I am right now sitting in the basement near a Mossberg Mariner pump shotgun. I've never been a pistol grip fan, but I believe that is mostly a matter of style. I really do like to aim. I prefer the rifle sights on my Benelli M1 Super-90. I also prefer the full-length tube extension on that same Benelli. I have a M4 on order. Most shotgun shells will penetrate drywall. How well depends upon the size of the shot, the length of the shell, the distance from the wall, and probably a dozen other factors I'm not considering right now. But, they will penetrate less well than most centerfire rifle rounds. The only round I have personally put through drywall is a .45 from an HK USP Tactical. It fully penetrated two sheets and bounced off some molding on the other side.
Blitz, I know my style of writing is too complex for you to understand, so I will break it down so that you and other "gun grabbers" are capable of understanding the concept. When the state or country passes laws which keep honest citizens from owning guns(like San Francisco just did) the only people who will be hurt are the law abiding citizens. Gang members break the law and will not follow it, and will not turn in their guns. Then the crime will increase in the city, because the citizens are not able to defend themselves, like Will Spencer pointed out with his statistics.
Home protection. Clutter rooms in the dark. 1) It's a matter of manuverability. Short and easy to grip. 2) You are not using a sight in the dark very well and you are not sneaking around with a 4 foot long gun at your shoulder in the dark. 3) This is true. But in general, we are not talking more then 5 yards here. Even less in most cases. Most shotshells will perform the task. 4) Generally true. 5) I have put rounds through plastic reinforced glass and steel. Never tried in my house on the drywall. But drywall offers much more resistence then human flesh.
If I clutter the house, I'll need protection from the wife. You can always grip the curved portion of the full-stock. The rest of the stock goes behind your arm in such an event. Plus, the full-stock makes a better backup weapon if perchance you run out of shotgun shells. The sites are there for when they are useful, but need note be used at all times. Heck, I just finished an Israeli Point Shooting class. The whole class was about not using your pistol sites. However, that doesn't mean that you would never use your pistol sites. I need to convince the wife to let me move us out into the middle of nowhere. I am currently a prisoner in the 'burbs. When that happens, I'll be able to test lots of fun things.
I'm more of a rifle type of guy myself. I like something accurate with a scope on it. If you get into a gun fight with a someone, and you have a handgun or a shot gun, and they have a rifle, and are good with it, you're as good as dead. Someone well trained with a rifle can put down a guy with a pistol or shotgun before they've even had time to fire a shot. When you have a rifle with a scope on it, you're basically a sniper or a sharpshooter. I'd probably think about getting an AK-47 semiautomatic. But then again, I want something with a scope. The only problem with a rifle is its mobility. Carrying around a handgun is easy, and if someone tries to attack you while you away from home, you will likely not have a rifle handy. That is the decisive advantage pistols have. It will be difficult for anyone to break into my home. I will have at least two dogs, pit bulls or dobermans. Getting past the dogs will be hard enough.
Aye.. that's all you need in my opinion: A couple of good dogs. German Sheppards preferebly. h**p://www.a1k9.co.uk/matrix-details.asp?p_id=933&cat_id=9&parent_id= ... A criminal doesn't know you have a gun in the house, but while trying to enter if he's faced with a couple of powerful dogs ready to protect their 'pack', he's on his way and won't think of coming back.. I feel it's a better solution then being woke up, startled and in a mad panic/rush to grab your gun of choice. By that time your dogs would of already picked up on the threat and dealt with it in an appropriate manner even if the intruder was armed he wouldn't stand a chance, and it means YOU didn't have to face him and put YOURSELF at risk. The intruder wouldn't of even got up the stairs... and if he broke in from upstairs, the dogs would be on him within 5-10 seconds. Far quicker then a gun alternative - you may not even wake up before something happens to your loved ones. What good's a gun then eh! There are far better alternatives to protecting yourself and your home if that's really what people are interested in doing. If it's merely enjoying collecting heavy metal and having fun it, don't pretend like it's 'nessasary' for protection. It isn't. Pete
LOL. Tesla man, you gotta start reading more about guns if you plan on buying one. The AK47 isn't your best option. It's inaccurate and a scope would be worthless. The only reason those guns are so popular is because they shoot after 30 years of neglect (and theres so many of them worldwide they're cheap).
True, this has happened in South Africa. Another problem though, is that often the guns of the law-abiding citizens get stolen as well (and often used against them), but imho this is more a problem with not being allowed to use them in self-defense in the first place... Also, with regards to dogs, dogs wont deter a determined thief. Do you think that after centuries of keeping dogs, ppl wouldnt have figured out a way around them? Thiefs here tend to throw poisoned meat, or bring a bitch in heat to distract the dog, etc. Things that DO work are things the "average" thief (who is almost always black) is superstitious about: snakes, spiders, etc.
Are you afraid? Do you want to kill? Do you want to have fun? Don't buy a gun (thats for kids!). The solution is buying a small:
Will nailed it with point and shoot training. There's no doubt about the accuarcy of a rifle and scoop. I like the idea that a full stocked Shot Gun can be used as a beating stick. I'll have to consider it. No matter how ya slice it though, the 18inch barrel shotgun is great for close quarter self protection. I think I may be too clumbsie for a long gun and scope in the dark in a 10x10 room with furniture in it. Just remember... Gun Control is hitting your target! Cheers