On this topic, let me start off by saying that you should never, ever, ever, ever, carry a gun or knife for self-defense if you do not know how to use it or do not think you will be able to use it. Electing to carry these items can cause a host of problems but can also be the only thing that saves your life. It is strictly a personal decision.
The “host of problems” mentioned above mainly stems from users not knowing or understanding their local laws. Get to know them…and if you are still unsure tell a cop about how you intend to carry your weapon and see if you would be breaking any laws. You may not be allowed into some places while armed, especially bars. You’ll have to ensure that your kids can not get to your weapon. Just owning a gun could make you a target for thieves, whether it is in your house or car. Carrying it can be annoying and a mood killer. A dependable gun is expensive, and a good knife isn’t far behind. Speaking of cost, you should be forking over several hundred dollars for a gun (unless you get a deal) and you should also be spending about a hundred dollars a year for practice ammo in order to maintain your proficiency. Both of these items require initial training as well as sustainment training. I could go on but I think you get the point. Now on the flip side, a gun (especially at home), could be the only thing that keeps you or your family alive. Nothing says “go away” like the sound of a shotgun!
Firearms:
When talking firearms for self-defense, we will cover a few weapons to use while your at home and while you are out and about.
1. Home
The absolute best weapon for home defense is the shotgun. Now, if you have visions of yourself clearing your house with a pistol or semi-automatic rifle as per Jack Bauer or James Bond, put them aside and listen to what I have to say for a sec. I’m going to run through the pro’s and con’s of a pistol, rifle, and shotgun in the home environment and show you why you should consider a shotgun first before any other firearm. If you cannot for whatever reason get a shotgun, I will cover the best method for utilizing the other two tools as well.
a. Pistol
b. Rifle
c. Shotgun
Pistol:
Pro’s – Pistol’s are relatively light and small. You can maneuver around corners and in tight spaces a lot easier and safer with a pistol than you can a rifle or shotgun. You can carry your pistol on you or stage several pistols throughout your house if you feel the need without them being intrusive.
Con’s – Pistols are fairly expensive. A quality one is going to set you back around $500 depending on where you get it. Due to the shorter barrel, it takes more skill to hit your target. You may be the best shot while at the range but during a high stress situation even the most highly trained military and police shooters have missed their targets with a pistol. Over-penetration can be an issue depending on the caliber and type of ammo you choose. Over-penetration is when your bullet travels further than what you want it to, such as when you miss your target and the round goes through the wall and into your child’s room. Due to the fact that there are many readers from different countries on here, I cannot make one recommendation on ammo type or caliber that would meet everyone’s needs, so instead I’m going to leave it up to you. Do your own research, it is definitely worth it.
If you absolutely must use a pistol, a .45 loaded with hollow points is your best option. In saying that, I also know that some men and women (my wife included) have smaller hands and would not be able to properly grip a .45 caliber pistol. That is just a starting point, work your way down from there until you find a pistol and caliber that you can effectively utilize and will still stop your attacker. I would not recommend going lower than a .38, and even then that is pushing it. During a home invasion your attacker will more than likely only be a few feet away from you if you need to engage, and when you shoot you have to be relatively certain that he will be immediately incapacitated. If not, he may continue his attack and end up wounding or killing you or a member of your family even though he has been shot. Stopping power is the main argument for a .45 caliber (most direct action units use .45's for that purpose rather than the standard 9mm...even though it holds half the rounds). Shot placement is also key. Obviously somebody shot in the chest will more than likely go down a lot faster than somebody shot in the hand. This is also connected to over-penetration which we hit on above. If you have kids in the house, you need to make sure you have a plan in case of a home invasion. Where will you position yourself to protect your family? From that position, is there a possibility your round or the attackers round may enter your children's bedroom or yours? Where will you tell your kids to be? On the floor? In the closet? Under the bed? Make sure you prep your mind for the fact that your child may not stay put and he/she may run directly into your room. DON'T SHOOT! Easy to say, but add loads of adrenaline and a muddled brain and... I will cover more of that kind of stuff in a later post, just ensure that the pistol you choose is reliable (Smith&Wesson, Glock, HK...) and has a rail on the front so that you can attach a pistol light
. You have to be able to see your target. A laser
is recommended but optional. For a novice I would stick to a weapon mounted light, but as you progress you can start playing around. There are a lot of fun things you can do with a light that isn't mounted. For now though, your pistol light would be giving your attacker a target to shoot at but that is better than missing your target because you don't know how to shoot with a hand-held flashlight or shooting your child because you can't see.I could write a book on all the ins-and-outs of using a pistol for self-defense but this blog is not the place. You came here for quick, effective, and easy to read information and that is what I try to give. Just remember that if you are going to use a pistol for self-defense in the home or anywhere else, make sure you get some professional training that includes classroom time and range time. Without it you are more of a danger than a saviour. Do some reading, ask your local law enforcement, or give me a buzz if you have any questions. It would take forever to make this post broad enough to fit everyone's needs, but I would be happy to answer targeted questions.
