Author Topic: house gun info needed (Read 1978 times)

luckydawg13 · « **on:** November 06, 2011, 11:45:54 PM »

i need a good house gun but not Sher what to get a pistol or short barreled shotgun
what did you pick
thanks

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** November 06, 2011, 11:59:52 PM »

A short barrelled shotgun, one that is easily maneuvered through the doorways and hallways of your home. There are some 'Coach' guns of the cowboy action shooting sports genre that are nicely sized and can be had in 410 and 20 guage as well as the heavier 12 guage. If you choose a shotgun you should choose your loads with consideration to the shot passing through wallboard and the like and striking those you wish to protect.

Other style short shotguns, like the Mossberg Cruiser, and the like, are equally suitable.

You should also consider that a full load of shot from a short barrelled shotgun is not going to 'sweep' the hallway when you touch it off - it will have a fairly narrow shot pattern at short distances and although larger than a handgun slug you can easily miss at close range under stress.

If you decide to purchase a shotgun you may also wish to consider some of the newer defensive loadings which can be had in a 2.5" length and are somewhat easier to shoot, but yet just as effective. HTH.

Bugflipper · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2011, 05:07:13 AM »

My vote is also for a shotgun. Ask any leo doing an entry on a house which they would prefer and 9 out of 10 times it would be a shotgun over a pistol. The 1 out of 10 fellow is just nuts.

A good brand pump with an 18" barrel, cylinder bore, butt stock and a light mounted on the barrel would be ideal for most folks. A lot of people don't like the kick of a pistol grip pump and more often than not find out it is a lot harder to hit what they want to from the hip without a good deal of practice, even at close range.

luckydawg13 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 07, 2011, 06:15:20 AM »

i have a Remington 887 that i won from ducks unlimited i need to see if they make a 18"
barrel for it if so that's what ill use

rockbilly · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2011, 09:21:19 AM »

I kept a short barreled Remington 870 for a house gun for many years but after seeing the damage to the inside of a house after two rounds of 00 buck were fired I changed my mind. The guy shot what he thought was an intruder that turned out to be a shadow; he took out the HVAC system, shot through his daughter’s bedroom wall destroying a dresser, large mirror and mattress in the room. Luckily, his daughter was away at the time or she may have been killed or seriously injured.

I still keep the 12 gauge loaded and ready but when something gets my attention in the night I grab my model 60 Smith loaded with a first round bird shot and four down loaded 158 gr .357 rounds to top it off. If need be, I intend to STOP an intruder, if the bird shot to the face doesn’t do it then something more powerful to the middle of the chest is yet to come.

Spirithawk · « **Reply #5 on:** November 07, 2011, 01:57:05 PM »

I keep a Mossberg 500 Cruiser 12/18.5 Blackwater Pistol Grip 12 ga. by my bed and always have a Kel Tec PF-9 on my side whether going out or staying at home.

GatCat · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2011, 07:34:36 PM »

I think it depends on how you consider using it. IF you plan to gather your family and hole up in a safe room, etc., and either deal with intruder who comes in, or police arrive to investigage, a shotgun is fine. I"m not too keen on the pistol grip (oply) versions, to me the shotgun is best shot from the shoulder. At house ranges, pattern is narrow, easy to miss if not aimed.
IF you plan to be armed when say a knock on door at strange hour, you need to go outside to check out something unusual, wife, etc, plans to train with it, then I think a good revolver is best, short barre., easy to conceal, etc. If wife is to be trained, the manual of arms for a pump shotgun is somewhat complicated, ie, safety, action release, unload a chambered round, etc. etc.
Even in daytime, say a knock on door, really are you ( or anyone else ) going to go to the door with a shotgun, to great the UPS, USPS, Jahova's Witness, neighbor wanting to borrow an egg, girlscout selling cookies, etc. etc. etc. A snubbie works just fine for that. BUT, for a S.H.T.F., when you are making a stand, inside a room, it's hard to beat a shotgun, use small shot, BB, etc.
Mark

Curtis · « **Reply #7 on:** November 08, 2011, 02:19:03 PM »

Both. These are in various locations in my abode and readily available depending on what part of the house I'm in:

I agree that you should get familiar with shooting the shotty from the hip, but it's not that hard. Me and several guys at a hunt were hitting clay pigeons from a thrower at about 50% after only a few practice shots. And the recoil was not bad at all with bird shot. 3" 00 buck might be another story though.
Curtis

Mikey · « **Reply #8 on:** November 09, 2011, 12:04:19 AM »

Curtis: Nice Springer.

Rockabilly: I think that anyone who wants to use a shotgun for home defense should take a close look at what sort of damage it causes, and take it from there, which means practicing enough so you don't really worry about wallboard or sheetrock or door or window damage, and figuring out where to place your shot loads so as not to injure the innocent (as best as possible). And it also seems like the 'run and hide' in your 'lockdown room' advocates are active all over the place - what ever happened to taking a firm/aggressive approach to a home invasion or a intruder?

