Shotgun for home defense??

[BigDogatPlay]

I'm laughing at the point someone made about it being hard to train people to look up. I have some experience with this and it is so true.

I used to kick rookie's rear ends for not looking up on building searches... hence how I know.

My thinking is I won't try to clear the house, but only cover my wife while she retrieves the kids and secures them in our master bedroom. I'd then join her, secure the door and wait for the police.

Best advice you can give yourself. Establish a redoubt in the house where the family gathers, be able to defend it, and have a way out if the situation calls for an exit.

Our place is also the master bedroom... large walk in closet and door to the outside both in the same room. And there is a crawlspace trap in the back of the closet to get us out a different way if need be.

[eccvets]

just make sure you dont unload in to one of your kids...

[IEShooter]

I used to kick rookie's rear ends for not looking up on building searches... hence how I know.



Best advice you can give yourself. Establish a redoubt in the house where the family gathers, be able to defend it, and have a way out if the situation calls for an exit.

Our place is also the master bedroom... large walk in closet and door to the outside both in the same room. And there is a crawlspace trap in the back of the closet to get us out a different way if need be.

Thanks for the advice. Glad to see I wasn't off the mark. Like I said, I'm no tough guy. I can hold my own, but at 3 A.M., butt naked? Nah, I'd rather secure the family in our master bedroom, and wait for the police. We're fortunate in that the Fontana Police are quite good. Very professional and responsive.

Dwelling on this subject also made me remember to move our cell phones and chargers to our master bedroom. They're of no use to us down on the 1st floor, particularly if the bad guys cut the phone lines to the house.

Regards,

John

[DaveFJ80]

Dwelling on this subject also made me remember to move our cell phones and chargers to our master bedroom. They're of no use to us down on the 1st floor, particularly if the bad guys cut the phone lines to the house.

I need to do this.

[Roberto Lutz]

I have the shotgun setup for HD. When I go out, I keep a pistol in a small combo lock case.

Funny enough I have my SG hanging on a hook inside my closet. Works for me since my kid is four and is out of reach for him. Mind you, all goes into the safe when I leave the house.

[mothermopar]

Alot of good ideas. My plan is to keep the Colt 1911 at bedside stored in a lock box (either keypad and/or key lock accessible). This is the gun that will provide the safety buffer until the big boomstick (12 gauge with 00 buck) can be gotten.

There's NO better stationary defensive weapon for in close defense at household ranges. Period. There are many that preach carbines... But the one shot stop capability of a 12 gauge (slug or buck) is hard to beat in combination with simplicity of operation.

Of course if you're well versed with a carbine, that could change.

[IEShooter]

There's NO better stationary defensive weapon for in close defense at household ranges. Period. There are many that preach carbines... But the one shot stop capability of a 12 gauge (slug or buck) is hard to beat in combination with simplicity of operation.

That's my thinking too, which is why I posted this message. I REALLY like my Glock 22 and am pretty good at handling it, but it doesn't provide anywhere near the fire power or audible deterrent that a 12 gauge does.

The sound of a shotgun chambering a round is something that everyone understands at an instinctive level. It'll flat out stop most folks in their tracks.

I'm a better than average shot with my carbines, but once again, they're downstairs locked in a safe. More importantly, due to their penetration characteristics, I think they're a poor choice for home defense. If I had to choose a secondary, high power defensive weapon to have upstairs where my wife and young kids are, it'd be the shotgun, hands down.

So far, I'm really liking that Santa Cruz locking device. I can hide a scatter gun in the closet behind clothes in a manner that prevents my curious kids or visitors from being injured should they find it, yet it still proves quick and ready access.

Regards,

John

[Old4eyes]

I don't know of anything like the Gun Vault / DAC Sport Safe which has very quick access for rifle/shotgun. I went running through the net and found:

http://www.homaksecurity.com/GunCabinets.htm

The six gun cabinet will fit in a closet. It uses 2 cylinder style locks, not necessarily quick access when trying to get that key into the lock TWICE.

Here's another idea:

http://www.vlineind.com/html/closet_vault.html

Simplex lock (mechanical pushbutton combo) and you sink it between studs. Would take up less room in the closet.

