General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: DU gun owners " Have you ever felt under gunned carrying less than ten rounds in a mag [View all]Lizzie Poppet
(10,164 posts)A revolver isn't a bad choice at all, IMO. They can be reloaded quickly (via what are called "speedloaders" that hold the six rounds ready for simultaneous insertion) in the somewhat unlikely event more rounds are needed to repel a home invasion. Revolvers tend to be chambered for more powerful ammunition than semiautomatic pistols, too.
A shotgun has its disadvantages for home defense. If you actually have to shoot, it works very well indeed. A 12 gauge shotgun is one of the most powerful civilian weapons available. But if the invader surrenders (as any sane person would do if someone got the drop on them with a 12-ga), then you have the problem of a two handed weapon leaving you without a free hand to dial the phone (don't laugh...this is a real issue). In addition, the longer barrel is more difficult to keep out of the reach of an assailant in close quarters. Weapon retention is, obviously, a huge priority in these situations.
And obviously the same limitations apply to rifles. Moreover, rifles are usually much more powerful than handguns, and have much greater ability to penetrate walls,etc. They are not a good choice for urban home defense (unless you cant stand your neighbors, I suppose).
The Wild West didn't have 30 round magazines, but they did have repeater rifles that held a pretty good amount of ammo. The legendary Winchester rifle was a revolutionary weapon largely for reason of its rapid action and large capacity.
I agree with your point about being able to hit what you aim at. If someone is going to keep a firearm for personal defense, it is their responsibility to become a competent shot and safe gun handler, and to practice these skills. If they're not willing to do that, they should make another choice.