Buying my first home protection weapon

[Jackjone]

I recently have just moved into my first apartment and looking to purchase an affordable home defense weapon. I'm only 20 so i can't purchase a handgun yet. Been thinking a shotgun or an AR (I'm in the military and I'm more use to the feel of an M4 than any other weapon) Plus please consider that I want my wife to be able to use it just in case, so no big guns that she may be afraid to shootr. Plus if mentioning a shotgun, please recommend me type/brand of ammunition. Please remember that I live in an apartment.

[jgalt]

If you are comfortable w/an M4 / AR15, that's the route I'd recommend. Low recoil, easy for your wife to learn & control, effective at home-defense ranges & - with the correct bullet selection - will penetrate the fewest walls / barriers...

[Hmac]

Pistol or AR15, training, training, training. Especially without training, you or your family are far more likely to kill or injure each other than to have to defend yourselves from a home invader.

[MXGreg]

12ga HD shotgun with Fiocchi low-recoil 00 buckshot. Wife-freindly, Joe Biden approved, point and shoot.

[LePetomane]

12ga HD shotgun with Fiocchi low-recoil 00 buckshot. Wife-freindly, Joe Biden approved, point and shoot.

You beat me to it. Having the approval of the VP carries a lot of weight, bot if you and your wife are comfortable with the AR, then that is the way to go.

[mmcnx2]

I would not use and AR, you mention an apartment and you have to consider were rounds might go after they the hit the target or if you miss. Apartment walls may not stop a 223 and what is in the next room may be someone you have no intent of harming.

Shotgun would be a better choice and if my wife were shooting it I owuld go 20 ga. Auto would be my first choice then a sdouble. Punps are great but in a panich it is another moving part.

[gun_fan111]

This would be my choice in your situation loaded with JHP

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... eltec+Grip


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[Countryfried Frank]

Since you are under 21 you may run into a few stumbling blocks purchasing an Armalite Rifle style firearm. My recommendation is a Remington 870 in 20ga. As for the loads, do a search for The Box of Truth. They have done penetration tests using various ammo, that should help you pick a load for your situation. mmcnx2 makes a great point about the simplicity of an auto but the pump is likely going to be less expensive and you never have to worry if any particular load is going to make enough gas to cycle your pump. Whatever you choose, I agree with Hmac. Training is important.

[goett047]

I second the above if you look at ballistics 20ga isn't that far off of 12 and the recoil is far less

[Hmac]

Since you are under 21 you may run into a few stumbling blocks purchasing an Armalite Rifle style firearm. My recommendation is a Remington 870 in 20ga. As for the loads, do a search for The Box of Truth. They have done penetration tests using various ammo, that should help you pick a load for your situation. mmcnx2 makes a great point about the simplicity of an auto but the pump is likely going to be less expensive and you never have to worry if any particular load is going to make enough gas to cycle your pump. Whatever you choose, I agree with Hmac. Training is important.

Over 18 can purchase an "assault weapon" with a Permit to Purchase.

[jspace]

Since you are under 21 you may run into a few stumbling blocks purchasing an Armalite Rifle style firearm. My recommendation is a Remington 870 in 20ga. As for the loads, do a search for The Box of Truth. They have done penetration tests using various ammo, that should help you pick a load for your situation. mmcnx2 makes a great point about the simplicity of an auto but the pump is likely going to be less expensive and you never have to worry if any particular load is going to make enough gas to cycle your pump. Whatever you choose, I agree with Hmac. Training is important.

Over 18 can purchase an "assault weapon" with a Permit to Purchase.

Right, but not all PDs will know that. There was a thread on here by someone who had to twist their arm to give him the paperwork.

If your wife is not familiar with the AR/M4, then it's probably not the best choice. If both of you have training with them, then it's probably the best choice IMO. Training beats equipment.

I second a pump or break shotgun over an auto. A pump becomes second nature with some practice. A couple times when I've shot an auto I tried to rack the forearm The Remington 870 is cheap and nearly indestructible, but there are Mossberg fans out there too.

[JJ]

http://m.stoegerindustries.com/shotguns ... /index.php

Run small shot size 6, 7, 8 at close ranges. Buckshot is going to punch a lot more Sheetrock than small shot sizes.

Don't feel like you have to buy that particular coach gun either. If you hit the pawn shops and such, you can probably find a beater SxS that functions and is ugly. Cut the barrels down to 18.5" and you are good to go.

[PhilaBOR]

This would be my choice in your situation loaded with JHP

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... eltec+Grip


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I would not recommend a pistol or anything shooting pistol ammo. It severely over penetrates. .223 and birdshot are the best for minimizing over penetration. At close encounter distance the birdshot will be nearly a solid column and very effective. Nothing is 100% but if you shoot 9mm or buckshot at a common wall, it WILL go thru your neighbor's apartment.

[Uffdaphil]

A 20 gauge with smaller buckshot is a good choice. Small enough that overpenetration is minimized, but still plenty of stopping power. Low recoil, lighter weight and good close up accuracy all pluses for smaller shooter.

[PHATSPEED7x]

Stoeger double defense in 20ga.