Why would you choose a handgun over long gun for home defense?

[pitbull30]

Ok great don't forget to plant a weapon on that crack head you just shot. You live in California the laws here will protect the criminal not you.

" it was dark I didn't know he had a gun , I didn't think anyone was home. It was a big nice house and I was hungry . He didn't say a thing he just shot , oh I'm so sorry iv had a hard life but HE shot me."

It takes one da to ruin your life. If your really set on blowing someone away pump a second round and live with that the rest of your life.
The way the law see's it it's your job to mitigate the threat with the least amount of force possible, step over that line in their eyes and your worst them the nightmare that broke into your house.

The reasoning you posted is silly unless I leave my doors open.


If the guy ignores my security cams, kicks in my door, ignores the alarm going off, and then approaches me and my family he's not here to grab the cereal and milk and be friends.

No one is looking to blow anyone away as you state. I hope to never use my gun

Good luck with the bean bag.

[OutlawDon]

The mission will drive your equipment choice.

Plain and simple. There is no one size fits all.

To argue that is pointless. You must see all sides and choose accordingly.

[xXRifleManXx]

Hey I'm not saying where you are coming from isn't reasonable. It is! What I'm saying is California laws are unreasonable! We don't have a castle doctrine here and if you shoot someone- in your house or elsewhere- they have to pose an immediate threat to your life or your loved one. Else you may, and I say may be charged with murder

[six10]

Some of you would be amazed at how quickly and quietly a 'professional intruder' can gain entry into a home - regardless of barking dogs, alarms, video surveillance, etc. And IF he breaks in through a window/door of the room where your shotgun is located -or- breaks into a room between where YOU are at the time and where your shotgun is located, well, how are you going to access your shotgun in such scenarios?

This is why I 'carry' a handgun at home. It simply is not practical to tote a shotgun from room to room as I move around the house throughout the day and yet, I want my HD firearm within immediate reach no matter where I am - including the bathroom.

[kayaker]

I have a short barrel 12 gauge pump and a Glock 22 in my bedroom. No question about it, a 12 gauge is going to do a lot more damage to a bad guy than a .40 round. If someone is breaking down the door I'd be reaching for the shotgun. But when I hear a noise and I'm not sure if there is a threat or not and I go slowly and quietly creeping around my house in the dark I find the shotgun is more difficult to move around with. I feel more vulnerable to someone grabbing the shotgun.
Try it out yourself, grab your long gun and walk around in the dark and see if it works for you.

[thorium]

Bean bag round? Agree with absolute no. I'm not leo my job is not to detain someone. My job is to call 911, try to run / hide / avoid confrontation, and when and if all else fails, defend myself with the most reliable 'make the threat stop' option I have.

[2761377]

the "thinking man" realizes there are differing scenarios.

-if somehow an intruder manages to actually gain entry while the resident is sleeping, the only effective tool is a handgun at bedside. this is the most likely scenario for a justified shooting.

-or, if the resident is alerted to an intruder in the process of breaking in and can get the drop on the guy then a shotgun would be best. this scenario most likely would lead to the intruder getting away.

experience tells me there is little difference in the noise of .45 acp and 16 ga being fired indoors. and that if the shooting were justified, i.e. imminent mortal danger, #7 shot is lethal enough. the intruder would be so close the pattern would probably would be about softball sized.

[Caseless]

Pistol caliber carbine.

[bwhited]

Lets see, handgun is easy to store, move around the house with, holds more rounds (normally), and is easier to do other things with (like opening doors). Shotgun has a larger intimidation factor and more terminal performance.
It depends on what you are looking for in HD.

