In Reality- Long guns for home defense

[LongRider]

* Have you ever fired a long gun barefooted in your bed clothes?

No jeans and barefoot see post below

* Have you ever tried to clear your home in the dark with a long gun?

Yes, In our home we have SOP for all SD scenarios. We practice them.

Good points I think that we all may need to do things differently based upon our environment.

I do not have any hallways, doors to open or lights to turn on in our home. From my bedroom I can see the entire length of my home. But not every nook and cranny. So I practice pieing the house for a security check. John Conner suggested a night grab bag in an article awhile back, to hold cell phone gun flashlight etc. I considered it and passed because the first thing I do is put on my pants even if there is screaming my pants go on first thing. I can tell you from personal experience that few things make you feel more vulnerable than engaging anyone or thing with your johnson swinging free. So for the past 20 plus years pants go on on first thing. With my pants on go my carry weapon, a hi lumen multi function flashlight, cell phone and spare mag.
I do not turn a light on. Out of the unlocked safe by the door comes the shotgun loaded chambered and ready to go. The wife prefers the AR. She gets it and stays if she bothers to get up at all. A 2 inch crack in the bedroom door gives me a 26 yard view of the length of my home. The 30in computer monitor in the family room at the opposite end of the house provides me with adequate illumination. I move through the house with the flashlight on strobe I know where the reflective surfaces are I use them. I clear the house in fives sections. I start with my shot gun as I have no doors except the bedroom to open no lights to turn on. While I trust my XD45 to do its job it is a handgun by definition an ineffective man stopper.

Still even though a 12 gauge is an effective right now one shot man stopper. I still practice double taps, boom rack a boom observe repeat as needed. Remembering one is none two is one.

Anyone invading my sanctuary is a lethal threat and MUST be stopped now. I rely on my 12 gauge to do that for me.

I do practice transitioning from my shot gun to my XD and from the XD to the AR. I think the key is practice in your home. Do you have doors to open? Lights to turn on? Kids? Dogs? Toys on the floor? IMO all of that and much that I have missed play a factor in what weapon you should carry and how you proceed when something goes bump in the night.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Tobashadow]

My P95 comes out if i hear something.

But!

If i hear a breach into the house the AK comes out to play.


I will not go quietly into the night, literally!


If there is a breach the game plan is to push forward down the hall while the wife goes into the daughters bedroom then retreats back to the master bedroom and pulls the mattress over them on the far side of the bed. Then i pull back into the master bedroom which has a direct line of site down the hall which turns into the funnel of death for any BG that comes into the hallway.

[atctimmy]

Two words:

Taurus Judge.

Az

One word: Gimmick.

[Balog]

How would being barefoot in pajamas change my ability to fire a long gun (or a handgun for that matter)?

Also, what's this "If you fall down with a long gun there'll be tragic consequences" nonsense? There is no more likelihood of an AD/ND with a long gun than a handgun.

That being said, I have "cleared" my house with a lot of different weapons: shotgun, rifle, pistol, revolver, and a short hafted pick-axe. Being proficient with your chosen weapon is more important than what it is.

[mercop]

Because sometimes during a break in there is broken glass etc. Do you think that stepping on a shard of glass would take your mind off the problem at hand? Your right, it is a preparedness problem, not a gun problem. Lack of mindset and training cannot be overcome with any amount of equipment.- George

[Balog]

If environmental concerns are the issue, I think asking specifically about firing while barefoot is a bit of a distraction from the point.

Now, I just realized I came off as rather critical, but that was not my intention. I think you have a good basic point, but I think the presentation is not clearly and effectively making it.

I seem to recall in years past reading a Boston T. Party book where he opined that one should keep a kevlar vest, electronic ear muffs, and NOD's redy to go by the bed. While this is admittedly the best way to respond to actual organized home invasion, I think most people would not be comfortable with nor need to be that thoroughly prepared.

[peckman28]

My revolver with speed loader would be the first thing I grab, total of 14 shots. If things got really ugly I keep a 20 round box magazine full of Hornady .223 flex-tip hollowpoints ready to go into the Colt rifle. I think the chances of actually needing the rifle are remote to say the least.

[LongRider]

Do you think that stepping on a shard of glass would take your mind off the problem at hand?

Now that I say it won't. It will probably hurt like the dickens next time but based on past experience with the adrenalin dump that situation brings on I would not even notice until the wife told me to clean up my bloody foot prints before coming back to bed.

Your right, it is a preparedness problem, not a gun problem. Lack of mindset and training cannot be overcome with any amount of equipment.- George

Second that one as well. The best thing any of us can do is practice clearing the house. With the weapon of choice. Repeat after taking any training classes even if they are unrelated. Often times we pick up stuff in a class that changes our perspective, Opens new points of view to old problems.

