Best home defense weapon for a woman ?

[medic11]

There has been several break-ins around my area in the last few weeks and around 9 last night someone woke the wife up knocking on my daughters bedroom window, I was home from the gym within 2 minutes of getting the phone call but didnt catch them . With all that said what do ya'll think is the best home defense weapon for a woman ?

[SHANE704]

a 20ga would be my first selection, if not that then prob a .38spl revolver

[farmerc83]

All depends on her size and what she's comfortable shooting.

[duramax]

Youth 20ga loaded with 3" #4 turkey loads. Farthest shot anyone ever takes in a house is max 10 yards (5 yards or less is more likely). At 10 yards with a modified choke, that's still 100% pattern retention. It would be bad news for anyone it hits. Pistols in inexperienced hands are not good home defense guns. They aren't good home defense guns period. It might take a couple shots to stop or slow a person down even with a .45. 1 shot with a 20 ga at 10 yards or less will stop Shaq in his tracks. Plus you don't have to worry about stray bullets going through walls and killing a neighbor or a loved one in another room.
My home defense gun is a youth 20ga with a turkey choke. Compact and easy for my wife to handle as well.

[msbigdawg1234]

+1 on the 20...but geta pump ...u may have to show her how to use it but not gona jam and not gona shoot her self or other damnage with the nervous trigger finger with an auto

[duckhunterdoc]

Youth 20ga loaded with 3" #4 turkey loads. Farthest shot anyone ever takes in a house is max 10 yards. At 10 yards with a modified choke, that's still 100% pattern retention. It would be bad news for anyone it hits. Pistols in inexperienced hands are not good home defense guns. They aren't good home defense guns period. It might take a couple shots to stop or slow a person down even with a .45. 1 shot with a 20 ga at 10 yards or less will stop Shaq in his tracks. Plus you don't have to worry about stray bullets going through walls and killing a neighbor or a loved one in another room.

...My exact answer...but the weapon is really not the question....how to get the family trained to use it "IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE" (totally diff from shooting at targets)...prevention ,as in awareness, home security (locking doors) security systems ( I prefer multiple placed panic buttons). and if you are going to talk weapons you probably need several throughout the house and where to "Hide " them and decide if you will keep them loaded----If a Crackhead penetrates your safety perimeter you will most likely not have enough time to go to your bedroom,look under your bed,find the gun, jack one in,turn and shoot....this shi#$t happens 10 x faster than you think,and unless trained you move much slower and less effective than you think you will...( not nearly as fast as you do on here or in the sportsbar "somebody breaks in my house I will shoot their booty)---because THIS is what I used to say "until reality showed up"

[The Captain]

Choot em Doc , choot em

[MemphisStockBroker]

shotgun.

much more visual to the bad guy than a revolver.

[fieldt76]

there's a youth model 20 ga. in the classifieds

[duckhunterdoc]

Choot em Doc , choot em

I did catch a mouse this morning that had entered the house uninvited

[Seymore]

+ 1 20 Ga. I would add that nothing will get a bad guys attention quicker that a round being racked into a pump shotgun. Seems like they all know what that sounds like.

[richard b evers]

My buddy has a youth Hand R 20ga pump he wanted to sell me yesterday for $150. Let me know if you want to talk to him.

[Doc & Nash]

A barking dog is more effective than anything and aslo put up some alarm signs, then the 20 ga.

[jacksbuddy]

If she ain't comfortable with it, no firearm will work. That being said - and to reiterate what has already been posted - a nice pump action shotgun loaded with bird shot should be perfect. The pump action has a very distinctive and recognizable sound when chambering a round. Also, bird shot is effective in close quarters without passing through barriers like walls, thus risking unknown damage to other precious valuables like children, should she miss.

If you must have a pistol, I suggest you get a .38 special revolver. It has enough stopping power to be effective, it won't jam like a semi-automatic if you "limp wrist" it in the middle of the night, and with two blast points (the muzzle and the force cone) it is freakingly loud - thus waking everybody in the household, including the dog, and maybe a neighbor or two.

Regardless of your choice, I still have 3 important words of advice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Good luck, and don't tell anyone what you decide. (The only ones who should learn that information should do so from the business end of said choice.)

[landscaper]

.....what she's comfortable shooting.

^^^There's your key phrase right there.^^^

I have a house full of suitable home defense weapons and my wife won't touch any of them unless I'm "holding her hand". She's so terrified that she might shoot herself or our son that I'm not sure she would go for a gun if she needed it. I wound up putting a laser on my Sig and told her if she could get it turned on put it on in intruder's forehead or chest she probably wouldn't have to shoot, and if that didn't work scream like a banshee and shoot the ceiling full of holes.