Things I now own that I didn't the other day:

[MoeMag]

Edit: I'd rather it be locked and neither me nor an intruder have access to it

If I broke into your house... I would have a gun, thats loaded, and pointed at you already.

Your Reaction is going to have to beat my Action... good luck.

... With your mindset sounds like you shouldn't get a shotgun with a trigger lock.

They are big, and load very slowly (for the most part). So that along with... waking up, finding your shotgun (oh yeah it has a trigger lock), find your keys, unlock the trigger lock, take the trigger lock off, find shotshells, load shotgun (4-8 of them one at a time in a tube mag on most shotguns), rack one in the chamber (lots of noise, so I know your armed... but more importantly exactly where you are), disengage the safety... okay now your ready for something... and hope I didnt bring my AR and starts shooting thru walls and windows, cause if Im breaking into your house im probably pretty desperate, maybe even a little crazy. Oh and I could be one of your drunk buddies friends that knows your house really well and that you have a shotgun, so thats why I came with the semi auto rifle.

Pistol is probably what you are looking for. If you get a pistol... think about keeping it with you. look into concealed carry for your state.
http://www.gunvault.com/mini-mini-deluxe.html prob your best bet if you insist on being secure.

[Smoothice]

Hmmm. I don't have either. But if I was that worried about a break in then which ever I chose would be unlocked and easy to grab while I'm sleeping. When I'm awake or not home THEN it would have a lock or be in a safe.

[teufelhunden]

look into concealed carry for your state.
http://www.gunvault.com/mini-mini-deluxe.html prob your best bet if you insist on being secure.

lol, I'm in NJ - couldn't carry even if al qaida stated they are coming after me specifically in a manner that i could easily prevent by having a pistol on me.

I was looking at the gun vault line. Like them.

Thanks for the suggestions all

[Chris]

A weapon for home defense should be in a safe place, and ready to go. If you are going to put a trigger lock on the shotgun; dont bother with it. You're better off keeping a louisville slugger at your bedside. At least that way you'll have something to defend yourself with.

If you are honestly looking at a firearm for home defense, you can not beat a shotgun. I have to agree with Legume above, the cruiser shotguns are worthless. Get a real shotgun with a stock. While it is true that the sound of a shotgun being racked will scare off MOST people, if your intruder is high or armed, you will likely need to call the morgue when all is said and done.

[Chris]

If you are going the pistol route, I would suggest a Glock. I've got a Glock 17 in 9mm, and while I prefer my 1911, I know that the Glock is more reliable than the average rock.

Make sure that you keep your home defense magazine loaded with hollow points.

[kumijia]

Bed rail problem solved

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsV50T5uEyw

[sjrtk]

My opinion, 12 ga. shot gun for home protection and seeing as you live in a condo use bird shot. Shot gun wounds at close range are devastating regardless of what size shot you are using and the bird shot looses energy quickly so at not to pass through walls. any pistol most would consider will punch clean 9mm to 1/2 in holes through double layer drywall and still have lethal energy as will the larger shot sizes. If you intend on locking the fire arm and leave the key out buy a bat. The gun needs to be ready to go in a NOW time frame, store it in a safe when you are out and were you can reach it when you are home.

Just my opinion, i have a 12ga. Mossberg with a 20" barrel loaded with #7 bird shot in the tube and an empty chamber. I just won't have a longer shot to deal with in the house. If you have to shot an intruder make sure you kill him of your gonna get your self sued.

[SCpoloRicker]

Originally Posted by

.410 shot shells are completely worthless for self defense. the judge is a joke.

all this talk about the racking of the slide scaring people off is nonsense. you take your shotgun and you shoot whoever it is that is on your house, or you don't bother with it. buy a proper, full stock shotgun so you can use it effectively, and buy the correct shells for use against a human attack. #1 Buck at minimum. "cruiser" type shotguns are difficult to use and provide poor results.

^ I hate it when people do this but "this". There is nothing more to add to that statement aside from some recommendations on shotguns (Remington or Mossberg I prefer "mariner" grade finishes myself).

Kidding, all good points.

[chafnerjr]

Ahhh... I can't believe that I'm going to be the one saying this... er... given your "tactical" situation you're simply not going to have the time in a 900ish sq ft house to unlock much of anything. If you can't keep a ready loaded weapon your best defence is... um, a taser Seriously... I don't own one and wouldn't because I have handguns, rifles, shotguns, blackpowder etc.... but if you need drunk proof/fun weapons then a taser is your weapon of choice...

OK now everyone can commence flaming me.

However, would it be me... I'd have the shotgun (unlocked) in an easy to reach place with a simple hiding spot for a handful of shells. IMHO.