In a "close encounter" (within the house) what would you use ...

[dryheat]

- with the caveat that a person has to be physically up for it and have some proficiency. And the mentality. I'm squimish about blood. There must be some research on the exponential easiness of shooting someone, depended on the distance from the shootee. Drive by shootings are way too easy.
I can throw a knife pretty well, but not 100% well. A machete can chop someone up a lot. I don't want to have to butcher a human.
I'm hard of hearing already, it's a ton of paperwork. If I can't get my muffs on I hope I never have to shoot someone.
Let the perp know you mean business. Get the upper hand. Act like a cop; hollar real loud. Act like your crazy. But if it's mental/drugs there might not be any reasoning.
I hate 12 gauge. I could crank out the 20 gauge real fast. And old time Win '97 just sounds like you mean business.
Some kids were ringing doorbells(five real fast like an alarm. I kind of figured kids). I had the .45 with me when I opened the door. After a minute they (not seeing me in the shadows) came out of the bushes across the street and started walking. I safely racked the slide and those kids scadadeled like rabbits. Big thrill for them. Fun for me. No harm done.

[lyman]

Yes, an M-1 or an AR-15 with a bayonet. I went through BCT at Fort Dix Summer of 1967-WHAT'S THE SPIRIT OF THE BAYONET !!!!!

can you have an AR with bayo lug in NJ?

[dogtag]

can you have an AR with bayo lug in NJ?

Wow, that would be dangerous. Personally, I'd rather be shot than stuck.
The thought of being bayoneted is horrifying.
Neither is preferable.

[jjrothWA]

Recommend that the M1 Carbine, take some fine emery paper wrapped around a dowel and lightly polish the feed-ramp, to minimize "stuttering" of soft-nose ammo.

[Vern Humphrey]

I recommend a 12-gauge pump with Number 4 buckshot,

[dogtag]

Ok if you don't move and wait for the intruder to come to you.
But if you have to go room to room looking for intruder, then
a long barrel could prove to be awkward.

[Art]

Ok if you don't move and wait for the intruder to come to you.
But if you have to go room to room looking for intruder, then
a long barrel could prove to be awkward.

Going room to room isn't necessarily the best idea, bunkering up is generally the recommended approach. If you are going to go through your place "cutting pie" you are right, shorter is better.

[Allen]

Going room to room isn't necessarily the best idea, bunkering up is generally the recommended approach. If you are going to go through your place "cutting pie" you are right, shorter is better.

I don't see this happening either, even on TV.

An intruder entering a home with occupants intends to do bodily harm otherwise they would wait till the house is empty. They will most likely come into your bedroom in the darkness while you are asleep, groggy or otherwise helpless. Putting a bright light or lazar beam on them is not always the answer as they can just shoot at the light and kill the light holder but still you should be 100% certain that your target is someone you want to blast.

If, after shooting at them, if they are able to flee, let them go. Call the police. Hunting for them room to room with the possiblity of getting ambushed in my own home would not happen.

As far as long guns go, I've read where the M1 carbine is much more preferred over an AR-15 due to the larger projectile and less wall penetration. However, nothing puts the fear into someone as the sound of the cocking of a pump shotgun. They know you mean business.

The each his own, everyones situation is going to be different along with what guns they have to use.

Not to say the sky is falling but everyone should think about such a scenario actually happening and how to plan for it, not just for yourself but your wife and others in the house.

A few short years ago this subject would have been considered useless drama. Now living in lawless democrat cities and states it's just a matter of who's turn is it next.

[JimF]

. . . . .Putting a bright light or lazar beam on them is not always the answer as they can just shoot at the light and kill the light holder . . . . . .

Right on, Allen . . . .

Way back, when I was a LEO, our training officer told us to extend the left arm/hand holding the flashlight out to left (if right-handed) as far as possible, with the firearm in the right hand, for exactly that reason!

[Art]

Right on, Allen . . . .

Way back, when I was a LEO, our training officer told us to extend the left arm/hand holding the flashlight out to left (if right-handed) as far as possible, with the firearm in the right hand, for exactly that reason!

Part of "Murhpy's Laws of War;" Tracers work both ways...

[Allen]

Part of "Murhpy's Laws of War;" Tracers work both ways...

Don't tracers need a pretty good distance before they burn through and start to trace?

[Art]

Don't tracers need a pretty good distance before they burn through and start to trace?

In my limited experience they seem to ignite pretty quickly. When I was in the Army in Korea our M60s were loaded with ball. I remember in basic training that part of the course where you crawl under wire with machine guns shooting over your head I could see the tracers coming in clearly and could tell where they were coming from.

The point was almost anything you use to follow your fire, track or illuminate your adversary may also gives away your position.

[Allen]

In my limited experience they seem to ignite pretty quickly.

In a house though? Average bedroom wall to wall distance is probably 12' or so.

I understand the logic though: If they can see you, you can see them.

[Art]

In a house though? Average bedroom wall to wall distance is probably 12' or so.

I understand the logic though: If they can see you, you can see them.

I wasn't referring literally to tracers for in home use but things like laser attachments and flashlights.

[jon_norstog]

Shooting tracers in your house! What could POSSIBLY go wrong?

jn