Do people these days tend to overthink home defense?
Posted by Penguin_Life_Now@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 144 comments
The title pretty much says it all, I ask this because I keep seeing all these Youtube videos featuring people going into great detail on their home defense strategy, gun and ammo selection, etc. These videos often feature multi thousand dollar guns, and elaborate tactical gear.
I personally take a bit more of a fundamental, practical viewpoint, ie know what your shooting at, know what is in the background, use ammo that minimizes risk of over penetration, and remember the right gun for defending yourself is the first one you can reach, and it does not matter if it costs $250 or $2,500. In the real world 90+% of the time you are not going to have time to play dress up before things get busy, on top of that if you survive do you want to deal with the potential legal fallout of being dressed up like a SEAL team member with your tacti-cool rifle when you shot someone.
p.s. note I am not against tacti-cool rifles, I have a couple of them, but they stay locked up in the gun safe, and are not one of my grab it guns for home defense, which tend to have wood stocks or grips, or at least no tacti-coolized stuff beyond a flashlight.
snuffy_bodacious@reddit
Body armor is wildly overrated. It's heavy, cumbersome, and takes time to put on. If something goes bump in the night, it's painfully silly that I would take the time to throw some plates before I clear my own home. Armor also kinda makes you look like a LARPing jackass.
Floridaman9393@reddit
Yes there's so many options to choose from.
I've gone the other direction and use a 1950s double barrel shotgun loaded with dimes and rock from the front yard.
Unlucky_Strain8113@reddit
Location and quick access matter more than which gun you grab.
You're spot on that most real-world home defense is about the first firearm you can actually reach — not the $2,500 tacti-cool rifle locked in the safe. The key is planning where you store those reachable guns so they're fast for you but still secure from casual thieves.
Common burglary patterns (from law enforcement data and interviews with actual burglars) show they usually follow a pretty predictable route in the first few minutes:
Master bedroom and closet → first stop (jewelry, cash, guns, valuables)
Master bathroom → next (prescription drugs)
Home office/den → electronics, documents, more valuables
Kitchen and dining areas → lower priority
This is actually useful intel for smart storage:
-Kitchen – People spend a lot of time here. A small quick-access safe in the pantry or a handgun safe tucked in a cabinet or drawer keeps a defensive gun reachable during normal routines.
-Coat closet by the front door – Thieves often ignore these. A discreet fast-access safe here gives you options if someone at the door gets aggressive.
-Den – Another high-traffic living area. A hidden handgun safe works well here too.
-Basement – Best spot for your big heavy safe and longer-term storage, but it’s not a “grab it now” location.
This way you’re not overthinking or over-gearing — you’re just being smart and practical. The gun you can reach in seconds (while still keeping the rest of your collection properly secured) is the one that actually counts.
Imdoingscience@reddit
The statistics around it are hard, but based on criminal defense cases where self defense is used as an affirmative defense you're about an order of magnitude more likely to have a self-defense incident in a road range incident than anything in your home.
Penguin_Life_Now@reddit (OP)
Perhaps, but I have known 2 people who have died due to home intrusions, and none that have died due to road rage incidents.
One was my mother's next door neighbor, the husband had a ranch in Oklahoma where he would go for weeks at a time to get away from things, one time he went there and it turned out a group of escaped federal prisoners from I think Kansas or Nebraska were hiding out in his ranch cabin, they shot him and stuffed his body in a shed. When the wife had not heard from him telling her that he had safely made the drive she called the police to do a welfare check.
The other was my step-sister's ex employer, again a vacation house sort of situation, they were at their vacation house, I think in the USVI, they had went out to dinner, came home, interrupted the robbery, he was shot and died on the spot, robbers ran off, and were never caught.
PopperChopper@reddit
Cool, so you have a statistical improbability of knowing 2 cases by a few degrees of separation where people were killed due to intruders.
It still doesn’t change the statistically insignificant chance that you will be victim to the same. If you want to arm yourself for the .00000001% chance you’re going to get to play John wick during the night, you can. We all wear seatbelts for the same reason.
