Question of the Day: What Three Guns for Home Defense?

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[sneakypete]

So all of you are comfortable with the idea of only having three guns?

@Elderberry

Well,I normally only carry 2 at any one time.

[sneakypete]

Have you shot one? How does it group, both .410 and .45?

I have a .45/.410 barrel for my contender. With a ten inch choked barrel, it makes a very handy shotgun, that I've killed many a moccasin with.
But with that excessive travel that a .45 bullet must make before it engages rifling, its accuracy with .45 ammo is not so great.

So I only shoot .410 ammo thru it. I use my Ruger Blackhawk for .45 shooting.

@Elderberry

I used to have a TC Contender with a .223 barrel and a .44 magnum/410 barrel,and sold the dual purpose barrel after shooting it one time. Maybe the only thing I hate more than a Dim voter is a inaccurate firearm. The .223 barrel was a real nail-driver,and the 44 barrel was like throwing rocks.

I used to shoot snakes with my 3 inch 44 Special  DAO Rossi,but that got expensive,so I now use a 22 revolver. LOVED hitting them with 200 gr 44 Silvertips,though. I could walk up to them and hear the blood running out.

[Bigun]

Have you shot one? How does it group, both .410 and .45?

I have a .45/.410 barrel for my contender. With a ten inch choked barrel, it makes a very handy shotgun, that I've killed many a moccasin with.
But with that excessive travel that a .45 bullet must make before it engages rifling, its accuracy with .45 ammo is not so great.

So I only shoot .410 ammo thru it. I use my Ruger Blackhawk for .45 shooting.

@Elderberry

Yes I have shot one and it's fine for what I use it for (inside the home at distances less than 25 feet).  Never fired a .45LC round through it and probably never will. 

At the distance mentioned I will tell you that anyone who has the misfortune of encountering the #4 shot column out of that thing will not be testifying in any future court proceeding and anyone sleeping in the next room will be safe.

[Bigun]

@roamer_1   @Bigun

At typical living room range,it't pretty much irrelevant because most of the shot wiil never leave the shot cup. It's essentially a slug.

@roamer_1

At 25' I typically get about an 8" circular pattern out of mine.

[Bigun]

So all of you are comfortable with the idea of only having three guns?

@Elderberry

For the specific purpose of home defense yes.

[Elderberry]

Take one taurus judge....move the sight back and thread the barrel...add a short (4 inch) smooth bore extension with a milled in choke.....

Then get (so far) 100% pattern at 10 yards and 85% at 20...

Now that .410 is a USEFUL game getter.



https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=371463

[Elderberry]

@Elderberry

I used to have a TC Contender with a .223 barrel and a .44 magnum/410 barrel,and sold the dual purpose barrel after shooting it one time. Maybe the only thing I hate more than a Dim voter is a inaccurate firearm. The .223 barrel was a real nail-driver,and the 44 barrel was like throwing rocks.

I used to shoot snakes with my 3 inch 44 Special  DAO Rossi,but that got expensive,so I now use a 22 revolver. LOVED hitting them with 200 gr 44 Silvertips,though. I could walk up to them and hear the blood running out.

@sneakypete

For my contender, I've got the 45/410 barrel, that I only shoot .410s out of. I also have 2 22K Hornet bbls, one 10" and one 14" and a 14" 357 Herrett bbl. All of those are scoped and are very accurate.

[roamer_1]

@roamer_1

At 25' I typically get about an 8" circular pattern out of mine.

@Bigun
Yeah - something like that...  I dunno why my pattern is eye-shaped...  but it is definitely oval on a horizontal axis, spreading wider than tall. I don't think I mashed the barrel none when I was cutting it off... Though that's the only reason I can think of...  Anyhow, both my pumps had a similar pattern. Must be something I did weird, but it suits me fine.

[txradioguy]

So all of you are comfortable with the idea of only having three guns?

Nope I want as many as I can afford.

