Best choice for home defence: 9mm or shotgun?
I live in a town home type condo complex with a common wall on two sides of my unit. I’ve had a 9mm hand gun for a while and just inherited a double barrel shot gun.
For home defense, what would be the best choice, the 9mm hand gun or a double barrel shotgun?
I am concerned about accidently injuring a neighbor, the 9mm is sure to go though at least one if not two or more walls but it is only one bullet. Versus the shotgun were there would be 5-10 pellets in a buck shot type round or dozens of much smaller pellets in bird shot type round but what they might not penetrate as many walls.
Any opinions please.
speshal:
I live in California not Afghanistan
I don’t want to buy new weapons and I hope not to have to use them so I am stuck with the guns a I have: A 1918 Luger (9mm) and a double barrel 12 ga Shotgun; nitro speical made in 1924 by Ithica arms of New York (a duck hunting gun?)
I want to thank everyone for posting their replies, it’s been very informative! There were several answers I think are the best but haven’t quite decided which one just yet.
I think my best options are selecting the right type of ammo both guns; something like the Glaser safety slug for the 9mm and low brass/low recoil #8 type bird shot for the shotgun for home defense.
And then keep some high power 9mm rounds and 00 buck shot 3in for; insurrection, rioting and radio active zombies.
Posted in best shotgun
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Both have their roles in home defense.
The shotgun’s role is holding down the fort such as a safe room where only one door has to be guarded.
The handgun’s role is searching the home, gathering family, etc.
A handgun requires one hand to operate making it usable while on the phone with police, finding family, holding a flashlight, opening doors, etc. A shotgun would have to be lowered and hard to raise and then shoot and still control it.
Also the handgun does not need to be lowered or raised to look around corners (you would not want to have the barrel of a shotgun peak around the corner giving away or position and then stick your head out). A handgun also gives less to the intruder to grab onto if they get close enough to grapple with you and the weapon. A shotgun will give him or her more to hold onto.
I hope this helps. The Shotgun v. Handgun came from Guns and Ammo: Book of Personal Defense; The Role of the Handgun. I forgot the authors name and the page number. I lent the article out to a friend.
http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/glaser/glaser.htm
Will not go thru walls.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
rpg
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
9mm
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
the 9mm definatly has a longer range.
but it also has more shots if you needed them.
and the pellets from the shotgun would go everywhere increasing the chances that you might hit a neighbor.
i would choose the 9mm.
edit:
why am i 1-5?
i am talking about, hey what if someone kicks down this guy’s door at 3 in the morning, he sure as hell wont be robin hood. so if he misses the first time, he can just shoot agian.
and what if there is like 3 ppl?
a double barrel shotgun, you only have 2 chances.
and it isnt like a video game, it actually takes time to reload.
ive shot both of them because i hunt, and i know people that hunt. so i do know what i am talking about.
i dont use them to hunt, but still i have shot them
so 9mm about 8 shots
double barrel-2
9mm-1 bullet
shotgun- around 10 pellets (unless you decide to use slugs)
(9mm, lower chance of hitting a innocent person)
or you could buy a used pump shotgun at a sporting goods store.
they usually run about…well it depends. maybe about $200
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
the shotgun with a load of # 4 and buck,, include a strap on shell holder on stock just in case the shi, hits the fan ok thanks
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Depending on what load and how thick your wall is I would probably say the 9mm. As long as your shooting hollow points it shouldnt penetrate your walls with too much energy.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
i would say 9mm because less chance of it hitting a neighbor or yourself, just dont miss too much lol
good luck
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Hands down, the 12Guage shotgun is the way to go! I use #4 Remington Nitro Steel in mine. You only get six shots but you will only need more than six if there is more than six intruders in your house at once.
As far as the 9mm, it is hard enough trying to hit a dam target standing still in the day time, let alone getting awoken at night and having to prowl around your own house with the lights off…. The shotgun is just as easy as using the mouse on your computer, Point and Click….you will hit something!
Remington Nitro Steel IS birdshot!…..Long live the Shotgun!
You should reconsider the #8 Birdshot. That is good if you are close but any kind of distance and the chance of killing is significantly reduced. Remember, shoot to kill! Dead people make terrible liars.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
* Jesus! Don’t listen to those crazies. You use #4 buck and you’ll kill your neighbor next door. And maybe his neighbor.
Shotguns are difficult to wield, but if your home is invaded and you lock yourself in the bedroom, you couldn’t have a better friend. Load it with #8 bird shot (low brass). At the ranges we are talking, it’ll cut a perp in half but it won’t penetrate two lawers of dry wall and insulation. Buy the 18.5 inch Mossberg with the open bore or improved cylinder. You only need to point it in the general direction – another consideration when you’re quaking in your boots.