Correct-Sail-9642@reddit
Ive experienced two home invasions in a 5 year period, both times I was unarmed and dead asleep. Made it to my bedroom before waking me up intentionally, was alone and my dads guns were downstairs in a closet. Not sure how long they were inside before finding me because my door was closed. Fairly young like 16. Four guys high af on meth, ransacked the whole house for hours, made themselves at home basically. They did manage to pull the phone line and yank the battery out of the cordless one. No cell at the time, not that I would have been able to do shit with it, they had the drop on me. Second time I was sleeping in a friends apartment/townhouse and thought it was his roommates or someone who was supposed to be there but I was sort of fd up so they also got the drop on me. Even if I had been armed up I wouldn't have had time to grab it the first time. Both experiences sucked but the first one really fd me up tbh. Over 20yrs later and I just recently stopped sleeping in the living room on the couch every night loaded for bear. Learned to sleep with my eyes open if I sleep at all. Wasn't until 20yrs later that I'm confident I achieved REM, even when I moved the sensation of always be ready followed me, hypervigilance is extremely tiring I'll admit. I have to sleep on top of the covers and make sure not to be too comfortable in bed for fear I will get caught slippin. I've nearly been killed on several occasions and I'm fortunate to be alive after any one of the encounters, so I consider any step toward me surviving the encounter as opposed to being the victim is worth making house law. Night vision is not one of them, but having a semi auto rifle, shotgun full of buck, and or a pistol always handy nearby is the only way I feel safe enough to let my guard down some, but never all the way. I find one of the best ways to practice waking up to a threat or just responding to one at all has been when I hear a predator attacking my chickens or coop. 90% of threats present themselves when you are alone and far from prepared. In the shower, asleep, making noise of your own covering the sound of the threat leaving you unsure, or one of the moments you broke the rule of keeping a firearm handy and knowing exactly where it is. Also having lighting handy. And footwear. All my shoes are sketchers slip in and if I need to go outside in weather or go beyond the immediate vicinity of my structure I have slip on boots. Hearing a bear tearing open your pet chicken coop or a fox/coyote/mountain lion snatching your cat gets the blood flowing instantly. Most people have not had to respond quickly to a real threat, scrambling for your gun, finding your glasses, securing your pets or families location and safety, all while listening closely to determine what, who, where, and why of the potential threat. Its easy to panic, but having firearms close by and knowing their status at all times is the 1st step, being hypervigilant & never getting complacent or doubting your instincts follow close behind
emphyrrhicist_caapi@reddit
Chamber the 12 gauge, spray the tango, then post your strava metrics.
Puppies_andKittens@reddit
Dunno, I have a G17 clone, a pistol grip pump and a flashlight. I ain't John Fucking Wick, pretty sure I'm good.
Low-Landscape-4609@reddit
YES. People overthink everything with firearms nowadays. I spent 20 years on patrol at a large city responding to home invasions and all types of self-defense situations. People make things way too complicated.
First off, 95% of calls I responded to didn't even result in the person having to fire their firearm. Usually the presence of the firearm causes the person to leave the area.
Secondly, I've seen people shot with everything from a 22 to a 44 Magnum and let me tell you something, not saw a person yet get shot with a 22 and laugh it off. That will put a man down quick.
Lastly, what people forget the most is getting training. I responded to so many calls of people who showed up at the ER and it shot themselves with their own firearm because they didn't follow the safety rules.
red_jack374@reddit
People always love to come up with what-if scenarios of the wackiest shit.
If your self defense problem at home can't be solved with a 22 or 12 gauge buckshot, you have other problems that should be addressed first.
SpaceGuy1968@reddit
Shotguns ....just racking a pump shotgun in a dimly lit hallway would scare anyone
CardboardAstronaught@reddit
Wait so you’re saying there won’t be a 6 foot 8 350lb man wearing level 3a full body articulating armor and night vision breaking into my house?!?!
silentbuttmedley@reddit
I just need an easy home defense round, like .45-70 or .300 win mag.
red_jack374@reddit
Shoot him in the face or the femoral artery, otherwise skill issue
Low-Landscape-4609@reddit
Oh yeah lol. The first one I ever worked was a 70 something year old man and he had a gang member to show up at his house and try to interfere he took an old Ruger 10/22 and put seven rounds in them. That was that.
I'm sure that old man never put any thought into home defense scenarios lol.
Possible_Ad_4094@reddit
Thanks for saying that. I spent some time in the fire service and worked a few GSWs. A 22 will do the job, but this sub acts like it's worse than a nerf dart.
I much rather someone use a 22 that they can accurately handle than a larger caliber that they struggle with.
UOF_ThrowAway@reddit
I’ve never had a malfunction with CCI standard velocity. Other .22 loadings? Not so much.
I think it boils down to manufacturer quality control.
Possible_Ad_4094@reddit
Definitely. If I buy a bucket of cheap dirty loose rounds, obviously there will be issues. Clean CCI rounds in their sealed and organized trays are great.
That being said, I've still had fewer misfires out of the "bucket of bullets" option. Just seems like there are more firing pin failures (light strikes) out of my other guns. Rifles and pistols both.
UOF_ThrowAway@reddit
Winchester power points come in a box and unfortunately aren’t reliable at all. Lots of failures to fire and lots of failures to extract out of TX22 and 10/22.
TacosNGuns@reddit
I was a patient in a Houston ER and the guy next to me had a .25 acp lodged in his neck. Dude was talking like it was nothing. He also had a neck like a bull 😂
Penguin_Life_Now@reddit (OP)
I know a guy that got shot with a .25 acp in the parking lot of a bar, he was wearing a heavy leather work coat (he was and industrial electrician) and the road did not fully penetrate the coat.
Low-Landscape-4609@reddit
Lol. I don't think people realize how common that is.
The last one I responded to was a 5.56 round to the leg. It was a drug deal gone bad.
The guy lost a lot of blood but he went straight to the ER by POV so he ended up making it. About half his calf was missing though.
PugsAndHugs95@reddit
For most people a cheap striker fired 9mm with some hollow points is good enough for home defense. Or a shotgun. If you have some land a bolt action or AR-15 is good to have. The most important thing is you train with what you’re planning on using so you know that it works and you train your muscles on how to use it.
voltairpaine@reddit
Nightstand .38 specials did the job for decades.
