.357 vs .44 for home defence?

super7 said:
I may be way off base here so feel free to enlighten me.....but, I would think that if you shoot someone in your house, you better be able to prove that he was trying to kill you and not just rob your vcr or you'll be in a heap of sh*t. I don't think you'd get away with shooting someone just because they were in your house and you were startled. I think in this country even if the purp was carrying a butcher knife, you'd still be lucky to avoid going to jail and even then you'd be so far in lawyer debt that you wouldn't be able to afford to shoot your .22lr.
Am I out of touch with reality or what?

All that being said, I'd be happy with anything that goes bang....but my preference would be a sawed off shotgun with birdshot (and no plug of course).
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The purpose is not to try to get away with anything - the purpose is trying to survive. You don't shoot people for fun. The only time you would draw your pistol is if you believed that your life, or the lives of those with you were in immediate danger. At that time, and in that situation you should not be worrying about the law because if you are you are in an unsatisfactory state of mind. If you are in an unsatisfactory state of mind in a lethal encounter you will most likely die.
 
Boomer said:
The purpose is not to try to get away with anything - the purpose is trying to survive. You don't shoot people for fun. The only time you would draw your pistol is if you believed that your life, or the lives of those with you were in immediate danger. At that time, and in that situation you should not be worrying about the law because if you are you are in an unsatisfactory state of mind. If you are in an unsatisfactory state of mind in a lethal encounter you will most likely die.
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I understand and agree with what you are saying for the most part but most people in that situation are probably not going to be in a "satisfactory state of mind". You're going to be scared and may not be thinking rationally. Might end up spending the best part of your life in jail because the drunk kid from next door mistook your apartment for his parents and climbed in through your window. On the other hand, may end up dead because you were hesitant to grab the gun....

I'm not advocating shoot and I'm not saying don't shoot. It would be a bad situation to be in and god willing, I never find myself in it.

Still think you can't beat the shotgun though....:)
 
super7 said:
I understand and agree with what you are saying for the most part but most people in that situation are probably not going to be in a "satisfactory state of mind". You're going to be scared and may not be thinking rationally. Might end up spending the best part of your life in jail because the drunk kid from next door mistook your apartment for his parents and climbed in through your window. On the other hand, may end up dead because you were hesitant to grab the gun....

I'm not advocating shoot and I'm not saying don't shoot. It would be a bad situation to be in and god willing, I never find myself in it.

Still think you can't beat the shotgun though....:)
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Birdshot will not stop a drug-pumped intruder. Reduced recoil buckshot is the only thing that law enforcement uses.
 
There is presently a guy in Sask that is going to court because he shot an intruder. I heard it on the radio and am not sure if the intruder died or not, but the guy said that he was glad he shot him and that he is alive today because he did. I'm not sure what he used either, but it will be interesting to see how it pans out. I am guessing that he will walk.
 
I have a box of 20 Remington .38 Spl police loads with a double .38 ball in them, won't go thru many walls and at 20' gives your two balls 2" apart. Not a shot gun load but makes less noise, less wall penetration and more body damage, like the STARFIRE ads say "Makes a huge blood channel" more holes the better!!!
 
David K said:
... Even the lowly 38 Special will penetrate virtually the whole length of the average suburban house. Move up the scale and the 357 may well completely penetrate the intended target and continue it's merry way! A 44 Mag. is a certainty to keep on going ! My own personal choice was always the 38Spl. with the so called "FBI Load" out of a short barreled revolver. (158gr,SWC/HP +P ) as in the Old RCMP Load, out of the model 10s. When talking self defense, one should always bear in mind ,there are legal limitations ,and responsibilities, with the potential, if a wrong choice is made, to end up behind bars and being hounded with horrendous legal bills!!! ... David K.
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Aye. As I stated earlier as well.
Smith M10, either 2" or 4" (sorry non 12(6)ers) is a PRIMO choice when loaded with factory +P .38 spl 158 grn LSWCHP loads.
Look around, you'll find them for sale somewhere (the cartridges, that is).
 
Late posting, but for me. Its a simple choice!

Our cousins to the south sure understand home defense and for most the choice caliber is a good old .45ACP 230 grains.

Reliability and shoot placement will make a difference in survivability.

.45 acp is good cartridge because its slow, and heavy, penetration is not the issue, shot placement and the ability to place a second shot dead on is.

