Home Defense
There are some different factors when trying to defend the home.
Think about these factors when determining which firearm will be your go to
for home defense.
You might start with one and retreat to another;
or, hand off weapons to different people during consolidation to a securable point.
- Size of Home:
What is the longest distance between any two points in the home?
- Size of Property:
What is the longest distance from the home to the edge of the property?
- Proximity to Other People:
How close are the neighbors?
Apartments and tight subdivisions can be a concern for over penetration.
- Ages of People in the Home:
Accessibility to firearms is more complicated when there are people who need to be
denied access.
John "Shrek" McPhee has some opinions about home
defense weapons
and early
threat detection.
I like his opinions; they seem well reasoned.
My recommendation is this: choose a full size pistol and/or light rifle.
A gunfight at home will most likely be at night so red dot sights and weapon mounted lights
are ideal.
The actual weapon platform doesn't matter as long as you train.
Buy something you want to shoot and enjoy shooting.
I don't recommend shotguns because most people don't enjoy shooting them because of the
recoil.
Many people (too many) recommend a pump shotgun because they say racking the weapon
will cause the intruders to run away.
My opinion is that if the intruders can hear you rack the weapon, they are already too
close.
Remember the rules: escape or kill. A threat has entered your home; you
kill the threat or escape with your family.
NO WARNINGS:
A warning sound gives up your position and invites them to act first; bad idea.
A warning shot may have consequences. They could attack instead of run. A warning shot may
travel through walls into a bystander.