The next weapon we will discuss is the assault rifle. I am purposely omitting hunting rifles because those should only be used as a last resort and all the same rules from an assault rifle apply to a hunting type rifle.
Assault Rifles:
(AK’s, M-4’s, MP-5 style, Galil’s etc…)
Pro’s – Assault rifles look cool and you can attach all kinds of high-speed gizmos to them with the right hardware. Weapons lights, pressure pads
, lasers, scopes, aiming points, double magazine carriers
and more can all be outfitted on most assault rifles. They can hold a lot of ammunition (usually 30 rounds or more) and they fire as fast as you can pull the trigger. Con’s – Unless you live in a mansion or way out in the country, the main issue with assault rifles is over-penetration. The max range on 5.56 ammunition (for an M-4/M16 style weapon that the U.S. military uses) is around 3600m. Most of that ammunition will easily penetrate household walls, glass, 2x4’s, car doors, and a myriad of other common building materials. This holds true for other assault rifle ammunition as well except for the 9mm of the MP-5 style. I will touch on that in a second. If you live in an urban or suburban environment, imagine the outcome of you shooting at an assailant and having half of your rounds exit your house and enter your neighbor’s homes. More than likely, even if you did prevent your family from being harmed, you will still find yourself in jail and have made enemies of your neighbors. It is not worth it. A good assault rifle is going to set you back almost $1000 and the other options you have available to you for a quarter of the cost would make it so you wouldn’t have a leg to stand on in court. DO NOT USE AN ASSAULT RIFLE FOR HOME DEFENSE unless it is legal and practical, such as your home is located in a place like Iraq. Now, for the ammo, there are such things as frangible rounds. These rounds are designed to break apart when they hit something more solid than themselves. When using this ammo in your home, if your attacker is behind a wall there is a good possibility that your rounds will not penetrate. These rounds are mainly used by law enforcement and military for training and for protecting assets such as nuclear facilities and ships where over penetration or ricochets are highly undesirable. As for 9mm ammunition, H&K makes assault rifles that take this size round, and Intratec made machine pistols of this caliber but they are no longer in business. Since this is standard pistol ammo you will still be dealing with the same over penetration issues that we discussed with pistols but anything with a longer barrel and a stock will give you more accuracy than a handgun. Another issue with assault rifles, and we already touched on it a little bit, is the aftermath. Unfortunately, even though the person you shot broke into your home and threatened you or your family, they or their families can still sue you and win! Welcome to the American legal system. It is asinine but the average American looks on guns with fear and disdain and after hearing testimony from sobbing relatives and “expert” witnesses, the jury may look at you like YOU are the bad guy. Apparently only criminals can have assault rifles and if you own one and use it, that makes you a criminal in the eyes of a lot of Americans.
Now, let’s talk about shotguns.
Shotguns:
Pro’s – Shotguns are relatively easy to use and maintain. They have few working parts so there is less that can go wrong. You can mount lights and aiming points
on them just like a rifle. Here is a link that will show you all you a lot you can do with a shotgun. When using buckshot, you don’t have to be an expert marksman. A general rule of thumb is the shorter the barrel or the further the shot travels, the larger the spread. In saying that, different ammo spreads differently so you need to shoot the ammo you will be using at varied distances to gauge the spread accurately. Here is a link to give you an idea of shotgun spread.A good shotgun is cheap, only costing around $250, and you can walk out of the store with it that day in most states. Also, owning a shotgun is legal in a lot of cities that have a low tolerance for weapons such as Chicago. You can buy different gauges that better suit your stature. If you are a small woman a 12 gauge is probably a little too big. You can get a 20 or .410 gauge; it still packs punch and will not dislocate your shoulder or make you drop the gun.
Con’s – Shotguns can be relatively heavy and cumbersome. Most don’t come ready for home defense so you have to buy the attachments pictured above in order to shorten its length and make it better suited for protecting your home. When used at close range, a shotgun will make a mess of the person you shot so mentally prepare yourself for the aftermath, especially if you achieved a headshot. Repainting, replacing carpet, and fixing drywall will probably be on the list as well.