Lampwick@reddit
Back in the late 80s I remember going to gun stores and they were just full of used cop wheelguns. They were so cheap too, but I never picked one up. Now, ever since seeing Paul Harrell shoot a snubby wearing a sport coat I wish I had, just for the old timey TV Detective Show cachet. Also, if I had to shoot someone I'd rather have the cops take a $100 .38SPL throwaway than my Laugo Alien
SpaceGuy1968@reddit
I have a .357 and NY state troopers used them as their daily carry.
I love this damn gun it is THE MOST FUN TO SHOOT....6 SHOTS And IT throws a 12" flame when it fires 🔥
It is a great home defense gun.... revolvers are the most reliable
maxgaap@reddit
Cartridge has been produced since 1898, so now over a century.
ZacInSC@reddit
I keep my EDC CZ P-01 bedside each night. It’s the only pistol I have besides a 22 LR single action cowboy revolver. But my 300 BLK is also always ready if I have the extra 90 seconds to walk over and unzip the case and grab it.
A_Queer_Owl@reddit
for most situations if you can just convince the guy you've got a gun it'll work. most cases of defensive gun use just involve brandishing the weapon because very few people actually want to be shot.
Minimum_Principle_63@reddit
Point a shotgun at me and I'm giving you my wallet and apologizing for not having more money.
A_Queer_Owl@reddit
the easiest and most reliable way to convince someone you have a gun is to point it at them, yes.
PancakesandScotch@reddit
I decked out a 590 as a home defense shotgun for my wife.
Just point it down the hallway and go bang.
She’ll definitely be deaf, along with the kids and neighbors but that’s showbiz baby
Possible_Ad_4094@reddit
That covers the basics, but you forgot the nightstand battle-axe.
SpaceGuy1968@reddit
Yes....they do....
Minute-Log-7098@reddit
100%
preparedbassfisher@reddit
We overthink fucking everything in the firearms world. If you’re being realistic you’d be a total fudd. You don’t need a semi auto red dot flashlight etc. get a jframe and learn to shoot 3-7 yards
Useful-Ad-2274@reddit
“Just get a .38” is such dumb advice though. 9mm polymer pistols cost less, weigh less, have less recoil, have better sights, hold more ammo, and have cheaper ammo. Why in the hell would you ever get a .38?
Penguin_Life_Now@reddit (OP)
But when you wake up to something going bump in the night at 4 am and your whole right arm is numb because you slept on your shoulder wrong, as just happened to me a bit ago, the point and click user interface of a revolver is a LOT easier to operate than a semi automatic when you can't feel your fingers, particularly if it has a safety.
LHGunslinger@reddit
I think any weapon can be "point shot". A hammer fired non safety DA/SA has a similar action initially as a revolver. With the benefit of all following shots being SA. Then there's striker fired pistols without external safeties.
Most external safeties require less than pound to disengage. Less than than the trigger pull on most revolvers.
Consider training more with your non-dominant hand. So if you have a "numb" arm you are still in the fight. If your arm is so numb you can neither find a thumb safety or manipulate it. Your trigger manipulation is going to suffer as well.
Consider upgrading your bedding. Lol.
Penguin_Life_Now@reddit (OP)
As chance would have it I ordered a new mattress yesterday
TacosNGuns@reddit
Yet for most people they can pickup a revolver that’s sat in a drawer for 5+ years, pull the trigger and it simply works. Do that with any semi-auto and you will be lucky if it fires two consecutive shots. Highly likely there will be a clearance drill for each shot fired.
Useful-Ad-2274@reddit
Just felt like making shit up today? Please explain to me how a semi automatic firearm magically breaks after being completely untouched and in a drawer for a couple of years.
Also if that’s such a worry maybe just shoot your gun once in a 5 year period? Doesn’t seem like a big request but idk maybe that is for you.
TacosNGuns@reddit
Simple semi automatics take abuse well, but not neglect. Drive over one, drop it, pick it and it will likely fire. Don’t clean and oil it and it likely won’t.
Revolvers are exactly opposite. They handle neglect wonderfully. Pick up a revolver after years without any maintenance and it goes bang x 6. Drop it, run over it with your truck and it will likely be toast.
These are concepts that children understand. I learned them in NRA & Boy Scout training. Odd that you’re struggling with them.
LHGunslinger@reddit
That is complete bullshit. I have been shooting for more than 40 plus years.
I was a cub scout, weblo scout and boy scouts. Never was there any discussion about the pros and cons of revolvers vs pistols.
I received a WWII 1911 with three loaded mags from my grandfather after he passed. Pistol and mags had sat for decades in a dry dusty attic. Took pistol and mags as is to a range. Ran all three mags. One failure to feed.
Depends on what your calling neglect and what pistols vs revolvers you are comparing. Both eventually need springs replaced. Both need oil or at the very least dry storage conditions. Both revolvers and pistols can last multiple generations equally as well.
Metallurgy and the type of storage are more of a determining factor of functional longevity than the firearms classification (revolver, pistol, rifle, etc).
Various revolvers and pistols have served in various world wars. Like the Webley and 1911. Surving and functioning under extreme conditions. Stored uncaringly as military surplus. To finally end up in the civilian market place. Working just fine.
