Decent spoon?

[Eric 951]

a double action revolver is a solid home defense weapon. I have a semi auto as the first line of defense for the same reason as a shot spoon. There is no mistaking the sound of racking a round in a pistol.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

"A 357 magnum is a good weapon, but I've seen 38's bounce off of windshieds."

I interrupt my PPOT hiatus to give my 2cents.

Last week, I considered the same thing.

I bought a 12 gauge. Not a tactical 12 gauge, but a hunting 12 gauge.
In an end world scenario, I figure could always saw it shorter. Got a magazine extender and some other goodies coming in the mail.

(they were also out of remingtons and I got a good deal)

If you are really looking for home protection, the 12 gauge will have some damn good stopping power, but won't go through to many walls if you choose your shot wisely.

This has been over video'd to death on YT.

I ended up going with the 12 because it really is flexible- Sporting clays, birds, deer, zombies, etc. It's a caliber you can make to your needs. birdshot/buckshot/slug- or when the world ends cutshell a birdshot into a 1930's style redneck slugshot.

It checked off a lot of boxes in one gun.

The 357 is good. My dad had a bunch, but most of the snubnose/shorted barrelled versions can be firecrackers. Hard to control, and some can rip your hand off. It was hit or miss on which was which.

My favorite was his longer barreled 44 dirty harry magnum. It shot better than some the shorter barreled 357 magnums like you have pictured. 38 is a good option in that gun I think.

Do some research on home defense - lots of gun dudes have shotguns at their bed while their prized rifles sit in the gun cases.

Also think- once the "home protection" is off the table- what else is this gun good for? I used to work at a sporting clays range. The idea of doing that again was a bonus (assuming the zombies don't get me). I also like the idea I can cap the remaining deer in my yard as the world goes to hell. They should mostly be in range of slugs.
I couldn't imagine doing that with a handgun- least not with my aiming

Next month, I will probably go out and buy a tactical 12 gauge.

The tabpacalypse is here folks. Spoon up and wear a helmet

A couple of things to ad, how many people are in your home? Most handguns will easily go through wall. One of my best friends, has a very impressive gun collection, he is also sponsored by Browning. A group of us were at his home, and the topic of home defense came up. He uses a 12 Guage, alternates the loads(he also loads his own ammo). His big concern is that he was a wife and 2 year old as well as his elderly mother.


That is his home defense, he knows how to handle it in tight quarters, plus, it will hold 10 shells. As I stated, he knows his weapons and his ammo, he knows which loads will go through walls and which won't.

One more thing that I am not sure has been covered here, I know, practice, practice, practice and learn your weapons, but you should also, you can't do this at the range, but practice without hearing protection, as firing without hearing protection, in an emergency citation, the loud noise could startle you and cause you to make a mistake.

[Por_sha911]

Although I understand the idea of buying used guns instead of new in order to save money, my experience over the last few years is that used are selling for almost the same as new. I would rather spend the extra $50-75 to be sure that the firearm I am using to protect my life is 100%. I have seen used revolvers which have problems with poor gap at the forcing cone, abused cylinders because the previous yahoo was shoot loads too strong for the gun, and even some "creative modifications" that create a bad gun. Along with that, as others have said, you need to be able to check the ser # to be sure it isn't stolen. Keep in mind that the gun could have been sold legally to someone you know and respect BUT if it was stolen a few owners back, the bottom line is you could have it taken away from you with NO recourse. It is the buyer's responsibility to due diligence to protect themselves.

I also believe that the nicer your defense weapon is, the much great likelihood it will be "lost" in the evidence locker while you are waiting for your case to be cleared. Buy a new reliable brand firearm (Glock, Ruger, M&P) that you can shoot well. A 9 mm +P with a 10-15 round magazine shot with proper aim is better than a 460 magnum that misses the target.