A loose 45 will not travel that far and will loose alot of momentum once it hits something rather solid. And yes I am excluding our gypse made walls.

Gun manipulation is rather simple and easy compared to any other magnum load.

Another thing that has not been mentioned here is sound,

Imagine a .44 mag going off without any ear protection in a house. I am willing to bet your second follow up shot will come an hour later if at all.

For that matter a little .22 will do the job, imagine two in the eyes at ten feet.

Be very careful when contemplating a defense strategy.

Its not the same as being at the range and the saying that bigger is better really does not apply here.
 
you know what? in the end it boils down to whatever you have in your hand.

I still think whatever gun you feel comfortable with, mind you as someone staed earlier, a person on certain narcotics will not react to the smaller calibers as much as a normal person (unless it is between the eyes, because DEAD is DEAD)
 
echo4lima said:
OK, your wrong about the safe. It is just stated that if a 'safe'. Since that peticular 'lock-box' is considered a 'safe' it qualifies, hence no requirement for a trigger lock, and if I would put one on, it would be a combo with the combo set to open. There is no weight requirement for something to be considered a safe. I got it at CT BTW....on sale at $30 reg. $60ish.


I'm not sure what "Meat Regulations" have to do with this.. :) or not sure where your mind is :)
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OK, :D , I typed this at about 2 am after work. Now that the world knows I'm illiterate as well as uneducated, have mercy.

So, what defines a safe then? Whats the difference between a metal lock up (a la canadian tire) and a safe?
 
Boomer said:
Did you guys forget it's better to be judged by twelve than carried by six? There is no law against having a gun out of it's lock up while you are at home, other wise you could not legally maintain your guns, or take them outside. When the goblins come to my house, get past the dog, and finally get around to threatening my family they will meet with some very unpleasant consequences.
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Amen brother, amen. ;)
 
Darren Constable said:
So, what defines a safe then? Whats the difference between a metal lock up (a la canadian tire) and a safe?
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The label....says 'Safe' for valuables, then a "Safe" it is....
 
super7 said:
I understand and agree with what you are saying for the most part but most people in that situation are probably not going to be in a "satisfactory state of mind". You're going to be scared and may not be thinking rationally. Might end up spending the best part of your life in jail because the drunk kid from next door mistook your apartment for his parents and climbed in through your window. On the other hand, may end up dead because you were hesitant to grab the gun....

I'm not advocating shoot and I'm not saying don't shoot. It would be a bad situation to be in and god willing, I never find myself in it.

Still think you can't beat the shotgun though....:)
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If an individual is irrational at the time when he most needs to be rational he was probably irrational before hand. We are given a brain, and we are in control of our emotions. If you have a firearm for defense you have studied the problem and you already know under what circumstances you will use that weapon. You have trained and know what you can do with that weapon, you can take charge of any situation you may face. Fear is there to keep you safe, but it does not control you. The individual who is able to take control of the situation, who understands his weapon, and his ability to use it, is far less likely to fire his weapon than is some ninny who starts waving a gun around. If you have not studied the problem and trained yourself accordingly you are at a very significant disadvantage in any violent encounter.
 
So I can come home and put on my Sam Brown, holster the .45 and walk around the house (as long as I don't threaten anyone). Is there any laws about loading the firearm in my home?
 
So I can come home and put on my Sam Brown, holster the .45 and walk around the house (as long as I don't threaten anyone). Is there any laws about loading the firearm in my home?
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yes there are! you can only load a restricted firearm where it's ligal to shoot it (ie shooting range)
 
pirate said:
So I can come home and put on my Sam Brown, holster the .45 and walk around the house (as long as I don't threaten anyone). Is there any laws about loading the firearm in my home?
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Other than loading it, why not?
 
You need to be in control of your gun while at home. You cannot leave it standing somewhere. In control does mean having it holstered or in your hands :)

Of course it should not be loaded.

If you practice IPSC, you can dry fire all you want. I usually do this in my gun room :) Close to all that I need.

Of course nothing is stopping you from dry fire practice in the bedroom or living room area:rolleyes:
 
Gasanwu said:
But in Canada... I seriously doubt you would have to have a gun for home defence...
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Goverment of Canada statistics state ...
11% of home breakins in USA occur when resident is AT HOME.
48% of home breakins in Canada occur when resident is AT HOME.

(I would pick the S&W 627 .357 over a .44 mag for home defense)
 
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