Since at least 9 out of 10 shots fired in self defense are closer than 9 feet away, you don't need a dag-gom wrist cannon to stop someone. I have a Mossberg 500, 20 ga, 18.5" barrel, holds 5+1. My conceled weapon, I have an Oklahoma Conceled Carry Permit, is a Smith and Wesson 9mm. I would never try to take someone's life even if they meant to harm me. I would try to explode a knee cap so the'd remember it for a while, but not kill them. Here again, you can't plan these things out and you can't ever tell what will happen or what you will do. Everyone can talk big about their big bore pistols and how they'd use them, but, it all comes down to what you would really do and be able to live with for the rest of your life. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I read that somewhere on DTR before. I live by that one. I taught my wife how to handle guns PROPERLY and she is a great shot with the shotgun. If something happens, she is heading for the closet with the shotgun and the phone. Me, I'll just go with the flow and keep whoever away from her. Maybe I'll turn Sophie our racoon lose and let her crack some nuts!

 

JWB,
You might need to rethink your tactics.
A kneecap is, what?..... 4 inches across and moving.
That's a VERY difficult target even if there's NO pressure and a long time to aim.
A Weapon is used to STOP a threat on your life, or the life of someone in your care.
"Center Of Mass" should be the only thing you put the front sight on in a crisis. And even then, it's not a sure stopper.
Many times cops are still having to employ hand-to-hand combat on drug-crazed bad guys after firing several rounds into them.

Not trying to rain on your parade.
Just trying not to have to read of a member's early demise.

 

For long range work, a cheap machine-cut SKS w/20 round mag.

For closer work, 6" heavy barrel 357mag S&W Security Six w/hot load semi-jacketed hollow points.

And just to surprise ya, a cute little 32cal Berreta Tomcat.

I'm OK with it all.

 

psychology teaches that we are very bad at predicting what we would actually do in situations we have never experienced. it is easy to say:

A) if someone breaks into my house
B) i will shoot them

but we never really know what we would do until it happens. i'm not making this stuff up, just repeating it, it came from people smarter than i. the best we can do is practice, practice, practice until it is a conditioned response. but without the stimulus of someone actually breaking into your house, it is hard to condition yourself.

try this: have your wife/husband try enter your house through an unlocked door or window and try to simulate a break-in as accurately as possible. practice your reaction with unloaded, or better yet, fake guns. i am such a hard sleeper i think i am going to invest in a security system. all the firepower and conditioning in the world doesn't matter if i don't hear the intruder.

 

In this sue-happy world, you don't want to wound your attacker.

Dead men can't take you for all you're worth.


phox

 

And sadly, the way the systems work, they probally would win.

 

I read all of these posts and can't believe that only one person uses the Glaser safety slugs. These are frangible rounds that disipate all of there energy in the first 6 " of tissue and will not penetrate two sheets of sheet rock. They are designed specifically for home defense but the Marshal's service has been using a form of them for Air Marshals.
Chris

 

Safety Slugs would be very good in open environments, but the BG firing from behind something would make you wish you had something else in the Magazine.
I chose number 6 High brass in my 12 gauge as my primary, with 00 Buck in the stock shell holder. But I carry a .45 for situations that might call for a different tactic.
Ultimately, each person has to consider his environment, and possible scenarios to prepare for with practice, practice, practice.

Hopefully, none of these will ever have to be used to repel borders.
But I feel it's better to be prepared and not need it, than to not be prepared and have the wolves at the door.

 

That is also commonly known as a 'failure drill.'

 

But their family will. Take this to hart if you have to shoot you will be sued by some one.

 

family may get something but if i have anything to do with it the perp will not enjoy it with them. law enforcement shoots center of mass so will i if it ever happens.

 

personally if someone breaks in they generally are looking to steal. wcs ill just cut my losses and move one. too hard for me to handle killing someone

 

I've seen that "Give them what they want and they'll just move on" statement before.

What if the bad guy decides he also wants your wife?....or your daughter?

Don't break into my house, you won't get yourself shot......simple enough.

 

Since Hoss hasn't posted to this thread in a while I figured I would take over for him.....

This was posted back in March and is most likely Ed and Jerry's reasoning behind the shoot to kill line of thinking.

 

You don't shoot through it, you shoot AROUND it.