So you might want to do some more research on firearm durability and longevity.
Matt3855@reddit
Nah cope
Matt3855@reddit
Because it’s our gun safes and we can put whatever the hell we want in them
preparedbassfisher@reddit
Yeah I ment more like a 38 or a Glock 43, small pistol with less than 10 rounds would work for 99.9% of documented self defense cases so why are you walking around with a Glock 17 with a red dot a light and two mags
Penguin_Life_Now@reddit (OP)
I prefer Colt revolvers
preparedbassfisher@reddit
Booooo
Skubaruffin7@reddit
About 60% of gun stuff now is just companies and people paid by companies to push products and get people to feel they need the newest things.
AlphaTangoFoxtrt@reddit
These videos are for entertainment.
The issue is youtube revenue is paid based on length of view, not number of views. This is why videos now are long form with lots of filler and bullshit. Plus they have to name drop every one of their sponsors and get all the product placement in.
A simple video that says:
Is not going to make them much money.
6ought6@reddit
Yes
KittehKittehKat@reddit
I know a dude that has nods and an infrared emitter/laser thingy on an sbr suppressed AR.
Dude thinks he’s going to the Bin Laden raid at his house.
Brokenblacksmith@reddit
And what really sucks is if he ever actually has to use it, it's going into a police evidence locker and never seen again.
LHGunslinger@reddit
My son was involved in a self defense shooting. Got his pistol back after the initial hearing. The DA agreed it was self defense. Took less than ten days after the initial hearing.
IHeartSm3gma@reddit
Exactly.....this is why I have a Glock 17 w/light or an M&P 15 sport for a home defense rifle....I'll be less upset if those are sitting in an evidence locker for years than my Daniel Defense and others.
ReplacementReady394@reddit
Locker? The cops are taking that and stripping it
Brokenblacksmith@reddit
Yes thats the joke.
Franticalmond2@reddit
I will 100% die on the hill that that kind of insanity is a direct result of the opening scene of John Wick 1. I swear, way too many people in the gun sphere act like a ln entire team of mafia hitmen or Spetsnaz will burst into their home in the middle of the night.
HeloRising@reddit
To be somewhat charitable, I think it's more of a "why not?" than focusing on one specific event. The issue is people can lose perspective and take "why not" way too far.
They consider what's the most likely threat for most people - a random break-in or an angry person (ex, neighbor, family member, etc) beating on the door.
A basic handgun will take care of that most of the time if it comes to that.
But...a rifle will also take care of that and it'll be useful if a couple of maniacs decide to do a home invasion so...why not get a rifle?
Sometimes people steal body armor and might use them in home invasions, so why not buy a bunch of green tips?
What happens if they cut the power before they run in? Why not get night vision?
So you end up following the "why not" ladder until you reach true crazy nirvana and you're bolting an M2 emplacement to the top of the stairs. Every step up the ladder is seen as "I can take care of this thing but if I just add a little capability I can take care of this thing and the next thing." The issue is people often don't stop and say "Is this a rational fear to have?"
People usually get stopped by a lack of resources to just go up that next step. You see it in rich people all the time. Some dork ass banker buys a car and gets bullet proof windows installed that can stop a .308 when the most "danger" he's ever been in is someone yelling at him in traffic for an unsafe lane change.
That's why it's really important when you're thinking about these kinds of things to stop and really be brutally honest with yourself - "Do I need a concealed shotgun under the seat of my truck? Do I need to use that ammo that costs $3/round because it gives me slightly better performance against body armor?"
And sometimes it means just not getting so tunnel visioned in on one thing. Having a firearm to protect yourself is good but if you're dumping thousands of dollars into a super tacticool home defense firearm build meanwhile I can open your back door by just giving it a good shove because the lock is broken, you're not prioritizing home defense you're trying to justify a hobby.
SumKallMeTIM@reddit
Well said
AbbreviationsFun5448@reddit
It been going on for way longer than John Wick #1 has been out.
A_Queer_Owl@reddit
John Wick did throw a five gallon bucket of gasoline on that dumpster fire, tho.
moving0target@reddit
One tweaker can kill you just as dead. I'm trying to be prepared for the most likely problem. Practice with what I have is better than spending a bunch of money on stuff I don't shoot and don't have a way to train with.
6ought6@reddit
Wild
consultantdetective@reddit
But what if I have made a lot of frivolous purchases and am still attached to the justification the seller gave to me? What then huh?
DTKeign@reddit
You're feelings are valid.
moebiusgrip@reddit
1000% yes.
Shotgun and #4 buck. Call it a day. A invader isn’t a tactical assassin… they a schmuck looking for a laptop, maybe some jewelry and they wanna be gone in 2 minutes. They gonna stumble, they don’t know your house, and will probably step on the claymore trip wire anyway.
Everyone just needs to take it easy.
A_Queer_Owl@reddit
you mean there's not gonna be 30 robbers and I won't be getting in an epic John Wick gun fight in my living room?
lokey_convo@reddit
No. But GunTubers and the firearms industry generally likes to sell stuff and separate you from your money.
UOF_ThrowAway@reddit
Winchester power points come in a box and unfortunately aren’t reliable at all. Lots of failures to fire and lots of failures to extract out of TX22 and 10/22.