I certainly do not want a possible hostage situation in my own home but simply do not trust the police anywhere near enough to allow them to settle the problem. They are as likely to kill the innocent homeowner as they are to miss the bad guy. If I hear someone or if my dogs alert to something going on, I doubt I will wait until someone gains access to my home and has places to hide to ambush me from behind - I will most likely put a few holes in some walls to make certain the intruder is down as soon as I can get a bead on him or her than to wait to be victimized either by a criminal or the police.

Wallboard, sheetrock, doors and doorjams, windows and windowjams can all be replaced and home owner's insurance usually takes care of that cost - at least mine does. My wife and family are not replaceable, expendable or subject to threat or harrassment on my watch.

luckydawg13 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 09, 2011, 03:44:02 AM »

i would like to thank you all i think that i will run with a 870 with a short barrel
on it and a 92fs 9mm for the wife

gstewart44 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 09, 2011, 04:03:55 AM »

Say hello to my lil' friend!

Spirithawk · « **Reply #11 on:** November 09, 2011, 06:43:05 AM »

Here in Missouri we have a "Castle Law" so we don't have to run and hide. That option is saved for the intruders....if they can out run a bullet!

DDZ · « **Reply #12 on:** November 09, 2011, 11:34:43 AM »

Quote from: luckydawg13 on November 09, 2011, 03:44:02 AM

i would like to thank you all i think that i will run with a 870 with a short barrel
on it and a 92fs 9mm for the wife

You made a good choice. I have not used anything other than my 870 for the last 38 years, and that included skeet and trap shooting, waterfoul hunting, and small game hunting. It has not let me down once, and I have never replaced any parts except different length barrels. It has been beyond reliable. When I'm not out hunting or shooting with it. It is under my bed with an 18 inch imp. cly. tube, loaded with 3 inch #1 buck. My belief is that this will be the best tool I own to stop a threat, and I'm not the least bit worried about what might happen to the walls, frig, tv, or anything else. That stuff will mean nothing if you don't stop the threat from doing harm to you or your family. I just pray that I never have to use it to stop a threat.

Blue Duck · « **Reply #13 on:** November 11, 2011, 03:56:52 AM »

A shot gun is a good choice. If I had to shoot someone,Id have no problem with fixing the wall.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #14 on:** November 11, 2011, 04:07:22 AM »

Both. if you ansewer the door a handgun is nice to have . If no problem exist then slip in in a pocket. If attacked by home invaders a shotgun might be best. We have both , wife will back me with one or the other depending on situation at hand. If only one is doable go shot gun and get tatics set in place to use the shotgun to your advantage. Load buck shot with at least one slug aval. as reload. Everyone talks about shot passint thru walls. learn where it is safe to fire and teach others where to hide and be safe. Just laying on the floor and pointing at an up ward angle will cause shot to go over the heads of people in rooms on the same level. You should in most cases not go hunting for the bad guy but ambush him

jakeemt · « **Reply #15 on:** November 11, 2011, 04:11:10 AM »

Hey man to me it depends on whether or not you have kids. I have a kid and can't keep a shotgun locked up by my bed for easy access. I opt for the pistol b/c I have a small safe with a quick finger combo the fits in my night stand.

zoner · « **Reply #16 on:** November 11, 2011, 04:23:38 AM »

I was able to test some 00 buck 12 guage loads on some abandoned houses. My friend is a house mover and had these houses stored on his property. I went in one house and fired a round that went thru a front door, a wood fence, a copper water line, the exterior wall of the house next to it,and two interior walls. I'm a big fan of a short barreled pump shotgun but this testing tells me it's too much penetration INSIDE your house. Mine is loaded so the first two rounds of High brass #4's followed up with 4 rds of 00 buck just in case and my pump has a buttstock, not a pistol grip.....JMO.....Mike

bilmac · « **Reply #17 on:** November 11, 2011, 04:40:52 AM »

Check out the differences in the length between a "coach gun" double bbl and a pump before you buy. A long gun can get you in trouble in an indoor situation. Go around a corner with the bbl sticking out in front and it will advertise your presence at best. Worse, a bad guy could be close enough to grab it and take it away.

We were taught to keep a long gun on your shoulder when going around corners, but to hold the muzzle down close to your leg and lean forward and peek first. Awkward to say the least, but think about what is happening as you move through your house from the bad guys perspective, and don't give him any advantages.

