Home Defense Shotgun vs. Home Defense Handgun

Statistics have shown that there are approximately 8,000 home invasions per day throughout North America. Sadly, 38% of all assault cases and 60% of sexual assaults occur during these unlawful entries. Is there any wonder then that home security is the primary reason most people decide to purchase firearms?

According to Chris Michel, leading gun expert at Dixie Gun Worx, the majority of people who walk through the doors to his successful firearms business have one thing on their minds – protection from home invasion. This is particularly true for older women – a demographic that tends to live alone more often and is, sadly, quite vulnerable. For many of these people, they have no prior experience with firearms and are therefore confused when facing their many personal security options.

Which to Choose?

A pistol is often the first idea for many when deciding which weapon to bring into the home. This is most likely due to a pistols ease of use and general portability. One can easily imagine hauling it out of a night table drawer should an intruder enter or even easing it between the mattresses before sleep. That should fool the intruder, should it not? Not necessarily. If you know all the hiding spots, wouldn’t a career criminal know them all the better? As convenient as they are, pistols are not the best choice when it comes to home defense.

Enter the Shot Gun

Thanks to his years of experience handling, building, customizing and instructing others on firearms, Michel is an expert in choosing the ideal weapon for both home and self-defense, depending upon each individual person's needs. His choice for most people, hands down, is the shotgun when it comes to defense within the home.

If you happen to find yourself in a situation that requires you to use your weapon for self-defense, you could not have a better gun on your side. It is reliable, secure and so immediately intimating that there's even a chance you won’t even have to fire it in order to make your intruder head for the door.

Its reputation precedes itself

It’s the middle of the night. You hear a door open downstairs. Perhaps you hear the creak of a footstep on the stair. Adrenaline fills your body and you enter into a state of panic which, although it is natures way of preparing your for battle, makes you incredibly vulnerable at the same time. In fact, studies have shown that when you are in a state of extreme fear or stress, you are only able to process about 60% of all information you receive. Your hearing, your comprehension, your physical abilities …all are flooded with hormones, leaving you unable to make logical choices in any capacity.

When you choose a shot gun, the first thing your intruder will see is the unmistakable form of a hefty shot gun in your hands. The first thing they will hear? That trade mark and absolutely terrifying clack as you rack it for a shot. Some criminals will change their mind, when they realize they could get shot.

It is the most effective for panicked shooters

If you are forced to actually fire the shotgun, it is the best possible option for an inexperienced and terrified shooter. Unlike most weapons where the bullets are specific to a target, firing a shotgun means letting loose a grouping of ammunition toward your intended mark. Shotgun shells are packed with lead BBs. Depending on the size of the shell, when you pull the trigger you are firing between 2 to 30 BBs at once. Literally, a mass of lead is jettisoned toward the intruder making accuracy less important than general location. This is a perfect solution for times when your state of mind barely allows you to see straight let alone aim like a practiced sniper.

Get it Sized to Fit

Absolutely the best choice for anyone looking to bring a sense of security into their homes, the shotgun is the first line of defense for both gun enthusiasts and amateurs. In addition, they lend themselves extremely well to customization. A shotgun is a large weapon, to be sure and has a kick that can send more than a few newbies flying backwards. If you are considering owning one, it is more than worth it to consult an expert to help you pick out the best style of shotgun based on your needs. For example, will a tactical shotgun be best? Or, do you plan to hunt with it making it a dual purpose shotgun?

Finally, if you've never fired one before, make sure you take it to the gun range and shoot it. It's always a good idea to practice with any gun to make sure that if the time comes, you actually know what you're doing.

You don’t have to become a statistic or victim. A shotgun is the best choice for successful home defense, especially when you consider that just the sound of the slide could send anyone willing to do you harm packing.

Like this post about the home defense shotgun? Here is one of the best: Mossberg 500 Tactical.