Home defense

**dgg9** · August 2nd, 2006, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Frenchy

Never the less, I know for a fact a slug from a 12G will push a brick out of joint on older buildings, a .357 or 45 will do considerable damage as well.

I won't ask how you know this!

**Frenchy** · August 2nd, 2006, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by dgg9

I won't ask how you know this!

When I lived in Quebec, I was a member in a club where the range was in the basement of an old school. The friars are the time had a .22 shooting course there for the kids, and it was since closed so the club knowing this started to rent the area and we dug out the area that was not yet finished to make more shooting lanes. There was an old red brick wall there that was not supporting any thing ( may at one time been a cold storage) and needed removed. Grant you this was an old wall, it was red and not yellow brick, and when shot at, we found that the bricks would explode although the projectile would not "continue" we cant say we never found one past the brick wall to prove this, the bricks took quite a beating.

On old buildings many times you will find stress cracks, these are some times re-pointed. Although estetically this makes the brick and mortar look great, there has no strenght to hold the brick in to a good hit as it is only a surface fix. Many "brick" walls are not supporting walls, meaning they are free floating with nothing behind them to keep them in place. A supporting wall mind you has to pressure from above to hold it in place.

I'm pretty sure if you look around most ranges, you will see things that can and cant hold back a bullet.. It seems to be the nature of man to experiment with materials to see what their gun can and cant do. You will undoubtedly see some Brick remnents that some one shoot at one time...

**RUDY850** · August 2nd, 2006, 01:49 PM

Ya don't take long before the recoil makes you feel like being kicked buy a horse.shot a box of 3 inch mags out of mine once my shoulder was black and blue fore a wile.now if I play around with it i were a past shoulder pad.

**bornagainin556** · August 11th, 2006, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by bric2000

Lets get this one going!

We all know the shotgun is "the" weapon for home defense. Do you think it is practical for the Mrs. to use?
My wife might actually be a better shot at clays than me! And that is with a 12. That is what I started her on and she is pretty good!
I am in the process of selecting a weapon for the Mrs. to use at home for self defense. It will ultimately be her choice.
So, if we went the shotgun route, what kind of load? ... And which choke?

I think a "F" shot with a cylinder or IMP choke.

For a home shotgun you both can use, a pump 20 cyl bore with 3" #2 buck is a good choice. I have this setup, and out to 20 yds the pattern is fairly dense with all pellets striking COM. Penetration is good as well. Felt recoil is less than a 12, with a little less flash. My wife shoots it well. Top it off with a laser or flashlight and you should be G2G.

**popnokick** · October 31st, 2006, 09:58 AM

Now that everyone has considered home defense in the context of two-legged intruders, let's talk about home defense in more likely scenarios for many of us in PA: Bears. And possibly other predators, perhaps rabid.

How does that change/add to/modify your choice of what weapon(s) you regard for home defense?

I thought I had it all figured out... until a bear appeared near my front porch not long ago.

I pretty quickly changed the load in the shotty from #4 buck and a slug to all 00 and slugs. And the handgun? Fugedaboutit.

**dgg9** · October 31st, 2006, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by popnokick

Now that everyone has considered home defense in the context of two-legged intruders, let's talk about home defense in more likely scenarios for many of us in PA: Bears. And possibly other predators, perhaps rabid.

Given that, I would keep your SG "cruiser ready," i.e., 00 shot in the tube, chamber empty. And have a slug nearby. Criminals = rack action. Bear = hand-feed the slug into the chamber, with the 00 buckshot as backup.

**Buckmark.35** · October 31st, 2006, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by popnokick

And the handgun? Fugedaboutit.

Buy yourself a .454 Casull. That'll put a bear down, plus if an intruder comes face to face with that big boy.. they'll probably soil themselves. haha.

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProd...=5508&return=Y

Ruger makes a nice one. :-D

**nijwnfi** · November 4th, 2006, 04:48 PM

Think on this and see if you agree or not. How about a .410 with a hot load of bird shot or small game load. This will do damage and not deafen you. I couldn't imagine firing a 12ga indoors. Bird shot probably won't penetrate walls, and if it did, it wouldn't go far. Saiga makes a semi-auto .410 that would work. Something like that with a pistol grip and detachable mag, what do you think? Not for bears, for 2 legged trouble.

**aubie515** · November 4th, 2006, 06:52 PM

I personally wouldn't use a 410...I want to make sure I put down the person entering my place...I want the most power I can get from my shotgun, so it's a 12ga all the way. I have a 20ga as well, but I'm reaching for my 870.

**dgg9** · November 4th, 2006, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Tomcat088

I agree with Aubie, I personally keep a shotgun and new pistol around, but if I had someone breaking into my house at night, I'd definately reach for the shotgun.

IMO, room and hallway layout should factor in. It's really hard to keep retention on a long gun in a cramped house.