Getting back to a 12 ga pump, it may be harder to practice if you live in an urban area but, I would say it is worth being friends with someone who has a outdoor range membership or taking a trip to the country once in a while to visit a friend's farm. A shotgun require a lot less precision aiming, has less risk of wall penetration, and has enough knockdown power to handle virtually any uninvited visitor. Lets face it, if you live in Chicago, NYC, L.A. or some other less than friendly environments, you have a better chance of owning a 12 ga hunting rifle that a 9mm pistol which will "blow out a lung"

[jyl]

There are special loads designed to fragment and not over penetrate. E.g. the venerable Glaser Safety Slug. https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/is-the-glaser-safety-slug-good-for-self-defense/ I suspect they may have real drawbacks but some benefits too. There may be better designs out there. I’ve no personal experience with them. I load my defense guns with old fashioned hollow points.

[Por_sha911]

Choice of caliber or ammo is as hotly debated as religion, politics, or what brand of oil to use in your air cooled Porsche. We all have our opinions and preferences.
I have looked at some of the these 'special' loads that fragment or are suppose to cause a bigger wound channel (like R.I.P. bullets) but their penetration issues become a negative. I like to stick to proven tech with quality brand JHP.

[Jeff Higgins]

Wash, rinse, repeat... The misinformation surrounding the defensive use of firearms, mostly promulgated by the uninformed and inexperienced, refuses to die. Most only "know" what they have read on the internet... Coupla observations:

Shotguns are longer than handguns. Which leads to:
They are difficult to maneuver in hallways, where many home defense "encounters" occur.
They are more easily grabbed by an assailant.
They are more easily "stepped inside of" by an assailant.
They are difficult, if not impossible, to operate with one hand, while holding back an assailant with the other hand.
They are less convenient to have close at hand, or "bedside", making them difficult to retrieve when the assailant makes it that far. Many do, because we are sleeping...

"Over penetration" is a myth. Guys like Maasad Ayoob have made bank by proselytizing its many evils while serving as "expert witnesses". Like Joan Rivers infamously said about the Gabor sisters, "they are only famous for being famous". Ayoob is only an "expert" at being an "expert". Everything he says is unadulterated B.S.

Ask anyone who has actually killed with a handgun, and we will all tell you that penetration is the only thing that matters. Rounds that go "splat" fail, rounds that penetrate win. No one I can recall can relate a righteous, legal, self defense shoot where someone unseen through a wall was inadvertently killed. Of course, that said, someone here will dig and dig until they come up with one, because that's how these sites roll...

In summary, something in the nightstand, that we can grab when startled in bed, that we can shoot one handed, that we can keep the bad guy from grabbing, should be a bare minimum. On top of that, based on our individual circumstances, we can add more. For example, after a series of BLM/ANTIFA/CHAZ/CHOP inspired local incidents of unrest, I began keeping my M1A in the closet with a 20 round mag inserted, for "neighborhood" work. There will, however, always be that handgun in the night stand, close at hand. Loaded with hard cast lead bullets designed to "over" penetrate.

[KFC911]

^^^^ LOL.... sometimes I wonder if Rip Van Higgins lives in the same world as I do when I read some of the hypothetical BS he posts. I do what I do and am quite comfortable with my choices.... as should everyone else.

My house, my defenses, my choices.... I can live with them ...

[techman1]

While I agree we all say practice is needed to be proficient, it is also needed to familiarize you with the controls of that particular firearm.

Double action - -at what point of trigger pull does the hammer drop? How smooth is the pull? if cloth gets in the way, will the hammer penetrate and still fire?

Semi auto - is there a magazine disconnect? In a struggle, will it come out of battery and not fire when pressed against someone? How easy is it to accidently bump the magazine release?

Practice is great; also use it to become familiar with the uniqueness of the firearm.

[Rot 911]

I agree 100% with Jeff. You need something that you can grab quickly and all you have to think about doing is pointing and pulling the trigger. Which means, make sure whatever weapon you are using is loaded! And I would even go so far to say as make sure the safe is off. As anyone who has ever been in combat can tell you, it is amazing the number of individuals who forget to take the safe off their weapon in a combat situation. It was always the first thing I would yell at my troops when things got hot: “take your f**king safety off! There would always be some new to the unit soldier who thought he had been firing the entire time, yet still had a full magazine in his weapon.