[mothermopar]

To the average thug, the sound COULD give them pause, but make no mistake: the sound of a racking shotgun isn't an answer in and of itself.

[IEShooter]

Good advice

To the average thug, the sound COULD give them pause, but make no mistake: the sound of a racking shotgun isn't an answer in and of itself.

Very true. That's why I'm posting here asking for advice. I'd very much like to have a shotgun upstairs and available for home defense. The handgun will be my go-to weapon as it is more manuverable and readily available.

Having said that, if a burglar enters and sets off the alarm, I'm not concerned with protecting my property on the 1st floor. I'm only interested in securing my family in the master bedroom upstairs and waiting it out until the police arrive.

Now that I think it through, if really won't matter much if it takes a full 30 seconds to a minute to lay hand to the shotgun. It is intended as a high power backup should an intruder be so foolish as to try and kick in the door to our bedroom.

By that time, the kids will be locked away with us, cops called, and i'll be crouched down on the other side of the door with my handgun and an itchy trigger finger.

The shotgun is helpful at that point, should things really turn South, but in all likliehood, not ncessary.

Regards,

JOhn

[SPaikmos]

while we're on the topic of home defense... how old would a kid have to be to give him his own gun? I'm thinking "back in the day", kids would get a .22LR rifle or 20 GA maybe around 12 or so.... would it be a bad idea to give my sons something like this when they become teenagers?

Of course, I would be taking them to the range for a couple years before that to make sure they understand how to handle a weapon...

Lots of good ideas in this thread. And I agree, gotta keep the kids safe first! Do it for the kids.

[Rigma]

First my idea. Build your own in-wall Security Cabinet. Basically I am thinking of a rectangular "locker" built into the wall between and anchored to the studs. I figure no more then approx. 12" in width, could be smaller. Looking at what I can use for parts and a locking door.

Or you can go with these 3 options I have been looking at for inspiration:

1.) Wall safes - Saves space, easily hidden and/or easily accessible. Also can get them large enough to store a rifle.

http://www.gunsafes.com/Closet-Vault.html

2.) Small capacity (cheap) Safe - Won't hog all the closet space. Probably could find one even smaller then this:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sentry-5-Gun-Safe/4244347

3.)"Security Cabinet" - Not as bulky as a safe, and not fire resistant, but unless the kids attack it with power tools it should keep them out. (P.S. bolt it down!)

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11071333&findingMethod=rr&

Hope that helps, I am undecided and still researching.

[TheClap1]

What I do is everynight before I go to bed, I unlock my safe and leave the door to it open. It's in my closet with the closet door open. I take my shotgun and place it beside my side of the bed propped up against the wall with my flashlight. Then in the morning, I lock everything back up. I have a five year old and have gone through all the talks of guns not being toys and safety. Got to start them out young. I've taken him to the range and brought him along to the calguns shoot back in Nov 09.

[Roberto Lutz]

What I do is everynight before I go to bed, I unlock my safe and leave the door to it open. It's in my closet with the closet door open. I take my shotgun and place it beside my side of the bed propped up against the wall with my flashlight. Then in the morning, I lock everything back up. I have a five year old and have gone through all the talks of guns not being toys and safety. Got to start them out young. I've taken him to the range and brought him along to the calguns shoot back in Nov 09.

Lol. That sounds like what I do. Except I have a 4yo.

[IEShooter]

Kids

What I do is everynight before I go to bed, I unlock my safe and leave the door to it open. It's in my closet with the closet door open. I take my shotgun and place it beside my side of the bed propped up against the wall with my flashlight. Then in the morning, I lock everything back up. I have a five year old and have gone through all the talks of guns not being toys and safety. Got to start them out young. I've taken him to the range and brought him along to the calguns shoot back in Nov 09.

I toyed with this idea but decided against it. Too many times to count I've been poked awake by my 5 y/o son who quietly comes into our room because he had a bad dream, wants water or to tell me he needs to go potty. Fast asleep and next thing I know he's standing right there nudging me.

I'd be too afraid that he'd walk over to the gun an want to play with it.

Him and I have gone shooting .22's two or three times so far, so he's familiar with guns and knows they're not toys.

I just can't bring myself to leave one out, unloaded or not. I know all too well how I was as a kid.

Regards,

John