Somehow the color values don't hold up....

Posted by: Rob De Witt at January 24, 2013 3:03 PM

The perp should be black or hispanic, just for accuracy. Alex

Posted by: Alex at January 24, 2013 3:05 PM

Even so, I think I'm in Love.

Posted by: pdwalker at January 24, 2013 10:08 PM

Guns are like parachutes. You may never need one, but if you do, you will need it real bad. And if you need one and don't have one, you will probably never again need one. Or anything else.

Posted by: Donald Sensing at January 25, 2013 6:03 AM

Guns are like parachutes. You may never need one, but if you do, you will need it real bad. And if you need one and don't have one, you will probably never again need one. Or anything else.

Posted by: Donald Sensing at January 25, 2013 6:03 AM

Mr. Sensing - I like your post. Permission to quote it elsewhere? Thanks.

Posted by: altered states at January 25, 2013 8:16 AM

Mr. Sensing - I like your post. Permission to quote it elsewhere? Thanks.

Posted by: altered states at January 25, 2013 8:16 AM

Oh my, Alex.

RAAAAAACISSSSSS!

The truth that dare not speak it's name.

Posted by: Dave at January 25, 2013 10:29 AM

Watch this YouTube video of a Dr discussing gunshot wounds. http://youtu.be/tku8YI68-JA

Despite what you see on TV and in movies, a handgun is marginally effective at quickly killing an intruder. It ALL depends on an accurate shot to a vital region. Most people shot with a handgun survive, unless it's a headshot. Caliber is largely irrelevant, despite the heated caliber war arguments. With a pistol the death happens due to bleeding out, unless you hit the spine, heart, or brain.

Consider the humble shotgun. Cheaper than a pistol, more effective at knocking intruders down, easier to be accurate under stress. I highly recommend the overlooked 20 gauge shotgun as it's lesser recoil is easier for anyone to handle. That means the second shot is likely to be fired faster and more accurately. Even the 20 gauge shotgun delivers TWICE the impact to the bad guy as Dirty Harry's 44 Magnum pistol.

In summary, $350-400 for a shotgun compared to $500-1000 for a pistol. More certain dispatch of the intruder, more accurate, simple and reliable. If you don't intend to carry your weapon outside the house you can hardly go wrong with a shotgun.

Posted by: Scott M at January 25, 2013 3:07 PM

The next weapon in our safe will be a Mossberg combo in 20 gauge.

May not be for awhile; strangely hard to find one right now.

FWIW, my long standing drill for pistol (single threat) in 9mm is shoot shoot shoot look, .45 shoot shoot look. Practice is essential. I train to hit a three inch wide rectangle that begins at solar plexus and ends at the collar bones.

I'm almost out of white box cop rounds. Rotating clips uses up almost sixty rounds of factory ammo every six months. I hate to think what they cost now.

I understand why different Federal agencies with no prior history of large-lot purchases have bought hundreds of millions of small arms rounds in the last few years. It wasn't for Black Helicopter silliness - it was to drive up prices.

I drill at 15 yards. Practice out to 25. I forget the exact number but well over half of defensive pistol engagement is at ranges under ten yards.

Posted by: TmjUtah at January 25, 2013 8:55 PM

That video is highly interesting, Scott, thanks for pointing it out.

Posted by: vanderleun at January 25, 2013 10:23 PM

You're welcome GVL.

For those unfamiliar with shotguns, the Mossberg 500/590 and the Remington 870 are the Toyota Camry/Honda Accord of shotguns. Both are available in 12 and 20 gauge. One is the more commonly issued to cops and the other is used by the Army. They both work well for social work. Any man or woman can shoot a 12 or 20 gauge.

Gun ranges often have rental guns, don't be afraid to test fire a 12 gauge, the worst-case is a sore shoulder, more like you were punched in the arm not like you barely survived an axe attack.

Posted by: Scott M at January 26, 2013 1:21 AM

Scott;

It's also a good idea to load your 20ga with 000 buck, instead of slugs; slugs may very well penetrate into the next room/apartment, while the triple-ought likely will not.

My wife is 4'11", she doesn't need a 12ga.

Food for thought.

Posted by: Dave at January 26, 2013 5:21 AM

My favored defense load for my 12 gauge is first two rounds 00 buck, or smaller. The next two are slugs, and finish with buck. Here's the thought process: first, and possibly second shot might be a bit rushed, so I at least want to wing the intruder(s), which the spread from a buckshot load should allow. The slugs are there to finish the encounter, penetrating walls if necessary. Movies notwithstanding, think hiding behind a sheetrock wall will protect you from a 12 gauge slug? Think again. The final buckshot rounds are in case bad guy is still alive and tries to move to a new location. Again, easier to hit a moving target with the wider pattern of buckshot. This would also work just fine with a 20 gauge.

Posted by: waltj at January 26, 2013 10:05 AM

While buckshot sounds the best, the lowly 7.5 shot high brass is best inside. It will spread faster than the buckshot out to 20 yards. Is your room 66 feet wide/long? And it will not penetrate walls. Your children may be one room away. Shoot birdshot, birdshot, buckshot, buckshot, look.

Posted by: muleheadedfarmer at January 28, 2013 9:20 AM

The birdshot sounds like a good idea. You're right, buck won't spread that far in the typical house, like mine. For me, though, kids aren't a consideration, since I live alone. If there's someone else in the house, and I haven't invited them, they're targets. Walls can be repaired.

Posted by: waltj at January 28, 2013 11:06 AM

Recently attended some firearms operations training. The instructors are currently badged professionals. Their agency SOP for handgus is two to the chest, one to the head, then reassess. The agency is actively considering a change to 2+2, because they are not getting "good enough" results with the one head shot.

The instructors were taking the position that, because of recent events, they recognized that many of us trainees/customers are and have decided to become the first line of defense (when seconds count ...), so they're teaching us how to win a gunfight, even against a mass shooter. Interesting. The troops and the officers (e.g. San Diego Chief of Police) are worlds apart. Seeds of revolution.

Posted by: John A. Fleming at January 28, 2013 3:02 PM