Read this thread, about non-lethal weapons for home defense. A web gun seems really neat and is non-lethal.
The sound a pump action shotgun makes isn’t as loud as it’s portrayed by Hollywood. Nor is it all that distinctive; many semi-automatic handguns make a similar sound when you cycle the slide. And remember that one time out of ten when the intruder doesn’t go away at the sound!
Under severe adrenaline stress (which you’ll certainly be facing if you’re afraid there’s an intruder in the house) fine motor skills are the first thing to go. If you find a pump-action shotgun a bit of a struggle to rack under “normal” conditions, you’ll find it impossible to rack under conditions of stress. That’s why it’s important for the OP to actually shoot many different models and discuss their various pros and cons with an experienced instructor BEFORE he picks his weapon. The right gun for you may be the completely wrong gun for me!
That’s a good point. Threats don’t always walk on two feet. A rabid animal stumbling into the yard may actually be a more likely threat than a burglar.
When someone asks me what weapon is best for home defense, my “canned” answer is, “a 12 gauge, pump-action shotgun.” Such a weapon is inexpensive, reliable, accurate over short ranges, very effective at stopping bad guys over short ranges, and (probably) won’t endanger family members in other rooms (assuming it’s loaded with small- to medium-sized buckshot).
But as I mentioned above, it depends whether or not his wife will also be using it. I know this sounds sexist, but it’s a fact that many women (and even some men) can’t handle a 12 gauge shotgun. If that’s the case with the OP, then perhaps a 20 gauge might be better. Or perhaps a 12 gauge for the OP, and a different weapon for his wife.
The product description in the link says that four consecutive erroneous combination attempts disables the lock. How much to get that fixed?
(Some kids might play with that combo. 
)
Ignorance fought!
Disables it for 3 minutes. And there is an over-ride key too.
Not to pick on you but in these types of threads someone always comes in to spout this nonsense, mainly because they think it sounds cool and it’s what they’ve seen on TV. Then one of the knowledgeable gun owner/user has to correct it. Next time please don’t bother.
On the other hand the point about having to possibly deal with wildlife is a good one.
While both make a distinct sound, racking my Mossberg 500 is much louder than racking the slide on my 9 mm handgun.
It’s not sexist at all, it’s simply a fact. And many women who CAN handle the kick of a 12-guage need to use the (poorly-named) “youth model” rather than the regular model, because their arms are generally a bit shorter than a man’s.
A gun has to fit the person using it, or it’s useless. Buying more gun than you can handle is always a mistake. You won’t practice regularly with it (because you’ll quickly come to hate it), you won’t be effective with it, and in a real self-defense situation it’s going to let you down. If the OP and his wife are both going to be using the gun, it needs to be a model that each of them can handle easily.
Also, if you’re racking a shotgun for the sound, it’s either not loaded or you’re spitting out good ammo.
Not necessarily. A homeowner might choose to keep his shotgun’s internal magazine full, but with nothing in the chamber. So he will need to rack it to chamber the first shell. A homeowner might also choose to keep his shotgun completely unloaded, and quickly load it when he needs it.
I’m not saying either one of these options is ideal. Just that they’re… options. There are pros and cons to every option.
I’d be shaking like Barney Fife.
I would suggest a 20 gauge shotgun and a lot of training. A 20 gauge is easier to handle, less kick, and should be just as effective against human sized targets.
That said, my brother is a serious gun owner/hunter and lives with his family far out in the country. He is considering a security system with cameras because the kinds of situations they fear are not enemies breaking into the house when they are there. What they fear is the wife coming home to a dark house when someone is waiting inside the house or behind the shed. Perhaps having stolen the very gun they keep for home defense. Nobody wants to arm themselves and search every room every time they come home. I think that scenario is a much bigger concern than the bad guy busting in the door while you’re sitting there with a gun across your knee.
A good security system is always a great investment! Making sure you’re using top-quality locks on your windows and doors is also wise. And if you’re in a position to own pets, a sizable dog with a ferocious bark is another excellent deterrent.
Home security is best thought of as a layered system. First make the exterior harder to breech (good lighting, shrubbery trimmed back, high quality locks). Then add warning systems to deter intruders who do decide to try to force their way inside anyway (a dog, a burglar alarm). Then outfit a bolt hole to secure the family in case someone DOES get in (a safe room equipped with a heavy-duty locking door and a cell phone). Then, in some cases, add a firearm as the last-ditch defensive option in case all other defensive options have failed.
What I did was go to the local gun range and rent different guns to find what I liked. I’d highly recommend doing this if at all possible. I wanted a 9mm sub-compact for carry and it’s amazing just how big the differences are. What works for one person feels awkward to someone else.
In case anyone’s curious, after 4 hours of shooting about 20 9mm sub-compacts I ended up with a Glock 26.
I prefer a revolver for home defense. There’s less chance of a jam or misfire. It could be in a drawer fifteen years and still fire when needed. .38 SP is probably the easiest and cheapest ammo to find. They’ve been manufacturing it for a hundred years and there’s a big stock.
I bought a smaller J Frame S&W .38. S&W makes several models with the basic J Frame. It’s small enough for a lady to handle but still has the stopping power needed in an emergency. It can also be carried if you have a carry permit.
http://dragon.hematite.com/SW432PDhand.jpg
I spent the extra hundred bucks for the optional laser sight. Thinking it would help my wife. It is a nice feature. But you have to remember to flip a switch to turn it on. Then there’s a push button that makes the laser light up. Battery life is also an issue. If the gun is left in a drawer fifteen years, then don’t necessarily expect that laser to work. A little practice at a range probably would be better than depending on a laser to work when its needed.
Not everyone can afford a couple of spares.
Coffee please with sugar, sugar is a drug
14 packs of sugar in the coffee cup I chug
Coffee, Coffee, Coffee, Dr. Pepper just won’t do
Screw that Slice with Lymon gimme freaking Mountain Dew!!
I don’t like my habits and I don’t like my life
But When I drink my coffee I act just like Barney Fife
Coffee, Coffee, Coffee, yeah I drink it every day
You know without my cup of coffee I would blow my mind away!
I wholly disagree with everyone in this thread who suggested anything but first taking a firearm safety or basic pistol class.
Also - the majority of opinions about the whole shotgun being the best for home defense are based in myth. Shotguns can be the best - FOR SOME PEOPLE. But there is no home defense weapon where one size fits all.
- Find out and enroll in a firearms safety or basic pistol class in your area.
- Go from there.
There is the NRA official course which is general and may or may not address your state’s local laws. When researching the appropriate class for you, ask if they include details about local gun laws.
Even if you decide having a gun is not for you, taking a basic firearms course is good for any adult and will not be wasted time or money.
The concealed carry class I took spent a great deal of time on gun safety and use of the gun. They also required everyone to shoot and hit the target a few times.
Before the class, I watched several concealed carry classes on youtube. These were actual classes that had been recorded and posted. Just to get a leg up on the local class that I took. There’s some really good videos on safety and use of a gun on youtube.
The NRA has a DVD for $20 on the basics.
http://materials.nrahq.org/go/product.aspx?productid=ES30640