When I was a little boy, my dad’s choice of home defense gun was “American Traditional”: a double barrel 12 gauge shotgun and double-aught buckshot. Joe Biden would have approved.

The shotgun was the home defense standard in this country for centuries, but recently we’ve seen a huge surge in the adoption of the A15 rifle for this purpose. With proper ammo, it won’t penetrate through residential building materials any more than a service pistol bullet, but is very easy for all authorized members of the family to manipulate, particularly when equipped with the telescoping stock so hated by those who scream for the ban of “assault weapons.”

At the other end of the spectrum, my old friend Rich Grassi made a case in The Tactical Wire for the tiny Ruger LCP .380 pistol as part of the home defense armory. Reason: it can be constantly carried in your pocket, giving you a firearm instantly at hand wherever you are inside or outside the four walls, buying you time to fight your way to something more substantial if necessary.

As I write this, our current home defense guns motel room defense guns are a couple of .45 autos: A Springfield Armory Range Officer 1911A1 on my side, and a ROBAR Custom Glock 30-S for the lady of the house hotel room.

What’s your current approach to home defense hardware?

145 COMMENTS

  1. Mas, you said: “With proper ammo, it won’t penetrate through residential building materials any more than a service pistol bullet…”

    What would you say is the proper ammo for an AR15? (Either 5.56 or .223)

  2. Tight quarters in my home preclude me from any long barrel guns. My choice is the XD Springfield line of handguns in 40. Also my carry guns are usually the S&W Shield also in 40.

  3. Mas, as you recall we live on a 275 acre somewhat remote ranch near the Wet Mountain Range of Colorado. Also have IR alarms and motion sensor lights. Finally there is the furball platoon of mostly saved canines ranging from a Doberman on down to a Jack Russell Terrier. The metal laser cut entrance sign on our 800 foot long driveway shows four armed cowboys with the words “Go Away” beneath them. In the last fourteen years, zero threats at the house. However, if societal chaos etc. is in our republic’s future, we have various firearms, edged weapons, chemical sprays, NVG’s, caltrops etc. in ready locations throughout our single level ARXX block / stucco home. Mary favors her S&W Lady Smith and the Mossberg. I tend to have the pair of .45 ACP Kimber Gold Combat Stainless and a Remington 870. If there is sufficient warning in daylight I will reach out with the Remington 700 PSS in .308 with a suppressor or even one of the Garands. And as we’ve discussed with you before, if the ‘zombies’ come we will ensure they meet “our little friends”… Mare’s Sterling 9mm MKIV SMG suppressed or my more crude Colt M1928N TSMG… maybe with a C drum for emphasis? There are a couple of Colt AR’s for backup along with the ‘other’ contents of the gun safe, significant ammunition quantities in many calibers etc. I pray nothing untoward ever happens. but “on that day” if it comes, we do not intend to go out on our knees… to anyone. We shall see, as when out and about I have a J Frame with .38+P, Sabre Red OC and a favorite legal blade always with me. Thankfully we don’t fly anymore or have a need for a hotel room, but we hope you and Gail remain undisturbed in the coming days. Thanks again for your continuing insightful commentaries… Be safe… PS, if you and/or Gail are out of position in Colorado if TSHTF and elect to come here, mind the Doberman and his platoon pals at the inner locked gate until we get there… OK?…:-)

  4. Home defense is no different than EDC. It is carried in the home so it is available immediately. The only exception is if I am doing a dry fire session–then all live guns and ammo are in another room.

  6. Walther PPS .40 whenever awake, XD .40 + Streamlight TLR-1 in bedside bio-metric and Benelli M-2 w/ DSF forend and extended mag tube in a corner safe in the bedroom closet. The .40s run Magtech 155 JHP and the M-2 holds lots of Federal 00.

    Please keep blogging; helps me stay in condition yellow.

