re: Home Defense

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I image at 30 feet it would be different,

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And at 12 to 15 feet, it would be, for all practical purposes, a solid mass, like I said.

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but you are giving up LOTS of horsepower vs buckshot.

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True, but that loss scales with range. Of course, I don't want to shoot at an armed, dangerous opponent with birdshot at 50 yards. Buckshot might kill him, as you suggest.

On the other hand, I'm going to have a tough time hitting him with a handgun at that range.

A handgun is a "good enough gun" or a gun that you use to fight your way home or to a real gun (i.e. a rifle or shotgun). But, the portability and convenience make them a viable option in limited circumstances. However, I think it takes a lot more work to become proficient with a handgun.

And we haven't gotten into black rifles yet - the ultimate personal defense weapon out to 300 meters or more.