One good way is to have the wife pick a random time and set the alarm. Even though you will not have the afore mentioned adrenalin dump it will help put a better perspective on things than just walking through it at your leisure.

BE SURE the weapon you use is unloaded. Check it before you start out

[tommyp]

I only own a shotgun, but my pistol permit app will be handed in tomorrow. I've thought about the answer to this:

Now, I've practiced clearing the top floor with my 870. What corners are tough, how to move room to room, what corners are blind. My 870 sits in the closet with 4 00 buck in the mag, and the backup shells in boxes in the first room I'd step to. It sits tucked away out of sight, but not locked, no key on the trigger - no kids. Disengage the safety and give a pump - pull the trigger and gun goes bang. I've practiced grabbing it from my bed, in pj's, and clearing the first 3 rooms, which results in a hallway that acts as a funnel from both exterior doors, and a reasonable distance from over penetration. Crouch just behind a corner where I have the advantage and pick em off 1x1 till the cops show up.

When I get my handgun, it'll sit next to me, at least with a full mag, safety on. Debating on how ok i am with one in the chamber. Should need be, that'll get me to the shottie in the closet, then passed to the girlfriend. Clear with shottie, tell her to shoot anything that moves that's not me or the dog. Everyone has their own opinion, but the likelihood of the shottie stopping some dipshit trying to get in my house in 1 or 2 shots is a lot greater than the pistol, especially under stress. Shottie wins. I like shooting trap..under the lights at night is fun. I have some experience hitting a moving target - even though it's a way away and small, I have some lower light practice shooting a moving target. In my small house - if I center the sight on the hallway and shoot, I'm almost guaranteed to hit my target with the modified choke on my gun and 00 buck.

As for early warning..my dog has only let me down 2 times so far. My girl snuck in one time - dunno how the hell that got past him. Got a bell tied to the door handle. Not too loud to us - he hears it and goes crazy. He's pretty good. Only a beagle, so he won't scare anyone, but he hears and smells a lot. Gets treats and praise for barking - person or not. Doorbell on tv and barks, praise. Noise out back but not a person and barks, praise. Person, still praise. Best early warning you can have. He barks, I look. If it happens at night, I look while holding my 870. The dogs ears plus my practice equals a win for my 870 - stopping power and pattern/spread to me trumps a handgun any day of the week.

[booyah]

Like everyone else depends on the situation. When I had a guy trying to open my front door a few months back, I had time to go to the safe, grab the double barrel shottie, confirm the 45 had one in the tube, and get in position before I needed to.

Dog was barking her head off and wife was on with 911.

In that case the guy was drunk and convinced he had the right house and that his wife wouldnt let him in.

When the dog went off the other night I grabbed the 45 and my slippers to see what was up. Turns out the cat knocked a remote off the TV cabinet and that set off the dog. Reason I didnt go to the long gun is I have to have those locked up because fo the kids. I'd really like a pistol caliber carbine, or a better HD shotgun that I can secure in the closet away from the kiddies, but its not in the budget at the moment

[Leopard125]

One word: Gimmick.

That would make a great you tube video, might even be instructional.
Can I shoot you with mine? That video might help dispell the myth.

[atctimmy]

That would make a great you tube video, might even be instructional.
Can I shoot you with mine? That video might help dispell the myth.

I don't understand your position. Are you arguing for or against the Judge?

[FknRa]

Seeing as I sleep naked most ranges won't let me practice in my bedclothes.

If I hear a bump sure I'll grab the pistol and take a peek.

If I hear a window break, footsteps, whispering, crashing banging etc I'll take the shotgun.

If I encounter someone while investigating a bump my pistol is there to get me back to my shotgun.

Zombie noises and flash-bangs warrant pulling the AR out of the closet

[SIGP250]

I don't know about you, but my eyes take a few blinks if I have been sleeping in order to focus properly. That might be long enough to reach for my Kimber 5" 1911. Chambered, it has only a 3 lb. trigger pull. It can be dangerous in the dark if you do not know exactly where it is.

If there is more time, I go to the Remington 870 or the Mossberg 500 shotgun (many variations).

I would probably not try to clear the house with any rifle, especially in the dark.

[BugDude]

Seeing as I sleep naked most ranges won't let me practice in my bedclothes.

If I hear a bump sure I'll grab the pistol and take a peek.

If I hear a window break, footsteps, whispering, crashing banging etc I'll take the shotgun.

If I encounter someone while investigating a bump my pistol is there to get me back to my shotgun.

Zombie noises and flash-bangs warrant pulling the AR out of the closet

Clearing the house naked with either a pistol or a shotgun and you're not the only one taking a peek. That could be a tactical advantage....distraction. The BG would be so shocked to see a naked guy with any number of weapons pointed at him that he may just scream and run.

I'm grabbing my CCW on the night stand. Once I get my mossy 12ga pistol grip pump, maybe it will get the nod. Not sure yet.