Best Caliber for Home Defense with a Family

[IndianaBuckeye]

Hey Guys,

I have always depended on my Mossberg 500 loaded with 12ga slugs for home defense. The reason I chose 12ga slugs was because of their lethal wall/door penetrating power. Basically, as long as my wife was behind me, the whole house was within range. (Plus you can mix loads... slug, buck shot, slug, buck shot) Well, we now have a little guy in the bedroom across the hall and I'm thinking I need to adjust my caliber choice.

I obviously still need a lethal load, but something that will be more appropriate for a house with other people in it.
Please keep in mind that I am not going to be blindly shooting around my house if we were faced with a situation that would warrant lethal force. I just figure that there has to be a better option out there.

What weapon/caliber/load do you think would be best for defending my family's home?..... and WHY would that work best?

THANKS!

 

[shavedforbattle]

Hey Guys,

I have always depended on my Mossberg 500 loaded with 12ga slugs for home defense. The reason I chose 12ga slugs was because of their lethal wall/door penetrating power. Basically, as long as my wife was behind me, the whole house was within range. (Plus you can mix loads... slug, buck shot, slug, buck shot) Well, we now have a little guy in the bedroom across the hall and I'm thinking I need to adjust my caliber choice.

I obviously still need a lethal load, but something that will be more appropriate for a house with other people in it.
Please keep in mind that I am not going to be blindly shooting around my house if we were faced with a situation that would warrant lethal force. I just figure that there has to be a better option out there.

What weapon/caliber/load do you think would be best for defending my family's home?..... and WHY would that work best?

THANKS!

#4 Buckshot will do the trick. It will still penetrate, but nothing like a slug or 00 Buck.

 

[jgreiner]

Hey Guys,

I have always depended on my Mossberg 500 loaded with 12ga slugs for home defense. The reason I chose 12ga slugs was because of their lethal wall/door penetrating power. Basically, as long as my wife was behind me, the whole house was within range. (Plus you can mix loads... slug, buck shot, slug, buck shot) Well, we now have a little guy in the bedroom across the hall and I'm thinking I need to adjust my caliber choice.

I obviously still need a lethal load, but something that will be more appropriate for a house with other people in it.
Please keep in mind that I am not going to be blindly shooting around my house if we were faced with a situation that would warrant lethal force. I just figure that there has to be a better option out there.

What weapon/caliber/load do you think would be best for defending my family's home?..... and WHY would that work best?

THANKS!

Good info in this article about guns and over penetration.

The Shotgun Meets the Box O' Truth

 

[Twentyfootdaredevil]

I couldnt think of a good reason for owning a Taurus Judge before but this might be a good situation for one.

The .45LC/.410 would make an ideal gun for what you are wanting. You could load up a mixture of buckshot and lead just like you have now.

 

[dbd870]

The Box O' Truth #41 - The Taurus Judge Vs. The Box O' Truth - Page 4

The Box O' Truth doesn't think much of the Judge unless you are using 45LC's

 

[Jeremiah]

9mm, .30 carbine out of an M1 carbine, 40-55 grain .223/5.56mm projectiles out of an AR

 

[jgreiner]

The Box O' Truth #41 - The Taurus Judge Vs. The Box O' Truth - Page 4

The Box O' Truth doesn't think much of the Judge unless you are using 45LC's

Only thing I could see using the judge for would be to stop carjackings. One blast of that across the car into the face of the jacker....and it's over.

 

[IndianaBuckeye]

I can't believe that I forgot about the ol' BOX O' Truth! I love cruising through that site. I am really surprised that the #4 shot didn't expand over 3.5" after being shot from a choke-less barrel at 12'. Mine is a choke-less also and I just assumed that shot would expand too much to be useful for defense at a moderate distance. I'll definitely experiment with some different types of buck shot to see what they act like, but I think I was proven wrong.

Thanks for the replies. I guess my whole question is a huge catch 22..... if you want stopping power for defense.... then it will go through a wall or two.

 

[Yeah]

.375 H&H AI, in case a buffalo shows up.

 

[dyerwatcher]

I like my 1911.......but the Judge deserves consideration

 

[goinggreyfast]

I'm not sure of the penetration on the Winchester Elites, but we have a Mossy 410 that is loaded up with them. They were designed for the Judge, but having seen how they work with a shotgun sold me on them.

 

[jelzy]

+1 on the Judge

 

[BillyT]

I am comfortable with the judge in the home. I say familiarize yourself with this firearm it's load and pros and cons extensively not just single source.

 

[gunowner930]

If you were about overpenetration with theslugs, then just get a different load, another poster already mentioned #4 buckshot. I don't think you "need" to buy another firearm. However, if you want to buy one then why not? Anything that can fire multiple lethal shots quickly is effective for HD

 

[mrortega]

My first grab is an AR with 16" barrel, 20 round clip loaded with TAP 75gr BTOT, a laser sight and combat light. 20 rounds is better than 5 or 6 when you're peeing your pants and adrenalin pumping.

 

[Whitsettd8]

Any of the extreme expansion rounds would work as well. The cor-bon powerball as an example massive expansion and stopping power without over penetration. The are also a lot of custom shotti loads out there theses days featuring multiple combination of pellet sizes

 

[superjoe76]

My judge is loaded with 5 .410 shells! She is waiting in my drawer for some action. I have put about 100 LC through her about about 20 shells, and I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of either.

 

[mydoghasfleas]

Power balls. But I dont think I would use them in the winter time cause I would be scared of under-penetration with heavy clothes. Just something to consider.

 

[KeithTheColtGuy]

I like the Berg 500 for home security, as far as the load I like the 04, my self.

 

[GunSlinger]

Hey Guys,

I have always depended on my Mossberg 500 loaded with 12ga slugs for home defense. The reason I chose 12ga slugs was because of their lethal wall/door penetrating power. Basically, as long as my wife was behind me, the whole house was within range. (Plus you can mix loads... slug, buck shot, slug, buck shot) Well, we now have a little guy in the bedroom across the hall and I'm thinking I need to adjust my caliber choice.

I obviously still need a lethal load, but something that will be more appropriate for a house with other people in it.
Please keep in mind that I am not going to be blindly shooting around my house if we were faced with a situation that would warrant lethal force. I just figure that there has to be a better option out there.


What weapon/caliber/load do you think would be best for defending my family's home?..... and WHY would that work best?

THANKS!

I think a 105 howitzer would be appropriate.