When talking ammo, buckshot is usually best. All buckshot is is a bunch of little steel balls, kind of like ball bearings, packed into a shell that disperse when shot. They do make slugs that come in handy for going through walls but they require you to aim which requires a little more skill. For a novice I would simply stick with buckshot. When talking over penetration, there is a chance with buckshot but the shot will usually be stopped by the wood in your walls and slowed down quite a bit when it enters and exits the dry wall. Same with most hollow interior doors. I still wouldn’t aim it directly at your kid’s rooms but the likelihood of your shot passing through an assailant is slim, unlike an assault rifles round. This all has to do with ballistics, the shape of the round, muzzle velocity, and a bunch of other factors. For the novice, just keep in mind that you should always be aware of your target and WHAT LIES BEYOND, but in a life or death situation buckshot is going to be your best choice. If you would like more guidance on this drop me a line and I will try to make things a little more clearer.
This concludes this section on firearms for your home. Next, we will discuss firearms for self-defense while you are out and about. Hopefully I can get it done quicker than I did with this post.
Here it is, def. a lot faster than last time.
2. Out and About
There is only one practical type of firearm to consider while you are on the go and that is the pistol…so that is all that will be discussed.
You must take carrying a concealed firearm for self defense in public serious. As previously discussed, if you are not ready to take someone’s life or do not know how to use your weapon then you SHOULD NOT BE CARRYING IT. Since you are out in public, if you miss with a firearm or have a negligent discharge (your weapon goes off without you intending it to) then you will be putting more than your family in danger. And God forbid if you accidentally shoot an innocent person, regardless if you were trying to defend yourself or not, because you will have a hard time staying out of prison. Not to mention the psychological burden you may carry around for the rest of your life. Some states like Indiana simply require you to undergo a background check and provide money for an application fee in order for you to legally carry a concealed weapon, and others require you to attend formal training (under a licensed firearms instructor with class time and range time) to receive a permit. If you are new to firearms, I strongly urge you to take a course before you carry even if you live in a state that does not require it. If you don’t know where to start, google something like “basic pistol course Indiana” or whatever state you live in and check out the results. The NRA usually has instructors in every state, you can visit their website at http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/index.asp to get started. Not only do you need to know how to use your firearm, but you also need to know how to legally carry it. This again is where formal classes come in handy.
Formal classes usually cover all the laws pertaining to your state in-depth so that you will be set up for success. And while some states have easy to read laws posted on their government website, others do not. Remember, ignorance is no excuse! If you need any help pertaining to this subject please let me know.
Now that we have discussed the preliminaries, let’s get on with it shall we?
When we talk of a concealed weapon, I mean if somebody where to look at you 360, while standing or walking, they would not know that you are armed. If you are carrying to satisfy your ego please leave and don’t come back, I’m writing for beginners serious about their safety not amateurs who lack self-esteem.
When choosing a pistol to carry you should consider its actual weight, stopping power, comfort, and ease of use. Never decide on a firearm without first trying it out. Lots of gun stores with indoor ranges have pistols that you can rent, and though they may not have the exact one you are looking at, they may have one similar that will allow you to make a better decision.
Weight is important because more than likely you will be carry your pistol on your body. I carried around a Ruger P90 for a long time (it was all I could afford) and it was a big, heavy gun. It left marks on my hip and was very difficult to keep concealed. I ended up having to decide on whether to carry it or not depending on what I was going to be doing that day. Don’t let this be you. This goes for females especially who don’t normally wear pants that can hold up a heavy pistol.
