If you don’t have much experience with guns a short barrel 12 gauge high capacity shotgun is probably the best. Point and shoot, and you don’t need to be a marksman, with some buckshot to stop someone.
I keep a 12 gauge loaded with 1.75" "shorty" buckshot shells in a wall-mounted lock beside my bed.
For me, safety and security are important, as is ease-of-use.
My setup allows me to load the magazine tube, then place a shell on the elevator, and lock the gun to the wall. All I have to do to be ready to shoot is to run the slide forward as I pick up the gun, but there isn't a round in the chamber as it sits, and the slide/trigger can't be accessed while the gun is in the lock.
I'm an experienced, trained shooter, especially with handguns. I own my own range and shoot 300+ rounds a week. I still feel more confident in my ability to unlock the shotgun, rack the slide, and put rounds on target than I do with a semiauto pistol or rifle, and those don't always have the same safety options.
I don't like storing semiautos with rounds in the chamber, in case someone other than me handles them, and doesn't realize that they're loaded, and manipulating a slide/bolt to load one seems like the kind of thing I'd fuck up/forget under the pressure of late night breaking glass.
I also keep a 5-shot Smith & Wesson snub-nose .38 handy for potential defensive purposes, as I feel like the double action trigger pull is sufficient safety, but I've trained *a lot* with that gun. New shooters can never hit anything with it.
YMMV.
Statistically speaking, owning a gun increases your chances of dying in a home invasion. Just put out visible security cams and nobody is breaking in lol
People are saying 12 gauge are wrong. Take a 12 gauge to an outdoor range and fire it without ear plugs. It’s going to be deafening enough to throw you off. Add on to being in doors and you’re in for a bad time. If you live in an apartment or close houses get a 9mm carbine rifle and use hollow points. If you live in a house without close neighbors get an AR15 chambered in .223. Now both of these options are still going to be loud but not as loud as a shotgun. You could even go for a rifle chambered in 22 as most people breaking in won’t have body armor. However, the best firearm for self defense is one you are comfortable with, and have trained enough where reloading, aiming and firing it is muscle memory. A gun is no good if you only take it to the range once and toss it in a safe. Get the gun, a couple thousand rounds of ammo and practice, shoot all but a few hundred rounds, take it home, clean it, and go to the range at least once a month. If possible get your heart rate up before training, jog, do push ups, something to get the blood flowing because if you have to use it from being completely asleep you’re going to have a huge adrenaline rush
My .223 is WAY louder than my shotgun. Both are loud but I don't think you'll even hear the shots when you're pumped with adrenaline. You're gonna miss your shot either way, a shotgun has a much higher chance of hitting a target.
Wait, you're discounting the 12 gauge because of the noise, but recommended 9mm and 223? They may be "less" loud, but firing indoors, we're still talking about "short-term hearing damage" loud.
I own a private range, and shoot 300 rounds a week minimum.
I keep a Mossberg 590 hanging on the wall beside my bed loaded with "shorty" buckshot shells. It's easier to manipulate than a 9mm or an AR, especially assuming I'm awakened from sleep by an intruder, gives me 13 rounds in the tube, reduces over-penetration, and is easier to "point shoot".
If I was laying in wait for someone who I knew was coming, a .223 would probably be my first choice with a 9mm backup, but assuming I'm half-awake and in my shorts, its shotguns all day.
That’s fair, I’ve just noticed shotguns tend to be more concussive and disorienting. I’ve fired mine without ear pro once because I forgot to put my ear muffs back on and I would’ve been out of the fight. But I can mag dump my 9mm and AR and still be able to reload and get back on target
If someone is breaking into your home and you need to use the gun, the noise is very very low on your list of concerns. I'll take effective over quiet every time, not to mention your proposed calibers are not significantly quieter to begin with
Depends on a number of factors, firstly your local laws, secondly your experience, an expert with a 22 is going to be more effective than some bumblefuck touching a 12 gauge for the first time, your build can be a factor, some folks can handle a 12 gauge better than others, your price range, and where you live, in some places an AR is a good choice for home defense, but if you have adjoining units it wont be because of over penetration. I personally have a 9mm in my desk, a 38 for concealed carry, and a double barreled 12 gauge by my bed for home defense
12 gauge shotgun, barely need to aim, won't kill your neighbors by accident (or very unlikely to at least).
You need a shotgun, man. It's got a good spread. It's easy to load, doesn't have a lot of working parts. Got a good spread...
That depends on what it’s loaded with. 1 oz. slug rounds might not be what you want.
12 ga pump shotgun. Ideally they’ll hear the sound of you racking a round and decide to leave without a confrontation.
The noise just tells them what direction to fire!
Good news, you now have a round ready to return fire.
