Multiple Invaders is more and more common...

[speedsix]

I think a dog is a great idea if you can afford/deal with one in the house. I have always let me dog sleep in the house, and she has a doggy door that always stays un-locked, Since my property is fenced completely she can run round at night with no issues. As for defensive guns, I have always slept with a pistol and a rifle ( lately it's a Glock 21 and a AK). The posts about ammo type are very applicable, as over penetration is always an issue. I live in the center of 8 acres that is pretty densely wooded, so I don't worry about over penetration too much. The other think thay you might consider is some kind of motion sensor set-up. I had a friend once who had on of those frogs that ribbet when people would walk down his entry way sidewalk. He always had his front window cracked and would hear it go off about 5 seconds before his door was knocked on. I thought that was pretty slick, and it only cost him $30.00 or so if I remember right.

...I'd have to hook my motion sensor to a shock collar on my dog...I'd never hear it and he'd crawl right in the window I left cracked...I sleep like a dead man...

[Count]

Our bedrooms are upstairs. If someone breaks in, we'll call 911 and the thieves can steal anything they want downstairs. I'll make an insurance claim and the thieves will eventually burn in hell.

However, if the home invaders come upstairs, I will shoot them as they pass through the fatal funnel, and the thieves will burn in hell a little sooner than they expected.

I have a M4gery for home defense. My tests show 5.56mm has less overpenetration danger than 9mm or .45 ACP in typical residential house walls.

[teraph]

Just goes to show you how bad things have become. Heck we even have had breakins on Ft Bliss from people who climbed the barbed wire fence. Personally I have my 1911 and usually a long gun (12ga or ar) next to me and my wife has her sig 239, and the dogs to wake me up. And I live in post housing! I can only imagine what itd be like off post in some of the seedier areas of El Paso.
Also if you are curios about penetration take a look at theboxotruth.com

[speedsix]

...glad your fort commander lets you have your guns in quarters...that's American of him...

[koolaid]

I have always let me dog sleep in the house, and she has a doggy door that always stays un-locked.

The one and only time my house has been burglarized, this was how they got in. Dogs are great to alert you to things while you are home, but they will eat anything, which makes it easy for someone who wants in your house to deal with when you aren't home, either by simply bribing them with food or poisoning them.

It is basically like leaving your door or a window cracked open when you leave.

[speedsix]

...some dogs, including mine, that's so...some won't eat from any hand but their master's and will eat anyone who comes in...but I've seen several burglars come in through the doggie door, too...

[TDDude]

Whatever you choose, make sure to practice, practice, practice. That includes loading, clearing jambs, moving through the house, engaging multiple targets..... And then do it blindfolded. Everything but the target part.

With me it's my carry gun. I have AR's and other carbines but I don't shoot them so much to where handling them is truly 2nd nature and when half asleep, it needs to be.

Hit what you aim at and know where your kids are.

[RECIT]

I have an angry toothy pitbull that is on point even when sleeping. She wakes up far more than I do, but if she barks I am up for sure. I have a Rem 870 by my side of the bed that is my wife's 18th birthday present from her father many years ago, so she and I are both fluent in its operation and handling. I also have a .357 686 in my night stand drawer, but that is if she already grabbed the 870 before I could wake up. I also keep a streamlight flashlight in its charger mounted to the nightstand for visual on the potential thugs. Our plan is for her to stay in the bedroom and let them take anything that does not bite or shoot back, I'll peak out the bedroom door but not leaving her side unless I have a visual or a shot to end the threat.

[VMI77]

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=8292717


This story is sad on so many levels, but is also scary on one key point... 4 invaders.

I sleep with a Glock 32 (with an attached WX150 tac light) and a spare magazine on my nightstand. I'm feeling under gunned as I've read several home invasion stories lately and they've all had 3+ invaders. 1 or 2 invade, and I feel I'm decently armed with 14 rounds, but 3 or 4 invaders?! I guess your best hope is that when someone fights back, they flee.

Has me wondering if I should start just putting the AR next to my bed. I don't own a tactical shotgun, but that would be a good option too. (I don't think a hunting shotgun is enough either)

Get a Saiga-12 Converted and it should do the trick, 12 rds to start with, with quick Mag reloads.

I was thinking about one, but I read somewhere that the plastic part of the shotgun shell will deform when compressed in a magazine and cause misfeeds or jams --and if I can't keep the magazine loaded because of that, what's the point? Have you test fired one with a magazine that's been loaded for awhile?

[Beiruty]

No I do not have one yet. Google it: Saiga 12 shell deforming

[mr surveyor]

my plan is that mrs. surv will wake up when the bad guys kick the back door in...then she will wake me... I will find my glasses and wake up the doberman sleeping on the bed between us, and hopefully have time to reach one of three loaded handguns before the BG reaches the bedroom. Then, when Guinness, the viscious doberman, sees the handgun in my hand and runs from the room in fear (that dog is scared silly at the sight of a gun), she will trip the BG's in the hallway on her way to the other end of the house.

We leave a couple of lights on 24/7 that give more than enough ambient light to see anything that moves in the house and office. Just me, mrs surv, the cowardly dobie and a small black cat, so anything standing more than three feet tall (other than mrs surv - and hopefully me) is gonna get shot.

[speedsix]

...sounds like a wunnerful plan...simply wunnerful!!!

[rdcrags]

S&W 642-1 with +P under the pillow

Interesting thread a couple of years ago about those of us who practically tear up the pillow periodically during the night, and would never feel good about having a handgun under there, especially locked and loaded, which it would have to be to be of any use. But what works for you is fine with me.

[fm2]

Whatever you choose, make sure to practice, practice, practice. That includes loading, clearing jambs, moving through the house, engaging multiple targets.....

That's great advice. Loading & clearing jams can be done with something like S.T. Action Pro training rounds.

If you don't know how to "clear" a room/hall/etc... and move/position you & the gun efficiently, it is a very good skill to learn & practice. You can get in some valuable practice at a force on force class, like ShivWorks AMIS. I thought I was okay at that, but found out a few things I was doing were tipping off the opposition force. I've even seen gun show TV hosts make the same mistake as me, pie'ing a corner with the leading elbow flared out, and the instructor didn't correct the position. You can get away with those errors facing paper or steel targets, but not with a person waiting on you. Better to learn those lessons with your training partners.

[philip964]

Friend has a Rottweiler, he does not lock his doors, ever.

Postman delivers his mail to the neighbor across the street.

Sweetest dog.