Handgun only?

[Pachinko Pistola]

Originally Posted by Bulleteater

This link was posted on another thread. Definitely worth a look...

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm

He used a Mossberg, a pretty standard combat shotgun. The 00 buck (9 pellets, .33 cal size) left a 2 1/2 inch pattern at 12 feet.

Bottom line: tight patterns at close range mean that you can still miss with a shotgun. You need to aim.

The only way to know for sure is to take your shotgun out with your HD ammo and measure the spread at different distances.

[Xodius]

Originally Posted by Phoebe

Pachinko, I woke up to find a (stranger) man in my house or trying to get into my house...twice. So, I have more reason than most, to be paranoid and to be very prepared.

WOW, scary stuff but glad that you are ok. It is a crazy time we live in that is for sure.

[collegeboy]

Phoebe,

The Glock 26 moves around the house with me at all times (sometimes I'm wearing it, sometimes I carry it from place to place).

When we go to bed there is a tactical light (set on pulse or strobe mode) on each night stand.

The glock 26 is in an obvious location on top of the night stand on my side of the bed.

In a concealed holster fastened to the side of the night stand, between the night stand and my side of the bed is a .45 cal. M-1911-A1.

In a concealed holster fastened to the side of the night stand, between the night stand and my sife's side of the bed is a Beretta Px-4 Storm in .40 S&W.

In an accessible location with cover from a heavy chest of drawers and a vantage point of the hallway leadng from the rest of the house to the bedrooms, there is a Remington 870 tactical 20 ga. (with a tactical light, a laser, and a red dot on it) - the light is so I don't have to try to handle the light on the night stand at the same time. The laser takes care of those who are concerned about the accuracy of a shotgun. Both are on pressure switches. The red dot is for those times when there may be enough preparation time to turn it on.

All these come out of the gun safe when we go to bed.

My wife's position is a defensive one, down behind the bed. There is a spare cell phone plugged in on her night stand at all times. Her first job is to call
9-1-1. From her defensive position, she then provides observation and cover of the bedroon door; while I stay out of sight behind the chest of drawers with the shotgun. From that position I can also cover her six o'clock position which is a sliding glass door to the pool area.

Prior to her observing anyone approaching the bedroom door, anyone coming from the rear of the house is my responsibility. Upon her alert of anyone coming from the hallway inside the house, me and the shotgun shift our responsibility to that side - she shifts her responsibility to watching the rear of the house.

As we all hope - so far all these preparations have never been needed. I feel we are as ready, as equipped, and as prepared as we care to live our life.

As others have said, the handguns have their purpose, and the shotgun has it's purpose. The rifles stay in the gun safe so there is room in the bedroon for us!

I would strongly suggest a shotgun be added to your armory.

Collegeboy

[PinstripeSniper]

Originally Posted by Phoebe

Pachinko, I woke up to find a (stranger) man in my house or trying to get into my house...twice. So, I have more reason than most, to be paranoid and to be very prepared.

Yikes! I can see why you would be rightly concerned - not paranoid!

My 2 cents - have you spent some money on securing your "perimeter" aka alarm system, motion sensor lights, thorny bushes, nice doggy, better locks, boiling oil buckets, moat, etc.

If you haven't beefed up these things, I'd suggest doing that before getting another gun.

Now, getting back to guns

How about a laser for your favorite handgun - the one you practice the most with?

How about a revolver (say .38/.357) with shot shells? I wonder how fast the shot pattern expands on those? Probably pretty fast! While it probably won't stop the perp cold, hit % is higher and recoil lower. Maybe do something like first 2 chambers are shot shell and the remainder are regular ammo?

At my house, I start with a Glock 17 then could go to a Remington 870. After that I can escalate to an M1a.

[bulletbob]

If you are thinking about a revolver a Taurus Judge might be worth a look. Can get it in 2.5" or 3" chamber, will shoot .45LC or .410 shotgun or a mix.