Sorry…but there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for the best home defense gun.
Throw the notion away that all you need is a shotgun.
But don’t worry…we’re going to walk through all the most popular types of guns for home defense: pistol, rifle, and shotgun.
Then go through some other things you might not have considered yet like ammo, flashlights, quick access safes, suppressors, and self-defense insurance.
By the end, you’ll have a good idea of what type of gun is best for your situation and what accessories you might need.
THE QUICK LIST
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Editor's Best Shotgun
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Runner-Up Pump Shotgun
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Semi-Auto Shotgun Pick
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Runner-Up Semi-Auto Shotgun
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Editor's Best Pistol
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Runner-Up Pistol
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Best Revolver
Table of Contents
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How We Chose
The Pew Pew Tactical team went through the three most popular types of guns and dive into these specific points:
- What you personally shoot best
- Size and location of your home
- Over-penetration risk
- Family members’ location and skills
We also bring decades of experience from self-defense, competition, and law enforcement to the mix.
Complete with tens of thousands of rounds, countless hours at the range, and even more research.
Best Home Defense Shotguns
Let’s start off with the ole scattergun…
The most popular sub-type of shotgun is a pump-action shotgun. That means you manually manipulate the feeding mechanism to get the next shot.
Pros of Shotguns
1. We covered this before…they send a lot of lead downrange (provided you aim).
2. They are affordable (around $300 for a good pump action) and reliable.
3. This is debatable…but the familiar *ka-chunk* sound of racking a pump-action shotgun is the universal “get out of my house.”
Cons of Shotguns
1. They are usually heavy and long-ish. The very popular Mossberg 500 in a shorter 18.5-inches barrel is overall 40 inches long and almost 8 pounds loaded.
If your home has lots of tight corners, this might be a big negative.
2. Recoil is harsh in 12 gauge for smaller-framed shooters. Consider this if other family members might need to use the gun.
3. Capacity is limited.
Most stock versions of popular pump shotguns can hold five rounds in the tube and one in the chamber, giving you six total.
Compare that to an AR-15, which usually gives you 30, and most handguns that will give you 15+.
4. Reloading is more difficult compared to magazine-fed guns.
Unless you train a lot.
5. 00 Buck has the tendency to over-penetrate walls.
If you’re in an apartment or condo with thin walls…you want to consider overpenetration since you are responsible for all projectiles leaving your gun.
Shotgun Ammo in Stock
Even if you’re in a house far from other houses, you want to consider where family members are sleeping inside.
We did an Overpenetration Test with a variety of ammo and interior/exterior walls and found that if it’s a big concern…
Editor’s Best Shotgun – Mossberg 590A1
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Our favorite pump-action shotgun is the Mossberg 590A1.
Built like a tank and with an 8+1 capacity…you’ve got the firepower to get whatever needs getting done.
See it in action here:
Runner-Up Shotgun – Remington 870
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Our runner-up pump-action shotgun pick is the Remington 870, that’s withstood the test of time.
Check out our full review here.
Best Semi-Auto Shotgun – Beretta 1301
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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How about a semi-auto shotgun? Our go-to is the Beretta 1301 (full review).
Runner-Up Semi-Auto Shotgun – Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol
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Another great option for a home defense shottie comes in the form of the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol. It packs a lot of features into a semi-automatic design…all while keeping prices reasonable.
You can read more in our full review or catch up on the video review below.
More Shotgun Info
Things aren’t looking as rosy for shotguns anymore, right? But really, there are just some more things to consider to see if they are the right gun for you.
Here’s some more info because this is an important decision:
- Best Home Defense Tactical Shotguns
- Best Shotgun Ammo
- Remington 870 vs Mossberg 500 (Our Top 2 Choices)
Let’s take a look at pistols.
Best Home Defense Pistols
Tiny compared to shotguns…but what are some other pros and cons of handguns?
Semi-Automatic Handguns vs Revolvers
But first, let’s get some terminology and sub-types out of the way.
Revolvers are the old-school handgun choice with a revolving cylinder that holds all the ammo.
While semi-automatics are newer and take their ammo in magazines.
We’ll include both kinds of handguns in the pros and cons.
Pros of Handguns
1. They are smaller.
This means you can maneuver around tight corners a lot easier. And conceal them easier…but that’s not the point of this home defense article.
Check out Best Concealed Carry Guns if that’s more your thing.
2. Higher capacity and reload speed.
The most popular handgun is probably the Glock 19 (full review). And its normal magazines are 15 rounds.
Plus, reloads are easy.
But revolvers usually only have a capacity of five to six rounds…so keep that in mind. And forget about quick reloads!
3. Easy to add lights.
For the most part, most modern handguns have it easy to add lights with their included rails. But you’re going to have a hard time with revolvers.
(See which lights we recommend for your pistol.)
4. Large choice of ammo.
For home defense, you’ll likely go with expanding hollowpoint ammo that’s great for stopping power and also limits overpenetration through walls.
