re: Revolver for home defense

There has always been a conflation of stopping power and knock down power, the latter really only exists for a man-sized target in rifle calibers nobody would use for close range home defense. I have always viewed stopping power as the ability to quickly render the BG combat ineffective. Honestly, though that is neither here nor there because the key to picking the correct home defense weapon is picking the gun/round you are most capable of placing accurate shots with. If that is a .380 so be it, that will do a lot more to prevent the BG from advancing their plan than 2 mags worth of 10mm holes in your bedroom walls.

A shotgun has been mentioned many times and I have one as my primary home defense weapon but my situation allows a shell in the chamber so the only gun-related sound I need before the shot is the tiny click of the safety. If you do use a shotgun you need to put some rounds through it. I know people who buy them put them under the bed and never fire them. The first time you fire a bird head or pistol grip 12ga with a 3" shell it will be an "experience". I have literally seen them fly out of a grown man's hands. You will also want some low light sighting ability but you probably want that with any home defense weapon.

Use what you are comfortable with and not at the edge of your comfort zone either because woken up from a deep sleep you aren't going to be effective as when you are at the range at 6pm. If one is truly serious about home defense and think you are at a higher risk than average get a large dog. I have two Ridgebacks and the chance of an intruder crossing the threshold with two dogs saying hello in voices that bay lions is highly unlikely.

The reality is unless the intruder is there to kidnap you for ransom or you are known to keep large sums of cash and you do not box them in the VAST majority of the time they will retreat when met with any level of force.

7 shot GP100 is my choice.

A revolver can sit in a drawer for 30 years. Pull the trigger, it will go “pew”.

An intelligent argument against a shotgun can’t really be made though.

Mt suggestion is an auto-loading tactical shotgun (Benelli M4 or Mossberg 930). You're gonna need to take some low-light shotgun home defense classes with that. If you don't know what you are doing, a perp will just grab your barrel. I'd also suggest a full-sized pistol of whatever caliber you choose. I use 9mm, but anything larger would also work. Take home defense classes for that if you go that route.

I would not suggest a revolver for self or home defense. If you miss me with your five or six shots, you are fricked. Don't think that revolvers are any more reliable that semi-autos. Plenty of people shoot semi-autos 10k+ rounds with no problems


Eta: Whatever you, please don't get a dumb arse laser sight. Real life isn't TV

Get an assault shotgun with banana clips

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You are clueless kid.

Why stopping power is a myth.

Stopping power is a myth...mostly.

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You're an idiot and cannot read. I never said a .223 round doesn't produce any trauma, I said it doesn't compare to the trauma produced from shooting someone with a 00 buckshot.

Additionally, due to the velocity of that round, you have to be very mindful of where a .223 round will go when it exits the body, and if you are using a round which will completely fragment upon impact, then you might as well use a pistol.

Shot placement is the most important factor in shooting any target, however the margin for error is much less using a shotgun for someone who is shaking due to adrenaline.

I've seen a lot of videos, and unless they're on drugs, people stop when they get shot by anything. Most of the shots aren't gonna straight drop someone. They normally run away and go die somewhere else. That's ideal, because it's less mess to clean up in your crib. I'm not trying to patch hepatitis sheetrock

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Kicks like a mule...

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not really...and you don't have to use .357...a .38spl defense load will work just as well

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has a lot of muzzle rise...

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see above

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don't get this one unless you only need one shot as it is going to take an eternity for an accurate follow up shot.

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depends what you consider an eternity

I can place 6 shots at three different targets(2ea.) (center 5yds...then Right 10yds. and back to a left target at 15yds. in just under 5 seconds in the kill zone (8,9 10 ring) of standard sized B27 silhouette targets easily with an out of box Ruger GP100 4" barrel from a draw position.

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Shotgun is your best bet man. I'd recommend a Mossberg 500 with the 20" barrel.

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why not an older Rem 870 with 18-1/2" barrel then?

Use what your most accurate with. Anything you shoot (including birdshot) will penetrate at least 2 walls. Shot placement is the key to making sure you don't hit another family member through the wall if you miss.