Stopping power usually relates directly to the weight of the pistol simply because a bigger caliber means heavier ammunition, a larger magazine and magazine well to hold the rounds, and a larger barrel. Unlike home defense, it is my opinion that your level of potential threat should decide your caliber and number of magazines (mags). In the home, someone has made a conscious effort to enter your house and to me that automatically elevates an assailant’s dedication and will to inflict harm, so the largest caliber you can handle should be used in order to immediately incapacitate the person. On the street, however, you need to assess your potential for conflict. If you live in an area where crime is rampant and you can’t walk down the street without passing several drug dealers and gang bangers then I would recommend a larger caliber pistol (again, a caliber that you can effectively use) with at least two extra mags in case you needed to defend yourself from several armed assailants. Remember, two is one and one is none. Meaning that having two mags is like having one, since if one mag malfunctions you have another one to use. If you just have one mag, you are screwed. The same holds true if you are a potential target for robbery or someone with elite access to sensitive areas, such as a jewelry store owner, bank manager, or something of that sort. If you are ever attacked it will more than likely be by several individuals who have formulated a plan and have a strong will to complete their mission, so simply waving a pistol will probably not do the trick. On the flip side, if you live in an area with a relatively low crime rate and offer nothing that would elevate your risk of being attacked above another, then a smaller caliber pistol with only one extra mag (or load if you are using a revolver) could be right for you. Your attacker will most likely be alone or with only a few friends, be disorganized, and easily scared off when their “easy” prey turns out to be better prepared and more confident than what they are used to. When speaking of calibers, I would consider .22, .38, and 9mm as small calibers, and .357, .40 and .45 as larger calibers. I would not recommend carrying a .50 caliber pistol such as the Desert Eagle simply because of its sheer size, weight, and difficulty in handling. As discussed above, hollow points are preferred except while driving. I usually carry a mag of ball ammunition in my pistol while driving in case I have to shoot through the car window. Hollow points are made to mushroom when they connect which is good in the body, but bad when you are trying to penetrate a hard surface. Think of getting carjacked. You are inside your vehicle and a man with a gun runs up and demands you get out. If you have hollow points your first couple of rounds may only break the glass, allowing the assailant time to fire his own weapon straight into your car. With ball ammunition, you have a better chance of your first round going through the glass and into the perpetrator.
Comfort will tie in with how you carry your pistol (we will get into holsters a little later), your physical size, and the size and weight of your gun. This will be a personal decision but don’t expect to find a gun that feels as if it is not there. Most guns will always be felt by their wearers, and that is a good thing as you won’t forget that it is there. But you also shouldn’t purchase a gun that you will never wear because it is too cumbersome or painful.
Ease of use is another important factor. Why buy a gun that you can’t operate successfully in the heat of the moment, or one that you feel you may discharge negligently. This all goes back to practicing with your choice before you buy. Some guns have safeties that you need to manipulate in order to fire. Single action pistols require the hammer to be cocked in order to fire meaning that it takes less pressure on the trigger. Other pistols have no safety or, like the Glock, have internal safeties that keep the weapon from accidentally going off if it is dropped or thrown around a car during an accident, but will still fire just by pulling the trigger.
Ease of use also extends into the construction of the gun. A lot of gun manufacturers sell guns specifically made for concealed carry that are more sleek in design and have had all the sharp edges taken off so that they won’t get caught on your clothing or other objects when drawing. Do your research! Here is an article that goes a little more in-depth.
Now let’s talk about holsters. Back in my “gangster” days (pre 20’s) I used to carry a little 5 shot .38 everywhere. I had no holster for it nor did I need one because I was a “gangster” and gangsters tuck it into their waistbands. One night, while eating with a bunch of friends at Outback, we had all finished our meals (luckily) and were getting ready to leave. I was at the end of the table and as I stood up the pistol fell out of my waist, down the inside of my pants, hit my foot and the momentum carried it across the floor. As bad as that was, we were right by the door and it was a busy Friday night. All the hostesses saw it as well as the customers waiting to be seated. I quickly picked the shiny silver pistol up off the floor and virtually fled out the door, hoping no one (read cop) could react. It was immature, embarrassing, and reckless all tied into one. Don’t let that be you. Get a good holster that will secure your pistol. Fobus makes good holsters for all different types of pistols and carries. I prefer my pistol and mags on my hip so that they are readily accessible but different environments, dress, and places call for different holsters. For normal wear, with pants or shorts, shirt un-tucked, I would go with your pistol on your waist. You can draw it quickly and have better control over it. Fobus makes hard plastic holsters that are secured on the outside of your waistband by your belt, or Uncle Mike's (their website appears to be down, but I know you can get their products still from local gun stores) make soft, felt-like holster that go inside your pants with a clip that slips over your belt to hold it in place. Don’t make the same mistake I did and think that the soft holster is supposed to go on the outside and then wonder why your gun always falls out. Bellyband also makes a holster; you may try that if you wish. In movies you see G-men using shoulder harnesses for their weapons, I would not recommend these as the harness is cumbersome and doesn’t really conceal much more than a holster on your waist would. It also takes 2 hands to reholster which is a pain in the butt when your non-firing hand is wounded or otherwise preoccupied. Ankle holsters are good for smaller pistols when you are in formal wear or have your shirt tucked in. They are relatively unobtrusive but you may have to constantly adjust it back into position as the day or night wears on. Gravity and the repetitive motion of walking may cause it to slip down.