9mm Ammo in Stock
Again check out our overpenetration article if that’s a big consideration.
5. Large number of calibers to choose from based on your shooting preference.
If all you can handle is a .22 LR, then that’s all good.
And, of course, there’s always the battle of 9mm vs .45 ACP.
6. Price ranges from $200 to sky is the limit.
Although you probably don’t want to get the cheapest gun for reliability’s sake… there are some decent deals on good guns out there.
7. One hand is free to make an emergency phone call.
Although not optimal…you can have one hand free to make a quick 911 call on your cellphone.
Cons of Handguns
1. They are smaller.
This is back to haunt you sometimes!
Since they are smaller, you have less of a sight radius (distance from the rear sight to the front sight), so it’s a little harder to aim and be accurate.
Also, since they are smaller, you might have increased recoil based on your caliber.
That CAN be overcome with proper grip and training, though (for all family members that might need to use it)
2. Reliability and Failures
It depends on the gun…but I’ve definitely had more failures overall on handguns compared to pump shotguns.
And with a semi-auto, you’ll have to practice failure drills to get the next shot.
Revolvers get a little boost here since if one shot fails to fire…all you have to do is pull the trigger again for the cylinder to rotate to the next round.
However…revolvers are not some mythical reliability machine. They can still fail.
Editor’s Best Pistol – Glock 19
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Our go-to pick and the gold standard of reliability is the Glock 19.
Check out our full review of the Glock 19 to do it justice.
Runner-Up Pistol – Walther PDP
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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How about a gun with the nicest out-of-the-box trigger…and that’s ready for a pistol red dot?
Check out our full review of the Walther PDP.
Best Revolver – Smith & Wesson 686+
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We can’t forget a wheelgun. Our favorite is the Smith & Wesson 686+ (full review) which brings 7 rounds of either .38 Special or .357 Magnum.
More Pistol Info
- Best Beginner Handguns for Home Defense
- Handgun Caliber Guide
- Best 9mm Ammo
- Best Handgun Flashlights
- How to Shoot Handguns More Accurately
Best Home Defense Rifles
We’re a little partial to AR-15s since they are America’s rifle and with plenty of other perks.
We’re focusing on them, but most of these pros/cons can mostly hold for other semi-auto rifles.
Pros of Rifles
1. Higher magazine capacity.
The standard AR-15 magazine capacity is 30 rounds.
There are higher capacity ones, but mostly you trade off a little reliability. I’d stick with 30-rounders for home defense purposes.
2. Easier to shoot well.
It’s a combination of the AR-15 ergonomics, caliber, and a rifle in general.
With a rifle, you get a lot more contact points to your body, which makes it easier to control.
The .223 or 5.56 caliber of the standard AR-15 is also very soft shooting.
Long sight radius and ease of adding a red dot sight make it even easier for most to get shots on target.
3. Upgradeability
AR-15s are adult Legos.
And the rail systems make it super easy to add lights and lasers to help in home defense.
4. Lots of ammunition loads.
Got overpenetration concerns…there’s ammo for that.
Want cheap rounds for training/plinking/long-range? There’s tons of that too.
Cons of Rifles
1. Price
A lot less of a concern now because of affordable but still reliable manufacturers like Palmetto State Armory (full review), but ARs can be pricey, depending on what you’re after.
2. Longer length.
It’s a rifle…so there are some laws regarding its length. If you have very tight corners, keep this in mind.
BUT… there are such things as AR-15 pistols that don’t have a traditional buttstock…but instead a brace.
That said, the ATF has added some rules regarding braces, so you might want to check out our article on the ATF and Braces to get caught up.
Entry-Level Rifle – PSA
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Need an entry-level AR that will always go boom? Check out the Palmetto State Armory series (full review).
Bang-For-The-Buck Rifle – Aero Precision
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Want something a little higher-end? Our best bang-for-the-buck AR-15 pick is Aero Precision.
Editor’s Best Rifle – Daniel Defense
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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How about our recommendation for high-end AR? That one goes to the Daniel Defense DDM4V7.
More Rifle Info
We couldn’t come up with more negatives to AR-15 rifles, so if any of the myriads of options fit your specific end-use…go for it!
Here’s a bunch more info for you to read over:
- Best AR-15s [Complete Buyer’s Guide]
- Best AR-15 Ammo
- Best AR-15 Magazines
- Best Rifle Flashlights
- Best Pistol Caliber Carbines
- Best AR-15 Pistols
5.56 and .223 Ammo in Stock
Home Defense Gun Accessories
Gun Safes
You probably want to secure your gun a little…even if you’re living alone.
We’ve tested a bunch of safes, from quick-access pistol safes to larger long-gun safes.
And even hidden and biometric ones.
Suppressors
Guns are loud…so if you’re at the range, make sure you have one of our Best Hearing Protection on.
Chances are you won’t have time to put on something in a home defense situation.
