Which is a better home defense weapon: A pump action shotgun, or a semi-auto handgun?
I am trying to decide which gun would make for a better home defense gun.
I guess the pros/cons would be:
semi-auto handgun:
pros:
-Very light and easy to pick up and use.
-Easy to swing around quickly and point in different directions quickly etc (useful in close quarter situations).
-Can fire a lot of ammo quickly (semi-auto)
cons:
-Not as visually intimidating
-Not as audibly intimidating
-If your shot misses, it misses.
Pump action shotgun:
Pros:
-Very visually/audibly intimidating
-Extremely powerful at close range
-When you miss, you often still hit, since it sprays a big bluster of lead, instead of just one single bullet, when you fire a shot.
Cons:
-Heavy and awkward
-Tougher to swing around and aim quickly than the pistol
-Can’t fire rounds off as quickly (need to pump after each shot)
So which do you guys think makes for a better home defense gun?
P.S. I’m 6’1 220lbs, so kick is a non-issue for me on this topic.
Posted in semi auto shotgun
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
The shotgun will defiently have the upper hand in the stopping power deaprtement, but the handgun will also have good stopping power while being concealable and light.
Your personal preference really. It also depends on the size of your house too. Mine is around 2000 sq. ft. so handling a shotgun is quite easy. A handgun may be better if you live in a confined space like a studio apartment or small house.
Also, you want to question yourself about say if you were in this particular situation with a gunman, would it be easier for you to move around corners with a shotgun or a handgun?
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
id go with the shot gun with buckshot. You hit a guy with buckshot he isnt going very far.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I think the handgun would make a better home defense personally. and seriously, unless your an idiot. any kind of gun aimed at your face is going to be a little intimidating. the hand gun is smaller easyer to handle and also easyer to lock away so children cant get to them. also, when you get shot you would have to be one damn determind bad guy to keep coming after you after being shot once! as for the aim… well.. practice makes you better at that.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
the handgun is also much less powerful. the shotgun wont disperse shot enough at close range to get much spread even without a choke. but its still more accurate and far more powerful. long guns always win against handguns, the only advantage of the handgun is that its portable.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
For home defense a shotgun is ideal. With a handgun you have to worry about over penetration and also aiming can be a pain when its dark. A shotgun, you just need to be a few feet away and be pointing in the general direction when you pull the trigger. Double 00 buck will take care of the rest. Mossberg makes a 500 model thats got the shorter barrel and a pistol grip so its easier to manuver in smaller areas. The other nice thing about the shotgun is, when you run out of rounds its makes for one hell of a club. Oh they also make semi auto shotguns that can cycle 11 rounds in 1.75 seconds (Beretta Extrema 2, not exactly home defense but its an example) so if its shooting fast you want look into a semi auto. But with a shotgun it wont take a lot of rounds to stop someone.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Ok, for a home defense weapon i would suggest a large caliber pistol, such as a .45 ACP ( great stopping power who ever u shoot isnt getting out of your house) And trust me if ur packing any gun its intimidating, just depens on how you shoot. Shoot well, hit well, one dead thief,rapist at your feet. plus larger caliber pistols have higher accuracy, but say ur a bad shot i would suggest a 12, 20g shotgun for many reasons: the shotgun has a large spread so that means bigger boom and bigger fire pattern (how wide the shot is) but if ur a big guy like you say i would buy a Remington 870 Pump, great accuracy, slow fire rate, big boom!, and has only 3 shells so hit that bad guy in the ass with the first shot and blow his legs out with the last 2 =) see ya
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Go with the shotgun is it makes the international sound of ‘you picked the WRONG house’.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
The handgun would be a good first choice. The only problem with those is that in some areas / minicipalitys in the USA it is difficult to get a permit for those…. So the next best choice – which I might add is the first best choice for a lot of folks is the shotgun…. Inside the house the handgun is best….. If you are inclined to go out of your home to investigate something (NOT recommended if your in an urban area) then investigate with a shotgun. If you are in a farm, rural area or are a distance from your neighbors then use the shotgun to investigate outside. I live in an urban area… The problem here is lets say I hear somebody trying to break into the garage and confront the guy….. Lets say he runs away… He will call the cops and say you were menacing him – then when your arrested he comes back and robs the house while your getting bailed out…. These lowlifes are smart!… In urban areas you have neighbors that will get all excited and bent out of shape if they see you with a shotgun so a pistol is best for investigating something on your property in the city………..
