# Best gun for home defense? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2004, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-gun-for-home-defense/272261 "2004-11-01T04:43:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-gun-for-home-defense/272261/101 "2004-11-05T21:21:48Z")
I love these threads where the OP’er probably has to walk away while third parties get into knife fights over how many angels can dance on an empry .45 ACP case 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-gun-for-home-defense/272261/102 "2004-11-07T21:52:31Z")
The bottom line is that I’m not getting a handgun. I have fired them before and I’m a pretty good natural shot, but I wouldn’t want to be in a crisis situation with one, because I might screw it up. I would have to put many hours of training in before I’d feel comfortable facing an attacker with a handgun. I have the flashlight and pepper spray coming and I do feel comfortable using them. If pepper spray is lethal force, I’ll face that in court with a clear conscience because I am a very small woman with some physical problems and if I have to defend myself against a full grown man, I should be congratulated for surviving at all. The shotgun will have to wait until I have time to deal with it. Funny thing, I e-mailed the NRA guy in my area for info about basic shooting classes and I never heard back. Very nice. ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-gun-for-home-defense/272261/103 "2004-11-08T13:31:55Z")
**Rubystreak** , email the NRA guy again or better yet, call him. I don’t think he’s ignoring you, he may have been caught up in the election week. If you don’t hear from him in a reasonable amount of time, email me with his particulars and I’ll call him. Although I favor a wheel gun for it’s simplicity, I’d recommend going with a inexpensive .20 gauge pump gun. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-gun-for-home-defense/272261/104 "2004-11-08T20:48:36Z")
**Rubystreak** , I feel a little responsible for that NRA guy not returning your call, since I recommended them to you. If you will drop me a line too, I would like to give them an earful. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-gun-for-home-defense/272261/105 "2004-11-08T21:26:51Z")
that you really need 3 guns for self defence. A shotgun for when the intruder is coming into your home. a handgun for when he is in your home. and a rifle for when he is running away. A shotgun is a little unwieldly for use at close quarters. To understand what I’m saying try walking around your house with a kitchen broom held in shooting position. (disclaimer) this doper will not be held responsible for breaking great grandmas vase. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-gun-for-home-defense/272261/106 "2004-11-08T21:53:51Z")
**justwannano** , that’s not really a valid test unless you’re using a shotgun with an very long barrel. Most people use a short barrel, 18-20", for defense. I have a Remington 870 with an 18" barrel and standard stock and it’s only 38.5" long. That’s a wee bit short for a broom unless you are a member of the lollipop guild. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-gun-for-home-defense/272261/107 "2004-11-08T22:08:34Z")
padeye The angle broom we use is 5 inches longer than my Ithaca model 37. Once she pulls the bristles into her shoulder it will be about right. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-gun-for-home-defense/272261/108 "2004-11-08T22:46:52Z")
Five inches is a lot when you’re trying to judge clearance and I bet your Ithica doesn’t have a typically short defensive barrel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-gun-for-home-defense/272261.md?page=5)