Imaginary_Relief7886@reddit
Just watch Clint Smith clips
"Just fling all kinds of crap their way" "Just get a bigger gun" "A shotgun at the right range, with the right load will physically remove a piece of your opponent and throw that shit in the floor" "I don't care what bullets do to a block of jelly, only what it does to the asshole at the end of my hall with a big knife" "If he is down and he moves, shoot the son of a bitch again"
mmm_burrito@reddit
I think it's a sign of the times. People feel unsafe. Larping about home defense scenarios is a coping mechanism for some.
ElGuero1717@reddit
If you have a plan, don't talk about, don't post about it, don't do the tacticool thing. A prosecutor will use it to argue for premeditated murder. The fight doesn't end when you shoot an intruder, it ends when you walk out from court.
Torch99999@reddit
I had my house broken into at 3 AM about 8 years ago (before I moved out of the city). I learned a lot from that experience.
I have a home defense gun, but it's nothing fancy.
Also have a first aid kit, flashlight, and spare mags.
The biggest change to what "gear" I have is I now have an old driver's license, pen, lawyers business card, and note paper ready for when the police show up. I also keep some wood and screws on hand in case I need to make temporary repairs to a kicked in door or broken window.
I also keep my old truck parked outside (not in the garage) so it's obvious to would-be thieves that someone is home.
Also reinforced my doors to be kick proof. I've even had someone try to kick my doors after the reinforcement; it worked perfectly and I didn't even need to get out of bed.
Georgington1776@reddit
Friend of mine is like this. I asked him one day “who do you think is after you? Lol but he bought me an awesome bedside safe for Christmas so I don’t mind his paranoia. Sometimes being paranoid is a good thing.
Preppinainteasy@reddit
I tend to agree with you for the most part, home defense boils down to training, having a plan, and sticking with that plan. The equipment portion is important but really a secondary factor. Example
You have kids in the home, they hear something in the middle of the night, they hop up and go check it out, and get caught in the cross fire of you vs bad guy. Thats something training can fix. Tell little Timmy, at night, you stay in bed, even if you hear xyz, do not leave your room.
Another thing people seem to think is, that they are going to seal team John wick clear their house. Thats pretty fucking dumb. Yeah if you need to get to your kids thats one thing, but if you family is secure, say on a 2nd floor, and the intruder(s) are on the 1st floor, take a defensive position and hold that. Make the problem come to you, its safer that way.
Firearm selection is always highly debated. Every home is different, from the lay out to the materials used to build it. As OP said, consider over penetration first and foremost. Where are your projectiles going when you pull that trigger. Yeah little timmy may have learned from his training and stayed in bed, but if you miss your target and blow through Timmy wall, is he the next thing that projectile is going to strike?
So what's the "best" choice? Whatever works for you and your situation and training level. I personally like the 12 gauge, loaded with number 4 buck mini shells. Its a big enough shot load to do damage, but small enough that over penetration is generally minimal.
Another option and im sure people will bitch about this, is bird shot (i prefer #6) In a home defense situation where maximum distances are no more than 10 yards, that bird shot hits like a slug, but gnerally disburses upon impact of walls. I know its effective because I have seen it first hand. A good friend of mine was the victim of a home invasion and one of the fuckers that broke into her house shot her once in the stomach with bird shot at a distances of roughly 7 yards, damn near killed her, put her in the hospital for 2 months in a medically induced coma, and still to this day little bird shot pellets surface through her skin from time to time.
But also, to each their own. If you want to use a 950 JDJ for home defense, or a 17hmr, be my guest. I dont live with you, so I dont give a shit.
610Mike@reddit
I would argue that people don’t think enough about home defense. I’ll admit that I used to be one of those that kept their coolest pistol and/or rifle next to them, but as I’ve gotten older, and especially after having kids, I’ve had to rethink everything.
I used to care only about what could make a person more dead the fastest. No thoughts of over penetration or tactical awareness at all. Had my kitted out 5.56 and Gucci 9MM build next to the bed 24/7. Now that my kid’s room is next to mine, and after my in-laws moved in with us (don’t ask - yes it’s that bad), I’ve had to rethink it all.
Now I have my suppressed .300BLK with some fat, expanding subs and a suppressed FNX45T with HSTs next to the bed. God forbid something does happen, I’ve done everything I can think of to prevent over penetration.
Redrum_71@reddit
The most important thing after choosing the right gear is having a plan. If you live in a shit state without castle doctrine, you need to be aware in advance of where in your home shooting an intruder won't get you charged.
sailor-jackn@reddit
Honestly, the majority of people greatly fail to think about home defense ( self defense in general) too little.
JamesT3R9@reddit
In general - I think they do. Home defense is, IMHO, NOT making your home a fortress. But it is about knowing your weapon of choice which again IMHO is most likely to be a pistol and how much you care for it, your competence under simulated stress, your capacity to freeze or act when terrified, whether or not you have thought through what it will mean to fire your weapon for real, what the local laws are for home defense, your home itself and neighbors homes, your sight lines, and creating habitual actions to help you not to become a victim. And so on.
maxgaap@reddit
Yes, people tend to overthink it. I think it has a lot to do with justifying the purchase than the perception of absolute need.
