Gunforge, Hook A Brotha Up

Though not legal by any means, a semi-auto 10 gauge with a sawed-off barrel would be so totally kick ass it would warp the very fabric of time and space!

I would tend to agree with frontline. A shotgun's sheer unwieldiness in tight confines makes it a less-than-optimal choice for a home defender securing his property when he hears something in the night. A handgun can be held close to the body, giving an intruder less opportunity to grab the barrel. Most shotguns have a very limited capacity and are slow to be reloaded.

To be sure, a 12 gauge at close range is a devastating weapon, but its disadvantages more than offset its potency.

What's the matter? Couldn't come up with the cash for an RPG?

I will always think that the mere sound of an 870 having its slide racked will be enough to end 90% of confrontations.

Off topic I think I shall have to try and find an M-4 style stock for my Mossberg 590 Military. The current stock has about 1/4" too long a pull, a collapsible stock would be useful to tailor it to my needs, and it would make it look even more menacing than it already does (if that is even possible).

To me there is no difference between revolvers and semi-automatic guns provided that you buy a good brand and that you actually take care of the gun. If you let the gun rot both types of guns will fail you when you really need them.

As for family....

Gun safe. There are also small portable safes that open with fingerprints. Don't know how well they work but it is one of many options. And make sure you take your kids and spouse (regardless of wheter your spouse whines or not) to gun safety classes. If something should happen and you're not there then she needs to know what to do and what not to do. (kids too)

I agree that the shotgun is not a good choice for home defense. First it's a difficult weapon to use unless you practice on a regular basis. It's long making moving about the house difficult. It's loud as hell and if you aren't wearing ear protection when you shoot it you can expect to be saying, "WHAT???" for a while.

And last but not least the myth (that I think most non shooters believe) about the shotgun taking down multiple targets with one shot is just that a myth. If you have two armed men in your house (15 feet or less) and you shoot the shotgun the pattern will not spread enough to hit the second person. That means you have to load another shot and unless you are super fast on it the second person if he doesn't freak out will shoot you.

A semi-automatic, a revolver, and the semi-automatic rifle (like the AR-15) give you the ability to pull that trigger as fast as you can and put multiple rounds out there.

Explain it. I've never seen it before.

Looking at the target, if your bullet holes correspond to that part of the target the chart says what you are likely doing (assuming you have good natural point of aim, sight alignment and sight picture).

Oh, and back in Oregon the "home defense weapon" I had was my little stainless Walther PPK/S with 5 hollowpoints loaded in the clip. It fit neatly in the nightstand, is relatively simple to operate in a stressful situation, and points very instinctively for me. I don't need to aim it, just point it and at defensive distances it will put a hole in whatever I'm pointing at. Given that I lived in a 495 square foot studio having something that I can get into action very quickly in close quarters trumped stopping power.