Best Gun for Home Defense?
Most people looking to buy their first gun tend to have the same question: What’s the best gun for home defense? I know I have a tendency for long winded introductions, so I’m going to skip right to the point: Let’s answer that question, shall we?
Note: The original opening I had in mind was 6 paragraphs. You’re welcome.
So what does “home defense” entail? Close quarters combat in relatively tight spaces. There are obstacles and hallways. Defensive situations are fast, and violent. As such, maneuverability is of utmost importance.
So what are the options? You have the choice of a rifle, a shotgun and a handgun.
Shotgun
This always seems to be the standard answer. Just get a pump action shotgun, point it in the general direction of the bad guy and poof! He’ll be reduced to a disorganized mass or organized chemicals. Unfortunately, that’s not entirely true.
Now, a shotgun is easy to operate and maintain. As TJ said before, if you’ve seen any kind of action film since the early 80’s, you know how to use one. Aside from popular belief, you will have to aim it but it’s relatively simple to aim. In the confines of the average house, the shot will only spread out to a couple of inches. That’s definitely not the “point it in the general direction of the bad guy” that many people try to bill it as. Still, the bad guy is most likely not aware of that. I’m not one to base my defensive strategy on a bluff, however.
Shotguns also some very creative ammunition available for them. You can walk into a Wal-Mart and get either slugs or shot. Shot is basically a whole bunch of tiny bullets packed together while a slug is one giant bullet. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses, but that’s another article. There is another option for ammo though: Winchester’s PDX line of shells. These are slugs backed behind buckshot. The best of both worlds.
The problem is, most shotguns also only hold about 6-8 rounds. If you go with anything more than a .410, they kick like hell also. On top of that, they’re quite heavy and very large. Trying to move around corners will be awkward. Your options will be either give the intruder a great deal of warning where you are before you can get them in your sights by keeping the rifle at the ready or keep it lowered and risk losing time having to bring it up.
Rifle
Let’s just assume that a bolt action rifle is out of the question (although any port in a storm…). We’re talking a semi-automatic rifle like an AR-15 and such. Actually, I’m just going to restrict it to the AR-15 for now. Now, the AR does have quite a few advantages for home defense. The 5.56/.223 round is ideal because it won’t overpenetrate. In fact, it’s pretty much made not to overpenetrate. There’s a reason it’s called the “poison bullet” by enemy forces in the Middle East. This means that, unlike other rifles, you won’t have to worry as much about it passing through the intruder, through a wall and into a neighbor’s house (AK-47 rounds…not so much).
With a shorter barrel (16” being the shortest without fudging or filling out a bunch of paperwork), it’s maneuverable enough in tight quarters. The extensive accessory rails available on ARs allows you to tacticool configure the gun with devices that can give you a significant advantage over an intruder. Everything from lasers to flashlights to infrared scopes are available to you.
The disadvantage is that it’s a big platform. It’s still shorter than your average shotgun, but maneuverability is still an issue. Again, an intruder will see your gun long before they see you. Due to a relatively low recoil in AR-15s, AK-47s and other carbine length (or smaller) systems, shouldering it isn’t 100% necessary so you are able to angle it around a bit easier to stay protected. No matter what, it’s still a big gun in a tight space.
Handgun
We’ve talked about the Papa Bear and Mamma Bear of the firearm world, the handgun is the only one left. Many people carry a pistol for personal defense outside of the house but for some reason many don’t consider a handgun for their primary home defense weapon. Maybe it’s a combination of marketing or Hollywood that make people lean toward rifles and shotguns but there are actually a lot of advantages to pistols.
For one, the ammo is less likely to wind up in a neighbor’s house compared to a rifle round (especially the big .45 mamma jamma round). If you go the pistol route, instead of a revolver, you’ve got an accessory rail in which you can add a light or laser (there are some that will even function as both, btw). Most pistols might not hold 30 rounds like the rifles but the majority of them (outside of California, DC and other states) hold at least a dozen rounds. The more the merrier, in this case.
The big advantage is a pistol’s size…or lack thereof. You can angle it and easily maneuver it around corners without exposing yourself any more than is absolutely necessary.
Even more importantly, it can be operated one handed…
Why is that important? Do you have kids, dogs or family members? One hand can have the gun pointed at the bad guy, the other hand can be holding your dogs back or pushing a kid behind you or, most likely, holding a cell phone that’s connected to 911*.
Some of those that do choose a pistol for home defense also choose to home carry. I agree with them but that’s another article. It’s also portable which makes it easier to grab and go in an emergency.
Downsides? Well, a pistol might not be as threatening to someone as a shotgun or AR-15. That person would also have to be pretty stupid to dismiss it altogether, however. Remember also, you’re going to be shaking if you need to use it. With the heavier guns like rifles and shotguns, the weight is going to even out some of that shaking. With a lightweight pistol, you’re going to need some practice.
Your Choice
In the end, it’s your choice which you choose. If I were making a recommendation, I’d say pistol hands down. Some people, however, like the perceived comfort of the “schlick schlock” of a shotgun. Others like the versatility and customizability of an AR. As I’ve said before, it’s up to you to look at your situation and figure out which would serve you the best.
*Long time readers will remember that I’ve spoken on more than one occasion about the need to practice shooting one handed.
Images used under creative commons license from Carsten Lorentzen, Mad House Photography, robscomputer, and nukeit1.
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