Home Security On my mind again

[RoyJackson]

That link had some really good information, Chris!
Thank you very much!

 

[oe2x]

Thanks for this thread. I've found it to be very interesting and informative.

Perhaps you can offer some ideas for my needs:

I'm building a new house so I can wire whatever I need. It is remote and will have lots of glass and access. The nearest neighbor is 300 yards away. A couple of kids living with us.

I like the perimeter lighting and driveway sensor ideas. Not sure about the gun (because of the kids), but would have an 870 with an 18" barrel if I go that route.


Any other ideas?

 

[dmccarty]

oe2x,

Call up your insurance company and see how much you will save on your premium if you have an alarm system in the house. Figure out if the cost of paying for the alarm makes money sense compared to the savings in the insurance. When I did this the savings was close to nill. That told me that 1) the insurance company saw no difference in having an alarm and/or 2) the chance of me getting robbed was very low. I did the same with an in house sprinkler system.

But that is for property. For protecting the family I think something is needed. We have a German Shepard and will be getting a rescue Golden Retriever this week. Their room and board is paid by their barking at the right moments.

We will always have dogs so we have a built in alarm with four legs AND teeth. If we did not have dogs we would have an house alarm for when we where home.

Later,
Dan

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks for this thread. I've found it to be very interesting and informative.

Perhaps you can offer some ideas for my needs:

I'm building a new house so I can wire whatever I need. It is remote and will have lots of glass and access. The nearest neighbor is 300 yards away. A couple of kids living with us.

I like the perimeter lighting and driveway sensor ideas. Not sure about the gun (because of the kids), but would have an 870 with an 18" barrel if I go that route.


Any other ideas?

Sounds like you're going to have plenty of room for dogs.

Also....now, don't laugh...geese are supposed to be pretty good as "watch geese". They sure do make a racket.

Since you're 900' away from your closest neighbor, I'd want the loudest alarm I could find.

The shottie is there if the alarm doesn't keep an intruder out...that's your last resort. Be prepared...

 

[jfh28]

LOL! We have a pyrenee who pays by barking at everything at anytime. But we knew this going in. And although it is quite unnerving to see a 140# barking, growling dog launching himself against the sliding glass door to get at whoever has ventured near he is not the one to be concerned about....it's the 160# wolfhound quietly standing behind him, watching and waiting.

And thanks to this thread we are also getting a sg for the 2% of the time the dogs don't deter. I really like the feel of the 870 over the mossberg. Going to take the wife and kid to a range and try out a 12ga and 20ga to see which they can handle best. Also will try out a pistol grip. I need to position myself in a hallway to protect all bedrooms and even with the 18" barrel the stock butt feels a little long.

Anyone here have any experience with shooting a pistol only grip sg?

Thanks
Jack

We have a German Shepard and will be getting a rescue Golden Retriever this week. Their room and board is paid by their barking at the right moments.

 

[RoyJackson]

EDITED
Also will try out a pistol grip. I need to position myself in a hallway to protect all bedrooms and even with the 18" barrel the stock butt feels a little long.

Anyone here have any experience with shooting a pistol only grip sg?

Thanks
Jack

Yeah, 12 Gage can be a real handful. When you try one out (with a pistol grip), use bird shot initially...get a feel for it. Have a firm grip on that fore end! Also, you don't aim a pistol grip shottie as much as point it. If you try to aim it, the recoil may result in a broken nose (so, keep it several inches away from your face!). It's better if you hold the pistol grip shottie solidly at your waist with the wrist of your hand (on the pistol grip) as straight as possible.
I don't think your wife or kid will be able to handle a pistol gripped shottie...but it can't hurt to try.

An alternative is a folder (see the attached pic). The folder is made by Knoxx Industries and is called COPStock. The intent of this stock is recoil reduction. Works pretty good too! But still, keep a good grip on that fore end!!!!. I'm emphasizing about the grip since the first time I shot this (with the folder installed), I gripped the fore end with my bad hand. Well, even with the recoil system, I lost it. So, I swapped hands (the bad hand does ok on the pistol grip) and it works as advertised. When unfolded, it shoots like a regular shottie, but you really want padding on your shoulder. In an emergency...do what you got to do...but for practice, wear a pad under your shirt (available at gun shops).

Also, try a low recoil 00 buckshot. Federal is what I use, but there are other manufacturers.

Pic shows the stock folded and unfolded.

 

[oe2x]

I can do dogs and can't wait to have the house finished to do so. Only problem is that two of the kids are asthematic - which means we can only do three breeds:
1. Goldendoodle or labradoodle - good barkers
2. Portuguese waterdog - good barker
3. Spinone - terrible barker and will likely drown the perp in saliva as she licks him to death.

The first two are great dogs (except anything that is part poodle is just wrong )until you let them outside. Their hair is like velco in the forest. They pick up everything!!!

My experience with pistol grips is the same as Roy's and I think he is spot on.

Not sure about the SG in the house with the kids. How do you keep it accessable, but not to the kids?

 

[dmccarty]

I have always wanted an Irish Wolfhound until I saw how much they cost, , and more importantly how short they live. The GSD is 11 and should have a few more years but she is slowing down now. Its going to be hard enough to loose her after a decade or more. Don't know if we can handle a dog that does not live as long.

A 12ga is tough to handle shooting on the shoulder if you don't do it right. Never tried with a pistol grip and don't see the point to be honest. I don't know of any POlice that are issued pistol grip shot guns. The thing needs to be aimed. That can be done off the hip but not as well as by aiming with eye and sights. At the most likely distances a shot gun will be used in a home self defense situation, the spread of 00 buckshot is not going be much. Federal 00 spreads about 15 inches at 15 yards/45 feet. Measure your house. What is the farthest shot that can be taken. In our new house I think there is one place that would go 35 feet and the other might be 55 feet if sitting on the couch. In our old house the longest shot would be 25 feet. A 15 inch spread needs to be aimed. The closer the target the tighter the pattern which requires better aim.

Later,
Dan

 

[jfh28]

Thanks for that Roy. That copstock does not look friendly to the shoulder!

Does the low recoil 00 make that much of a difference over the standard 00 in terms of kick? And does a 20ga have enough dropping power when used mainly in the short distances inside a house?

Thanks
Jack


Also, try a low recoil 00 buckshot. Federal is what I use, but there are other manufacturers.

 

[jfh28]

There is a price to pay with IW's and last year our bill came due when we lost our big guy just shy of his 6th birthday. It was devastating as with the lose of any pet but we knew of the short life span going into getting an IW and really appreciated every day we had with him.

Everything about IW"S is supersized including the cost to get, vet bills, med's, car requirements, bed size, food, and the bumps and bruises you get from playing games with them. But the love they return is also supersized. Our current IW is 1 year and I'm trying to convince the wife to get another one.

I love GSD's as my sister has them, they are also wonderful guardians. Our pyr is a rescue, owner give-up. They don't know what they missed out on...big lovable fluff ball who would sacrifice himself in a second for us...he takes his guarding very seriously. Hope all works out with getting your golden.

We were thinking of getting a laser site with the sg, have you had any experience with them?

Thanks
Jack