[FrayAdjacent911]

I'll chime in on a few things here...

For the 12ga home defense. DO NOT USE BIRDSHOT. I don't give a rat's patootie what you've read. It may not penetrate walls, but it may not penetrate the perp in your living room, either. You want to be able to HURT your target, not just piss him off. Buckshot will not penetrate walls very easily, so don't worry much about that. Round projectiles slow down VERY rapidly. In a penetration test that a friend did on drywall, it didn't penetrate as well as most pistol rounds.

and... YOU STILL HAVE TO AIM with a shotgun. The spread, even with birdshot, at defensive ranges won't be very wide at all.


As for 'escalating' a confrontation... Remember, whether you choose to carry or not, you MUST commit yourself to avoidance, deterrance, deescalation and escape BEFORE resorting to deadly force. However, if all of the above is unsuccessful, and some thug is about to crack my skull open with a baseball bat, I am not afraid of 'escalating' anything by pulling a gun. I don't think he's going to think "he's got a gun, I should whip out my bazooka now, so I can beat him!". I think a criminal is more likely to crap his pants and run like a sissy.

Anyway... I'm going to be trying to get my CHL in the next couple months. I'm pretty sure I could conceal a full size 1911, but I just wouldn't be comfortable with it. The S&W 637 I mentioned above only weighs 15oz and is very small. I'd be MUCH more prone to carrying it, as it would be comfortable to me.

Always remember - it's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.