Who’s the dick that said 9mm has better range? Idiot. If you shoot someone at that distance (outside shotgun range), it’s murder.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
the best thing i can recommend is a .45 or a shotgun(single barrel pump) for home defense-.45s are a good bullet that dont travel far but do alot of damage(a .22-9mm will go further maybe even thru your neighbors house-a .45 is a big bullet with lots of stopping power but once it hits it pretty much stays,smaller bullets can go fly for a while) in a shotgun get a 12ga with birdshot,at close range it can do ALOT of damage,like take out a 1/4 of a person,and it wont travel far,not alot of yards like a rifle round-for home defense i keep a .45 and a 12ga
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
The 9mm and snag an extra magazine and there you go. Luger is a fine weapon wish I could afford one myself.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Go with the shot gun, the sight of it alone would stop a man in his tracks.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Allow me to provide you with a solid answer. In May of 1981 while I was on the road my townhouse apartment was broken into by a serial rapist. My girlfriend did just like I taught her when she heard the front door slam open. She grabbed my Mossberg 20 gauge pump shot gun and ran to the top of the stairs. she racked the action and pumped in a #4 birddshot round and screamed down the stairs "Leave here now" ! The intruder was still standing in the doorway at the foot of the stairs and lunged to run up them, She dropped the muzzle to center of mass like I taught her and squeezed off a round. One was all it took . from about 5 to 6 feet away 7/8 of an oz of led shot hit at the base of the throat. The cops arrived about 6 minutes latter to find the intruder’s head laying on the porch outside the front door. The interior of the stair well was "splashed" with intruder and my girl friend was quietly having hysterics. Nine rapes in Hayward CA closed that night. No charges filed. When examination was carried out 8 pellets missed intruder and only one completely penetrated one 1/2 in layer of sheetrock and it stopped in the pink insulation.
No charges filed against my girlfriend or myself.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
The shotgun with 00 buck shot. The buckshot will still go through walls but will lose it’s energy a lot faster than a hollow point 9mm. HOWEVER – you can get 9mm frangible ammo. It is much more expensive but it does do the job. Frangible ammo is basically lead powder behind a thin case. If it hits soft tissue of a bad guy, it delivers it’s energy like a regular bullet….no more bad guy. If it misses and hits something harder, like a sheetrock wall, it basically explodes and does not penetrate into the next room with any more than harmless debris. Or even better, Frangible Shot Shells for the shotgun.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
wow, you are NOT stuck with the guns you have.
You can sell that luger pistol and buy a whole pile of nice guns
I suspect that your shotgun may not be able to handle modern ammo, it is at the very end of the age window when ‘damascus barrels’ were being used. However, depending on condition, it might be worth a fair amount too. Not nearly the value of the Luger, but still valuable.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Id go with the shotgun. i have 2 side by sides for my home protection a 12 gauge and a 20. I currently don’t have any 12 gauge ammo but i have 20 gauge #6 birdshot . Ive been messing around with the 6 shot and im sure it would be enough to stop and intruder especially if you hit em with both triggers. I don’t think the birdshot will penetrate the walls. Id say go with the shotgun. and have the 9mm as a backup for reloading or other problems. If you don’t know what ammo would have the perfect stopping and penetrating power im sure your local gun shop will give some great advise on the type of shot.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
use the shotgun with double 00 buckshot youll blow the living shit right out of them if your close and you wont be shooting that far cause its most likely a robber or something in the house. and you will have alot better chance of hitting them cause its 8 pellets going instead of 1 shot.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Mr. both of those weapons you have are very nice, but I wouldn’t use them for self defense.
I’d spend a little money (you don’t have to spend alot). and get a self defense gun.
A shotgun is definately more powerful, but the one you have is too long (making it clumbersome) and a side by side. A pump action shotgun with a 18" barrel ( I don’t remember is it has to be 18 or 18.5", but shorter the better).
That pistol is a nice gun, and it looks like it is selling for about 1400 dollars on a website.
Nothing wrong with a 9mm. A nice hollow point won’t have too much penetration. If you are worried, go to a gun store and ask about ammo. You will probably have to order a nice round. I’m personally a little skeptical of the franible ammunition like Glazer bullets. I hear they are innaccurate and hit or miss.
As far as power is conserned, I’d get a shotgun, but I’d stay a way from the one you have. I like pistols, but I realize they are underpowered.
The nice things about pistols is the number of shots. Most of my pistols carry 15 shots in the magazine (though you live in CA, so only ten is legal)
A cheap shotgun will cost you 200-350, and a nice, cheap pistol will cost you 350-500 right now. You really don’t want to go too cheap on pistol because you get what you pay for. I know you don’t want to buy a new gun, but these really aren’t goin to be that much of a burden, but the stuff you have really isn’t what you are looking for.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
As you know dry wall is pretty thin. I’d just get frangible ammo for that 9mm such as what Glacier Ammo loads. These are not supposed to penetrate dry wall and have plenty of stopping power even in a 9mm. Keep that double 12 gauge for backup. I’d have something like #4 turkey shot handy just in case.
H
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Use your shotgun as a primary and the pistol as a secondary weapon.* Use number 4 bird shot for ammo in the shotgun. Use 115 grain jacketed hollow points in the Luger.* If you ever want to sell that Ithaca let me know.*~
May 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Its really all up to u, the 9mm has good ammo capacity and a good fire rate, but its downfall is that it will penetrate and go straight through the body….this may not disable an intruder but only wound him…..and the shotgun has excellent stopping power, and is a one shot one kill weapon…..but it is rather bulky and can be hard to maneuver around….
But personally, my choice would have to got to the Shotgun….