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
You mention intimidation in your well thought out question. I hope you realize that if you point a weapon, shoot to kill. Hesitation will give your opponent the edge, and the opportunity to harm you. Some jurisdictions have less conitions on storage for a long gun as apposed to a handgun, that may be something to consider, accesability could be an advantage.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I think the shotgun is a better choice. Here are a couple of pros and cons you didn’t consider:
For handgun – pro – fun to take to the range to practice (also necessary to stay familiar with the functions of the gun)
(con) – 1) If it’s powerful enough to kill someone, it’s probably also strong enough to go through the wall into another room or into a neighbor’s house or apartment. 2) if someone breaks into your home when you’re not there, they are a lot more apt to take a handgun than a shotgun 3) If you leave the automatic loaded, the spring in the magazine gets fatigued
For shotgun pro – (actually a rebuttal to your cons) 1) Doesn’t have to be heavy and awkward. There are a lot of shotguns out there with pistol grips and short barrels. They’re not a good choice for duck hunting, but great for maneuvering in a small area. 2) Can sit for long periods loaded without stressing any parts 3) Harder for an intruder to wrestle out of your hands 4) Can also double as a club if you run out of shells
Con – If you shoot the shotgun in your house and miss, plant to put a door where the wall used to be.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Better home defense is a shot gun with a buck shot. Using a pistol needs practice – not just point and shoot. Unless you shoot frequently in the pistol range then I would opt for the semi-auto hand gun. Plus, a shot gun gives you the intimidating sound of the weapon being loaded.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Shotgun ..Shotgun ..Shotgun………….most of time loading action makes enough metal cluck – cluck noise to scare the intruders. If still u want ,need to fire ONLY one shot …………BBBBBBBBOOOOOOMMMMMMM……….done deal. call police and ask them to bring cleaning crew with big brooms to scoop up the scumbag from your living room.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
My choice is an assault 12 guage shot gun. I prefer a pump action cause when you rack the slide the intruder knows that his is in deep trouble.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
hand gun
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I would say a shotgun…. you could get a semi-auto if you want faster follow up shots. I don’t see a need though, since you lose the fear factor of the pump and most crooks will run after you start shooting.
Long guns also are a little safer around kids…. harder for them to point it at themselves so if one of the little guys stumbles onto it while you are away, even if he does get a shot off it probably will just make a hole in the wall and nothing else.
I would go with a shotgun.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Shotty
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
if you pull the trigger, there is absolutely no doubt the shotgun is better
the handgun is better if it is close when needed and the shotgun is down the hall in the closet
shotgun is not so good if you are having to move through the building – especially if you lead with the barrel while turning corners and going through doorways
you CANNOT point a shotgun in the general direction of a bad guy and take him out
add: thanks Metropol – great link
figure the longest shot you might need to make (across the bedroom? down the hall?) and pattern the shotgun at that distance. You will likely be disappointed.
#4 buck (not #4 bird shot)is absolutely the smallest shot size and bigger is better
bird shot, even a point blank range, will make a mess but may not take the bad guy down
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
my faimly has both.. the shoot gun is not the best for in your home because it takes longer to shoot and aim..
on but if you get a 9mm you can shoot at a rapid speed and you can get a lasor so you can see where its going to hit.. and dont worry about him getting away like some guy wrote.. you hit him anyware and chances are he will fall to the ground….
i keep a 45 cal. in my dressor next to me…
hope this helped
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Shotgun no doubt…you dont even have to shoot a shotgun sometimes…the firmiliar cocking noise is enough to make any mess themself
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I guess it all comes down to how much you like the inside of your house. Shotguns make a mess.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I prefer, recommend and use a 12 gauge 18" with 4 shot. Think about it, the shot, if you miss will not penetrate the wall and take out your neighbor’s TV, children or anything else. I know it sounds sort of stupid this way but it is SAFER for the innocent and the bad actor doesn’t stand a chance. There is something very intimidating and blood chilling about the noise a pump makes when you work the slide; kerchunk. No 4 shot blows a hole the size of a basketball in 5/8 plywood; imagine what it will do to a transgressor?
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
mossberg makes a home defense shotgun that holds 8 rounds. that should be more than enough rounds to protect you and/or your family. the gun is not to expensive and is very reliable.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Shotgun.
Even though the shot will barely spread at close range, it’s still easier to hit your target. And the shotgun has more stopping power. With handguns you have to worry about over-penetration- a bullet going through a wall and hitting someone in another room or a neighbor.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Handgun,all these people saying the shotgun spread is good but in a house that’s not something you want,Get a 45 and let the asshole get close enough that you don’t miss and believe me if you hit him in the pinky with it he wont come any closer.BTW redfred is full of it,the actual act of compressing and decompressing of the spring wears it out,but staying compressed does not weaken it,unloaded guns are like my ex wife…sexy but useless
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Shotgun. Point and shoot-no aiming needed. Get a flashlight on it so you know WHO you are shooting. Buckshot and go. Won’t penetrate walls and kill family members. Which ever you choose, have a flashlight handy. Always know who you are shooting at.
Quick story: Man wakes up in the middle of the night to someone coming in his room. He roles over and grabs his shotgun and shoots center mass into the intruder. Turns out the intruder was his wife who couldn’t sleep and went for a early morning run. True story. Yeah he was an idiot, but always have light with your weapon.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
The better choice is the one that you shoot better.