When you are in a vehicle, you should consider a different type of holster. You still want to secure your pistol in case of an accident but you also need to be able to get to it. Wearing it on your waist or leg makes it extremely difficult to get to so I would recommend something like a fanny pack. I carried a Blackhawk fanny pack for my Glock 19 in Iraq and it worked wonderfully. Securely held my pistol but I could draw it immediately when needed. Eagle also makes one but it is a little more bulky than the Blackhawk and less efficient.
This concludes the firearms portion of this post. If you have any questions at all please let me know. For some idle reading check out this link . It was a study done in the ‘70’s and published in 1981 so it is dated but it has a lot of good information on the emergence of proper firearms training for law enforcement and stats on shootings during that time that still apply today.
Knives:
Our discussion of knives will finish up this monster of a post, and it should go fairly quickly as there is not a whole lot to say.
In terms of home defense, knives should not be considered as your primary weapon; rather, it should be a weapon of opportunity (which we will discuss in a later post) that you use only as a last resort. The reason being, knives are relatively short which means you have to let your attacker get close to you in order to begin your attack. Also, you have probably heard the saying “never bring a knife to a gunfight” because obviously the intruder need only pull the trigger outside of your reach to kill you. Stick with firearms when protecting your home.
Outside of your home is a different story. If you can legally and competently carry a firearm then do it. If not, a knife could be your next best choice, though check with your local laws on what is considered a concealed weapon. The blade length, or whether it is a fixed blade or not, may factor in. Like all weapons though, there are limitations. I will begin by talking about the pros of carrying a knife, the cons, and then end with general guidelines.
Pros - Knives are relatively inexpensive. A good one should cost around $100. They are small and unobtrusive and are allowed in most places that otherwise ban firearms (again, check with local laws). They are easy for beginners to use (there are more advanced techniques that can raise your level of confidence and effectiveness), sturdy, and can be effective even if you miss vital areas of the body. A cut on the forehead will cause blood to run into your assailant’s eyes. Cuts on the arms may cause blood to run onto your attacker’s hands, affecting his grip. Cut tendons on the hands can affect movement and grip as well. Knives can be deployed quickly and one can carry it around (folder) unnoticed in the palm of the hand.
Cons - In order to effectively use a knife, you have to be close enough to your attacker to reach him. ..which means he can also reach you. Knives will not be allowed on airplanes or in federal buildings. You have a good chance of cutting yourself while using your knife to fend off an attack. The psychological effect of cutting into another human being may be too much for you to handle, causing you to hesitate. A knife doesn’t do well against a gun.
The knife you choose to carry will be a personal decision but do not think you are going to be walking around with a giant Bowie
type knife attached to your hip. It is extremely difficult to conceal and will let everyone know that yes, you are armed but only with a knife, allowing your attackers to plan accordingly. Knives are best used as a surprise against your attacker. Pulling your knife too early will give away your planned defense and though it could scare away a potential assailant, it may simply make his attack more effective and lessen your chance of prevailing. If you have been paying attention throughout this blog, in most cases you shouldn’t have to take the extra time to draw your knife because you have identified the threat or potential threatening situation and have your knife in hand. A pistol would not allow you to do this as it is unacceptable to be walking in public gripping a pistol. I recommend surprising your attacker because he has more than likely labeled you as a soft target. He is expecting you to resist but not attack so when he all of a sudden gets stabbed or cut it may create enough hesitation on his part for you to gain the upper hand or get away.
As I said, your choice of knife is a personal decision but I will toss out a few recommendations that I prefer.
a.) Gerber Applegate Fairbairn Combat Knife
– My personal favorite. It comes with a pocket clip that allows for an easy and silent draw. The handle is long enough to be comfortable for most any sized hands. The blade is an inch and a quarter longer than most pocket knives and is made by a reputable company with law enforcement and military in mind.b.) Cold Steel Safe Keeper II – Another favorite of mine. I carried this constantly while operating and contracting; I called it my tri-mary weapon and kept it on my thigh rig right next to my pistol. Due to its short blade, double edge, and design I have chosen the Gerber for protection while in the States. The blade length is a no brainer, the double edge combined with the way you use this particular knife elevates the risk of cutting yourself when struggling with an attacker in close quarters. Overseas it works well as a sentry removal tool or in close quarters when your pistol runs dry and you need to continue pressing the attack. That is an unlikely scenario here in the states.
c.) Novelty – There are other blades out there that masquerade as common items:
Ink Pen
Belt Buckle
Comb
Necklace
Lipstick
This concludes this posts. There is a lot of information contained in here and a lot of information kept out, so if you have any questions, comments, or need some guidance please let me know.
Cheers!
Cheers!
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