In that case, you’ll likely wish you had a suppressor.
However, they are expensive, annoying to get, and take some time.
But if you have the means and patience…check out our Best 9mm & .45 ACP Suppressors and Best AR-15 Suppressors.
Liability Insurance
Fingers crossed that you never have to actually use a firearm in a home defense situation…but it can still happen.
That’s why you’re preparing by reading this article.
And sometimes, the aftermath of the police and court system can be even worse.
That’s why there are memberships like the USCCA that give you tons of education to:
- Not get into bad situations in the first place
- Know what to do when you’re needing to protect yourself or others
- What to do afterwards
Plus, all memberships come with personal liability insurance as a perk that’s commonly (wrongly) known as “concealed carry insurance.”
I’ve been a paid member since 2017, and here’s my full review of everything they offer and a free gift from me.
Final Thoughts
There’s a lot of stuff to digest…and a lot of questions to ask yourself about your particular home defense situation.
You found that shotguns are not the be-all-end-all of home defense…they have some cons, such as length, recoil, and capacity. Plus, you’ve actually got to aim!
If you and your family members have the training and can benefit from a smaller firearm…pistols might be the way to go.
AR-15s and other rifles are starting to have a big advantage with the advent of pistol caliber carbines and AR-15 pistols. These lower the cons of length and ammo considerations. Plus, now there are a lot of affordable yet reliable manufacturers.
If you are looking for a rundown on the best rifles you can buy in general, we have a whole list dedicated to long guns.
What’s your particular situation, and which type of firearm did you go with? Any pros/cons that we missed? If you’ve chosen a platform, do you know the best place to store it? If not, check How To Stage Guns for Home Defense.
108 Leave a Reply
Best AR bang for the buck? Can you review the Del-Ton Echo 316M?
Can you review the IWI Masada? I think it beats Glock and given what you get along with durability & reliability & crazy low price, it's the best. What do you think?
Liberty safes were nice until they gave the codes to the FBI, so much for securing your guns
Re: shotguns. I have a Winchester Model 1300 Stainless Marine Defender. Would appreciate a review and your opinion. Thanks.
I depend on Federal 12ga 2 3/4” 8 pellet -00 buck with flitecontrol wad. Low recoil (1145 fps). Shoots like a dream out of my Remington 870 with a tight pattern to 30 yards.
Beretta CX4 Storm, 30 rounds of 147gr 9mm HP's, small light, nimble and reliable. Sitting next to my 92FS same mags, just to mention something different, but yes, sitting ready in my bedroom every night.
I just managed to "do the math".. It seems to be common knowledge that 12 gauge 00 buckshot shells send 9 pellets the size of a .38 round downrange each time the trigger is pulled. Again, the common knowledge claims most shotguns carry 5 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber for a total of six.
Common AR-15 magazines hold 30 rounds, California and other states are limited to 10 rounds. Common revolvers hold 15 rounds.
So here's my version of the "magic math" why a shotgun makes sense as a self-defense weapon...
Six total rounds, launching nine .38 pellets per trigger pull... sounds like 54 total .38 pellets in relatively small patterns. More total projectiles than 2 AR-15 magazines (that are firing .223 rounds) in less trigger pulls making for less margin for error.
Pretty substantial for self-defense inside a 30 yard radius.
Plus there's the "Clack-clack-snap" signature sound of a pump...
Common revolvers hold 15 rounds? On what planet?
I would put the new Colt Pythons and King Cobras over the 686, despite the 7 round capacity of the 686+. S&W has been really slipping in recent years, check out The Yankee Marshall on YouTube, he did a video about it recently
I own the S&W 686 plus (7 shot). Quality slipping? I have no idea what that means. Mine is fine. Far as utube reviews realize they must say something. As far as Colt Python, they are 40% more money. Home invasion? Laws, guns. Castle law etc. As I understand it you cannot simply shoot someone for entering your home even if they are carrying out your TV etc. You need to fear for your safety-your LIFE. Hold on buddy, I need to load my gun and remove the trigger lock. Which caliber would you prefer I shoot you with? Oh and what brand do you prefer ammo and pistol? May we never need to but I am prepared.
Sorry but I much prefer my SIG 229 or my 365 to any Glocks I’ve held and fired for any significant number of rounds.
I do agree with your 2 pump shot guns but only at my cabin. In my option they’re Too long and too dangerous inside a city home
I have several styles of AR15’s but too long for a typical home interior
Just a thought
Why no one even mentioned the Beretta 92,15 shot mags one in and 15 behind is not a bad choice, also the ar15 300 blackout shooting the 110 grain hornady is a pretty good choice for home defense and if your worried about over penatration don't, that 110 grain pill will do its job and won't leave an exit hole, I no this for a fact I've taken enough critters with this load to no what that bullet does on flesh!!!! 556 green tip very bad choice for home defense!!!
