self defense choice

[tipiguy]

I bought my Contender for double duty for home protection.  I have the old style 45/410 barrel.  Without the screw on choke the barrel is about 8" long.  What ammo do you think would be best to shoot without the choke tube on (since it won't fit in the gun safe with it on).  

I could use a 410 shell with #6 shot which would put a lethal hole through someone at close range.

I could use a 410 shell with buck shot.  There are only 3 pellets but would do lots of damage.

I could use a 45 shell.

I'm leaning towards the 410 because I believe they pose less of a risk of over penetrating through walls etc.

What do you think?

Thanks.
tipiguy

[B_Koes]

I would like to respectfully submit my opinion to this thread and say that there is no way in heck that I would want to put my butt on the line with a single .410 as my lone protection.  You can get a good home protection gun for somewhere between 200-300 and keep the Contender for a purpose that it was designed for.

[bigbore442001]

I think that legally you are opening a can of worms. I can jsut see it now,"Your Honor. This individual needed to go out and buy a sawed off shotgun just to kill and/or maim my poor, underpriveledged and mispent youth  client."

I faintly remember a cop telling me that if a TC .410 was used in self-defense the court would probably look upon it as a sawed off shotgun even though it isn't.

You are better off getting a DA .38 Spl. like an old police trade in for "social purposes". Like I said, if it were used you'ld probably wish you hadn't.

[spinafish]

I think I would buy a box of Winchester Silver tips.  I was given a box at the local guns and ammo store (someone had traded a .45 LC revolver and left the ammo and manager couldn't sell previously purchased ammo).  It mushrooms beautifully.  Like the others have stated, a multiple shot weapon would be a better choice,but if a Contender is what you have in hand..it beats shouting!!  I wouldn't want to be hit with the .410 side of things either..#6 or buckshot!  Most in home situations would be measured in feet or inches and not yards..that shot pattern is not going to open up much!

[helobill]

More is better to a point. I prefer turkey loads in my pump shotgun for home defense, no need to aim accurately, you can hit your target if you just get close. Second choice is a .45ACP. Contender's my first choice for hunting, but about my last for self defense (I can at least "reload" a baseball bat to get in a couple swings in the time it takes to find the ammo, fumble with it cause you're nervous and reload a contender)
Helicopter Bill

[Ken55]

Tipiguy:  Contenders are fine weapons on targets & for hunting, but were  not designed for self protection.  For one thing, what if you are dealing with more than (1) assailant?  Contenders having longer barrels than what most would consider home protection, giving your assailant something good to get a hold of in close quarters.  Get your self a GOOD  (not cheap, don't put a price on you & your family) 45 Acp Or if you prefer a GOOD 357 Mag revolver.  Both will get the job done & practice    alot so that you become proficient with it.

[securitysix]

Yep, what they said.  Get a better self-defense piece.  There are plenty of good, used double-action revolvers out there that would be much better and not finacially prohibitive, usually.  

You might also check with your local sheriff and see if they hold any auctions.  A friend's father has bought several things at police auctions on the cheap, including an M1 Garand for $250.  I'm sure you can find a good defensive pistol at one for fairly cheap.

In the mean time, you might consider slugs in your Contender, assuming you can hit anything with them.  They'll probably be about .45 Colt Cowboy Action level in effectiveness, I would think, but you'll get better penetration than you will with shot.  If you insist on going with shot, I'd go with #4 over #6, but that's just me.