Shotgun or 9mm?

[john doe]

I would also suggest a shotgun first. A shotgun only has to be aimed in the general direction of an intruder to hit something.

[Loudmouth_Mormon]

Hi Pam,

I think it's a great thing to gather opinions before deciding on something so important.

One suggestion I haven't heard yet - you ought to go shoot a couple of pistols and a couple of shotguns. How they feel, your confidence level and comfort level with what you try, can help a great deal. You might find a shotgun that just feels like an extension to your own arms, or you might discover that when you fire a certain kind of pistol it feels like there's a magnet in the target just sucking the bullets you fire to it.

Another suggestion, when you decide and make a purchase, it is important to practice. Not only practice shooting, but also just plain practice making sure the thing is loaded or unloaded. And practice falling into a mindset where you can actually see yourself pointing the thing at one of your fellow children of God and sending them home to Him.

If you just can't for the life of you see yourself using deadly force to stop an attack, then you might be better off with a tazer or pepper spray. At the end of the day, when someone has broken in to your home because they know you're there and intend to have a little fun with you, you do not rise to the occasion - you fall back on your training.

Store ammo in a dry place and it'll be fine. I have ammo made in the '60's that is still good.

LM
(My wife and I both have 'baby' Glock 26 9mm's and concealed carry permits. A shotgun is certainly on our list.)

[dazed-and-confused]

i agree....shotgun is really good.
but if you are surprised, loading a shotgun is out of the question.
but i am prejudiced....i LIKE close combat...been trained for it......stalk and stealth.....
bottom line?...learn how to handle any firearn you might think appropriate.

[dazed-and-confused]

keep in mind, if you are met with an intruder, they may very well have a weopon, too....and if you dont kill them outright, they may verywell kill you....are you ready for that?...or just felling the need to be macho?

death is a final thing.
you know enough scripture to make a decision which side of death you might want to be on.

[BenRaines]

If they get close enough to shoot with a pistol my teeth will take out their jugular vein.

My shotgun is in the corner unloaded. I can load it in the dark. Pistol is under the mattress. A mattress so heavy that my grandchildren can't get to it. It is fully loaded and one under the hammer.

Ben Raines

[dazed-and-confused]

ben.......i've been there too.......71-72.......but i wonder if you are still living the war?

[BenRaines]

Not at all still living the war. Just have made the decision that if someone were to come in to my house and want to harm what I find precious I am willing to do what is necessary to stop the threat. My whole purpose in defense is not to kill or maim it is to stop the threat, any way I can.

Ben Raines

[dazed-and-confused]

i absolutely agree, brother

I asked my dad, who retired after 30 years on the force, said that for a woman with no prior experience the best choice would be a 20 gauge single shot with a shell holder, recoil pad, and use #4 buck shot. Using a 9mm is a good idea but that’s more for police use and not really for the inexperienced. The scenario here is that the person is making a decision on 5 seconds or less. The idea is that if you really think that someone is at the door you pull the next shot is already in your middle two fingers and it only takes two seconds to reload.

The 9mm is only a good idea if you want to pay for the range, pay for the instructor, and you still have to pay for license, gun (the good ones will be upwards of $1,500 new) and ammo. The advantage of the pistol is that ammo will last longer verses the shotgun ammo. With any ammo get a steel gun and ammo case with a key lock. Optimistically the ammo needs to be rotated every six months, which will be kind of fun as you’ll squeeze those off at the range, or if your like me the back yard.

If money is no option then use both. Also, if you do choose to go to the range also try out a .41, .44, .45, 12 gauge and 10 gauge. And again, if you choose to dedicate the time to get qualified, it’s probably a good idea to check out a 12-gauge auto Beretta or Remington.

To echo what others have said, when it comes down to it, shotgun. Best cause scenario, both.

[farmer]

Rem 11-87 20 or 12 LOADED. Unloaded guns are paper weights. carry on