Hey gun GAF. I'd like to bring up the age-old question of which gun to purchase for home defense. I've read most of the arguments on other sites, but I'd like to hear what you guys think.
I've gone shooting with my Army buddy a handful of times, so I've shot a variety of semi-auto handguns - Glocks, SIGS, HK's, as well as his competition AR. I've never fired a shotgun - not that I fear doing so.
Our home was built in the 40's, so it has smaller rooms and tight hallways.
Even though my wife is mostly against getting a gun (I'm working on that), I would like something she could realistically shoot in a worst-case scenario.
We have a 2-year old daughter, so storing the gun safely is paramount. This isn't something I'd be able to set on my nightstand.
Now, most conversations I've read on this subject usually end in "shotgun for home defense, no question". Here is where I currently stand on it:
Shotgun:
+ best for home defense
+ variety of ammo, even non-lethal, with minimal penetration
- I can't see my wife ever using one of these
- too big to conveniently store
- too big for movement in tight quarters
Handgun:
+ easy to store/hide in a convenient location
+ more fun to shoot at the range
+ more realistic for the wife to handle
- more bullet penetration to worry about
- not as easy to use in a high-stress situation
So a follow up question about shotguns, given the negatives I've listed above: how realistic/stupid would it be to have a shotgun with just a pistol grip and no stock? It would greatly improve the weapons handling and storage options, but at what cost to usability? It seems a little too Rambo for me, but it would make sense given my requirements.
Anyways, any thoughts? I'm literally torn and could go either way right now.