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[Verdha603]

To be pretty blunt about it, anything that comes out of a firearm barrel stands a great chance of over penetrating through multiple walls if you miss, and might still over penetrate even on a successful hit. Paul Harrell on Youtube even put that issue to the test and showed that the only thing that doesn't stand a chance of cutting through a half dozen layers of sheet walls and insulation is birdshot, which is far from an ideal choice for home defense/self defense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw8IiRgSMFQ

As other's have said, JHP over FMJ for handguns, frankly anything from the 00 buck to #4 buck range is an excellent choice for close range encounters, and for a rifle an intermediate caliber with frangible or soft-point ammunition or a pistol caliber carbine with JHP rounds would be your best options.

[ohsmily]

. In my scattergun I prefer #2 Buck, but that's hard to come by. #4Buck works just fine. It merits noting here that, for that and other reasons, #4Buck is what more than one federal agency issues to people with shotguns. .

What agency or agencies? Link?

[Colt]

I have family member who’s fed LEO. They use #4 buck in shotguns when they take them out. However, they’ve primarily gone to AR platform in 5.56 for long arms.

[lmcc0072]

Practice and preparation. You’re preparing for a scenario that hopefully will never happen, but why do you have auto insurance? Just in case that’s why. Be proficient with your weapon. The worst gun owners are the ones who buy and then lock it up and never practice.

Prepare your home so it’s not a target for easy entry. Like others have said, a good steel screen door, good quality duel paned locking windows, outdoor motion lights, a mean dog, an alarm, etc... Check all doors and windows before you go to sleep at night. Burglars like hot summer nights when people leave windows and doors open. Put a couple of interior lights on timers to make it look like someone is awake.

Be low key. Don’t show off what you have in your home. You’re much more likely to be targeted by criminals if they know what you have in your home than by a random chance criminal.

If the preventative measures fail, shoot center mass. I use Hornady Critical Defense. Hollow points are supposed to stop once it hits a target. Nothing is 100%, but if you use regular range FMJ ammo, over penetration is almost a guarantee.

As for possible legal troubles you might encounter for shooting an intruder, you have to ask yourself a question. Would you rather be in trouble for shooting an intruder (possible excessive force in cities where they think that criminals are the real victims) or would you rather bury your loved ones that might be killed by the intruder? That’s an easy question for most of us.

[DB>]

Camera, security door, and live in better neighborhood.

"Better neighborhood" = where the good "free stuff" is... criminals don't rob their neighbors, they got nuthin' too...

Armor your perimeter wherever you live, cameras and motion detecting security lights are pretty cheap. Some locks are better than others, don't leave windows or doors open... buy as much time as you can by making the target harder to get into - soft targets will be more tempting. If someone DOES breach your perimeter uninvited, at least you have pretty solid argument for a "good shoot".

[subscriber]

Lots of browsing to do from this link to other penetration tests: https://www.theboxotruth.com/the-box...e-box-o-truth/

[Kokopelli]

A shotgun is a great defensive firearm. Don't use it in a hostage situation where someone has latched onto another person.

Handguns are good. The average number of rounds fired in a defensive situation is something like 2.3 shots.

Rifles are accurate and powerful but extremely loud indoors, often with lots of muzzle flash.

IMHO, the best option is a pistol caliber carbine.* From a carbine, a handgun round will not penetrate more than when fired from a handgun. But it will expand more and deposit more energy on target. Accuracy is excellent for a hostage situation. Less muzzle blast than the same round fired from a handgun. Great short range stopping power.

* The M1 carbine falls in this category.

[SCVlongstroke]

If your 2 hands are free to do so use a shotgun. If your option is a pistol avoid FMJ. If you’re using a rifle/carbine, don’t miss.

[plumbum]

Plenty of great info here - just remember: don’t make yourself a target, layers of defense, don’t hesitate.

When not at the range my handguns are loaded with factory defensive ammo and my shotguns have #4 buck and 00 buck.

[choprzrul]

20ga SxS with #4 buck
38/357 with 158gr Speer LSWCHP using BE-86 low flash powder.

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/buffalo-bore-heavy-38-special-p-lead/

https://www.speer.com/bullets/handgun_bullets/lead_handgun_bullet/19-4628.html

https://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/be-86.aspx

Just my $0.02

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[mjv]

Afraid of legal issues, but willing to shoot through walls?

California DA: Did you identify that your target was armed when you shot him from behind a wall while we’re hiding?

[IVC]

The thought of using a firearm in my home comes to me as a final line of defense. A guy is in there, he's got a weapon, he has friends etc. Even then, it makes me uneasy at the thought of shooting someone and the years of legal fallout, even if everything 100% goes my way. Honestly, part of me thinks I will still reach for my baseball bat instead, in some way. I dunno, it's just a frightening thought overall.

That's not how self defense works. You don't go hunting for the bad guys in your house (or anywhere else), you hunker down in the best strategic position you have, use your gun to control the situation if they advance on you, wait for the law enforcement to show up. You do it this way precisely because of all the legal consequences - so what if they steal your TV, it's way cheaper than the courts.

Of course, you have all the justification to shoot once someone breaks into your house in CA. The question is what your smartest course of action is, taking into account the reality of the legal landscape, not just the moral superiority about someone violating your house.

This is, of course, unless you live in a city where they want to defund the police and you're one of the snowflakes who supports it - then you walk to the bad guys and reason with them. If you throw in a finger wag and a dirty look, combined with reasoning, it usually does the trick.

As for the baseball bat, it's still similar legal consideration. If you manage to prevail, the question will be whether you overdid it. You're just exposing yourself to being injured or killed depending on what the intruders have on them and how skilled and strong they are. If you're looking for a less lethal option, there are tasers and other similar options that are more effective than the bat.

[Jesse 2]

General Home Defense Thoughts and Ammo

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[jamie404]

This is California so pick up a phone, call 911 and let the suspects know a police officer is enroute. If that doesnt scare them and they get inside then utilize a flashlight to blind them and then blow on a whistle as loud as you can until the police officer arrives on scene to assist. Or tell the suspects you have COVID 19, and threaten to cough on all of them.

California has the castle doctrine. I'd still try to reach the police because I don't have to deal with all that extra crap after you shoot someone. Given the option between killing in the name of home defense and dying, I choose home defense ofc.

[Den60]

You can also look at insurance for self defense - you can get them for as low as about $200/year.