Comments on: Is There a “Best Survival Gun” For Home Defense?

By: j.bush@att.net

j.bush@att.net — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:33:23 +0000

I still think the pump shotgun is the best all around home defense and survival weapon. The variaty of ammunition let you hadle everything from small game for food to a serious shootout at 100 – 150 + yards. I have safes full of pistols and rifles but my shotgun is out,handy and loaded.

By: Oldtrader3

Oldtrader3 — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:24:21 +0000

People that have been military trained, at least under the old Trainfire system, should be able to hit a man sized target at 500 yards. I shoot every week through the year and mostly shoot benchrest with hig power rifles, up to .340 Weatherby.

I do not believe that the average person can shoot a Bullpup and reliably hit a person at 100 yards. unless thy practice with one.

The “rule of law” in this country is all fine and good but look at how quickly it broke down in Louisiana after the hurricane.

By: LoganWD2

LoganWD2 — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 07:57:25 +0000

If you get a good “so called” assault weapons (and in over 50 years, no weapons have ever got up and assaulted myself or anyone I know)with a folding stock, AR 15, Mini 14 or Mini 30 work very well. With the stock out of the way, and a good pistol grip and 30 round clip, they make for an easy handling home defense system. My wife or grown kids can easily handle this type of weapon with enough firepower and knockdown power to engage one to multiple intruders. Each of us also wear a pistol most of the time…just in case. Another good home defense weapon, for those who can handle the recoil, is a Remington 870 Express shotgun. With the shortest legal barrel, extended magazine, and folding stock with pistol grip, this shotgun can be used in close quarters situations with an 8 round capacity, that can handle anything from double 00 buckshot to bean bag rounds.
Always best to have ‘options’ at the ready…and hope to never need them.

By: gunslinger454

gunslinger454 — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:18:47 +0000

Bullpup rifles also work very well. They’re much easier to shoot accurately than a handgun and don’t have the recoil of a shotgun, which many people can’t handle. I especially like the FNH PS90 for home defense (even better if it’s an SBR). It’s extremely easy to shoot accurately, has very little recoil, holds 50rds, is shorter and easier to maneuver than even a handgun, can be easily fired one-handed and WITH THE RIGHT AMMUNITION is extremely effective!

The PS90 is not the only choice in bullpups either. There are also the FNH FS-2000, Steyr AUG, IWI Tavor and the Kel-tec RFB. Bushmaster discontinued their M17 a few years ago, but they’re still available on the used market too. Any one of those are capable of handling any threat from three feet to three hundred yards without any difficulty at all. The RFB is even a .308! And Kel-tec’s KSG is a 15-shot, bullpup 12ga shotgun!!! If you can handle the recoil it would be difficult to find a better home defense weapon than that, or any one of the rifles listed above.

The advantages of the bullpup are that they are short, the weight is balanced so that most of it is back at your shoulder making them very easy to support for long periods of time (like when holding an intruder & waiting for the police) and they are easy to support and, if necessary, to shoot one handed.

As for being able to justify shooting at someone who is 100 yards away…I can think of a few plausible situations, but they’re not very likely!

By: justbill

justbill — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 22:14:28 +0000

Ms. Peterson seems to forget that in “not-so-unlikely survival situations” like natural disasters, riots, etc. the rule of law will return. It’s likely to never leave in the first place. Popping off shots at people beyond typical handgun effective range is going to be VERY difficult to legally justify. End of the world fantasies and gun marketing notwithstanding, the “best survival gun” for the vast majority of home defenders is either a fighting shotgun or major caliber handgun. The former is at its best in SBS configuration.

As for Mr. Wagner’s recommendation of an intermediate caliber semi-auto rifle with bayonet affixed, I can’t think of many weapons more likely to get hung-up on just about everything as a defender moves through their home. There’s a reason why SWAT teams and special ops units favor SBR-configured weapons for house clearing. Not only that, but imagine defending that fixed bayonet in front of a jury of your peers? “Peers” who most likely will be chosen by the prosecution for their lack of firearms knowledge.

By: retired75th

retired75th — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:29:50 +0000

I own several 110′s, all long bolts. Excellent reliable bolters. This is not a home defense weapon for many obvious reasons. Home defense and survival weapons are clearly two distinct purpose weapons. Handgun is best for defense, easy to clear and maneuver in hallways etc. short barrel shotgun with bird shot would be second best IMO. If you are licensed for an HK P5 Or something similar i would prefer that over any handgun. If your thinking AR, HK and others have a line of very short overall AR carbines. Problem is that for civilians, barrel must be at least 16 inches, Unless you get special license from BATF. so your back to a handgun….IMO.