[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

I'm not a fan of a shotgun or a revolver

You guys know I'm a huge fan of revolvers. Shotguns as a second line, if you can get to them. We've covered the issues surrounding that. Dogs help.

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

So, yes. The shotgun is a one shot person eraser that's if you hit your target. It's not point and spray 9 pellets covers the target. If you do buy a shotgun test it out on a piece of cardboard at 5'. 10'. 15' 20' you'll see that the spread is smaller than you think.

Exactly. In the house, they have to be "aimed". You're lucky if the pattern is as big as your fist across the living room.

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

The other negatives are slow to reload, it's length and for the guys pushing a pump shotgun, I've trained a few people with them and have seen double feed jams and short stroke jams. They are incredible in what they do. I don't own one right now.

With an ample magazine and the afore mentioned short shells, it would be a very, very bad day if one actually had to reload.

But, yes, anything that has to be manually cycled has a very real concern with failure to cycle. I watched a guy empty his lever gun on a trophy book mulie one time. Except he never pulled the trigger. A magazine full of live rounds on the ground, as the buck ran away unscathed.

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

For the revoler? Double action triggers are not for everyone. Add in zero recoil mitigation and not easy to reload.

Double action, or more properly "trigger cocking" makes it seem like double actions suck. But, only on the range, when other people are watching. In the home, at arm's length, no one cares if your groups open up because of it.

Yes, they are slow to reload. But so is a semi-auto if you didn't remember to grab another mag. And who does that in a home defense scenario? If you run dry, it's over with either a semi auto or a revolver.

Recoil mitigation? I think, for "punch" delivered, that semi-autos seem to recoil more than revolvers. If not, the cycling of the slide tends to intimidate novices more so than outright recoil.

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

Magazine fed semi auto pistols loaded in 9mm whit defensive ammo. Try a CZ P01, Sig 226, Glock 19 and a few others. See what works best for you.

Very effective, no doubt. But, well, more to do than any double action revolver with which we can just "point and click".

Pay a professional instructor for a few lessons. But a good safe & bolt it dow.

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

If there's ever an intruder and you have the chance to engage or flee. Just slip out the back jack.

"The best way to never lose a gunfight is to never get into one." Absolutely. Decide if it's worth defending. Most things are not. People are. Act accordingly.

Don't go hunting in the house for them. It's not worth it. If you come home and they're in your house call the cops. Wait to have guys with bullet resistant vests to clear your house.

My two cents.[/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by jyl

What do we think about lights on a home defense pistol?

Seems like a good thing but I have no real knowledge.

I don’t have a pistol with a rail, so would have to get one.

Lights, blinding lights, are a fantastic tactical advantage. Just don't mount one on the gun. Hold it in the other hand, away from you and the gun. People tend to shoot at the light.