You left out the 12 gauge #4 buckshot for home defense. Many SWAT teams, including the one I commanded, went to that round for entry teams years ago. Slightly more hit liklihood due to more pelllets and less unneeded wall penetration.
If you are under attack by the zombie apocalypse I would take a big 12 guage or an AR. But for a home invader coming at me I will rely on the best combat pistol of all time, the Sig Sauer P226 Navy with red dot attached. Ask a Seal.
The Sig Sauer P226, probably one of the best guns Sig ever made. I love mine.
I am a 22 year Marine combat veteran. The stupidity of writers that are allegedly "experts" regarding firearms, self-defense, and know it all regarding firearms is astounding. After my time as a Marine I served as a Deputy Sheriff, City Cop, and Prison Warden. Add to this, 27 years of Martial Arts training in various styles; as well as being born and raised in the South Bronx in NYC; and most of your experts are a laughingstock and far from experts at anything. If that wasn't enough, I am a certified NRA Law Enforcement Instructor with a handgun, Rifle and Shotgun. Individually I have trained 1,754 students, without incident within two states. I am subscribed to various gun magazines to stay up with the latest firearm developments. I pay little attention to what the experts say.
I'll take lots of sh** that never happened for $1000 Alex
Eric Hung didn’t present himself as an expert, so I know you aren’t talking about him. (Well written article, Eric.) All you did was criticize, so apparently you aren’t an expert either.
Yeah, I wasn't sure where Edgardo's comment was aimed, so-to-speak.
I'm not an expert, so I read a lot, and ask questions of people who have 'been there.'
the internet 'expert' Ed forgot to mention that he accidentally shot himself once upon a time.... so there's that
Care to enlighten us on the shortcomings in Mr. Hung's recommendations, Mr. Gierbolini?
What a total waste of a post. Are we supposed to be impressed? Start your own website, then, and give real "expert" advice. Talk is cheap, and empty criticism with no content even cheaper.
Whoa, clear a path everybody, here comes the big impressive NRA Instructor!
Got a question about your test set up for penetration on 2 3/4 .00 buck. Did you test with exterior walls of concrete block? My target area would be through a book case full of paperbacks then sheet rock, 2x4, sheet rock, across the interior of the garage and into concrete block. To my left would be a 2" thick solid wood door. Range about seven yards. How would the .00 do on that? Thanks
Most discussions of home defense miss a few points, 1, that overpenetration is always bad, which it is not. Blasting away where it can be is bad - knowing your lines of fire is important and certainly knowing what is behind you getting sprayed in lead would be too - like, your family. Theres a lot more to it than OMG I dont want to kill the neighbors kid then setting up your own to be killed.
You can prevent that by having enough gun - to stop the opponent no matter what he's hiding behind and at that point the firefight is over. There's no guarantee they will pick an underperforming or low penetration gun - you are better off defending to stop sooner than they stop you.
2 is that long guns will get you into some bad situations - which is why few in police or military use them. When corridors and hallways are 36" you don't bring a 30" + firearm, you go much shorter. This is why the XM177 became a Naval boarding and clearing firearm under their type numbering - at 26". An AR pistol or SBR does that job, 30 round magazine offers plenty of ammo, and if you are already familiar with it then there are less handling errors.
The Mossberg Shockwave does the same thing in la egal version of the old pistol grip Witness Protection shotgun - short and effective. Using 1 3/4" shells it holds ten and that provides more firepower than a blocked duck season three shooter. A short firearm is much more maneuverable in tight confines and can work getting around corners, under furniture etc where a longer field gun is at a disadvantage.
As for the penetration thing? Once inside the house, an intruder isn't a guessing game, if you move the family back to a bedroom behind good cover away from the line of fire, once they start banging on the door, do you want bullets to bounce off your side? Or do you need them to stop that attacker? Can't be done until it penetrates not only the door but them, too.
Don't let the interwebs warriors tell you different.
I got one of those Shockwaves. I'm gonna have to take a course to find out how to aim it without breaking my nose.
If you want to learn about home defense, seek the advice of a professional. LOL, anyone who would take the advice of someone who writes random web articles is destine for failure. See a profession if you are serious about self defense and practice constantly.
Eric. I see from my reading in the gun articles and blogs that no matter what you opine there is always the critic that is almost personal in replies. "Why are you so stupid to always chose Glock, S&W, SIG, OR whatever". The are always prepared to take the other side. These people are called "trolls" in the political realm. They are naysayers in all endeavors. Most of us like and enjoy reading your efforts to broaden our experiences. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
My EDC is a Glock G30 my night time home defense choice Glock G21 with a 13+1 configuration and (at home) an AR15 in 300 blackout. no optics. Longest sight picture in my house is less than seven yards. I shoot (rapid fire) a fist sized group at this distance by pointing and shooting.
Why do you push that striker fired trash Glock when for less money you can have a higher quality more dependable pistol such as the IWI jericho enhanced. It has a real safety, second strike capability, interchangeable grip components allowing you to customize the grips and a built in rail for the gear junkies. For a little more money you can have an H&K P30. I am expecting you to start pushing Hi-Points next.
