

As I said before, if you are in a position where you feel your life is at risk, you shoot to kill. Don't associate yourself with those who ask the cop "Why didn't you shoot him in the leg, you didn't know he wanted to kill you with that gun?"

And yes, a shotgun is a great deterrent. You also don't need to worry about (as much)shooting your family or neighbors if fired within the house. A high powered rifle will penetrate several walls (after the intended target) before losing energy. Buckshot not so much.

A cell phone is laughable. "Excuse me kind sir, would you stay on the other side of the room while I dial my cell? I'll make you coffee while we wait for the deputy to show up from the other side of the county. Would you like crumpets?"

Warn, shoot, call the police. I love Castle Laws.

Here's a fine example of the wrong way to do things:
Machete Attack

I couldn't find the article I wanted, where the father recounted the nights happenings. He HAD a pistol for home defense and was attacked while he returned to his room to get the gun after he asked questions first.

"A gun is a lot like a condom on prom night. It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

Dozernut · Apr 10, 2011

The bad thing about a hand gun is over penetration. She might miss the offender but that bullet will not stop in a typically constructed home wall. That bullet will travel until it runs out of energy or strikes another impenetrable object. This could be a tree, a car, another home or an occupant inside the home. Then if she survives the assault then she has another whole set of problems to deal with. She will have to deal with the physiological impact if she kills someone not to mention the lawsuits that will come. As mentioned before a good 20 gauge double barrel shotgun would be a better solution with a lesser chance of over penetration.

Before I would put a gun in her hands I would beef up the security, deadbolts, bars on the windows, a cell phone, an audible alarm system and a puppy of a mid sized breed. Go to the shelter and adopt one, the mixed breed makes a healthier dog and a lot cheaper. The pepper spray is not a bad last ditch defense, but keep in mind that the canister needs to be shook up before spraying because the pepper will settle to the bottom of the canister and without the shake all you will spray is the propellant.

sweettractors · Apr 10, 2011

How about the Judge? Penetration not a problem and probably would only be deadly at VERY close range. $346 I think for this model? "TAURUS Model 45/410 Tracker Revolver Taurus 410 Ga (2 1/2" Chamber)/45 LC w/Blue Finish, 3" Barrel, Fiber Optic Sights. Capable of chambering both .410 gauge 2 1/2" shotshell and 45 Colt ammunition, this amazing combo gun is ideal for short distances where most altercations occur, or longer distances with the 45 Colt ammo. Taurus has finely tuned the rifling to spread the shot pattern at close quarters or to guide the .45 caliber bullet to the target. Fully customized with fixed rear sights, fiber optic front sights and Taurus ribber grips, the Taurus 45/410 is one decision maker that lays down the law." Ken Sweet

Gale Hawkins · Apr 10, 2011

I saw the TAURUS Model 45/410 first time recently. That is one wicked looking handgun. What about the 'kick'?

Cat_Driver · Apr 10, 2011

Here ya go

YouTube - How to Make a Potato Launcher

Sigarms · Apr 10, 2011

She's got my old .22 rifle right now, & we've shot it, loaded it, un-loaded, etc. but even that's dicey. I don't trust her with it, & it's probably too big for her to swing around & hit something in an emergency anyway.

Think about what you just said.

The most simple gun I can think of would be a double barrel stage coach shotgun with two shells in the chamber (see if you can find something in a 20 or .410 gauge) and have her practice, practice practice. Pull the hammer back, and shoot.

I wouldn't want to be you or some other family member showing up by surprise however.

A .22LR is better than nothing at all IMO. Although ANY firearm in a persons hands who is not familiar with the gun and basic shooting principles is probably more dangerous than the gun itself.

How about a stun gun?

My math may be off, but two threads in less than 35 days having over 500 posts has to be a record of some sort.

2manyrocks · Apr 10, 2011

I've sort of thought about this for a day now. If she lives in an area that makes her fearful for good reason, think about moving. Sometimes moving can be a good thing. It can open up new opportunities.

If she is staying put, take a look at her doors to see if they can withstand someone really trying to kick them in. If the doors are weak, replace them with steel clad doors that have deadbolts, and then make sure the hinges are screwed into the studs. The cheapo latch plate that comes with the doors should be replaced with a security latch plate that is also screwed into the studs. Then, nobody is going to kick the door in without working at it long enough to give her time to react.

Look at the rest of her home and see if you can secure the areas that would be most likely for forced entry while she's there.

A little dog that barks is not a bad idea unless she's going to trip over it and break a hip.

If she doesn't have the heart or willpower to use a gun, no matter what it might be, then it may be just an added risk to her. She might as well use a cast iron frying pan for defense.