I, for one, don’t believe in the “racking the weapon noise is going to scare the intruder off.“ In my opinion all it’s going to do is let the intruder know where you are. I would prefer to stay quiet and let the intruder come to me.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

I, for one, don’t believe in the “racking the weapon noise is going to scare the intruder off.“ In my opinion all it’s going to do is let the intruder know where you are. I would prefer to stay quiet and let the intruder come to me.

I agree with the above but many still worry whether a shotgun is drop safe.
Regardless of what condition of readiness the shotgun is in, I prefer not to have the safety on since it is small and I can't say I want to be fumbling with it when needing to defend myself.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by KC911

^^^^ LOL.... sometimes I wonder if Rip Van Higgins lives in the same world as I do when I read some of the hypothetical BS he posts. I do what I do and am quite comfortable with my choices.... as should everyone else.
My house, my defenses, my choices.... I can live with them ...

+1 I thought I was the only one who was thinking this.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by tabs

(27-2 s/w 5 inch)

Have one of these as well.

That trigger, once cocked, is flat out dangerously light.

The overall gun will certainly spoil you for any modern Ruger.

[Rick Lee]

I have a model 29 with a trigger that you can blow on and make it go bang. It's nuts.

[Jeff Higgins]

Remember, kids, what the good Col Cooper said: "A handgun is for fighting your way to your long gun".

I'm not saying a shotgun is a poor choice for home defense. It's a fantastic choice, but there are drawbacks, and anyone choosing the shotgun needs to be aware of those. If it's the only thing you keep in your home for self defense, well, that is entirely your choice. Just be aware of those limitations. If they don't concern you, fine. Your house, your life, your loved ones. The rest of us will keep that handgun handy in the nightstand, even if there is a shotgun (or rifle) in the closet.

[Por_sha911]

To answer the above:
Well, duh!
There is no such thing as too many weapons to chose from but if someone can only have one, I would say go with the shotgun.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Have one of these as well.

That trigger, once cocked, is flat out dangerously light.

The overall gun will certainly spoil you for any modern Ruger.

My SW 686 is about 3# once cocked

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Remember, kids, what the good Col Cooper said: "A handgun is for fighting your way to your long gun".

I'm not saying a shotgun is a poor choice for home defense. It's a fantastic choice, but there are drawbacks, and anyone choosing the shotgun needs to be aware of those. If it's the only thing you keep in your home for self defense, well, that is entirely your choice. Just be aware of those limitations. If they don't concern you, fine. Your house, your life, your loved ones. The rest of us will keep that handgun handy in the nightstand, even if there is a shotgun (or rifle) in the closet.

We're all good Jeff... I use all my spoons just to get to my running shoes.... to quote Greg Allman....

"I'm a backdoor man..."

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

To answer the above:
Well, duh!
There is no such thing as too many weapons to chose from but if someone can only have one, I would say go with the shotgun.

I would agree with that. I don't think any one of us has just one, however, except maybe McLovin. But we'll soon have him corrupted.

Originally Posted by KC911

We're all good Jeff... I use all my spoons just to get to my running shoes.... to quote Greg Allman....

"I'm a backdoor man..."

In my house, it's my wife's job to lay down the suppressive fire. Since you really don't have to hit anything...

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I would agree with that. I don't think any one of us has just one, however, except maybe McLovin. But we'll soon have him seeing the light and becoming a believer.

Fixed it for you

[jyl]

I dropped by the pistol range after work and shot for half an hour. It was fun and easy. Because I had a pistol. If I had a 12 ga, I’d never shoot it. Actually, I have one, and that’s true. I think a pistol that you shoot often and well might be preferable to a shotgun that you last operated two years ago.