Wife wants a gun for home defense. Handgun, shotgun? Pros/cons?

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Sep 19, 2022
12:58:59pm

JDBlue All-American

Wife wants a gun for home defense. Handgun, shotgun? Pros/cons?

Last night the wind blew, or house creaked or dryer banged and she rolls over and says she thinks we should have a gun in the house in case of an intrusion. I've gone shooting plenty of times with friends etc., but never purchased a gun. What's the best route here? Would want something we can put under the bed in a fingerprint gun safe or something similar for quick, but secure access.

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JDBlue

Previous username: TimeTwister
Bio page: JDBlue
Joined: Nov 11, 2010
Last login: Apr 25, 2024
Total posts: 3,194 (301 FO)

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Messages

Author

Time

Wife wants a gun for home defense. Handgun, shotgun? Pros/cons?

JDBlue

9/19/22 12:58pm

Take her to a range and try a few. It’s not expensive to rent.

MormonThug

9/19/22 1:00pm

I think the key is getting something that both of you are comfortable and able to safely use

cheezedawg

9/19/22 1:08pm

To clarify, she's going to want me to do any defending/handling of the gun

JDBlue

9/19/22 1:14pm

Well, the first thing you should do is Nothing. If this is just her getting

rcbyufan

9/19/22 1:17pm

It’s better to have a gun and not need it than need a gun and not have it.

cheezedawg

9/19/22 1:32pm

Not when you factor in mental health and suicide. I'm very grateful to live in

rcbyufan

9/19/22 1:51pm

Yeah but what by factor ( statistically ) are you increasing the danger by bringing a firearm into the home?

greatbam

9/19/22 2:15pm

Not by a lot. But again, JDBlue's wife wants a gun in order to be safer but

rcbyufan

9/19/22 2:23pm

I think "safer" depends on a variety of factors. It could indeed make things "safer" if certain factors were met.

greatbam

9/19/22 2:32pm

If you want something in quickly accessible, bed side safe, go with a handgun.

southbaycoug

9/19/22 1:00pm

And then practice like crazy so you can shoot comfortably in the dark during a

TailgateU

9/19/22 1:05pm

Don’t shoot in the dark. Use a flashlight.

ArcticKat

9/19/22 4:03pm

Preferably mounted on your gun. And flashing to blind your intruder.

TailgateU

9/19/22 4:30pm

Amen.

ArcticKat

9/19/22 4:34pm

She wanted you to shoot the dryer?

Sea Chicken

9/19/22 1:01pm

Felt like it

JDBlue

9/19/22 1:02pm

Handgun and shotgun...

jimbo

9/19/22 1:02pm

I wouldn’t rely on a shotgun for home defense. I’m not exactly tactical-joe but

MormonThug

9/19/22 1:07pm

Neither. AR15

kotacoug

9/19/22 1:09pm

Sure, get one of each...nothing wrong with that.

jimbo

9/19/22 1:11pm

Just remember when using an AR for home defense

Bo Dagget

9/19/22 3:17pm

RE: Just remember when using an AR for home defense

cheezedawg

9/19/22 4:35pm

Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380: very small, big bullet, laser pointer. Questions?

BleedCougarBlue2

9/19/22 1:02pm

I have that one for my backup to my 40 cal S&W.

Les IsMore

9/19/22 2:21pm

I recommend a hand gun. Go to a range and rent a bunch of guns for her to try.

rad dawg

9/19/22 1:03pm

Idk, I lost all my guns in a boating accident!

DieHarder

9/19/22 1:05pm

Trying to shoot all the deer that walk on water again? 😉

BleedCougarBlue2

9/19/22 1:15pm

Take her to a GunSite, FrontSite, Thunder Ranch type of training academy and let

ArcticKat

9/19/22 1:05pm

Another recommendation is to get something in a common cartridge (probably 9mm).

TailgateU

9/19/22 1:07pm

AR-15. No question.

kotacoug

9/19/22 1:09pm

Not inside a house. You want stopping power, but you also don't want the bullet

TailgateU

9/19/22 1:12pm

Not actually true. It has good stopping power and is not over penetrating. There

kotacoug

9/19/22 1:22pm

Thank you. Ammo selection plays a part.

ArcticKat

9/19/22 1:27pm

Yep. It seems counter intuitive

Cabezon

9/19/22 1:29pm

The correct answer is an AR15 pistol with an 8" or 12.5" barrel.

HomeGrownCoug

9/19/22 2:06pm

If you get a handgun- get some training like front sight etc. Hand guns are extremely dangerous in untrained hands.

PJMort

9/19/22 1:09pm

Make sure you have a clear plan to clear your house.

HFF

9/19/22 1:12pm

Definitely an AA-12, she won't even need to aim

2FarGone

9/19/22 1:13pm

300 Win Mag. Shoot the intruder 1000 yards away before they ever get near your home. #win

letthewookieewin

9/19/22 1:24pm

A small nuke.

durandal

9/19/22 1:42pm

AR-15 is the best all around for both short to mid-range with capacity.

panacablue

9/19/22 1:44pm

I would have a talk about probability and the actual need versus imagined need and see if she still wanted a gun

Baron

9/19/22 1:57pm

Curious where you live

pink22

9/19/22 1:58pm

Very safe area, so I'm not worried about it personally.

JDBlue

9/19/22 1:58pm

Seems

pink22

9/19/22 2:18pm

Odd

pink22

9/19/22 2:18pm

I live in a "safe area." A neighbor stuck a butcher knife in his ...

KCFan85

9/19/22 3:59pm

And?

pink22

9/19/22 4:16pm

shot gun and lessons at shooting range

BYU Grounds

9/19/22 5:08pm

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