RustyJr · « **Reply #18 on:** November 11, 2011, 10:54:40 AM »

I would say both. If you can only afford one I'd say the handgun. Handguns are better if you have to move through your house to retrieve children from other rooms and bring them back to the master bedroom or "safe room". It is easier to carry children or operate doorknobs and switches with a handgun than a shotgun. And while you may be able to open a door while carrying a shotgun how fast can you get it into action in the middle of opening a door? The shotgun with buckshot is a devastating close range defensive weapon, but you have to know when to use it. So for me, shotgun for in the bedroom and the handgun for moving around the house.

RustyJr

4given · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2012, 07:00:14 AM »

I would go with a short barreled 870 12 gauge with a stock, not a hand grip, so you can actually aim the thing because you really do need to aim. I would stoke it with either Hornady Critical Defense 00 buck, Hornandy TAP 00 buck or Federal Tactical 00 buck. The Hornady Critical Defense is easier to find in your local store or gun shop. The other two can be found online. They all use the same design of wad (Filghtcontrol wad - Federal; Versitite wad - Hornady) for a really tight pattern and are low recoil for quick follow up shots.
I use the Hornady Critical Defense in my short barreled 870 Because I can get them down at my local Cabelas.

anachronism · « **Reply #20 on:** January 22, 2012, 04:17:35 PM »

A lot would depend on what you shoot most proficiently. Shotguns are nice for filling the air with lead, but lack the capability of making a precise single hit on a target. If you knew for sure what kind of situation you might face, the choice would be easy, but there's no way you could possibly know this. For the capability of firing a single, well aimed shot, I give the edge to the handgun. However, you still need to practice with it a lot to achieve the proficiency necessary to use it for self-defense. My second choice would be a light carbine instead of a shotgun.

timothy · « **Reply #21 on:** January 22, 2012, 05:38:00 PM »

Im suprised to see so many in favor of the shotgun. Most authorities agree if the theres to be only one gun in the house it should be the handgun. The shotgun should ONLY be used from a fixed static location. The handgun allows the manipulation of telephones, light switches, doorknobs, etc, with the other hand. Doing all that with an 870 is difficult.

demented · « **Reply #22 on:** January 31, 2012, 11:56:12 PM »

My "house" gun is a Mossberg 500 18" barrel with a Pachmayr Vindicator pistol grip and a six shot side saddle. I prefer the Mossberg since it holds one round over stock 870. Normally I wouldn't consider a side saddle, they mess with the balance and carry characteristics of the shotgun but around the house I like that I have eleven rounds in and on the shotgun when I need it. I leave mine with the mag tube full, hammer down so all I need do is chamber a shell when I pick it up. As a back up, I have a Glock 19 and spare magazine in one of those cheap nylon holsters with the spare mag carrier on front. I keep the holster on a nylon pistol belt, all I have to do is grab my shotgun, stick my Glock in the holster, latch the belt around my waist and I'm ready to repel boarders. Ammo for the shotgun is "tactical" reduced recoil 00, 9mm ammo is Speer 124gr. Plus P Gold Dot hollowpoints.

dougk · « **Reply #23 on:** February 01, 2012, 05:40:02 PM »

You should look at a .357 mag revolver.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #24 on:** February 01, 2012, 06:18:43 PM »

I think you need to tell more about you and your living situation.
Do you have kids? Do you live in a house, single story, multiple story?
Do you live in an apartment/ condo?
My frined has kids and their rooms are at the other end of the house. At one point his plan was to move through the house and get the kids and go back into his room where his wife was going to be with a shotgun or handgun, he would take the other.
I pointed out he has to pass through potential danger zones twice and once with the kids. He changed the mix of guns to include loads that will not go through the walls of his house. The Buck loads were swapped out for 7.5 trap loads. Incase he needs to shoot in the center rooms it will not carry through to the kids rooms.
What ever you see as a plan for your protection is what you will arm your self with. Moving through the house a handgun may be the best choice, locking the bedroom door and baracading behind the matress or closet wall with a full stocked shotgun may be the ticket. Waiting for the police to show up.
I keep three guns in the house. One revolver near the front door ( I have a fear about push in robbery on halloween), one revolver in the bedroom and an 870 short barreled with a side saddle of ammo. The cell phone lives in the room and if somehting goes bump in the night I close the door use the cell phone and if anyone opens the door.
I keep 4" k frame revolvers in the house because they do not care if they are loaded or not. There are no drills if it does not go bang, it is just pull the trigger again. after 6 Pulls thumb the cylinder release dump the empties and grab a speed loader and try to reload. While I shoot autos at some events I do break out the house gun every so often and shoot it. If it just lives in the draw or the closet you will freeze up if ever needed. Same with the shotgun.
I have spare ammo with the guns in case the 6 in each runs out. At least that is my plan.
But you know about plans. Every boxer has a plan till the first punch lands. but he has trained knowing the other guy is going to throw and land a punch or two. The handgun may become the reload for the shotgun.