To be frank most people overthink the firearm and don't spend enough time thinking about the home itself. Motion sensor lights, trimming back bushes from windows, actually locking all doors and windows, having an alarm system, and getting a dog would reduce the already unlikely chances of using a firearm in the home for self defense by a rather large percentage.
No_Joke_3207@reddit
Yes.
I have worked in ranges and gun shops most my adult life and listening to (and having to indulge) people dissecting home defense down to the tiniest and most far-fetched scenarios is crazy. What ammo. What gun. What ergo feature's. Constantly switching and swapping stuff to optimize.
I am a "gun professional" and literally just own a beat up maverick 88 shotgun with a flashlight for home defense.
...There... Done. HD no longer takes up any space in my mind.
Agammamon@reddit
No.
Only the sort of people *who like to talk to internet strangers about home defense* overthink it.
Everyone else largely understands their actual risks and gets a firearm suited for those risks. The people who talk about it online like to mall-ninja shit and 'plan' for such tactical eventualities like when the UN sends Spetnaz troops to their urban studio apartment and what sort of weapon would be best to take out dudes in level 4 kevlar with drones and tear gas because that's soooooo likely to happen to them.
BigBoyBoulevard6@reddit
I've always gotten a laugh out of the idiots who are way too into "self defense" and post photos all over social media of their houses and EVERY piece of equipment/weapon they have. That is only a deterent to sane people, for the people who are stupid/crazy enough to break into a random home, you're just letting them know what they could potentially win 🤣
OT_Militia@reddit
Yes. Just use a pistol or an AR9 with red dot and flashlight.
kilroy-was-here-2543@reddit
I think most guys home defense scenarios could be handled with a cheap used Glock loaded with hollow points, or a Maverick 88 loaded with #4 buck or turkey shot. Same with concealed carry pistols though if I’m being honest.
At the end of the day, a self or home defense firearm should be the simplest and most reliable weapon you can afford. And that’s about it, its intention is to get you through the worst 2 minutes of your life. Save the Gucci builds for competition shooting, hunting and the flat range
Kvolou66@reddit
100%, dudes spends 4K on a gun then some guy sneaks into their window and snatches their shit without them ever waking up cause they spent all their cash on a gun instead of a security system
walmarttshirt@reddit
This is a huge one for me. My wife worries about security. We live in an incredibly safe town. I grew up in a shithole city. Our house is well lit from the outside. The windows and doors are secure. We have a dog that barks if she hears people around the house. She’s a golden retriever and is an absolute coward but she’s loud. Our house is the smallest in the neighborhood. I have firearms in the house that are readily available in the event that someone tries to break in.
None of this matters if we leave the doors unlocked or the ground floor windows open overnight.
HeadlessThompsonGunr@reddit
I think about it often how people back in the day all had guns and left their doors unlocked. Not sure what to make of that except it’s interesting.
Regular-Progress648@reddit
It’s wild how you can protect yourself outside of having a gun. First, don’t live in a high crime area. The chances of me having a break is like .0001% and that right there basically makes it non existent. Then you make sure to lock the doors/windows, and yeah….
Of course I’ve thought about how to protect my family with with my guns but my guns really just serve a purpose of a hobby and collecting
norfizzle@reddit
Suppressor, light, red dot.
PancakesandScotch@reddit
Handgun, flashlight. Done.
Oh…and a flash bang, 3 claymores and a sword.
TheJewBakka@reddit
I overthink everything bud. I ready for a damn dragon to bust down my door.
Measurex2@reddit
Or maybe not think about it enough. For me, a gun is my absolute last line of defense. I wish people at the very least spent $3 to get longer screws to reinforce their door jams.
For me, home defense is all about layers.
I have good relationships with my neighbors and, since they get invited to BBQs, they know and recognize my friends and family. They've called about new people in my yard (almost always a contractor doing something for me) or see something I'd want to know about.
For my house, I have the below and more before a gun even shows up. - prickly bushes under windows - motion sensing floodlights with hard wired cameras - steel entry doors with reinforced door jams - 3M antishatter film on my windows - security system - Dogs
I dont get the "jump to the gun" home defense strategies. I never want to have to shoot someone but, by God, it'll be clear to a jury that someone getting through all that intended to do me harm.
volckerwasright@reddit
I have a tacticool suppressed PCC for the task because my wife is confident and competent with it and so am I. No shade on your perspective, just throwing out a different one.
Penguin_Life_Now@reddit (OP)
No shade against your choice either, but a PCC by the bed does me no good if I am sitting on the sofa in the living room when someone kicks the door down.
dannysmackdown@reddit
Do you just carry a pistol in your home or something?
Penguin_Life_Now@reddit (OP)
No, but I keep one in the armrest of my sofa as well as one in my night stand by the bed, and I have strongly considered keeping one within short reach of the front door, maybe in a drawer in a table in the foyer
dannysmackdown@reddit
Nice, not a bad idea. I live in Canada so I can't even really defend my home legally (very contentious) but people are getting sick of it.
Still got a 590A1 nearby though.
volckerwasright@reddit
Get yourself a little yip dog OP and you'll have the drop on anyone who comes up to your door.
