OK Im gonna share this because I felt enlightened after I found myself being schooled on the subject. This is my response to the pistol or shotgun for HD thread that has gained so much attention.
For my home defense go to gun I keep a 12 gauge shotgun. I now have a converted Saiga 12 but I choose to keep my coach length side by side most accessible from bed. Its easy to use under stress, period. My point here is why a shotgun is truly best for myself in terms of HD. I have three children, two dogs, and one wife who depend on me to protect the family should the unthinkable become reality. I stock heavy in Winchester Suoer X 3" magnum 00buck. Its not only 12 pellets but it has some serious velocity. Now the reason I thought the 3" magnum would be best is actually why it would be worst for me. I fell in love with that round after seeing how it penetrated so easily through material.
If I have to defend my family I need to start by not accidently killing my children. My thinking of magnum load 00buck is flawed in a major way. Inside my home I guarantee that the pellets from that shell would penetrate drywall and studs through a couple rooms no problem at all. I cant ask my would be attacker to stand in the southwest corner because I know my children arent sleeping behind him there. I have to be able to engage my target in any direction until the family is assembeled in a safe zone. For in my home defense a shot size like a 6 or 7 is the only real option for safety. Dont think birdshot will just **** an attacker off. It is in my home where my shots will be within 10 yards or closer. A #6 shot at 8 yards through a typical 18.5" barrel is still so tight a pattern that it will deliver a slug sized hole to a body, but is much less likely to hold that pattern through walls. In my home my shotgun with proper in home defense shot size is much more practical than a pistol for this same reason in terms of overpenetration.
When I was told how wrong I was to choose a magnum 00buck shot load for in my home and that I shoud use birdshot I understood the concept but thought no way am I birdshotting an attacker in my home. Im splittin em in half with 00buck. Then I had a demonstration on what a wad of #6 shot looks like within 10 yards and have never questioned it again.
I hope people like myself with children in the home will find this as valuable information as I did.
For my home defense go to gun I keep a 12 gauge shotgun. I now have a converted Saiga 12 but I choose to keep my coach length side by side most accessible from bed. Its easy to use under stress, period. My point here is why a shotgun is truly best for myself in terms of HD. I have three children, two dogs, and one wife who depend on me to protect the family should the unthinkable become reality. I stock heavy in Winchester Suoer X 3" magnum 00buck. Its not only 12 pellets but it has some serious velocity. Now the reason I thought the 3" magnum would be best is actually why it would be worst for me. I fell in love with that round after seeing how it penetrated so easily through material.
If I have to defend my family I need to start by not accidently killing my children. My thinking of magnum load 00buck is flawed in a major way. Inside my home I guarantee that the pellets from that shell would penetrate drywall and studs through a couple rooms no problem at all. I cant ask my would be attacker to stand in the southwest corner because I know my children arent sleeping behind him there. I have to be able to engage my target in any direction until the family is assembeled in a safe zone. For in my home defense a shot size like a 6 or 7 is the only real option for safety. Dont think birdshot will just **** an attacker off. It is in my home where my shots will be within 10 yards or closer. A #6 shot at 8 yards through a typical 18.5" barrel is still so tight a pattern that it will deliver a slug sized hole to a body, but is much less likely to hold that pattern through walls. In my home my shotgun with proper in home defense shot size is much more practical than a pistol for this same reason in terms of overpenetration.
When I was told how wrong I was to choose a magnum 00buck shot load for in my home and that I shoud use birdshot I understood the concept but thought no way am I birdshotting an attacker in my home. Im splittin em in half with 00buck. Then I had a demonstration on what a wad of #6 shot looks like within 10 yards and have never questioned it again.
I hope people like myself with children in the home will find this as valuable information as I did.