Hey Joel, there are plenty of great options for home defense guns. If the Jericho is it for you, then awesome! For others, they like the simplicity, price, and availability of Glock. We do our best to cater to a wide range of budgets and preferences but we can't include everything. Nevertheless, thanks for reading!
It seems that you didn't read the pros that I laid out in my post.
Don't feed the Glock trolls. They're just mad that Glock is by far the most widely used handgun in the Western world instead of their pet pistol. As if the manual safety is an advantage, lol. I guess they run trash ammo if they think the "second strike capability" is worth having to learn two different trigger pulls and an exposed hammer that can be fouled by debris
Not mentioned but important is cost and availability of ammo. Right now a constantly changing fact. I just bought a 686 plus. Ammo, none of the dealers around here have it in stock and if they do the price is out of sight the same is true for 380. Right now you/we can get 9mm and 22. Mail order? Yes, you can find all of it BUT, for a gun you will likely need to pay an FFL fee, shipping and tax on ammo you also face shipping charges. Of course that is all required but you pay the delivered to you price.
The 'best' gun for home defense if the ONE YOU HAVE!!.
So the best is a shotgun then! A Bullpup shotgun.
update the info of these articles. Other wise they are a complete waste of time. The $729 revolvers are $930 and are never in stock.
Hey Bill. We get your frustration but it's incredibly tough for us to keep up with current pricing as it changes frequently. We do the best we can! Thanks for reading!
I personally own a Remington 870. When you were discussing the pros and cons of shotguns, your comparison was between the “standard style” of the pump or semi auto feeding long barrel shotgun. What about the bull pup style to move freer unconfined spaces?
Can we please stop with the glock "reliability" crap.. It's no more reliable than a Walther, or Smith and Wesson or even the g series Taurus.. Or any other striker fired pistol nowadays..
My choice is Pistol. Conditions are not optimal for long guns. I wouldn't mind having something like the Extar for HD, though. I love shotguns, but I wouldn't personally make one my primary for HD. Same for revolvers.
Anyone who lives in any sort of neighborhood or urban environment that is using anything other than a shotgun is asking for trouble. It's that simple. Your handgun/rifle round is going to go through 15 walls and end up in one of your neighbors cabinets 4 houses away. So, yeah, if you live in a city then there is only one choice, a shotgun. To argue against this very basic physics experiment is almost ridiculous.
Making blanket statement without considering those pesky physic's facts is almost ridiculous. Want to argue? First go get yourself some 2x4's, 1/2" drywall, some insulation, some plywood, an exterior coating like stucco, wood, or vinyl. Then build 2 walls, set them 50 yards apart (your 4 houses down) and shoot through them. Use something like Hornady 115 gr. Critical Defense or similar. Take a photo and post the results. Facts too much trouble or do you want to have real results to argue with?
This has to be one of the most uninformed comments i've read on this site in a while. The low mass in a 5.56 results in walls taking all the energy out of a round much faster than you can imagine. The homes where i live are wood frame construction, sheet rock, tar paper, plywood, chickenwire mesh, and stucco (inside to outside) and just about any location in my home where you'd put yourself while defending would result in a minimum of 3 walls to get through in order for a round to become a risk to a neighbor. I can pretty much guarantee that 00 buck would pose more risk to neighbors than my 5.56. Of course, it could be problematic if you skipped one out an open window, but that applies to any firearm.
Silly at best.
Kimber loaded with 220 grain plus P. I shoot more than most law enforcement. Wife has a smith 2.0. She’s trained. Going to ad a 45 acp carbine rated for plus P.
As a last resort, I like the two pistol approach. Strong hand holds a Sig P320, Romeo One, loaded with 9mm, Sig 124 gr. V-Crown JHP, one in the tube and 17/21 in the magazine. Don't make the "one in the tube" an issue. It's NOT in a "protect" situation. The weak hand holds a Tarus Judge loaded with .410 Winchster PDX1 with 3 brass plated cylinders followed by 12 plated BB's. Alternate between the weak hand and the strong hand until the threat is neutralized. These two weapons in fingerprint release gun safes in tactical locations around the house will offer the maximum speed of retrieval and protection for you and your loved ones. I understand this is a more expensive solution, but how much are you willing to spend to protect your loved ones? AND PRACTICE THE DRILL - LIVE FIRE AT THE RANGE AND DRY FIRE AT HOME. My wife who is an excellent shot, has her CCHP and has her own safes with a Walther PPS in each one. PREPARATION AND TRAINING FOR THE UNEXPECTED IS THE KEY TO SURVIVAL IN A SELF DEFENSE SCENARIO.