Regular-Progress648@reddit
Do you two run clearing drills in the house?
volckerwasright@reddit
No, if something happens thats the cops’ job. We’re in the bedroom with the door covered until blue lights show up
Regular-Progress648@reddit
Yeah I don’t think you apply to the folks OP is talking about
volckerwasright@reddit
😂 touché
Stormenta94@reddit
I have a PC9 myself.
I think that in today's market for PCC its for most people an ideal home defense rifle.
TraumaBondage@reddit
My nightstand gun, the only one not locked in the safe, is an m&p 9mm that I trust to fire 100% of the time.
umbrellassembly@reddit
It's youtube. They gotta say something in their videos. 🤷🏻♂️
whiskey_tang0_hotel@reddit
The pros just do the fundamentals exceptionally well.
Folks could benefit greatly from competitions in shooting. It makes you a much better shooter and helps you stress test your skills.
Cost of gun does come into play a little bit. If I’m going to trust my life to a tool, I’d rather shell out for something like a BCM vs a PSA rifle. You want to know with certainty it is going to go bang. But that goes back to the above, where you should run your gear.
Strong_Dentist_7561@reddit
I honestly think people genuinely overthink it in the idiotic but apparently unquenchable desire for a “blaze of glory” moment for once in their miserable lives; not knowing the taking of a life in Imago Dei will haunt you for the rest of your days.
I’ve got my pocket pistol (S&W Mdl 49) on my nightstand, S&W M&P .38 snub on my other nightstand; and varied other firearms scattered throughout my place. There’s been times I’ve slept like an absolute baby with nothing but a single shot H&R .410 or 12ga next to me, times it was nothing but a single action .22LR…
The key is to make yourself an unappealing target, failing that a hard target; and failing that- damn good with your weaponry of choice. A strung out junkie is quite simply not going to care who’s home they’re breaking into, but the actual criminal in a sound mind (relatively speaking) will pick an easy target.
Don’t let yourself be that easy target.
Panthean@reddit
No
BoxofCurveballs@reddit
Yes.
Wife and I both have our home defense guns (personal flavors of 9mm glock) and a 22 for coyotes or snakes (i consider this part of the HD equation because theyre intruders who can hurt my dog). Any situation that can't be solved by that, I've got bigger problems.
Useful-Ad-2274@reddit
No one ever talks about it but being a descent member of society is the best self defense. I live in a shit neighborhood and situations involving the police are a common occurrence.
The amount of times I’ve heard people show up to my neighbors houses and scream “you fucked my babymomma/babydaddy” “you said this on facebook” “you said this about my cousin/auntie/momma/daddy” and a fist fight or window smashing ensue is too many to count. Meanwhile I’ve lived here three years and have always been respectful and have never had an issue.
RegardedCaveman@reddit
Billions of people go their whole lives never owning a gun. Make sure your locks and doors are good, install security lights and maybe an alarm system and you’ll probably never need to shoot anybody ever.
Unironically I think sleepy Joe was half right about shotguns. I keep my tacticool toys in the safe and a double barrel in the closet. I have infinitely more practice shooting moving things with it than my ARs, pistols or pumps. No warning shots though.
Penguin_Life_Now@reddit (OP)
I prefer to have more than 2 shots on hand, so my choice is a 50+ year old Remington 870 Wingmaster with an +2 magazine tube extension.
RegardedCaveman@reddit
Good shit, I’ve got an 870 in the safe that I hate handling, I’ve never tried a pump or semi that fit my body, including a mossy 590 and benelli m4, but my SxS just fits me like a glove.
gecon@reddit
Some people put more thought, time and money into it, which is their prerogative.
That being said, you'll get the best bang for your buck by doing basic things like not leaving your windows/doors/garage open or unlocked and by not opening the doors for strangers. Also, plan things out so everyone in your home knows what to do if there is an intruder or home invasion (ex: everyone retreat to bedroom or other fallback point).
With respect to firearms, you don't need anything fancy. Have a firearm you can carry on you while home or somewhere that's safe but easily accessible to you. It could be something as cheap as a mossberg maverick ($200) or an inexpensive handgun like an LCP Max ($200). If budget allows, you can always choose something that costs more. To each his own.
SOSB-Haru@reddit
Yeah. Everyone wants to be a GBRS / Seal operator.
Their excuse?
"It's my god given right"
"That's what the second amendment is for"
"Why do you think I have so many credit cards?"
"My collar is blue and I bleed red 🇺🇸"
Regular-Progress648@reddit
Bro since I bought all that gear I’m basically Seal. You can basically thank me for my service
Lower-Ad-1300@reddit
People forget all the gun magazines are for advertising all the shit you really don’t need. If you got a couple easily accessible pistols and a flash light you got what you need for home defense . That said, we do love the cool shit. Face it we just dig guns
Regular-Progress648@reddit
And your last part is really what my guns are to me, a hobby.
guynamedgoliath@reddit
I dont think the average non-gun nerd is doing all that. It's just what you see is super deep into the gun culture side of things where our hobby is firearms. The nerds are willing to blow way more money on stuff, just like any hobby.