  7. A Glock 17 w/ a crimson Trace light and laser. And for more interesting times a Rem 870 Police Magnum with a Vang Comp barrel

  8. I have several different firearms immediately available dispersed throughout the home ranging from AR’s, .30 cal carbine, GsG-522 etc.. But my preference bed gun is a saiga-12, with muzzle break, folding stock, aftermarket gas plug, with a varying load of buck/bird/buck/bird( I personally find this helps fight muzzle rise to fire faster(personal preference)).

  9. Not too many 9’s here, Glock 30 gen 2.5 with Mep sights in drawer and mouse gun Beretta 950 .25 ACP in ankle holster. Glock 17 in different drawer, yes, 9’s, but at least a lot of them. Gen 1.

  10. I live in a rural place with a lot of not-so-friendly visiting animals that come mostly after dark, such as aggressive stray dogs, javelina, a lobo wolf that makes regular rounds, and rattlesnakes. Also mountain lions, an occasional ocelot, 50-pound bobcats, and even a melanistic jaguar or two (I am not the only one who has seen a black jaguar). You can throw in the occasional unexpected intruder as well. So, I generally pack my Ruger spurless SP101 .357 for use at near-contact range, and my tactical Mossberg 500 for general purposes, with 5 #4 buck in the mag tube and 5 heavy slugs in a buttstock sidesaddle. The two oddball rescue dogs that we have here are bizarre enough to frighten an elephant, and also are a pretty good warning system.

  11. None of your business where I keep them, but they include (not always in separate rooms):

    12 gauge mossberg pump
    Winchester 12 gauge pump
    M18 claymore mines at every entrance and ground-floor window
    .357 4″ revolver (hollowpoints)
    Single-action .41 magnum revolvers (two of them)
    5-shot stubby in .38 special
    M67 fragmentation hand grenades at every upstairs window.
    Winchester lever-action in .30-30
    P3AT
    and a couple of .45acp 1911s here and there
    “back ups” here and there, not loaded but ammunition close at hand:
    Extra magazine and ammunition stashes here and there.
    Flashlights in every room.

    Okay, I’m not being entirely truthful about this.
    As I say … not really any of your business.

  12. Guns in the nightstand vary. More Importantly, I tend to make sure not to leave big knives, pointy things and other weapons of opportunity lying about the house when I’m in the land of knod.

  13. .
    Lots of good choices described here ! …… which are probably the most useful comments ever, since they will cause us to think or rethink our own personal choice(s) for house guns, placements, etc.

    I live alone, so can keep a cocked and locked 1911 Commander next to my computer, which is my work location.

    the house has a gun in every room, including the bathroom, a place overlooked by many, and it’s the place in which we are the most vulnerable, especially when in the shower … a S&W model 65 resides there. the rest are some .44 specials, 1911’s, etc., etc. ….. Plus a Rem. 870, with an extended mag. and a side-saddle, all with low recoil 12 ga. 00 buck, plus a bandoleer with 50 more rounds next to the 870. I believe the low recoil 12 ga. rounds are important, since extra powerful rounds will have my gun pointing at the ceiling after letting one loose, where surely no bad guy will be hanging out.

    I close out every day with thanks I have not had to use any of those firearms to defend myself in my home, and hope and pray I never will have to … however prepared I am.

    when up and about, I also keep a Ruger LCP Pro model 9 mm holstered, or in a pocket … even {especially when} taking out the trash. {no safety on the ‘Pro’ model ….. an important consideration}

    Since I work from home, using a computer, there are additional loaded guns CLOSE at hand there — especially since I often will fall asleep for a while in the evenings while sitting in front of the computer, while working or just using it for information or recreational purposes. If jolted awake by a strange noise, I need only reach 12 inches for a cocked and locked 1911, with 200 gr. +P Gold Dot’s
    {which was John Browning’s original choice for a .45 a.c.p. bullet, … 200 gr., the Army wanted the 230’s and it also mandated the grip safety, which I deactivated on my ‘computer table gun’}

  14. Around the house I always keep my S&W AirLite Ti J frame, 1-7/8″ barrel at close hand, loaded with Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .38+P, 135 grain. Can’t get a license to carry where I live (3 guesses where that might be… hint: some place out west), so out and about I always have a can of bear spray (30 foot range, 9.2 seconds of spray) discreetly stashed on my body. Of course this would not be very good in a crowded area. Too many innocent people would be hit, although for some situations it could be excellent and I have already once been very glad I had it. So it goes with me everywhere. Last backup is my Benchmade Barage which I believe is something like .125″ too long to be carried legally. Oh well, I do it anyway.

