# What is your home defense weapon? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 4, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355 "2006-09-04T02:23:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/1 "2006-09-04T02:23:58Z")
The handgun I keep loaded in my house, and hope I will never have to use, is a Taurus Model 608 revolver .357 Magnum hollow point rounds loaded in the cylinder. I chose a revolver for the reliability and the .357 Magnum rounds for the stopping power. My wife keeps a 9mm Smith & Wesson Sigma (SW9VE) for her protection, but I think that an auto will always jam when you need it most. (She uses it a lot at the range.) What do the Dopers think is a good home defense weapon? SGT Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/2 "2006-09-04T02:27:51Z")
12 guage shot gun. Backed up by a Louisville Sluger. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/3 "2006-09-04T02:29:50Z")
[QUOTE=Booker57] 12 guage shot gun. Backed up by a Louisville Sluger. [/QUOTE] I’m kind of worried when you would hit someone with a 12 guage and then feel the need to hit him with a baseball bat. :eek: SGT Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/4 "2006-09-04T02:31:37Z")
Springfield Armory 1911A1, Black Talon Hollowpoints. If I need to use it, I’m going to mean it. I hope I never do. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/5 "2006-09-04T02:34:34Z")
My dog. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/6 "2006-09-04T02:35:05Z")
It depends on how much time I have between “detection of threat” and “engaging targets.” Hanging from the bedpost on my side of the bed is a Browning Hi-Power loaded with hollow-points. In the bottom drawer of the nightstand is a sequentially-loaded S&W Model 28 (2 .38 wadcutters, 2 .38 +P JHP, 2 158 grain .357 SJHP). The livingroom gun is a .40S&W Firestar loaded with JHP. The revolver behind me at the computer is a Taurus .44 Special loaded with Glasers. These are all within reach of where I am 90% of the time in the house. If I’m in the bathroom, I have to make do with a 9X18mm Makarov loaded with ball ammo. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/7 "2006-09-04T02:36:57Z")
Adt ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/8 "2006-09-04T02:37:50Z")
The telephone I suppose. I’d ring the police. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/9 "2006-09-04T02:39:08Z")
A six-foot oak quarterstaff. I’m much better trained in its use than I am any handgun, and besides, living in a ninth-floor apartment, I’m not sure under what circumstances I’d need to defend the place anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/10 "2006-09-04T02:40:08Z")
Remote location coupled with a better class of friends. I also have a Marine (and I know how to use him). ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/11 "2006-09-04T02:41:45Z")
One of those really big Maglites. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/12 "2006-09-04T02:44:16Z")
We have three revolvers (a .357, a .38, and a .32), a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a shotgun, a .22 rifle, and three large dogs who are extremely friendly with most people, but would probably turn into throat-tearing monsters if anyone tried to harm my husband or me. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/13 "2006-09-04T02:46:12Z")
A steel whip (a collapsable baton) in the car. Baseball bat in the house. I am thinking about buying that new little Taser. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/14 "2006-09-04T02:49:25Z")
What new little Taser would that be? ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/15 "2006-09-04T02:49:49Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] A steel whip (a collapsable baton) in the car. Baseball bat in the house. I am thinking about buying that new little Taser. [/QUOTE] Paul, I was thinking about you the last few minutes. Is your work defense weapon an M16 or M4? Sgt Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/16 "2006-09-04T02:55:23Z")
A deadbolt lock. Been the same all my life. Never had an incident of any kind. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/17 "2006-09-04T02:56:25Z")
P.S. Is Fort Bragg really that dangerous? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/18 "2006-09-04T02:57:11Z")
[QUOTE=Patty O’Furniture] What new little Taser would that be? [/QUOTE] Ah, nevermind. If I can’t have a handgun then I probably can’t have a taser either. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/19 "2006-09-04T03:05:39Z")
[QUOTE=Lamar Mundane] P.S. Is Fort Bragg really that dangerous? [/QUOTE] Not really, but I got used to carrying a weapon with me and I feel better knowing that my wife can defend herself when I am not home. Sgt Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355/20 "2006-09-04T03:33:50Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] The telephone I suppose. I’d ring the police. [/QUOTE] Um…do you not know what a “weapon” is? Count me in the shotgun camp. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-home-defense-weapon/371355.md?page=2)