ArgoGeorgia
Posts: 256
Joined: 2/9/2007
From: Atlanta, Georgia
Status: offline
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For someone without a lot of experience handling a gun, I would second the suggestion of a shotgun. Handguns require a LOT of practice to hit the target, shotguns less so. And, in a situation where you might need it, the conditions won't compare to the controlled surroundings of a gun range. You will have a lot of adrenalin rushing, your eyesight will be off (due to just waking up, darkness, etc), a lot of confusion. If you were willing to spend hours at a range every week to develop muscle memory and the appropriate reflexes so that you can hit the targe more often without conscious effort, then a handgun might work. A shotgun, on the other hand, while still requiring some experience to hit the target, won't need nearly as much.
On your idea about just shooting to injure... I disagree with this. If you are in a situation in which you must shoot someone, aim to kill. Period. If you are aiming to just injure/maim someone, there are probably some slimy lawyers and dumb juries out there that will say you must not have really been in fear for your life if you only wanted to injure, and then they might just allow a big lawsuit settlement on the burglar's behalf. It has happened, sadly enough. However, I am not a lawyer, and you would need to check with the laws in your state. Some states have self-defense, castle doctrines, etc etc. Be familiar with these laws as well. Sadly enough, in America today defending yourself from intruders usually includes defending yourself from the "justice system" afterwards.
On the types of ammunition.... there are various things to consider. First off, do other people live in the house? How close are your neighbors? One of the primary rules of firing a weapon in any situation is ALWAYS know what is in the background. What is behind the target. Birdshot will have less penetrating power and shorter range than many handgun rounds. Most won't penetrate a couple layers of sheetrock/siding. However, I'm pretty confident that my .45 rounds will go through much of a house, all of it if I get lucky. If you live in a closely packed neighborhood, have children, etc, definitely take this into consideration. Most confrontations in the home will happen at 10 yards or less. Trust me - someone getting hit by birdshot (go for pheasant or turkey shot, not BB's) will go down at that range. And yes, you can start off with lighter rounds and finish off with buck or slugs as the last round. But keep in mind that jury I mentioned before. One or two shots in self defense they'll accept. Putting 4-5 rounds in them might not look so good.
I have a .45 Glock, AR-15, Remington 870 12-gauge, and Remington 700 30-06. The only two I keep loaded are the handgun and the shotgun, and I would go for the shotgun first if I needed it.
Also, an aside about the .22 caliber and assassins - if you get a headshot at close range, yes, you will kill someone. But, if you are that lucky, a knife would probably work just as well for you. Much of the damage caused by a round hitting a body is due to 'hydroshock'. This is the shockwave the bullet sends through the body. 22's simply don't have enough power to cause any kind of damage other than a small perforation in the body, so it takes a well placed shot. A .45 or other large round not only perforates, but sends a devestating shockwave through the body, damaging organs and putting the body into a state of shock.
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Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. No, seriously. They have t-shirts for everything nowadays.
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RE: Gun Question - 
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