home defense gun choices?

[fhhuber]

I have been in the life and death choice situation to many times, sometimes, flight is the best course of action and sometimes fight is the best course, and I hope NONE of you are ever faced with that choice, even killing a sworn enemy of your nation who is trying to kill you, is not easy and you will remember it for the rest of your life, I don't want to have to face that choice again, it is not fun, it is not cool and you will be affected for ever.

I will always till the day I die, be prepared, but I NEVER want to pull that trigger again.

In general I doubt any civilized person WANTS to being a situation where its kill or be killed...

But I'd rather be on the winning side.

 

[MTboatguy]

In general I doubt any civilized person WANTS to being a situation where its kill or be killed...

But I'd rather be on the winning side.

What branch did you serve in? and what dates?

 

[gm280]

After reading most of these comments, it becomes totally clear that everybody has their own favorite type of self defense ideas. And that is great if you have your favorite and pray we never ever have to prove their capabilities. And with such a vast assortment of guns and ideas, it is obvious that if everybody liked the exact same defensive weapon there wouldn't be hundreds of offerings available. It is also great to see so many that are pro gun in these questionable days. The key issue I see here is folks have to know their selected gun by heart. Because you may have to use it in the dark. So practice and know your gun inside out and be safe. :thumb:

 

[fhhuber]

What branch did you serve in? and what dates?

Honestly, I don't see what that has to do with the subject of home defense other than you wanting to act superior....

9 year Navy, disabled vet with a peg leg.
With a brother who served Honor Guard at Arlington and taught marksmanship at West Point and a father who served over 37 years, starting E-1 Seaman Recruit and retired as 0-6, Captain, Flight Surgeon.

So did you win?
I doubt it.

 

[Simple_Man]

Just My Humble Opinion Any weapon is better than none. The bullets for the 380 have come a long way. One of the things everybody forgets, is over penetration. If you have others in the house you must be sure your shot won't go through the walls and harm your loved ones. I personalty use a Beretta model 84 with +P hollow points. As for the wife, you need to find out what she if comfortable with. If she can only handle a .22 then so be it. although even with a HOT .380 load I find the Beretta very comfortable to shoot, and so does my Girlfriend.

 

[jbcurt00]

Fellas
This isnt a competition to be won

Bonz wanted advice about a home defense firearm

Lets stay on topic

 

[WIMUSKY]

I for one really do not want to shoot and kill someone because when it is all said and done I still have to answer to myself and live with myself. On the same hand my older brother, he is a clinical psychologist, and I have many times had the conversation and one that I believe is that under the right set of circumstances each and every one of us is capable of taking another human life.

No one wants to kill another human being. I agree with others, you'll have to live with it the rest of your life. But, if it comes down to kill or be killed, I hope I can take out the perp and deal with the consequences later. One good thing about a shotgun, you can blow a leg or arm off and stop the perp. Would be tough to do with a handgun..... In the heat of the moment, no one will be thinking about the recoil of any firearm..........

This quite the conversation.......

 

[jrttoday]

If you need to shoot... you need to kill... not just make em mad.

if you get hit with even a cheap Orion, you're going down. Kill is not guaranteed with any gun..
https://youtu.be/1cWROn6d40I

and those cheap little flairs have a seven second burn time - ouch, tell me that won't dismantle an intruder

 

[MTboatguy]

Honestly, I don't see what that has to do with the subject of home defense other than you wanting to act superior....

9 year Navy, disabled vet with a peg leg.
With a brother who served Honor Guard at Arlington and taught marksmanship at West Point and a father who served over 37 years, starting E-1 Seaman Recruit and retired as 0-6, Captain, Flight Surgeon.

So did you win?
I doubt it.

30 Years, O6 Colonel United States Army, graduated West Point Military Academy, Wounded January 1991 Operation Desert Storm. Retired 2006, Was in command of the military intelligence gathering unit US Pentagon when I retired, and it is not a competition, I was simply curious based on your statement is all, sorry to have ruffled your feathers. I don't often see statements of that nature unless someone has served in combat.

