What 3 gun types (1 rifle, 1 shotgun, 1 handgun) do you choose for home defensive purposes? You don't have to list specific models, but I'd be interested in at least reading what platforms people choose if you could only choose 3. I like... 1) Pump Action Shotgun (12 gauge) 2) Full Capacity Semi-Auto Pistol (9mm) 3) Semi-Auto Rifle (223 Remington)
My short list: Gather up my wedding ring and grab a Mossberg 20 gauge Youth Shotgun, my AR-15 and my Glock 19 with a rail mounted light.
I have a 10.5" AR pistol with light in the rack above the headboard...my carry G43 +2 (tritium front) and hand held Surefire with Malkoff module on the night stand... and just cause I don't have any place to put it in the gun safe my newly acquired Mossberg 14" Shockwave, +4 loaded with OO in the rack also
I like concentric rings in my collection: - Threats at 50’ or greater get the rifle, currently a Bushmaster AR - Threats at 15-25’ get the Mossberg 12 ga - Up close and personal get the Glock 19
Springfield XDs 9mm with Viridian laser is in the nightstand with 3 extra mags. Armstrong AR-15 is currently in the bedroom closet until I figure out where to put it. 3 30 round mags in the night stand. Next purchase is a Mossberg tactical shotgun to round out the trio.
AR-15 if it’s at all possible to get to it. The handguns (Glock 19) only purpose is to get you to a rifle. I’d have a mossburg 5xx or a remington 870, but it hasn’t been a priority with the AR15 present.
I suffered nerve damage after a traumatic injury to my left arm. I don't think I can even work a rifle (or shotgun for that matter). I've not tried the Maverick 88 since my injury, but I've been thinking of trading it for maybe a youth model. I can not raise my left arm from my body. My deltoid muscle has been destroyed. I did just get a nerve graft surgery in December and it will take one year to see if there have been benefits. So, for me, I basically have to go with a pistol.
First off a seecamp . Second my K 9 kahr. Or my sig 238 hd . Third a double barrel 12 ga loaded with buckshot. As soon as its empty, i would just drop it . Only trade would be in a rioting. Then its mini 14 time. Since 1979 flawless performance. Jake
By the rules of the thread, my choices would be a Mossberg 500 Persuader in 12 gauge loaded with a candy cane of shells starting with birdshot going into the chamber first, then double aught buck, then rifled slugs. The pistol would be a Glock 19 with tritium sights paired with an Elzetta Bravo for positive target identification. It would serve as the grab and go home invasion weapon, hence the tritium and light combination- if I would reach for the shotgun, things have gone very, very badly very, very quickly. The rifle would be an AK because I prefer that platform over the AR and am thus more comfortable with its operation under duress. By my own rules, the weapons of choice would be the Glock and Elzetta as the primary bump in the night checking weapon, the Mossberg with the Elzetta palmed against the pump as the known major threat weapon (example, if there was a large animal that needed to be dispatched before harming humans or if there was a known armed and dangerous criminal with a history of forced entry in the immediate vicinity). The rifle- any rifle- is a poor close quarters weapon in my opinion, and if the shot is far enough that I would need a rifle, I would not take the shot because the threat is not an immediate danger to myself or my family. This is defense, not martial law.
Night table - Sig p320 RX with red dot and inforce light Closet - AR with red dot and light + Mossberg 500 with light. If something goes bump in the night, I reach for the pistol plus the surefire light next to it. I have the least amount of trigger time and skills running the shotgun, so even though it the first long gun I bought for SD, it remains unloaded in the lockbox in the closet. Short of the end of the world or zombies, it is hard to imagine I would need the AR for self defense, but I have one because it is the most accurate gun at 100 yds that I have (except for my bolt action Tikka) and because it's America and I can
1) AR M4 Carbine...it is the CQB weapon of choice by law enforcement and the US military. They have the time, money and real world experience to know what works. Ammo is available in bulk and reasonably inexpensive to practice with. Light operation is intuitive. Red dot acquisition is plenty fast. 2) Semi Auto handgun with weapon light at night. 3) A more concealable, lightweight semi auto when working around the yard or the shop.
Thanks everyone for the responses. Interesting to read others choices, and also to see some of the variation in what people determine best fits their individual needs.
Night table - Whatever my carry was for the day. Generally a double stack 9mm with a light. Carbine - VEPR 7.62x39 loaded with hollowpoints - In the safe, but ready to go Shotty - Mossberg 500 12ga with an 18" barrel loaded, but not chambered - Also in the safe.
Rifle: 8" 300 BO SBR with red dot, white light. need a can Pistol: 1911 45 because I shoot well with it. Shotgun: not used, bonus 11" 223 AR pistol. also light, also dot, also ready to rock. I can shoot any of the above one handed which may come up, as I have a young kiddo. shotguns take 2 hands to work and I want something that's good for point blank all the way to like 200 yards.