A topic I have researched thoroughly that has different solutions for different people’s circumstances. Here’s my quick breakdown to each solution: generic advice for all: shoot the gun you train most with and have skills you’re confident in. More detailed is as follows: if you don’t have kids in other rooms and live in a house not sharing walls with neighbors go with a shotgun, buckshot alternating with segmented slugs, high quality semiautomatic is preferable as adrenaline can cause you to short stroke the pump and create your own malfunction. If you have kids or other family members in other rooms go with AR15 with hollow points due to lack of over penetration. If we have a true SHTF situation and there is no more police go with AK47 with Russian steel core ammo to take care of gangs wearing body armor. last preference is pistol...inferior weapon best suited outside the home for ccw, if you don’t own a rifle or shotgun then it’s what you have got to use. A .22lr is better than nothing for deterrence at least and can be confidently handled by weaker shooters in the house. Do not clear your house, very foolish, retrieve family members from other rooms if you must back to your room but then hole up in your room and call police.
would like to see comparison of galil ace 7.62 pistol gen 1 to gen 2
Ok, heres the deal on firearms for home defense.
I've lived through a home invasion, there were four of them. I've investigated hundreds of home invasions over the years where the victim used a firearm to either stop or repel the bad guy(s).
Overall, the gun you start with is going to be the one you end with. So select that gun carefully.
Of the hundreds of home invasions I've investigated over the years I have only seen one case where the victim had time to swap weapons and that was only because the bad guys left after being initially repelled, but stayed outside the door, and then came back in a minute later - this time gave the victim time to swap weapons from a shotgun to an AR-15 with a 30 round magazine. He was able to use the increased capacity and firepower to stop the bad guys in their second attempt. The shotgun had gone dry.
During an encounter like this 90% of you, no matter how hard you trained, will not be able to reload a shot gun quickly enough against an aggressive bad guy unless you are an actual John Wick.
So must likely, the gun you start with is going to be the gun you have and end with so choose wisely.
USCCA states in its policy that if you loose a self-defense case, you are required to pay back USCCA what they spent to defend you. Other companies do not have this clause. Which insurance company do you recommend?
You need a no limits policy like, for example, CCW Safe.
USCCA has limits on defense costs. The average jury trial for self defense can easily exceed what USCCA will pay.
In addition to what I already posted - CCW Safe has no reimbursement and no recoupment no matter the outcome.
CCW Safe- I am not aware of this requirement from them, and their Civil Defense is much better (more). Yeah you don't get a Range Bag, and a chance to win a new gun, or a chance at a new Jeep like USCCA offers but who freakin cares ? I don't !, I want the coverage in this litigious society, however, None of these companies are "Insurance" companies, and you need to understand that EMPHATICALLY !!!!
Well I guess I've got all the bases covered then...I've got my 12.5" AR pistol in the living room along with my G19 on the bar and I am normally wearing my Hellcat which is my EDC pistol, plus I have my Mossberg 12GA in the bedroom along with my G19x on the nightstand next to the bed. I've got my 16" AR and the rest of my rifles tucked away, just in case things get really crazy...
Where do you live & when are you going out for an hour or so? It'll take me an hour just to carry off all your firearms, lol! I agree in keeping weapons in rooms I live in most & I look at the shotgun as my artillery. If the bad guys are still coming, and I made it to my safe room/bedroom, that's where I want my shotgun.
When I took the NRA Home Defense Course, we were asked to bring our preferred home defense handgun to the class. The instructor then went over each pistol for pros and cons. He liked the Springfield XD best because in the dark you need to know right away if that firearm 1) is loaded, and 2) has a round in the chamber. Of all 6 guns present (Springfield XD, HK, Glock, S&W, Sig), the Springfield Armory XD was the only one that had 2 ready indicators to tell in the dark if the firearm was ready to go. There is the hammer cocked indicator in the back of the slide, and the the loaded chamber indicator on top of the slide. Both are very obvious in the dark with just a feel of the finger. Something to consider when making a choice for home protection. YMMV
The gun safe in the bottom left of the picture has the worst back up lock. It can be picked with a paperclip, don’t believe me look up lockpick lawyer on YouTube
00 is .33 caliber, not .38. #0000 buck is .38. Most may not know the difference, or even care, but in the interests of credibility it is always better to provide accurate information.
You have your numbers wrong Mo. Go look them up again.
Purchased a Saint Blackout. Had jam issues - back to Springfield. While waiting for a new one I came across a Sig M400 5.56. Very nice and easy to use. Would be one go to with a 45 in my back pocket for backup!
Whatever weapon you shoot best is your defense weapon. Home invaders are wearing kevlar vests so... you must use the weapon you master in order to place your shot properly.
Caliber? Give a 45 RMJ.
Pistol? Without a doubt
Make? Glock 21
Mag load? 13, 2 extra mags
*Be sure you are going to shoot the intruder (s) or you will be eliminated with your own gun. Paper targets don’t shoot back.
Etc etc
A 9mm 16 inch PCC shooting a 115 grain JHP ( or Lehigh) bullet will penetrate IIIA armor.
