Spot on. "What firearm is "best" is an issue so dependent on personal capacity, environment and the nature of the threat that the issue what single firearm is best non est disputans. Gun rags and gun-counter commandos revisit the subject eternally without fear of refutation. For some people in some places facing some threats, shotguns may be best. For others, perhaps handguns or carbines.
-----Original Message----- From: firearmsregprof-boun...@lists.ucla.edu [mailto:firearmsregprof-boun...@lists.ucla.edu]on Behalf Of Philip F. Lee Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 8:39 AM To: shatt...@aol.com; firearmsregprof@lists.ucla.edu Subject: Re: Shotguns as recommended for self-defense for some peopleover handguns It appears that we have vastly difference experiences with firearms. First, my grandkids (16, 14, 12) shoot shotguns including my 12 year angelic granddaughter who can't weigh 95 pounds. Second, I would never use buckshot larger than #4 for home defense. Third, even cops don't get point shooting right and few handgun shooters will train enought to get hits. Finally, my expectation for home defense doesn't include home clearance. I have more, but we are seeing why we have races and other contest to settle differences. Phil > > > > In a message dated 2/7/2009 1:27:08 P.M. Central Standard Time, > pf...@wdn.com writes: > > None of the responders mentioned the risk of liability on injury to > innocents from handgun rounds penetration and range compared to > shotguns. > > > Shotguns can over penetrate compared to shotguns and vice versa. A load of > 00 buckshot or a slug can go through several layers of drywall and plywood > side paneling, hitting those same innocents. Hollow points, polymer nose, and > self defense frangible handgun rounds can stop in a single layer of drywall. > Nothing guaranteed however. The only thing consistent about small arms > ammunition is its inconsistency. For home defense, ammunition selection is the > most important criterion after 100% firearm reliability and usability by the > defender. All ammunition must be balanced for its intended use regardless of > launching platform. > > > > > > Also, the shotgun should have a superior hit probability to the > handgun for those with limited experience. In fact on this list has > been a report about the shotgun's superior hit ability in combat to a > limit range (60 yards?) relative to modern assault rifles. I don't > have a reference currently. > > Phil > > In the hands of an experienced shooter, with appropriate ammunition > selection, yes, a shotgun has longer range potential. Show me a home with a 60 yard > shot indoors, and I'll show you someone who has enough money for armed > bodyguards. That aside, inexperienced shooters often find shotguns intimidating > because of huge perceived recoil. That causes strange things like hip shooting > at odd angles, holding the gun away from one's shoulder or face, and misses > at really close range. The shotgun does have a larger pattern at typical > home defense distances, but Joe Olson and others have correctly pointed out that > at those distances, the shot spread is no more than 3-5" at best, less than > an inch with a slug. They are terribly cumbersome to use indoors around > corners and hallways without much practice. If a home defender is just going to > sit in place, and is an experienced shooter, the shotgun with appropriate > ammunition may be an excellent choice. Most home defense uses are by > inexperienced shooters who have a minimum knowledge of how one particular gun works, > and who are surprised by the home invasion, often some distance from the one > gun in the home. For these folks, a handgun that they can point shoot works > out a lot better, and is easier to get into action quickly. > > Massad Ayoob has commented several times that shotguns are the artillery of > self defense firearms. You don't always need the artillery. I am aware of > few instructors who recommend that the first firearm someone learn to use for > self defense is anything other than a handgun. Much of the answer to the > initial question is a subject for debate. Some of the answers are situation > specific. Fact is, you won't know what the correct firearm platform is for any > given situation until you live through it, largely because you won't know > what the situation is. Even then, people will still pick apart the choices you > made. > > Scott Hattrup > > > > > **************Great Deals on Dell Laptops. Starting at $499. > (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1217883258x12 > 01191827/aol? redir=http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;211531132;33070124;e) > > _______________________________________________ To post, send message to Firearmsregprof@lists.ucla.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change options, or get password, see http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/firearmsregprof Please note that messages sent to this large list cannot be viewed as private. Anyone can subscribe to the list and read messages that are posted; people can read the Web archives; and list members can (rightly or wrongly) forward the messages to others. _______________________________________________ To post, send message to Firearmsregprof@lists.ucla.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change options, or get password, see http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/firearmsregprof Please note that messages sent to this large list cannot be viewed as private. Anyone can subscribe to the list and read messages that are posted; people can read the Web archives; and list members can (rightly or wrongly) forward the messages to others.
