Wisdom on gun purchase please?

Ozarker · Jun 20, 2004

Yes, the various versions of pre-fragmented bullets such as the Glasser are very good at not penetrating solid objects.

Not sure where you are going with your comments on the 12ga vs drugged up bad guys. True, they may not back down when confronted or when they hear the round being chambered. But a load of 00 in the chest will end that false bravado immediately. The same can't be said for the various calibers of handgun ammo. Many hopped up on some type of substance have taken multiple hits from a handgun and continued to function aggressively.

I am not aware of anyone ever continuing to act aggressively after being hit in the chest with a load of buckshot.

As for giving away my position, that isn't even an issue. I am not at war sitting an ambush for the enemy. I am a homeowner defending me and mine. Not only am I going to give away my position, I am going to be talking to him in the hope that I can end this situation without actually having to shoot anyone. My first assumption is that the intruder is a burglar breaking into a home that he THINKS is unoccupied. Barring that, it is someone intent on doing harm to the occupants and he already knows that we are probably in the master bedroom......the likely place that most homeowners will retreat to.

I need to let him know that I am armed, force him to reevaluate his plan A and perhaps go to plan B. Hopefully, plan B is to run away.

If he doesn't run away and decides to continue, he has 20' of 3' wide hallway to go down and I am at the other end of that hallway with a Mossberg 500 defender. Good luck.

But the bottom line is that I am going to offer him every opportunity to end the situation without bloodshed. So making noise is not an issue.......it is part of the plan. We must establish communication.

Richard · Jun 20, 2004

( Let them hire someone else so you are not connected to this work in any way or you might incur your neighbor's wrath which is what you're trying to avoid )

I presume this won't change your angle of advice, however, it's not my neighbors that are an issue. The "people" here that are of issue, are people that for some reason, won't go the the regular campgrounds. NONE of them are from around here, indeed, many of them are from the next county over (as per plates on autos/trucks).

All (and I mean every single one) of my neighbors are just as "fed up" (more so actually because this activity is nearer to their homestead than mine) than I am with this ongoings and are supportive and to a lessor degree, physically helping me.

Though I've perhaps presented this more so as "me" agaisnt "them", it's not unreasonable to say it's 64% me, 36% my neighbors (yes, I calculated it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) against "them".

johnday · Jun 20, 2004

Ozarker; Some good points on your end. Yuor absolutely right about the buckshot. But I still much prefer my pistols in the situation I have in my house. I've been accussed of sometimes being over agressive when it comes to personal defense for myself and my family. I guess thats where some of my thoughts come from. And also about the handgun loads about not always stopping the bad guy. Thats why I prefer 8 rounds instead of the usual 5 in a shotgun. I also believe in practice, practice, practice. I know I'm no John Wayne, but I can get off eight rounds rather quickly and accuratley, drop the empty mag, and have 7 more rounds to go.
These are only my opinions as Richard asked.
You must know your firearm intimately whether a long gun or handgun.
I tend to agree with you on the communication thing, if possible. But NEVER give away your position.
This looks like you and I differ on our tactics. I truly hope to God neither one of us has to find out which one of us is the righter! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

MikePA · Jun 20, 2004

Mike; Is there something wrong with my post? 
No. I pointed out that you have 24 hours to edit a post because you made two posts within a few minutes of each other. An alternative would have been to edit your first post and insert additional information. No big deal either way. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Ozarker · Jun 20, 2004

Nothing wrong with being aggressive....especially when your home has been violated by some scumbag. While I preach the virtues of the shotgun for home defense and I have a fine Mossberg 500 Defender, the reality is that what I usually reach for when things go bump in the night is my Para-Ordinance P. After 20 years in the Army and 5 years shooting pistol competition on an Army team, I am most comfortable with the .45. But I will never recommend the .45 or any of the 1911 style SA auto's to anyone who doesn't have the training or isn't going to get the training and isn't willing to spend a lot of time on the range maintaining proficiency.

Slamfire · Jun 21, 2004

I prefer a long gun for home defense. Anybody who wants to win a gunfight chooses one of them. For a carry piece Keltecs new .380 weights a bit over 8 ounces, and can be hidden inside a bathing suit, if you don't wear a bikini.

MossRoad · Jun 21, 2004

and can be hidden inside a bathing suit, 

I don't want to know how you figured that out. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Richard · Jun 21, 2004

( and can be hidden inside a bathing suit,

I don't want to know how you figured that out. )

Perhaps it nicely replaced the sock? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

(sorry...but I coudln't resist)

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

EdKing · Jun 21, 2004

I am coming in a little late on this discussion, I had a bad bout with some bug this weekend and didn't get on the computer, but here is my advise for what it is worth.

I would go with a 12 ga pump action home defense shotgun. Winchester 1300, Mossberg 500, or Remington 870. Go to a gun store and check out each model and see which one you like/feel most comfortable with. You want a short barrel, cylinder bore (no choke) with the 7 or 8 shot magazine. Load the shot gun with 00 buckshot. It is the most effective close range round for combat/self defense. I read an article several years back, don't remember the source, stating that Park Rangers in western bear country prefer buckshot when dealing with bears that have to be put down, as they usually have to get in close, and while the buckshot may not kill the animal on the first shot, it slows them down enough to allow for followup shots. Here is a link to several good articles on home defense. Go with the full length stock, and fire from the shoulder, not from the hip like in the movies. Take the training classes, and practice, practice, practice.

When all is said and done, the only person you can truly rely upon is yourself.

FERRARI · Jun 21, 2004

Just found this topic...have not read it all...but I have had a license to carry a concealed weapon for years...I carry it with me everywhere....I read where someone posted they could shoot someone else...but they would make that decision when the time came to it......That person should never, never get a gun......You do not have time...
By the way....Guns do not kill people.....People kill people....Usually bad people with guns...and instead of enforcing the laws against those people...out country is taking guns away from all of us........If you listen to the people on T.V. that are against guns, you would think that the terrible GUN sitting over on the table will just get up and kill some one on its own.....and they want to get rid of them all and then the problem will be solved...right? I say carry a BIG GUN....and speak softly! and shoot straight if needed!
Sorry if I offended any gun hater....but that is the way it is...