  15. Initial Response is Canik 55 TP 9 with XTS laser. 17 115 9mm JHPS. 1911A1 is back up. Aterwards is my AK with Wolf soft points.

  16. I rely on a Glock 19 in an IWB holster stuffed with as many 9mm rounds as it will take. Then I carry a spare mag in my left pocket in case things really go south. I carry the Glock in a concealed manner should I have to answer the door or go outside for something.

    In a home invasion scenario I assume that there will be no time to run to the bedroom to fetch your weapon from the nightstand or pistol vault. Therefore, I believe the safest place for my weapon is on me. Whenever or wherever trouble arrives I’m ready to repel boarders. Like poster TRX, if I’m dressed, I’m armed.

  17. Mine like yours is the S&W M&P AR-15 along with my Colt Government model 1911. But there is also my wife’s S&W M&P Shield 9 Mil. Oh and not to be too under gunned is my Couch Gun, a double barrels Shot gun in 12 Gauge.

    Thanks for your time and I always enjoy your writ-tings.

  18. I am a 100% Disabled and Retired USAF MSgt Veteran. So I do have some targets on my back. This is one of the reasons I carry at least two guns. My 1911 Colt Government on my hip and a S&W M&P Shield 40 from the Performance Center, and when I feel like I might need it, I also have a J Frame 38 on my ankle. You can never be too prepared.

    Thanks for your time, and I always enjoy your show and quips.

    Sincerely,

    Michael R Choler, MSgt, USAF. Ret
    Life Member NRA

  19. Just answering a couple of specific reader questions:

    I do think it’s a good idea to keep active hearing protector by the bed/home defense gun. Won’t always be time to don them, but if there is, ability to preserve (and with some, such as the Tactical command Industries model, actually enhance) hearing, could be priceless.

    The load I recommend for home defense with the .223 would be the Hornady TAP, or any 55 grain hollow point.

  20. Mas,

    I did a quick tally of the responses so far. Here are the results:

    Responders who rely on handguns ONLY = 38 %

    Responders who rely on a handgun / Shotgun combo = 38 %

    Responders who rely on a handgun / .223 Rifle Combo = 10 %

    Other Responders = 14 % *

    * The “Other” category includes people who have everything (handguns, AR’s shotguns, you name it!) or else it includes people who use a different type of handgun / long-gun combo (EX: Handgun with M1 Carbine).

    So, it appears that for this sample of blog readers, the shotgun (usually combined with a handgun) is still a lot more popular than the AR platform used either alone or in combination with a handgun.

  22. Daily carry is a LCP .380 in right front pocket , XDs .45 Springfield Armory sidearm, .380 Bersa Thunder plus in a locked center consel in both vehicles and Winchester Model 12 12 gauge pump very close at hand in the bedroom.
    Wife’s side of the bed has her .380 Bersa Thunder Plus and spare mags,
    No children in our house , so we feel safe and comfortable with firearms close in most of our rooms.
    At 75 yrs old , I no longer run anywhere , I stand and fight !!!

  23. @ TN_MAN Says:

    When you mentioned your main home defense handgun was a S&W 38 Special Revolver (Model 10-10 with 4-inch heavy barrel), I recalled that is the same weapon I was issued at the USBP Academy, in 1966.

    Of course these were plainly stamped “U.S.B.P.” on the frame, so I am just curious whether your S&W was one of those Border Patrol S&Ws, retreaded into civilian life, or did S&W make a similar model besides those USBP models?