 

[MTboatguy]

Fellas
This isnt a competition to be won

Bonz wanted advice about a home defense firearm

Lets stay on topic

No Competition Jb, just was curious as I said, based on his statement, I figured he has served and wanted to know which branch.

I hang out over on ar15.com and run into a lot of mall monkeys but honestly, the question was not asked to stir anything up, most you guys know me through the forum that sometimes I will ask questions, but there is no malicious intent behind them.

 

[fhhuber]

The manner of the question sure looked like it was stirring the pot...

 

[MTboatguy]

The manner of the question sure looked like it was stirring the pot...

Sorry you took it that way. On a forum like this, you don't last over 6000 posts and have a stellar reputation by stirring the pot, and I was not trying to stir any pots, I was simply curious based on the statement you made, that is all.

 

[GA_Boater]

Please everyone - Stay on topic. Thanks.

 

[NYBo]

if you get hit with even a cheap Orion, you're going down. Kill is not guaranteed with any gun..
https://youtu.be/1cWROn6d40I

and those cheap little flairs have a seven second burn time - ouch, tell me that won't dismantle an intruder

Or burn down your house. Very bad idea, IMO.:target:

 

[NYBo]

graduated West Point Military Academy,

Oh, that little place a few miles from me!:clap2:

:focus:

 

[jbcurt00]

Please everyone - Stay on topic. Thanks.

Fellas, that was the 2nd request ^^^

 

[bonz_d]

So OK, Now that we've gotten that out of the way.

So the wife and I have been talking about a pistol for home defense in the worst case scenario.

Knowing a bit about pistols and ballistics I've been considering a 380 ACP over a 9mm. Now I have two in mind for this, the Beretta 84 Cheetah and the older Browning BDA. Neither of these are compact concealed carry guns and am not really looking for that. Both of these are midsize frames with a 3.8" barrel. Because of the size and weight of these I feel it would be a good choice for the wife to also learn on and not be intimidated by the recoil.

Thoughts or feedback?

This has been a very interesting and enlightening experience and appreciate the comments.

At this time I really don't think I or we are looking for a shotgun even though I agree it would be very effective. The pistol is 2 purpose in this instance. One being home defense and the other being just plain pistol shooting and as stated not so much as for concealed carry. So for now let's talk pistols.

 

[GA_Boater]

A short barrel pistol grip shotgun is a good home "Life" defense weapon. Also works for target plinking, you seldom miss.

I use a couple birdshot shells backed up with slugs. The shot will stop almost anyone and will cause less damage inside, If it doesn't, the slugs will and at that point I'm not worried about holes in the wall.

A .380 is the wife's choice for her purse.

 

[bonz_d]

Just My Humble Opinion Any weapon is better than none. The bullets for the 380 have come a long way. One of the things everybody forgets, is over penetration. If you have others in the house you must be sure your shot won't go through the walls and harm your loved ones. I personalty use a Beretta model 84 with +P hollow points. As for the wife, you need to find out what she if comfortable with. If she can only handle a .22 then so be it. although even with a HOT .380 load I find the Beretta very comfortable to shoot, and so does my Girlfriend.

Thanks for that feedback! I've been doing a lot of reading and watching videos on these 9mm rounds cause yes the 380 is a 9mm short. Just as the 38 and 357 share the same bullet diameter. The actual difference between the 9mm bullet and the 38 cal. is only .002" and reading when hand loading cast bullets people are finding that a .358 dia. works best and is most accurate.

Was also just reading a page about barrel length and velocities. Seems a 1" addition to length equals about an added 100fps. or better depending on the gun and the load.

Just finished reading a forum test of 380 defense loads that is currant to day. It was very enlightening.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Taurus Judge with .410 home defense rounds.

what he said.

or you could look into a desert eagle .44 for when the assailant hides behind a refrigerator at your neighbors house