[bruss01]

Good pros and cons from the community, great info here so everyone can make their own reasoned choice! And acknowledged it was ignorant of me to throw out 90% / common sense - this is clearly one of those gray areas where many factors come into play making it a personal decision with no right size fits all

Reasons I think are most legitimate (opinion alert):
Familiarity - if you are best with your handgun of choice, well, that is what you're best with
Capacity - but really negligible unless you have grandfathered mags, Leo, etc
Easier/one hand free - definitely easier to operate, but you can shoulder a shotgun one handed for very short periods (granted you won't be able to aim for crap like this)
Carry - better to have it on your person even if at home (but I like my comfort! Even high end holsters and slim guns are not that comfortable if you're being honest)
Retention - certainly easier for tango to pull a shotgun from your hands than a handgun

Reasons I think are less legitimate (again opinion alert don't start any personal attacks!)
Kids - you should have a quick access safe (eg shotlock, ft knox pistol box) for any gun, handgun or long gun, you'll keep loaded for home defense, especially if you have kids but even if you don't
Maneuverability - same approx length in normal fighting stances
Noise - both will be loud as hell indoors with no hearing protection

I'm surprised only one person brought up the stopping powr (which is complicated to measure in the real world), but the best way to put it into one number is ft lbs of energy and a long gun will indeed deliver the better part of a whole 9mm magazine worth of energy in one shot

Can I add a few?

I think someone mentioned this but maneuverability in tight spaces is a plus for the handgun. There is a place in my home where four doorways converge into a single hall, within 3-4 feet of each other. Once you clear one doorway you need to pie the others nearly simultaneously. Very difficult to do at all, nearly impossible with a shotgun where there is no room to swing the long barrel.

Someone mentioned having a hand free. Let's say your spouse is injured in the attack but you now have the perp held at bay with your gun. Having a free hand to try to stop your spouse's bleeding, or to dial 911, is a plus.

One factor I have not heard is the intimidation factor. I read that a survey of criminals in prison indicated the weapon they most feared was the "gauge" or shotgun. If you can scare the criminal into throwing in the towel in a conflict in your home without firing a shot, so much the better. Less mess to clean up, and less paperwork to deal with after. You're a fool to rely on this exclusively, but as one more tool in your arsenal, it can be useful. This goes along with the racking sound of chambering a shell. Don't rely on this, but if it works, you're a fool to argue with success. Those who say "that gives away your position" - REALLY?! So you'd rather the perp thought you were asleep in your bedroom or away from home? You'd rather he not know he's about to encounter resistance? There's a reason the rattlesnake evolved a rattle... the fight you are most certain to win is the one you never have to get in.

Full disclosure - I sleep with a Mossberg 590 (light+sidesaddle) on my nightstand. LOL it's a big nightstand - actually it's in the corner and the gun is leaning up in the corner, very accessible, "cruiser ready". There's also a loaded .45 acp pistol on the nightstand. I am covered in either case. My wife recently had the jitters while I was away for 2 weeks. She has handguns in her nightstand but wanted the security of a 12 gauge. Consequently, we are going Monday to pick up a 590 just like mine but with a shorter stock to fit her length of pull. It will get a light and sidesaddle just like mine.

The shotgun is a powerful tool for static, in-place defense. A handgun excels in cramped quarters and for multi-tasking. Both have their uses in a home-defense context and I won't trade one for the other, I insist on having both. YMMV

[ParadigmShift]

carbine>handgun in almost every scenario i can think of in my household

the only time i leave just a handgun bedside is when im just too tired after work to get the AR out of the safe which is very rare

Should you need to reload, good luck changing your 10rd magazine whilst fumbling for your bullet button under duress.

[DoddRod]

You'll eventually regain hearing after firing a handgun indoors

[Kokopelli]

Should you need to reload, good luck changing your 10rd magazine whilst fumbling for your bullet button under duress.

Ruger Mini 14.

[bonusweb]

If a flock of seagulls attack, I suggest running far away.

-- Michael

HD have some earplugs ready and barf bag.

[Hilbilly]

When the 1911 comes out of the holster, it goes under the pillow - quick, easy access and much more comfy than a 12G under your skull.

Personally, I'm not that comfortable with any weapon just lying on a nightstand where some dufus (doofi ?) could get ahold of it. Company comes and goes here, kids come and play and every one stays safe.

The Colt is either in my belt or under the pillow. If the end of the world happens and the zombies get past the alarm and the dog, well the big steel safe is full of toys and only takes a minute to open.