    Paul

  24. Currently, whatever 1911 I carried before I got home, and a Bushmaster carbon fiber AR15, with pencil barrel, light laser and 20 rounds of 40 gr. varmint hp in the mag.

  25. Home defence Glock 21, Glock 34, AR 15, Ruger Mini 14, Beretta 1201 12 gauge police model, Reminton 870. Plus several more revolvers staged Smith Wesson model 19, 10 and two Ruger SP 101’s.
    Use Hornady Tap in AR and Mini 14, use Hornady Critical defence in all handguns, use Winchester PDX 1 in shotguns.

  26. I carry a J-Frame with me always and everywhere. I haven’t been without that little gun for the past 14 years, when I made the decision to carry always and everywhere.

  30. Home defense gun. I agree the LCP is a “fair” option although the LC9 would be better.

    For me, SIG P938 in my pocket or beside me on the desk. Walther PPQ on my night stand or on my hip. AR pistol suppressed beside the nightstand.

    I love articles and queries like this. It keeps me thinking…

    Clay

  31. Mr. Ayoob
    Thanks to your review, my current home gun is a Wilson Beretta 92F compact.
    A great gun, no longer offered by Wilson.
    Thank you, for all you do for the shooting sports, and law enforcement everywhere.
    Jim

  32. Glock 43 in pocket is bare minimum. 12ga mossberg pumps loaded with Remington 00 2-3/4 and a pressure switch activated light in my secure cabinet safes, but that’s a luxury of access, which is not guaranteed. Keep a couple old Taurus 38 wheelguns (they were had cheap and reliable) stashed around with auxiliary handlights. But I don’t think there is a better substitute for carrying your regular rig at home. And if your rig is too uncomfy, well then that’s what we’d call A HINT!!! Of course there is no substitute for a good security check of the property, things like planting prickly bushes under the windows, not leaving ladders laying around, hiding keys in obvious places. Having your local PD come for a free check is not only smart, but then you can establish a relationship with them in case they do have to show up at your place code 3, friendly fire is only tragic. Keeping the predators out is 1st priority. Taking prisoners puts you at risk when the cops show up and you’re the proverbial MAN WITH A GUN holding one at gunpoint. And if you shoot someone in your house, you’re butt will be needing a new house, an added expense even if you don’t get prosecuted or sued. But just glad to see everyone is safely yet immediately armed!!

  33. KelTec P3AT always in a pocket holster. It works with shorts, dress slacks, jeans, or a bath robe.

    I went out the other day wearing my 9 on my belt; when I got home, I discovered that I was carrying a backup.

    Hmmm….

  34. My first line of defense is ADT and the dog. Second line is my carry gun on the nightstand (no kids), which is a Sig 226 in 9mm with a 15 round mag and two spares. It also has Crimson Trace grips. I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine so a long gun is not an immediate option due to fouling with the hoses. Fall back position, where my girlfriend is with the cell phone, is the walk in closet with a Winchester lever gun in .357.

  36. Paul Edwards,

    We were issued the S&W Mod 10 bull barrel .38 spc. when going through the Dallas Police Academy, like yours, except it was stamped D.P.D. on the frame. As an aside, when I was 13 years old (1963), the owner of the gas station I worked at had an identical revolver that he kept in a drawer under the cash register. Gave mine to my oldest son (the department allowed us to buy our issue revolver after later standardizing to the Sig 226 for departmental issue. The depreciated cost was $26.50)

  37. I’m re-posting an excerpt of an earlier description of my current armament situation, posted on this Blog.

    So, my choice for downsizing, from .460Rowland converted Model 1911s, .44 Magnums, etc., was to go with an FNH Fiveseven (5.7X28mm) semi-auto, with several (You’ll want at least two Spare Mags, to switch off to, about every month) 30 round Magazines, to make sure I have at least 61 rounds immediately available in the event I may be forced to eradicate any Snakes, two legged, or otherwise.