It's just a fun little mental exercise asking which three of your guns you would take with you or keep with you if that's all you could have.

[roamer_1]

It's just a fun little mental exercise asking which three of your guns you would take with you or keep with you if that's all you could have.

@txradioguy

Yep. a fun exercise. But limited to home defense, IIRC.
A whole nuther thing from generic hunting as a topic (which cannot be limited to three), or say, Survival, which would also be a tough nut to crack, with an entirely different array of parameters.

Ultimately, that's why three are never enough...

Howabout this:

Survival. You can carry as many guns/gun accessories as you like, and as much ammo as you like, in whichever (specified) terrain you care to choose. But you are limited to what you can carry on your back, and must remain for a full year.

Considering personal defense, perimeter defense, and provision, what say you?

[Lando Lincoln]

@txradioguy

Howabout this:

Survival. You can carry as many guns/gun accessories as you like, and as much ammo as you like, in whichever (specified) terrain you care to choose. But you are limited to what you can carry on your back, and must remain for a full year.

Considering personal defense, perimeter defense, and provision, what say you?

Hmmm... tough one but:

Northwoods

1.  Henry .45-70
2.  Ruger 7-1/2” .45LC (maybe S&W 686 .357 mag)
3.  Stoeger 12 gauge double coach gun

Mini-30 could fit too but, no semi-autos given the duration.

[Lando Lincoln]

My Henry .22 Mag ... is there room?

[roamer_1]

Hmmm... tough one but:

Northwoods

1.  Henry .45-70
2.  Ruger 7-1/2” .45LC (maybe S&W 686 .357 mag)
3.  Stoeger 12 gauge double coach gun

Mini-30 could fit too.

Hi @Lando Lincoln ! Haven't seen you in a while... How much ammo are you packing for all that?

I am Rockies (of course), and you are right - tough choice.
I would fairly quickly revert to bow, sling, and traps for  provision... So I would mainly have a gun for emergency provision and defense.

I would probably have to choose a 12ga single shot., with a .22LR insert. and a sawed-off pump. Half a box of slugs, half a box of 00, half a box of birdshot, and a couple hundred rounds of .22LR... Most of that ammo I would ditch in a central location.though quite a bit of it would be expended early, till I got situated for hunting otherwise.

[Elderberry]

Howabout this:

Survival. You can carry as many guns/gun accessories as you like, and as much ammo as you like, in whichever (specified) terrain you care to choose. But you are limited to what you can carry on your back, and must remain for a full year.

Considering personal defense, perimeter defense, and provision, what say you?

Edwards Plateau, Tx

TC Contender - 22Hornet, 45/410, and 357 Herrett barrels
Ruger Blackhawk 45LC
Win1200 12 ga.

[Lando Lincoln]

Hi @Lando Lincoln ! Haven't seen you in a while... How much ammo are you packing for all that?

I am Rockies (of course), and you are right - tough choice.
I would fairly quickly revert to bow, sling, and traps for  provision... So I would mainly have a gun for emergency provision and defense.

I would probably have to choose a 12ga single shot., with a .22LR insert. and a sawed-off pump. Half a box of slugs, half a box of 00, half a box of birdshot, and a couple hundred rounds of .22LR... Most of that ammo I would ditch in a central location.though quite a bit of it would be expended early, till I got situated for hunting otherwise.

I know. Heavy side arms and ammo. Hmmm... 

[thackney]

From my Conceal Carry class

1. Pump-action .410 shotgun, duck or goose load.
2. .357 Magnum revolver loaded with .38 special or .357 Magnum
3. 9mm or so automatic pistol.

They recommended things that wouldn't deafen or cause you to flinch when you fire. The .357 is for outside work. You also want to avoid killing everyone else in the house by penetrating sheet rock.

At inside distances, 9 mm will penetrate 6 separate layers (3 walls).

https://www.theboxotruth.com/the-box-o-truth-1-the-original-box-o-truth/