I'm not quite on Keanu's level, but I've found that I'm better with shotguns than anything else, so that's my first line of defense.
Bonus: if you like the pistol-caliber AR/AR pistol vibe and don't care as much about fancy sights and other attachments, try a WW2-vintage .30 M1 carbine. Super light, super compact, modest recoil, limited overpenetration with HP rounds, has 30-round mags.
Wow. That was interesting reading and very helpful. Thanks much
flamethrower good?
i disagree with your input about revolvers. 'if you have a misfire just go to the next shot'. obviously you have never had the bullet of the misfire move forward just enough to hang up in the forcing cone. you are dead in the water and need tools. the cylinder cannot be opened or rotated.
Going even further with this line of thinking, why would you “go hunting” in your own home? If they steal the flatscreen who cares, insurance will buy you a new one. Home defense is about preserving your and your families safety/life. Sneaking around in the dark hunting is wreck less to your own well-being. Come down the hall towards the bedrooms, it’s game over and legitimately self-defense.
It's home defense the second they come into my home, uninvited, with bad intentions. I'm not asking them if they "only came for the flat screen" and certainly not waiting for their answer. I've been shot at. It's faster than you think and you better react smart & fast. There likely won't be time to get your son or daughter to your bedroom.
Interesting read though a bit short sighted. All things equal, a pistol puts a hole in you, a 5.56 through you and a shotgun sprays you on the wall behind you. A shotgun with simple mods can have less recoil than a 5.56. Try a VangComp barrel on the old Remington, you’ll be impressed. Couple the equipment with training and your putting more lead down range in fewer shots than a 9 MM or 5.56.
If you worry about shooting through walls, AR's are not the gun for you. Hell you may shoot through your neighbor's walls as well........My Remington with 00# will clear things up just fine.
Our testing, as well as many other's testings, show the exact opposite. 00 Buck penetrated far more than 5.56. [Study] Home Defense Overpenetration: Shotgun, Handgun, Rifle
You should really research that ..You couldn’t possibly be more incorrect. Due to the speed of a 55 grain full metal jacket or 69 Grain Hollow point from an A.R. 15 ...tends to break up in sheet rock. However buck shot from a shotgun will go through numerous walls. Don’t believe me,Look it up yourself, plenty of YouTube videos to support this
Hey Eric, Great works! May I ask, what’s that AR style semi-shotgun‘s name? Which one loaded with Mag.
I live in the Republic of Panama, and recently
the new government has lifted a stupid ban on the import, sale, transfer and carrying of weapons that lasted 10 years, although the justice system recognizes legitimate defense.
Another good news is that a little more than a month ago, the Congress passed a new law that criminally exempts the home defense, and states that it can be done "by whatever means," so we do not need insurance of any kind.
What is a problem here are the low commercial volume of the gun shops, taxes and speculation, which make the price of a gun up to 3 times that of the U.S. , for example, a CZ P07 is in the vecinity of $1,000.00 or more.
I like more info moving there
Eric
Nicely written article, well thought out and explained. Home defense has more flavors than Baskin Robbins and no two people can agree on just one flavor.
Who manufactures the suppressed shotgun in the cover picture of the article? I can't zoom in close enough to see the logo?
CMMG, I'm not sure if it is in production though -- we got to shoot it at TriggrCon 2018.
Yeah, I just love it. Someone threatens my family, myself, in my house with a deadly weapon, and I shoot them, I need insurance. What a joke. Is USSAC insurance available in California? California has the worse gun laws in the U.S. So, I am probably In need of self defense insurance. What options do I have? Oh by the way, enjoyed your article. I am not a beginner by any means, but very good advice for people who are.
AFAIK almost all of the major CCW insurance is available in California, you can take a look at our Best Concealed Carry Insurance article for a ton more info!
I think a Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) pistol is the perfect choice for home protection. 9mm with some Glock mags - pin point precision, low recoil, and if you have the time - get a silencer to protect your ears. Winner.
Exactly. My go to home defense weapon is an AR pistol platform chambered in 9mm these days. You get the advantages of a pistol caliber (critical defense type ammunition, less concern for overpenetration, lower cost for training, etc.), the handling of a carbine, more choices for optics than a pistol, and it's more precise than a shotgun. You get the advantages of both a pistol and a carbine in one platform. I was surprised Eric didn't include these or PCCs into the mix.
Correction. I should have said that I was disappointed that PCCs didn't get more consideration than a sentence or two. On first read I didn't even catch that they were included at all.
I also just realized that while the article itself is dated in 2020, there are comments from 4 years ago attached to it. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate the options now that PCCs are more widely available to the general public from regular gun manufacturers these days.
Don't like the opening click on the Sentry Safe...would prefer silent operation...
It makes a helluva ka-thunk when it pops open also.
USCCA Self Defense insurance is no longer available in Washington State. Our Insurance Commissioner stopped that for now. Hopefully will change in the future. USCCA is working on that. Until that happens there are very limited options for this kind of insurance in Washington, unfortunately.
