Evil Black Guns: Rifle vs. Shotgun

[Adaminak]

In a home defense aspect, I'm not a really big fan of the assault rifle genre. They've got their uses, but for civilian use I've never seen them as much more than an entertaining time at the range. My employer is good enough to give me one with cool gadgets when I actually have to assault things or defend against assaults, so I've never seriously considered one for my personal arsenal.

My philosophy has been if I need to defend my home, (the only place I'm guaranteed to have a long-gun of any type) I'd prefer to keep the perps as far outside as possible, waiting for the LEO to arrive. My house sits relatively centered on an almost square .79 acre lot with forest front, back and both sides. This to me equates to a medium-bore scoped rifle capable of getting through small trees. If they get within 30 yards (about the woodline edge of my yard), I'd prefer to make the switch to a good shotgun with buckshot. Inside the house is another story as the shotgun is still usable but to a lesser degree because of its size...which is where handguns and frangible bullets come into play.

Now, this is all my theory. I haven't put much deliberate thought into it because I don't foresee much likelihood of a home siege. I've got time on my hands right now, so I figured I might as well flesh my plan out a bit more. Feel free to pick holes in my theory so I can further refine. I'm open to any downfalls you see, but I would really prefer you have an alternative instead of just pointing out flaws.

Here's the fun part (for me at least): I'll use your suggestions to refine my plan and make a determination about what black gun I should buy: An M-4 derivative or a Benelli M-2, M-3 or M-4 Tactical 12 ga. Maybe even some other single weapon or combination of weapons I haven't thought of yet.

[n2moto]

A few questions first. Do you live alone? Do you have somebody you would have to secure in another bedroom? Do you live in a 2 story house? Is your plan to clear your house or ambush them from a static location?

[tightgroup]

The shotgun would not be a bad choice but I would go with an AR in with a 16" barrel. You can hit them short range or long and it is far more accurate than a shotgun. Get some good ammo, like Hornady TAP, and you should be good to go.

[ofcmarc]

10-22(couple 50rd mags), 870 then the handguns.......

[Adaminak]

Originally Posted by n2moto

A few questions first. Do you live alone? Do you have somebody you would have to secure in another bedroom? Do you live in a 2 story house? Is your plan to clear your house or ambush them from a static location?

I was going to elaborate on this but didn't want the first post to be a big monster...

Wife and two kids in a two-story split level with attached garage. Bottom floor has windows with the burglar resistant stick-on crap, top floor is reachable only with a ladder or via the back porch into the sliding kitchen door. Only truly bullet resistant location in the house is under the partial basement slab accessed through the back of a basement closet (wife and kids can get back in there past all the heating ducts...my "larger" profile won't fit). My worry about that is one way in, one way out. Not a big deal as the wife can hold her own with a handgun...unless the house catches fire.

I'm not worried about securing the house and property...stuff can be replaced, and that's what insurance is for (would have a claim with all the holes in the walls anyway). I just want to make sure my family is safe and we all live to testify against whoever makes it.

I had thought about the 10-22 as I've already got one, but I don't put a lot of faith in its ability to actually stop a person. I'm starting to think any centerfire rifle might be overkill, as the furthest shot I'd likely have would be out my kitchen door to the other side of the empty lot behind me, and that's not much over 120yds, and most of it is so dense you can actually only see about 10yds into the tree line. What about a pistol-caliber carbine, something like a stocked MP-5? Do they make 'em in anything other than 9mm?

[ofcmarc]

Originally Posted by Adaminak

I had thought about the 10-22 as I've already got one, but I don't put a lot of faith in its ability to actually stop a person.

Lot of people killed every year by a little old .22.

[Fronty Owner]

Originally Posted by ofcmarc

Lot of people killed every year by a little old .22.

search arfcom. someone done a penetration test with a .22LR.
Even out to 100 or 150 yrs, he was getting passthru on a turkey wrapped with like two or three shirts and a coat.
Granted, turkey is less dense than human and he doesn't say what kind of coat it was.
I have seen poached deer with .22LR, and that was inside 50 yrds.
I would be interested in how the .22LR would fair against wild boar.

[MikeyB]

Wild boars is one tuff animal. I wouldn't go after one with a .22LR unless it's the only rifle I had left.

MikeyB

[Adaminak]

After looking at all the penetration results at boxotruth.com, I realize it doesn't really matter what I shoot indoors, it's still going to go through at least two walls. That said, I think I'm leaning towards the M-4. I should still be able find uppers regardless what the commies in congress do, and I can shoot everything from 22LR through .50 Beowolf. I really would like someone to chamber one in .500 S&W though. If I can find one used for under a grand, I might even be able to pick up a Mossberg 3-in-1 kit and still be under the price of a Benelli M4.

[Adaminak]

Originally Posted by ofcmarc

Lot of people killed every year by a little old .22.

Don't dispute that at all, and it's better than your fingernails in a gunfight, but I'd prefer to have something a little bigger when shooting things that fight back.