Parents...need some input.

[CALATRAVA]

I'm a longtime gun owner, but I now have three kids and keep thinking on this scenario:

-Bump in the night

-Need to move from back of a single story house, down a hallway, to middle of the house, to gather youngest kid.

-Would like to do so, with a firearm in hand, because it brings me close to the front door, sliding glass rear door, and side door into garage from kitchen. (Likely points of entry)

While I'm doing this my wife's job is to gather middle and oldest kids from their room (with me between an intruder and her), eventually moving back down the hallway. This would have all of us ending up back near (or in) a smallish walk-in closet at the back of our bedroom, which we've decided is our "alamo" spot, as it muffles babies cries as well as puts as many layers of sheetrock between us and an intruder as possible.

I'm trying to decide what would be the best option. I can't do this with my 870. I've tried. I'm strong, but I can't effectively single-hand a longgun.

I'm wondering if I would be better off having a light, to identify anyone who's already in the house. Or, since I'm trying to get my daughter, and bring her back away from the front of the house, I shouldn't worry about a light.

I'm comfortable with all types of handguns, and have owned several in the last few years, but don't own one currently. (CZ-75 P-01, sp101, bersa thunder)

What pistol would did you/would you choose?
I would really prefer something that had a safety (just a preference), and it needs to be ambidexterous, cuz I'm left handed.

Tac-rail for a light?

I'd appreciate input, Dads (or Mom's ), on what your home invasion plan/weapon choice is, as well as constructive critiques of what we've come up with.

Price isn't much of an issue. I'm fine paying $325 for a Ruger P95, or $500 for a CZ-75. Just want to find the right one for me.

(BTW, I have range time on most guns you can think of. Glock, sig, gp100, XD, p95, P-01, Sigma, etc...only one I don't like is the glock.)

Thanks a lot.

-Brian

[peterabbits]

i like my sig P220 SAO w/ ambi safety and night sights. has a rail so a light could be installed if so desired.

[FUBAR]

I recommend a handgun with a light rail. Do not use the light right away because it will ruin your night vision. Only use it to identify targets. Light attached to weapon frees up your hand so that you can manipulate doors and grab your youngsters.

[Legasat]

Honestly, in that situation, I would want a revolver, no light

[Ishoot]

Fila Brasileiro

Damn great dogs...i.e Brazilian Mastiffs. Super Loyal and hates strangers. I have two English Mastiffs with the same slobber problem.

[JanG]

or revolvers with tac rails so you can have the best of both worlds

sounds like you don't really want our help to choose, you want all of your choices

[CALATRAVA]

Honestly, in that situation, I would want a revolver, no light

Interesting, could you expand a bit more on this?

[SPE]

I've had a similar question, but I haven't even gotten to the "which gun" part.

My concern is the logistics of trying to round up the family, considering the fact that I can't possibly anticipate all of the scenarios that I might possibly encounter (i.e. where the BG may try and enter, and if / where they might be in my house when I awake).

Also, the layout of my relatively small (rental) house is not good for avoiding someone, as I have to go across the house to get to the kids' bedroom.

I suppose in my case, I need to assume I will have contact with the BG and that rounding up my family my not be practical, in which case my 870 is probably my best option.

Another thought I have had is to cut a small hole / doorway in the wall in the back of the closets shared by two of the bedrooms in my house. (very "secret passageway" kind of thing) That way I can get to the kids' room directly, making the family gathering much easier.

Good question though... Just remember that even if you develop one or more plans, they may go down the drain quickly based on the situation you encounter.

[terry4130]

I have a Sig Pro 2340. It's my go to HD gun and I have trained the wife how to use it for when she's alone. It's now her favorite gun

[xr650r]

You like the sigma but not the glock? Weird.

Get a good alarm and a 357 revolver. Done.

[bjl333]

I would put motion flood lights on the outside, that way any intruders would be lit up. You will then have the advantage as you are in the dark and he is lit up.
Do you have a dog??? I think a good bark is like a good rack on a pump shotgun. It might keep you up at night sometimes but its worth it to me.
Since yo mentioned the CZ I am assuming you are comfy with that weapon. The weapon I would use is the one I am most comfortable with. Seeing you have mentioned it a couple of times and I am guessing you are debating getting it again.
Good luck and be safe.

[IMC87]

I am all for a light, I mean in a family house setting, you have to identify your family from the intruder...

That being said, a handheld light could, in a way, be SAFER for your family...
if it were on a tac rail, your pistol may be pointed in the general direction of your family if you needed to identify them, but if held in your weak hand, you can point the light at them without pointing your muzzle too

BUT, seconds may/do count, so having a light on a railed pistol is a plus in terms of engaging the target slightly faster....

Tough call between the two tho...
For my family i'd have a separate handheld light and carry a pistol at the 'low ready' and use a light in my weak hand to search/ identify first

[cmaynes]

I have a glock and a light- the manual safety is a personal thing- but the worst thing you want to do is have the gun not go boom when you really, really need it to. With a Glock, if it is hot, it shoots- when you choose to pull the trigger- which is why your trigger finger disciplinne has to be drilled into you like breathing.

- it depends on how you go about things, but the objective should be to get your family to safety- what that will mean is getting the police called FIRST then securing your immediate room, and working outward IF possible. If your kids are in a different part of the house, you may not be able to get to them easily- that is a sad reality- but the more important thing is to protect life and not worry about going after the bad guys-

take some classes- as well- especially low light ones- and practice your shooting a lot- under stress and possible grogginess you will likely be able to count on 30% of your skill being available to you in the best of cases. Which sucks because you will be legally responsible for any and all shots you might loose.

Also instruct your family on what to do if there is a break in- if the bedrooms have locking doors, and they can be shut without jeopardy do so. Anything to slow the intruder down will be to your benefit. If the room can be secured long enough for your kids to make it out the window and to a neighbors have them practice it- it should be as well drilled as a fire drill.

If you are out in the middle of nowhere- or even if you aren't get a dog- the bigger the better. It is the single best deterrent to a break in, at least that is what the Police have told me.

[Fate]

Not wild about everyone entering the fatal funnel of the hall and half of you doing it twice (and with kids in tow one of those times.) Consider making the kids' rooms the Alamo(s).

[Ishoot]

Simple is king, especially in the middle of the night. Shotgun or revolver. Light on the fore end or separate light unattached to the pistol. Latter is better if you have to move around a fair bit.