    In the event you are unfamiliar with the 5.7X28mm round, you can get it, from FN, with a Hornaday 40gr (.224”). JHP bullet, loaded to about 1,750 + Feet Per Second, out of a 4.7″ pistol barrel. This was developed to be a Military round, but didn’t become popular enough to be widely used in the US?

    Be aware though that in the dark, this round, though low recoil, does produce a two, to three foot, “Fireball” which may be disconcerting to anyone, say the crook you are shooting at, who is not familiar with the round? Mine is also equipped with a “Red Laser” sight.

    PS: for Statistical purposes TN_Man, my previous backup was a Mossberg 500, 12ga, filled with Rifled Slugs, alternating with Double OO Buck Shot.

  38. I have a Ruger 45 commander handy. Wife has a Ladysmith .38 spl. Big sons live upstairs with at least another 45, a 44mag, a Beretta 92F and a 40SW. That’s just enough to keep’em at bay until we get out the rifles a d shotguns.

  39. Dennis:

    John Farnam teaches that anyone interested in self-defense with firearms needs to learn to shoot with the other hand. Your main hand may become disabled, but there is an even more common scenario. Imagine a right-handed shooter, behind a building or wall. The threat is down the left-side of that building. If he leans out, shooting right-handed, he exposes a lot of himself. Switch to left-hand, and you are the mirror-image of shooting down the right side of the building. Shooting left-handed is awkward at first, then it becomes challenging and fun. I even shoot clay pigeons left-handed.

    A gun on a night stand is fine, but I used to experiment. I once lashed a cowboy holster to my bed post, and it held my Ruger GP-100 revolver, with a six-inch barrel. I practiced lying in bed, reaching back with my right hand, and pointing the revolver at an imaginary threat standing at the foot of my bed. I just had to be careful not to aim at my toes.

    I’ve tried wearing a belly band to bed with a snub nose revolver in it. It works, and it is comfortable. Might be a good idea in a hotel room. When I stand up, or go anywhere, the gun is with me hands-free.

    One poster mentioned we are vulnerable in the bathroom, especially the shower. Let’s see, what weapon is OK with water on it? Maybe a plastic knife, or YES, THIS IS CRAZY, a spear gun. I could hang a spear gun on the back wall of my shower. Ha Ha! Now that really is paranoid. Seriously, I guess I could have someone stand guard outside the bathroom, if I am in an SHTF scenario.

    There are 196 countries in the world. In how many countries would the people there be allowed to protect themselves with firearms in their homes? Thank God for the Founding Fathers, the Second Amendment, and the NRA! Imagine the people of the world reading this blog. Not only can we own guns, but we have a huge variety from which to choose.

  40. Dear Mr. Ayoob: We care for an elderly mother in the home, and she can operate a gun, so our firearms are locked all the time. We had one safe until we experienced a breakin last February. Now we an additional small safe in our bedroom where we stash two handguns at night. The night of our breakin I pulled out the Ruger Redhawk, 5 1/2″ in .44 Mag. It was very comforting while we waited for the perp to come into our living space. He was apprehended unhurt outside by a county deputy, and I did not have to shoot. Since then the Mrs. has purchased a S & W M & P Shield in 9 mm from the Smith Custom Shop. She did all the shopping herself and I just wrote the check. It works well and she can shoot it well. I generally keep a Ruger Vaquero in .44 Mag in the bedroom safe at night with her Smith. The Mrs. also has a Rock River Predator in the safe, but she uses it just for recreation. We shoot Mk III’s and 10/22’s regularly for practice. Your wisdom, and the writings of various gun bloggers kept us from screwing up in our hour of need. Thank You for that! I cannot carry a weapon where I work, but am armed around home.

  41. Roger Willco,

    While that post about being a lefty was sort of “tongue in cheek”, it is a true depiction of the challenges faced by myself and other left handed shooters (at least back in those days). My decision early on to embrace shooting right handed had its challenges, but also had its rewards.

