Personal / Home Defense gun

Shotgun. Mossberg for your needs. Handguns are for when you are mobile.

I have an 870 riot gun, but I prefer my XD 45. That shotgun is too big to be swinging around in my house.

Shotgun is the best home defense gun. Just the sound that it makes when you pump the action will send chills up any would-be invader and would likely be the only thing you would have to do. If, God forbid, you ever had to fire in home defense, shotgun gives you the best chance of hitting your target and knocking it down.

Despite what the movies show, firing a handgun accurately in a highly stressed situation at anything other than point blank range is very difficult.

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Just the sound that it makes when you pump the action will send chills up any would-be invader and would likely be the only thing you would have to do.

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I'm thinking if I pull a gun I don't want the perp to hear/know until it goes bang. Keep it loaded, every second counts.

Shotgun

sig 1911 by the bed, if I can get to my gun safe mossberg 500 or any variety of guns I may or may not have lost in a tragic boating accident if you ask me.

Unfortunately you have two very different tasks you will attempt to try and fill with one single gun. As mentioned before for home defense a shotgun is hands down your best bet. Just about any Remington or mossberg pump gun can be had for that price. You want something with a fairly short barrel (18.5-20 inches) and a collapsible stock wouldn't hurt. For personal protection usually a handgun is best because of the portability and conceal ability you must decide caliber (9mm .40 or .45 for automatics .38 .38 special .357 .44 mag for revolvers are very common.) bigger rounds drive bigger holes but limit capacity. With today's ammo (better/more effective) capacity is becoming as important if not more so than caliber choice. Line out the the hole single action vs double action and full size vs compact dilemma.

If you try and fill both roles you will likely come away with a nice gun and will always be proud to own it but you will not use it once you truly fill both roles with later purchases (hopefully.)

For instance: i bought a 1911 first and it's a damn fine weapon but if I'm in my house ill probably grab a shotgun. If I'm going out of my house ill tend to grab one of my other handguns which are smaller and provide more capacity. In my case I trade off the bigger more lethal .45 round for a compact 9mm that holds 13-18 rounds.

Good luck and welcome to the world of worrying about Obama/Biden.

Short barreled tactical shotgun. Can't miss in close quarters.

If you get a shotgun I recommend something in blue with wood, if for no other reason than it will look less threatening to a jury should you ever end up in a legal situation.

On a similar note: Jim Wilson once recommended a.30-30 lever rifle for home defense due to its a) stopping power and b) appearance to a jury as an 'old cowboy gun.' Something to think about...

I have a Mitchell 12 ga pump (made by Hi Standard) short barrel and extended mag tube. Love the sound of that rack! .357 Rossi revolver and Beretta 92FS 9MM completes the defense tools for first layer of defense.