# Home invasion defense: hand gun, sawed-off shotgun, Uzi, etc.? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 21, 2012, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723 "2012-12-21T10:18:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/101 "2012-12-25T16:03:38Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Shotgun spread is roughly 1 inch per yard. I’m no expert, but this doesn’t sound right. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/102 "2012-12-25T16:10:20Z")
> [@](#): > > I would not defend my residence from home invasion. 5 Seriously? Would you mind identifying yourselves, and telling the world where you live? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/103 "2012-12-25T16:26:26Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > I’m no expert, but this doesn’t sound right. [The Box O’ Truth.](http://www.theboxotruth.com/index.html) [4 inch pattern at 4 yds.](http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm)(bottom of page) ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/104 "2012-12-25T16:31:43Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > I’m no expert, but this doesn’t sound right. “doesn’t sound right” based on what? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HIQEkxKFky8/hqdefault.jpg "SHOTGUN SPREAD TEST 10' - 50'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIQEkxKFky8) ~5" spread at 10 ft, 11" at 20 ft, 14" at 30 ft. still needs to be aimed; you can’t just waggle it in a general direction and expect to hit your target when you press the loud switch. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/105 "2012-12-25T17:47:32Z")
For a forum with so many threads about getting rid of guns, the majority of poll responses seem in favor of using one. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/106 "2012-12-26T00:01:26Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [The Box O’ Truth.](http://www.theboxotruth.com/index.html) > [4 inch pattern at 4 yds.](http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm)(bottom of page) Ahh: > [@](#): > > The shotgun is a Mossberg Maverick, 12 Gauge, with a 19.5" barrel, no choke. Typical of “combat” shotgun dimensions I’ve never shot a “no choke”, “combat” shotgun. They are obviously meant for very close quarters. Sorry, jz, I meant to multi-quote to respond to you. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/107 "2012-12-26T02:19:24Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I think the generally accepted wording under those circumstances is “Halt, knave!” “Hold, scoundrel! Be ye friend or foe?” If it was just a robbery, I don’t know if I’d do anything. Possibly I’d shout. But if they went to attack someone in the house, I’d pick up a blunt object and swing at them with it. My default assumption, in my part of the world, is he would not have a gun on him, and if he had any weapon at all it most likely would be a knife, so I guess I’d go for a weapon with reach. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/108 "2012-12-26T15:54:24Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Poor choice. I’ve been shot with #6 out of a 12 gauge and it didn’t break the skin - just left welts. I think it CAN break the skin, but at best you’re shooting to wound. Which is terrible because it relies on the guy deciding to flee. He may well just get pissed off. I did. And even if you blind him, now he can’t flee, and is enraged. Go with 00 minimum. Our mileage is sorta different. I’m running full and modified and top range I have to deal with is 31 feet - average is more like 6 feet off the muzzle. At that range I blow a clear hole through 1" pine and f the rest up pretty bad with bb’s. Sort of like this just in case firearms aren’t safe for your workplace like they are for me [http://w](http://w) [ww.youtube.com/watch?v=BXz\_Aftj8rE](http://ww.youtube.com/watch?v=BXz_Aftj8rE) ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/109 "2012-12-26T15:55:25Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > This is why people who know little about a subject should refrain from commenting. Even with a cylinder bore, the spread at typical indoor engagement ranges will be a couple of inches, tops. If they’re far enough away where the shot spread means you only have to “point in their general direction,” then > > 1. you might not actually hit them with any pellets, and > 2. you’re going to have a hard time explaining to the nice men with badges why you thought the other person was still a threat. Heh, true. I wonder where this mythology of a shotgun scattering pellets all over the room came from. In a home invasion, spread simply isn’t going to be a factor. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/110 "2012-12-26T16:00:29Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > This is why people who know little about a subject should refrain from commenting. Even with a cylinder bore, the spread at typical indoor engagement ranges will be a couple of inches, tops. If they’re far enough away where the shot spread means you only have to “point in their general direction,” then > > 1. you might not actually hit them with any pellets, and > 2. you’re going to have a hard time explaining to the nice men with badges why you thought the other person was still a threat. i agree, which is why I find all this talk of guns baffling, you are clearly safer without having a gun. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/111 "2012-12-26T16:37:00Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > i agree, which is why I find all this talk of guns baffling, you are clearly safer without having a gun. This doesn’t follow. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/112 "2012-12-26T17:01:38Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > I would not defend my residence from home invasion. 5 > > Seriously? Would you mind identifying yourselves, and telling the world where you live? There is absolutely nothing in my home worth protecting. Nothing. There is my life and my dog’s life, but we’re both on the iffy side of useful anyway. But as I said I’d go out the window and let whomever was in the house stay in the house and have their way with my useless crap. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/113 "2012-12-26T17:27:22Z")
As I posted upthread, having a gun during an assault makes you 4.5 times more likely to be injured. If people were more knowledgable we wouldn’t have threads like this full of Rambo fantasies and gun fetishism. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/114 "2012-12-26T18:40:22Z")
There was some discussion of that article. The conclusions are not solid. Their methodology left room for confounding factors. People involved in shooting incidents may be self-selected from more dangerous neighborhoods or lifestyles than the random control used. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/115 "2012-12-26T18:40:40Z")
Cell phone to call 911. Or call in an air strike. Versatile. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/116 "2012-12-26T18:45:20Z")
I clicked on UZI but I would use a Tommy gun. OK I don’t have a Tommy gun or any other gun but the Chicago Typewriter would be my weapon of choice. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/117 "2012-12-26T19:00:37Z")
Interesting that as of 12/26/12 11:00am PST, no one has selected “pray.” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/118 "2012-12-26T20:58:27Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > There was some discussion of that article. The conclusions are not solid. Their methodology left room for confounding factors. People involved in shooting incidents may be self-selected from more dangerous neighborhoods or lifestyles than the random control used. I don’t know this article, but maybe some of these people include those who would shoot to injure, and lose control of their gun? > [@Knorf](#): > > Interesting that as of 12/26/12 11:00am PST, no one has selected “pray.” I assume some would do at least a silent prayer, but it’s not their top option. It’s like that old joke, where a guy is trapped in a flood, and refuses a boat, helicopter, etc. because “the Lord will provide.” So he dies, and asks God why he didn’t help, and God explains that he sent the boat, the helicopter… Those who help themselves, and so forth. I would’ve answered “Liam Neeson,” but I didn’t see that poll option. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/119 "2012-12-26T23:10:18Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > There is absolutely nothing in my home worth protecting. Nothing. There is my life and my dog’s life, but we’re both on the iffy side of useful anyway. But as I said I’d go out the window and let whomever was in the house stay in the house and have their way with my useless crap. Sorry, but that gave me a chuckle. What if someone invaded with the intent of harming you or your iffy dog? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723/120 "2012-12-26T23:39:56Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Sorry, but that gave me a chuckle. > > What if someone invaded with the intent of harming you or your iffy dog? We exit out the window. If we don’t make it, oh well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-invasion-defense-hand-gun-sawed-off-shotgun-uzi-etc/644723.md?page=7)