    One of the rewards was, as you alluded to, my ability to transition to my “off/weak hand” (which was in fact, my strong hand) when shooting “barricade” drills, with no suffering of accuracy.

    One of those drills, developed for, and by, my unit, was to ride our motorcycles slowly toward the targets (50 lane 50 yard outdoor range with automatic edging targets). When we reached a point 25-30 yards from targets the officer came under simulated gun fire, must drop the motorcycle, retreat to the rear, squat or go prone, and engage 4 targets to either side, as they alternately “faced” you, using the motorcycle for cover. The first time we ran this drill, I was the only one who transitioned my shooting hand according to which side of the motorcycle I was firing from. The range personnel were surprised that my accuracy didn’t suffer when using my “off/weak” hand. I didn’t tell them why.

  43. @ Paul Edwards,

    According to my Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (3rd Ed.), the K-frame .38 model dates all the way back to the .38 Military & Police 1st Model of 1899. Remember what I said about using a “proven” design? I guess a bit more than a century is enough time for S&W to get the bugs out! 🙂

    In 1957, S&W started to assign model numbers to its firearms and this revolver became the Model 10. A second number added to the model number indicates an engineering change.

    The heavy (or bull) barrel version dates back to the Model 10-1 (Model 10 – 1st engineering change) which was introduced in 1959.

    However. the Model 10-10 (10th engineering change) is of fairly recent vintage. According to the catalog, the 10-10 was introduced in 1988 and was made until 1997 when they went to the 11th engineering change.

    Based upon its serial number, my Model 10-10 was manufactured in early 1990. So, it would not be one of the 1960’s vintage revolvers that you mentioned.

    I bought it used and was told that it was a police trade-in. The early ’90’s was when all the police were switching over to those “newfangled” semi-auto plastic pistols. I don’t know which police force used my Model 10-10. It is not marked with any special markings. It appears to be an ordinary, blued Model 10-10.

    However, I have full confidence that, when I pull the trigger, it will go BANG!

    As John Dillinger said (and I quote): “Never trust a woman, a district attorney or an automatic pistol.”

    I figure that those are words to live by. 🙂

  44. I’ve got a Glock 19 with a TLR-1. If I have to move for some reason that is the gun I’m bringing.

    In the more likely event that I’m staying put, I’ve got a 16″ AR-15 in 5.56mm with an Aimpoint and a TLR-1HL to keep pointed at the locked bedroom door.

  45. A few Ruger SP-101s strategically situated around the house, my carry Glock 26 in its resting place, and a M1 Carbine. Add burglar alarm, several very good high end flashlights, and a pair of Chihuahuas round out the system.

  46. Hello Mr. Ayoob.

    My Glock 43 fits in my pocket almost as well as an LCP and I like the 9mm Luger better than the 9mm Kurz. It is with me as long as I have my pants on and then I am next to my Glock 43 in the bedside drawer.

  47. Besides Medico-Assa locks on the house, lighting, etc. and dog…I like G17 and keep my Shield on my person. I am doing the hotel thing too and plus travelling very late at night and I like being well equipped.

  48. Jet Jock asked about loads for .223 to limit shoot-through. I recently had to shoot a feral cat that had infected wounds. I used my #3 carbine with 45 gr jacketed hollow points. I made a shot to the back of his head and the bullet did not exit. There are many factory varmint rounds available designed for just this purpose, so a person just needs to do the research and check them out. I shot a coyote with FMJ broadside, and that bullet exited, making a hole the size of a golf ball. FMJ is definitely out for home defense. FMJ will make dings in our gongs, too, so I don’t like to shoot it.

  50. Layered defense system including fences, dogs, lights, revolvers in .357, a couple of S&W M&Ps in .40 and 9, AR and shotgun with slugs for the larger stuff. Our home is more likely to be invaded by 4 footed predators trying to kill sheep or attack us and our defenses reflect that fact.

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