My dad considers himself a gun nut with about 100 guns, and multiple ARs. He uses a G26 Polymer80, a G17 Polymer80, and a Taurus 44spl. He's got one in each room he spends time in.
Personally I use a Retromod "733" I built on the cheap with just irons and a flashlight. It was mostly an excuse to justify a retro rifle (though its quickly become my favorite "do stuff" rifle, like walking the hunting property).
I've got full kit, but realistically I'm not throwing all that on in the middle of the night after my door just got kicked in. The most "kit" I could justify is earpro.
Side rant: this "overkill" approach is a issue with all aspects of gun culture. For example, everyone now hates on micro-rigs in favor of full blown 8 mag chest rigs with crazy sustainment. Bro, I'm just walking the back 40 of the hunting property, checking tree stands and food plots, and maybe putting out corn. A micro-rig with a couple mags and medical are more than enough. I'm not breaking contact with coyotes or poachers and spraying 4 mags. Everyone is too wrapped up in their LARP fantasies.
Mammoth_Classroom896@reddit
Yep. "Sleep naked and keep a chainsaw by your bed" doesn't sell expensive guns and gun accessories.
-Minos-@reddit
I have armor piercing incendiary slugs and dragons breath buckshot ready to go, along with my cannon full of grape shot. But I’m really hoping to use the bayonet as the founding fathers intended.
Mammoth_Classroom896@reddit
1897 trench gun as God intended.
Tough-Artichoke-8541@reddit
This is mine and I think it’s awesome.m can’t wait for Hamas zombies to infiltrate my gated neighborhood
Additional_Dish_694@reddit
My brother, if the people im shooting are in my house, im thinking i dont care how it looks on the tv…
RR50@reddit
Yes, they overthink everything, and are scared of their own shadows. They also think they stand a chance against the government if the government actually wants to do anything to them.
Feel free to downvote away.
Lower-Ad-1300@reddit
Stats show most gun fights are rule of 3. 3 seconds, 3 shots at 3 yds. I got one in the living room and one in the bedroom with a flash light. I think I’m good
Drawing-Medical@reddit
Im rocking a birthday suit and a Winchester 1897 if duty calls
603rdMtnDivision@reddit
Yeah the YouTubers definitely overthink it and base their whole plan on a curated idea of what they think will happen or what leads up to it and we can see that doesn't work like that.
Should you experience the misfortune of having to do this it will NEVER arrive at a time of your choosing or ideal conditions. You won't have time to grab anything but the closest gun and the best laid out plans can go to shit immediately so while it's good to have a plan, don't rely on it 100%.
My home defense plan is simple: Get my closest gun and be the barrier between my family and some criminal scumbag who will have a very bad time if he proceeds with whatever the hell he's thinking.
Drunk_Catfish@reddit
100% yes, I would say for the vast majority of people any reliable gun will be fine for home defense. As long as it goes bang every time you pull the trigger it'll work. Obviously there's better guns in better calibers with better rounds but of the very small minority who need to use a gun for self defense they will at most fire one magazine worth of ammo at a person who almost certainly didn't plan on getting shot and the size of the bullet doesn't change that.
That said if you want to dive into it a bit deeper and make the best choices that's great too, most people on this sub put a bit more thought into it than strictly needed and that's not a bad thing.
Outrageous_Lion8966@reddit
Everybody that’s in the firearms community overthinks everything firearms these days.
Terminal_Lancelot@reddit
Absolutely they do.
People used to just use their bolty or pump action hunting tool, Lord knows if it can put down an elk or deer posthaste, humans won't be so tough.
Nowadays if you don't have the latest and greatest, you're gonna get "kilt in da streetz!"
Ultrasuperbro2@reddit
The only gimmicks I want on a Home Defense gun are a flashlight, and a suppressor. Shooting inside a house is LOUD! And you may not be near the light-switch.
fenuxjde@reddit
Yes. Only an idiot plans to shoot an intruder.
Dung_Beetle_2LT@reddit
I sure as fuck plan to shoot an intruder but I hope it never happens. I don’t know their capabilities nor intentions and won’t be waiting to find out.
Dung_Beetle_2LT@reddit
Yes. A basic AR, pistol or even shotgun will do the trick. Put a light on it and a decent dot. A suppressor would be nice though as you’re not gonna have time to find your ears. Know your angles. That’s it.
hamerfreak@reddit
I have my two carry pistols nearby in my living room. My Glock 19 with a light is in my nightstand. Shotgun loaded and tucked away in the corner. 5 mags of 5.56 sitting in my safe with my AR's if needed. That as much thought as I gave it.
JMojo0811@reddit
Yes, a shotgun or a pistol is going to be just fine for the average Joe in the slim chance you ever have to use it.
FabiusBill@reddit
Yes.
VeterinarianAbject93@reddit
Best laid plan and defense is solid till first contacr
HoneyBadger877@reddit
Definitely the YouTuber crowd. Keeping things simple with a full size handgun (for shoot ability. 17+rounds is nice but unlikely to be needed), a shotgun, or a rifle (AR or otherwise) will be plenty if you ever hear a bump in the night. Most likely if you don’t drop an intruder right away, they’ll be looking for the door after the first shots anyway.
Looking forward to seeing the comments in this thread.