Home Defense Opinions

POSTED BY: AnthonyT
UPDATED: Friday, October 24, 2025 16:55
VIEWED: 6217
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ANTHONYT

Friday, February 16, 2007 12:26 AM

Hello everyone,

I was surprised this Valentines day when my sweetie bought me an Interstate Model 99 Double Barrel 12 ga shotgun with exposed hammers. A classic coach gun.

In addition to taking the thing on shooting trips to the desert, I've been thinking of using it as a home-defense tool. I've never owned a shotgun, but it seems like a forgiving weapon. Forgiveness might be important when waken at night, with hands shaking and uncertain aim.

What do you all think of a coach gun as a home defense instrument?

Does anyone out there use one?

If not, what's your preferred defense tool?

--Anthony

"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner

FREDGIBLET

Friday, February 16, 2007 1:24 AM

I think it would work fine, but if there are more than two intruders you might be in a little trouble.

I don't have any guns now but someday I'll get around to getting one of more. My preferred home defense tool would be a Barrett light fifty (I think its the A3 that's bullpup), but those are expensive and tend to punch holes in houses (cars, people, neighbors house, neighbor on the other side of the neighbor and their car too) so that probably wuldn't be the best idea. Other than that I'd say a .50 Desert Eagle, giant gun (intimidation), huge bullet (can use a low velocity bullet and still get great stopping power), but more maneuverable than a longarm and magazine loaded.

RUE

Friday, February 16, 2007 1:28 AM

Shotgun with shortest legal barrel.

ANTHONYT

Friday, February 16, 2007 1:47 AM

Rue, you and I are of a like mind.

Fred, LOL! I love the looks of the Desert Eagle .50, but just looking at the price tag on the gun and its ammo gives me the vapors.

I thought about the 'more than two intruders' possibility. But gee, if you blow away two guys with a shotgun and any remainders don't take off, they are some pretty determined hombres, eh? Braver than I am, at any rate.

--Anthony

"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner

FREDGIBLET

Friday, February 16, 2007 2:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
I thought about the 'more than two intruders' possibility. But gee, if you blow away two guys with a shotgun and any remainders don't take off, they are some pretty determined hombres, eh? Braver than I am, at any rate.

Or they know you only have 2 shots and are pissed that you shot their friends. Other than a a Desert Eagle I'd say the biggest .44 or .50 pistol you can afford, biggest because if you intimidate them enough you won't have to shoot, .44 or .50 because they are big bullets so you can get cold loads that will still put someone down but won't have as much recoil or penetrating power, pistol because revolvers take too long to reload.

EDIT: I think that the shotgun is fine so I'm not suggesting you ditch it, just I'd prefer a larger magazine.

GEEZER

Friday, February 16, 2007 3:33 AM

Lots to consider.

1. Are you willing to take a person's life? You must make this decision, and be sure of it, before the time comes. If not, invest in better locks, and possibly make an interior room as secure as possible and fall back and call the cops. Have a cell phone handy in case the phone lines are cut.

2. What is on the other side of every wall in your house? Anything that's adequate for stopping an assailant will go through drywall like it isn't there. Especially important if you live in an apartment building. If your neighbor next door catches a stray buckshot, it won't matter if you were shooting at a burglar.

3. Are you willing to practice until you are able to fire your weapon accurately in low-light situations? Regardless of what you see in movies, a shotgun at close range is not a streetsweeper. At typical inside ranges, the pattern isn't much bigger than a closed fist. Practice reloading. You can buy dummy shells, called snap-caps, which allow you to do this without having to handle and load live ammo. A course in safe gun handling is also a good idea.

4. Do you have a tactical plan of retreat? In many jurisdictions, if you can avoid confrontation by getting out yet shoot instead, you can be prosecuted.

5. Be aware that no matter what, you may be prosecuted or sued in civil court if you shoot someone, even if you felt threatened. Do you know a good lawyer? You should.

6. Oh, yeah. Do you ever have children or folks you wouldn't want finding a loaded gun over to your place? If so, you need secure storage for your guns.

Really not trying to scare you off, but this is just some of the stuff you have to consider when you own a deadly weapon. That being said, if you follow a few common sense rules, you'll be OK. I've been around firearms for close to 50 years, and haven't shot anything I didn't mean to yet.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

GEEZER

Friday, February 16, 2007 3:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fredgiblet:
I think it would work fine, but if there are more than two intruders you might be in a little trouble.

I don't have any guns now but someday I'll get around to getting one of more. My preferred home defense tool would be a Barrett light fifty (I think its the A3 that's bullpup), but those are expensive and tend to punch holes in houses (cars, people, neighbors house, neighbor on the other side of the neighbor and their car too) so that probably wuldn't be the best idea. Other than that I'd say a .50 Desert Eagle, giant gun (intimidation), huge bullet (can use a low velocity bullet and still get great stopping power), but more maneuverable than a longarm and magazine loaded.

Barrett model 95 (the bullpup version) weighs around 23 lbs and kicks like a mule. If you fired one in-doors you'd be flashblinded and deaf for a week. It's also bolt-action, which can be problematic in stressful situations. Desert Eagle also kicks like a mule, and isn't a pistol for a rookie.

Handguns are OK if you're willing to dedicate a good bit of time to practice, since they're a lot harder to shoot than folks think. I was at the local pistol range recently watching guys from some Federal agency trying to qualify. They were having a hard time making effective shots on a humanoid target at 7 yards.

For most folk, I think the shotgun is really the best home defense weapon. It's pretty easy to aim, has great stopping power, even with reduced loads, and the sound of a pump-action slide is surely intimidating. You still need to practice, and still need to observe safe gun handling, but it's probably a lot easier than anything else.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

GINOBIFFARONI

Friday, February 16, 2007 4:19 AM

My Favorite option allows for safe weapons storage,
safe around kids, kinda hard to carry, but doable, is always loaded and safe when I'm loaded...

Its a DOG

I call mine Kaylee

Bearspray can be handy too

FREDGIBLET

Friday, February 16, 2007 4:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
Barrett model 95 (the bullpup version) weighs around 23 lbs and kicks like a mule. If you fired one in-doors you'd be flashblinded and deaf for a week. It's also bolt-action, which can be problematic in stressful situations.

Actually I was thinking of the M82A2 which is semi-auto, and I was kidding (sort of

)

Quote:
Desert Eagle also kicks like a mule, and isn't a pistol for a rookie.

Hence the suggestion for cold loads, less recoil, though probably less reliability as well since they are gas operated.

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Friday, February 16, 2007 4:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
If not, what's your preferred defense tool?

Glock 22

Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.

Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.

-- Cicero

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