# Considering a firearm for home defense - revisted **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 19, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639 "2012-06-19T13:49:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639/41 "2012-07-16T21:00:43Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > I heard a shotgun with this kind of action is called a “streetsweeper.” I believe it was in The Anarchist’s Cookbook where I first read about it. They recommended welding a handle on the pump perpendicular to the barrel, bracing the shoulder pad against your hip, and holding the trigger down while pumping the handle as fast as you could and moving the barrel in a sweeping motion across the line of jack-booted goverment thugs coming your way. See link upthread to Mossberg 500 Chainsaw (chainsaw-style handle) ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639/42 "2012-07-16T23:52:19Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > See link upthread to Mossberg 500 Chainsaw (chainsaw-style handle) Oh I love the look of that Chainsaw – I’d love to try it out. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639/43 "2012-07-17T00:20:25Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > I was really hoping that it was a combo chainsaw and shotgun, now that is self defense 😃 > > **CAPT** Perhaps [this is what you’re looking for?](http://boingboing.net/2012/02/07/the-omg-ar15-unicorn-zombie-gu.html) ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639/44 "2012-07-17T00:39:27Z")
So, any decisions yet? Do we hear the tinkling of little brass cases around the Whiteknight household? Should one of us come by and break in your car to get you guys off the pot, as it were?😃 ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639/45 "2012-07-17T00:40:02Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > A bayonet sounds rather unwieldy indoors and in close quarters. Huh? A bayonet is all but useless at range, they are designed for close quarters. ---
**Author:** ![benbo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@benbo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benbo1)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639/46 "2012-07-18T10:20:15Z")
> [@Mdcastleman](#): > > For a totally different take my personal defense weapon is an M1 carbine with a bayonet kept in my closet. My dog warns me when people get close to the house so I’d have time to get it. It had a bad reputation in the war of people getting hit and getting back up, but that’s not likely to happen with modern hunting rounds. A lot of accuracy and stopping power and still handy enough to carry around the house and the bayonet adds extra intimidation. I do worry about overpenetration but there is a little bit of distance to the neighbors. Seconded. I thought I was the only one to think of the bayonet gambit (and I rubbed some rusty steelwool on the blade to look like dried blood :eek: ). Additionally, I used plumber’s straps to attach a laser pointer (with a stay-on switch and fits nicely in the top groove), a small flashlite, and even a reddot site. My hope is that some1 sees me coming out of the bedroom, with the lite in his face, a red dot on his chest, me squinting obviously thru a dot site and then the (fake) blooded bayonet, they’ll shit their pants & run away fast - no shooting necessary. I would add tho, just in case - hollowpoint or frangible ammo, to not hit the neighbors thru the walls. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639/47 "2012-07-18T10:58:56Z")
The best gun for home defense? The one you will feel comfortable using. When I lived in North Carolina, I relied on my 12 gauge as my primary home defense, because I had a very real threat from bears more than humans. I’m in Maryland now, and for lots of reasons, the shotgun is impractical. I have several handguns stashed throughout the house instead. Revolvers outnumber semiautos, but I have both. FWIW, the VunderLair is an empty nest, so I don’t have kid issues. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639/48 "2012-07-22T02:25:18Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > The best gun for home defense? The one you will feel comfortable using. > > When I lived in North Carolina, I relied on my 12 gauge as my primary home defense, because I had a very real threat from bears more than humans. > > I’m in Maryland now, and for lots of reasons, the shotgun is impractical. I have several handguns stashed throughout the house instead. Revolvers outnumber semiautos, but I have both. FWIW, the VunderLair is an empty nest, so I don’t have kid issues. So, where is this Lair, exactly? And when do you go grocery shopping? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639/49 "2012-07-22T02:44:09Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > The best gun for home defense? The one you will feel comfortable using. This times a thousand. Honestly, before anyone buys a gun for home defense or just pleasure shooting, they should go shooting with friends who own firearms and try theirs, or go to the range and rent a couple of different guns to get the feel of them and how different kinds of guns (revolvers, semi-autos, DA only semis) work. And I don’t mean just once. You should go several times before you make a decision. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639/50 "2012-07-23T16:24:26Z")
Hey **Whiteknight** , are you closer to a decision? [ducati’s post 33](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=15187508#post15187508) is great. I realize your wife already has shooting experience but I suggest following his plan, starting with a .22 and getting a woman shooting coach - find a reputable instructor. I didn’t marry a [Texas girl like ducati’s suggested trade-in](http://www.demotivationalposters.org/image/demotivational-poster/0907/texas-girls-texas-guns-girls-demotivational-poster-1248132329.jpg). After I got a .45 semiauto my California wife said hey where’s mine?, and she got a .357 magnum. Atta girl! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639/51 "2012-07-23T16:44:34Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Huh? A bayonet is all but useless at range, they are designed for close quarters. They are designed for use in big open spaces where they won’t catch on things or get hung up in corners. ---
**Author:** ![Whiteknight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whiteknight/32/4962_2.png) [@Whiteknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiteknight)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639/52 "2012-08-01T15:59:45Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > Hey **Whiteknight** , are you closer to a decision? > > [ducati’s post 33](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=15187508#post15187508) is great. I realize your wife already has shooting experience but I suggest following his plan, starting with a .22 and getting a woman shooting coach - find a reputable instructor. > > I didn’t marry a [Texas girl like ducati’s suggested trade-in](http://www.demotivationalposters.org/image/demotivational-poster/0907/texas-girls-texas-guns-girls-demotivational-poster-1248132329.jpg). After I got a .45 semiauto my California wife said hey where’s mine?, and she got a .357 magnum. Atta girl! I haven’t made a final decision yet but I am taking steps to educate myself and conduct additional gun research. I went shooting a few weeks ago and tried out a number of handguns. I’m also looking for a home defense course near me which I hope will provide a “complete” home defense education beyond just gun usage. My wife is still somewhat uneasy with the idea of having a loaded gun in the house because of the kids. She understands all of the practical, rational arguments but it’s an emotional fear holding her back from full agreement. I harbor some of those same emotions, but I’m at the point where the rational side wins out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-firearm-for-home-defense-revisted/625639.md?page=2)