Looking for opinions on what would work best for home defense in my situation.
A few things to keep in mind:
Overpenetration isn’t a concern since my house is solid concrete and cinder block. The angles I’d be shooting from wouldn’t put family or neighbors at risk.
My country has some strict gun laws. Rifle mags are capped at 10+1, handgun mags at 17+1, but shotguns have no capacity restrictions.
No barrel length restrictions here, so I don’t need to worry about SBR rules.
No kids in the house, and visitors are all 16 or older. I can stage a rifle or shotgun if needed.
I’m the only armed person in the household, and I’m willing to defend if necessary.
We have an alarm system, security cameras, tall walls, and barbed wire. The only entry point is through the garage, which acts as a funnel.
Given all this, what would you pick for home defense? I’m really torn between power, capacity, and dealing with multiple intruders.
Can be carried around the house and serve as a CCW.
Leaves one hand free for lights, doors, or calling for help.
Generally drop-safe.
Pistol Cons:
Least accurate under stress, especially at speed.
Limited capacity (for you, 17+1 max).
Harder to use with optics compared to long guns.
Requires more training to shoot well.
Shotgun Pros:
More points of contact = better accuracy.
Devastating stopping power at close range.
Doesn’t require as much precision in a high-stress moment.
Often seen as less “threatening” by non-gun owners.
Shotgun Cons:
Low capacity unless you have a high-capacity semi-auto.
Can be finicky with different ammo types.
Slow to reload compared to a rifle or handgun.
Harder to maneuver in tight spaces.
Rifle Pros:
Best accuracy and easiest to shoot under pressure.
Normally great capacity, but your 10-round limit makes this less of an advantage.
Reliable and easy to maintain.
Best follow-up shot speed.
Rifle Cons:
Louder than the other options, and indoors it will be brutal.
Harder to store compared to a handgun.
Some people see rifles as “too much” for home defense.
For your situation, I’d lean toward a rifle if you’re comfortable with the 10-round limit. Otherwise, a good shotgun with high capacity might be worth considering.
@Bailey
Appreciate the detailed breakdown! In my country, gun ownership is rare, so any firearm is going to raise eyebrows if people find out. That said, I’m more concerned about protecting my family than what people think.
My sister is super anti-gun and sees AR-15s as pure evil, but at the end of the day, it’s my decision. I’ll be looking into what options are available here before making a final choice. Thanks again!
Darwin said: @Kai
You could always get a Benelli M1 and say it’s for hunting birds. It holds 8+1 of 00 buck or slugs and would absolutely ruin an intruder’s day.
Solid idea, though hunting isn’t really a thing here and people would still be weird about it. But I’ll check if Benellis are available!
@Bailey
Great summary! Just one point—good quality semi-auto shotguns aren’t necessarily finicky if you’re using the right ammo. It’s like saying ARs are unreliable because they won’t cycle subsonic .223.
Also, PCCs (pistol caliber carbines) aren’t inherently unreliable. A lot of people assume that because they’ve only seen cheap AR9 builds that jam constantly.
Short-barreled rifle (SBR) all the way. You’ll be way more accurate, which is what really matters in a life-or-death situation. But I wouldn’t blame you for going with a pistol for the extra capacity.
Ori said:
Short-barreled rifle (SBR) all the way. You’ll be way more accurate, which is what really matters in a life-or-death situation. But I wouldn’t blame you for going with a pistol for the extra capacity.
Agreed. I’ve cleared houses in my time, and nothing beats a well-set-up short rifle. It’s comfortable, accurate, and fast to get on target.
Pistols are great for carrying all the time, but when things go south, I’d rather have a rifle. The only real downside is the noise indoors.
I keep an AR staged near my PC and a 9mm on me at all times. If I have the time, I’m grabbing the rifle, no question. I also have a shotgun as a backup in another part of the house, but my AR is my go-to.
I prefer a handgun. If I hear a noise, I can check without scaring my family by walking around with a rifle. Plus, it’s just easier to move through tight spaces with a pistol.
Budget plays a big role here. If money wasn’t an issue, I’d go for a suppressed .300 Blackout or .45 SBR. No need for hearing protection, and they hit hard.
If you can only have one gun, though, a full-size 9mm pistol is the way to go. Cheap ammo, decent capacity, and you can train without breaking the bank.
I tell people to get a shotgun for home defense, but if I hear a noise in the middle of the night, I’m grabbing my 9mm first. It’s always within reach.