Shotgun vs Handgun

[WyomingEMT]

I'm thinking of buying a shotgun: Awhile back there was a running debate about the usefulness of a shotgun for home self-defense. Size, weight, the ability for a spouse to use it, or would they, you catch the drift of the questions I'm asking. What gauge, and length of barrel is best? I'm even thinking of buying a handgun called the Judge. What do you think?

[mirkwood]

Buy a pistol or buy a shotgun, don't bother with the Judge.

I prefer a handgun, but I also carry one as part of my profession.

A shotgun is still a good home defense weapon, as long as you know how to safely handle/use it.

How firearms familiar are you? How about your spouse?

[WyomingEMT]

My wife and I have shot cans and targets with a 22. Killed the mountain side, the targets pretty much survived with out a scratch. The Judge is to heavy and during a home invasion, I'm not sure I could hit anything with a handgun. At least with a shotgun I could use it as a club. Over the years I have worked on some terrible bullet wounds, most of the time we just confirm that there deceased and let the PD, sheriff continue with there investigation. But I'm begainning to worry about how bad the bad guys are getting. If I buy a shotgun for home defense should I buy a shot barrel, they look pretty mean.

[Loudmouth_Mormon]

Originally Posted by WyomingEMT

I'm not sure I could hit anything with a handgun. At least with a shotgun I could use it as a club.

You'll end up doing what you practice doing and thinking about. If you're thinking about using a shotgun as a club, how about you get a club instead? This is a serious suggestion.

If I buy a shotgun for home defense should I buy a shot barrel, they look pretty mean.

If someone has decided to enter your home, probably knowing you are at home, they probably won't be stopped by something that looks mean. They'll probably be taking it away from you and using it on you.

This is only my opinion here, but a deterrent is only something that makes a bad guy want to move on to the next target. "He's got a mean looking shotgun" is more of an attraction, unless bad guy knows that your trained and dedicated finger is on the trigger and it's pointed at him.

Mindset - if you're worried about you and your wife using what you get, then place a very high importance on that worry. You don't rise to the occasion, you fall back on what you've trained and practiced.

[shdwlkr]

First thing is for you and your spouse to go to a firearms for defense class.
Now if you can accept the fact that someday you might have to kill someone to keep you spouse safe, kids maybe, friends or other family then it is time to get a firearm.
So now you have that firearm how many times do you fire it a week, how many different situations do you practice for, when shooting at targets do you get those with no human type faces or do you get them with a human face, can you pick your firearm of choice up and fire and not stop and think it is another person you are shooting at ?
If you can not see yourself or your spouse shooting another person and I mean to kill then none of this wounding stuff because you don't know if they are on drugs, are a harden killer, rapist or what and if they broke into your home knowing you are there they had no intention of stopping by for milk and cookies.
Now as to which firearm that is a very personal question, I have both you mention and for different reasons. I have a shotgun yes with a sort of short barrel 20 inches as it fits me best, gauge that is dependent on who will be using it again sort of if you and your spouse are not used to recoil then maybe a 20 gauge would work, but I know most use a 12 gauge as to rounds to have double OO buck works well it is a load the FBI and many other police and military like.
A pistol again caliber is related to recoil and you need to go where they have a lot of different calibers you can fire and see if you can handle the recoil and yes barrel length can affect recoil as to how well you can handle it. Most common calibers are 38 special, 357 mag, 9mm but some think this is to small even though our military have it and there is an issue in and of itself as they are going back to old 45 auto in many cases, why because a 230 grain full metal jacketed bullet does say something when it hits it target. This caliber takes lots of firing to get used to in the 1911 frame that is most often found but it an be done if you want to work at it.

Getting really used to any firearm you chose is all about shooting it; in the case of shotgun think around 500-1000 rounds for each of you. For a pistol think around 1000-5000 to get the basics and even more to keep current with either firearm.

Now you have your firearm(s) yes more is better to a point; where is it going to be kept, do you have kids in the house or come over, do you have relatives that are just plain noisy, and lastly if things go bad how fast can you get to where you have your firearm(s). How much ammunition to keep on hand and where to keep it. What kind of holster for a pistol?
For a shotgun do you get a pump or side by side or a semi auto, are you a hunter if so what other barrels are you going to want for your shotgun. Do you know how to clean them, do you feel safe holding a firearm or does it make you feel nervous, does it make you feel powerful, what is your mind set when you have a firearm in your hand?

The bottom line is if you have a firearm for self defense can you kill another person to protect your life or others you care about? I know many will not be so blunt but I have found if you can not see yourself killing another person to stay alive then you had better not have a firearm in the house as it will be used to kill you more than likely if it is found.

[WyomingEMT]

lots of questions answered. I want to get the Utah concealed firearms permit. Are all the classes the same. I thought It took two our three sessions, but they were offering the classes in one day at the gun show.

[shdwlkr]

Nope they have classes for pistol and if you can find one for shotgun find an instructor who teaches the police and military how to use them.

Utah concealed carry requires you to have a concealed carry in your own state now because they got so much flak about people having permits from Utah and not their own state one.

Most of the classes I have attended in several states now because of moving around are an all day affair and they need to include live fire if not then I don't have much belief they teach you anything really. One I attended even had a demonstration of when to use and when not to use a firearm and they where using blanks so there was real sounding shooting going on.

Never ever thing you know it all about firearms I have had them for 50 years and still learn something new all the time and that is how it should be.

Best of luck and do so safely and they can be a lot of fun to shoot and if needed keep you and yours alive to see another day.

I will not get into the reaction of what you will do if you do have to kill someone but this I will tell you if the police start questioning you don't say anything until you talk to your lawyer. They will do their best to get you to say something and just don't. It can and will be used against you in court.

If you just can't not say something then tell them you feared for you life and then shut up.

[mirkwood]

Originally Posted by shdwlkr

It can and will be used against you in court.

Only if you have done something criminal.

Two things: Shotgun and a ward list. Both can be used in emergencies especially if the emergency is a zombie apocalypse.

[shdwlkr]

Mirkwood
Why don't you ask a criminal lawyer about that statement you might just get a big surprise when you here the answer.

I have and even talked to some who deal with that kind of issue on regular basis and I trust them more than what anyone else might say.

Anonymity you are so correct and I wonder just how long before the society fails and the rats come out of the sewers.