Unfortunately there's a few states where it's not longer available. I try to keep the review article up to date!
US Law Shield is available in WA State (from my research, they are the only one available for us in WA as of 11/30/2021). I just enrolled. It's because USCCA and others are not considered "insurance" -- so US Law Shield operates as an insurance company, and thus allowed.
Only one slight suggestion. Spell it out; nine .38 caliber balls of lead. I wasted my day trying to figure out 9.38 caliber.
Good rec...fixed!
Understandable mistake with the 3000 different calibers! I am afraid that your question will give some manufacturers the idea that “Hay, let’s come out with the new 9.38 round!!” 12-Gauge/.22LR/9mm/5.56(.233) all that I will ever get!
Any recommendations on a flashlight/laser combo for a s&w sd9ve?
I have a Streamlight TLR-1 on my SD9VE, fits well and works great - but it is just a light, no laser.
Hollow points don't matter one iota or do any better than ball when going through drywall or other hard barriers. Pistol caliber rounds and all useful shotgun shot bb's penetrate much further through walls than non-M855 5.56 rounds. Light, high speed .223/5.56 break apart and stop much quicker than common pistol and shotgun rounds. (demonstrated, proven, documented, repeated and easy to find) Rifles are easier to shoot more accurately than handguns. A shotgun's recoil greatly and adversely affects follow up shots. Shotguns are more unwieldy and stockless shotguns are almost useless novelty items, especially for novices. Weapon lights are not easily mounted to revolvers. Revolvers typically have much heavier, harder, longer trigger pulls, even in no stress situations than semi-autos. A revolver in single action condition during an unknown or a tense rapidly developing shoot/don't shoot situation is a horrible idea. Jams should not be an issue for any modern semi-auto firearm from a reputable manufacturer mated with modern ammo from a reputable manufacturer, especially when you have already tested that firearm/ammo combination as any sensible gun own would do.
Thanks. Getting my 1st gun. Think I'll like this.
Glad we could help...tons more stuff here too!
I alternate a .410 she’ll and a Long colt .45 so if one isn’t enough, the following chamber will definitely do the job. We can agree to disagree
I love how you've spelled this out and organized information.
Perhaps it is worth mentioning the conditions in which a pistol would jam rather than leaving it to be imagined by the reader to be random chance.
(1) when something interferes with the movement of the slide, such as someone grabbing the pistol, or someone holding it incorrectly (eg with thumb behind the slide.)
(2) when the barrel is pressed firmly against something, the slide may be pushed back a fraction of an inch, just enough to disconnect things internally so it won't fire properly.
(3) when you limp-wrist because of terrible grip and the gun doesn't have enough energy to cycle the next round in.
(4) low quality ammunition that may not be compatible with pistol or magazine (over time, too). For example, cheap lacquered steel cased rounds may 'stick' to the walls in the magazine after a year or two, causing the follower not to push up rounds as expected. (basically, it jams the magazine)
Anyway, keep up the good work.
How do you feel about a Taurus ‘Judge’ for Home defense.
I personally wouldn't use it...410 isn't that great for self-defense.
What are your reasons for not liking a .410?
I have owned a Taurus Judge w/4" barrel for several years and have killed several snakes with it around our place. I would not hesitate to use it for home defense when loaded with PDX1
2 1/2" shells. As a matter of fact it would be my grab and go firearm along with my 12ga. shotgun if an intruder were breaking in my home with us there.
thankyou for to share all these magnificent information, great for begginers like me.
You're so welcome, Brian!
I live in the mountains of western Washington. Lately there have been cougar and bobcat sightings close by. I have even seen cougar tracks in the snow 50 yards from my front door. I hike, bike and XC ski a lot in the surrounding foothills of Mt Rainier. While I always have several knives on me when I'm out and about, a knife fight with a 150 pound cougar seems like a no-win situation. So, what kind of pistol should I get for protection on my outdoor adventures?
You may want to consider something along the lines of a stainless steel or alloy revolver. I'm assuming that you are in an area with a fair degree of humidity; additionally, condensation will tend to form as you encounter temperature swings by simply coming indoors.
Perhaps a double-action, for fast follow-up shot capability, in .357mag and a 3" to 4" barrel would be reasonable to carry on a regular basis. Alloy to keep the weight down. Maybe a 5-shot to keep the width a touch slimmer ... Just make sure your gloved trigger finger is able to get into the trigger guard. And your gloves allow for a solid grip in general.
Depending on your carry solution, as you will be covering some distance on uneven terrain, you may also want to consider adding a lanyard. It sucks to have to backtrack for something you've dropped. :-)
You are mixing up the terms "handgun" and "pistol". Both revolvers and pistols are handguns. Other than that, good article.
Thanks! I tend to use them interchangeably but you are right.
For the technicality inclined: Pistols are handguns with only one chamber. Revolvers have multiple chambers.