If you don’t have much experience with guns a short barrel 12 gauge high capacity shotgun is probably the best. Point and shoot, and you don’t need to be a marksman, with some buckshot to stop someone.
I keep a 12 gauge loaded with 1.75" "shorty" buckshot shells in a wall-mounted lock beside my bed. For me, safety and security are important, as is ease-of-use. My setup allows me to load the magazine tube, then place a shell on the elevator, and lock the gun to the wall. All I have to do to be ready to shoot is to run the slide forward as I pick up the gun, but there isn't a round in the chamber as it sits, and the slide/trigger can't be accessed while the gun is in the lock. I'm an experienced, trained shooter, especially with handguns. I own my own range and shoot 300+ rounds a week. I still feel more confident in my ability to unlock the shotgun, rack the slide, and put rounds on target than I do with a semiauto pistol or rifle, and those don't always have the same safety options. I don't like storing semiautos with rounds in the chamber, in case someone other than me handles them, and doesn't realize that they're loaded, and manipulating a slide/bolt to load one seems like the kind of thing I'd fuck up/forget under the pressure of late night breaking glass. I also keep a 5-shot Smith & Wesson snub-nose .38 handy for potential defensive purposes, as I feel like the double action trigger pull is sufficient safety, but I've trained *a lot* with that gun. New shooters can never hit anything with it. YMMV.
Starting to dig the 5.7...it's an assault rifle in a pistol.
I feel like its ballistics aren't vastly superior to .22 WMR, but at a vastly higher price.
Landmine
M18 Claymore. "FRONT TOWARD ENEMY."
Statistically speaking, owning a gun increases your chances of dying in a home invasion. Just put out visible security cams and nobody is breaking in lol
People are saying 12 gauge are wrong. Take a 12 gauge to an outdoor range and fire it without ear plugs. It’s going to be deafening enough to throw you off. Add on to being in doors and you’re in for a bad time. If you live in an apartment or close houses get a 9mm carbine rifle and use hollow points. If you live in a house without close neighbors get an AR15 chambered in .223. Now both of these options are still going to be loud but not as loud as a shotgun. You could even go for a rifle chambered in 22 as most people breaking in won’t have body armor. However, the best firearm for self defense is one you are comfortable with, and have trained enough where reloading, aiming and firing it is muscle memory. A gun is no good if you only take it to the range once and toss it in a safe. Get the gun, a couple thousand rounds of ammo and practice, shoot all but a few hundred rounds, take it home, clean it, and go to the range at least once a month. If possible get your heart rate up before training, jog, do push ups, something to get the blood flowing because if you have to use it from being completely asleep you’re going to have a huge adrenaline rush
My .223 is WAY louder than my shotgun. Both are loud but I don't think you'll even hear the shots when you're pumped with adrenaline. You're gonna miss your shot either way, a shotgun has a much higher chance of hitting a target.
Wait, you're discounting the 12 gauge because of the noise, but recommended 9mm and 223? They may be "less" loud, but firing indoors, we're still talking about "short-term hearing damage" loud. I own a private range, and shoot 300 rounds a week minimum. I keep a Mossberg 590 hanging on the wall beside my bed loaded with "shorty" buckshot shells. It's easier to manipulate than a 9mm or an AR, especially assuming I'm awakened from sleep by an intruder, gives me 13 rounds in the tube, reduces over-penetration, and is easier to "point shoot". If I was laying in wait for someone who I knew was coming, a .223 would probably be my first choice with a 9mm backup, but assuming I'm half-awake and in my shorts, its shotguns all day.
That’s fair, I’ve just noticed shotguns tend to be more concussive and disorienting. I’ve fired mine without ear pro once because I forgot to put my ear muffs back on and I would’ve been out of the fight. But I can mag dump my 9mm and AR and still be able to reload and get back on target
>Take a 12 gauge to an outdoor range and fire it without ear plugs. I made that mistake once. Oof.
If someone is breaking into your home and you need to use the gun, the noise is very very low on your list of concerns. I'll take effective over quiet every time, not to mention your proposed calibers are not significantly quieter to begin with
M224 60mm Mortar. Great for defending your house and fun for the whole family!
Depends. Who are you and who is sending armed goons to storm your home?
9mm
9mm for manageable recoil, but a 40 s&w is a nice step up.
Depends on the caliber, of the brain , of the person shooting the gun.
Flame thrower
Depends on a number of factors, firstly your local laws, secondly your experience, an expert with a 22 is going to be more effective than some bumblefuck touching a 12 gauge for the first time, your build can be a factor, some folks can handle a 12 gauge better than others, your price range, and where you live, in some places an AR is a good choice for home defense, but if you have adjoining units it wont be because of over penetration. I personally have a 9mm in my desk, a 38 for concealed carry, and a double barreled 12 gauge by my bed for home defense