I've heard it argued that a handgun is superior to a shotgun for home defense because it's easier to maneuver in a confined space.
What about in this situation? Your enemy is actually grappling with you. Isn't a handgun far easier to handle, far less likely to be taken away from you by your opponent?
[I have no political comment to make; "When seconds count..." says it all.]
Damn good video. If that doesn't drive the point home, I don't know what will.
djmoore-both a handgun and a shotgun are good for home defense. It all depends on the situation. So make sure you have both! ;)
In all seriousness, if you have a shotgun instead of a handgun, and someone breaks through the door, rather than wait until they're close enough to grab you, you must shoot them before they reach that point.
A shotgun is more likely to scare a criminal away so you don't have to shoot, and at across-the-room ranges it's more likely to immediately render him harmless if you do have to shoot - but remember that it is possible to miss entirely at any range even with a shotgun, and a man can cross the room in an eyeblink. The handgun is better if the criminal is too close already, but doesn't hit as hard; even a perfect shot to the chest doesn't kill immediately, and a really determined and tough man can keep coming for a few seconds.
But all these things really only matter in the margin. Most criminals flee at the sight of a single shot .22 pistol, and most of the rest will be rolling around crying for their mama after being pinked with that pistol. Anything from a .38 Special up will handle most of the others, and I'd worry a lot more about criminals that are ready to shoot you first than the very few that can take a hit and keep coming. So use what you are most comfortable with, as long as it's centerfire - and concentrate on being ready to shoot fastest and straightest, and on looking like you're ready so they don't get stupid ideas.
OTOH, if gun bigots are going to be judging you after you shoot a burglar, a shotgun is a "hunting weapon" that you just luckily managed to get to before the criminal got you, but a handgun is likely to be interpreted as "made to kill people"...
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JS-Kit/Echo comments for article at http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2008/01/when-seconds-count.html (5 comments)
Tentative mapping of comments to original article, corrections solicited.
This raises a technical question:
I've heard it argued that a handgun is superior to a shotgun for home defense because it's easier to maneuver in a confined space.
What about in this situation? Your enemy is actually grappling with you. Isn't a handgun far easier to handle, far less likely to be taken away from you by your opponent?
[I have no political comment to make; "When seconds count..." says it all.]
Damn good video. If that doesn't drive the point home, I don't know what will.
djmoore-both a handgun and a shotgun are good for home defense. It all depends on the situation. So make sure you have both! ;)
In all seriousness, if you have a shotgun instead of a handgun, and someone breaks through the door, rather than wait until they're close enough to grab you, you must shoot them before they reach that point.
Some people say that at contact range a knife is better than firearms, even. I think there is truth to it.
One problem, Fabio - you need mobility to use a knife. Grabbing a wrist can immobilize a knife. It probably won't immobilize a trigger finger.
A knife in your hand, however, is more effective than a handgun on your belt.
A shotgun is more likely to scare a criminal away so you don't have to shoot, and at across-the-room ranges it's more likely to immediately render him harmless if you do have to shoot - but remember that it is possible to miss entirely at any range even with a shotgun, and a man can cross the room in an eyeblink. The handgun is better if the criminal is too close already, but doesn't hit as hard; even a perfect shot to the chest doesn't kill immediately, and a really determined and tough man can keep coming for a few seconds.
But all these things really only matter in the margin. Most criminals flee at the sight of a single shot .22 pistol, and most of the rest will be rolling around crying for their mama after being pinked with that pistol. Anything from a .38 Special up will handle most of the others, and I'd worry a lot more about criminals that are ready to shoot you first than the very few that can take a hit and keep coming. So use what you are most comfortable with, as long as it's centerfire - and concentrate on being ready to shoot fastest and straightest, and on looking like you're ready so they don't get stupid ideas.
OTOH, if gun bigots are going to be judging you after you shoot a burglar, a shotgun is a "hunting weapon" that you just luckily managed to get to before the criminal got you, but a handgun is likely to be interpreted as "made to kill people"...
Note: All avatars and any images or other media embedded in comments were hosted on the JS-Kit website and have been lost; references to haloscan comments have been partially automatically remapped, but accuracy is not guaranteed and corrections are solicited.
If you notice any problems with this page or wish to have your home page link updated, please contact John Hardin <jhardin@impsec.org>