The Best Guns for Home Security

Protecting your home involves several different layers. You need to be concerned about external security, which has to do with securing the outside of your home, as well as the home’s entrances. You need to be concerned about internal security, which has to do with barriers in the home that protect you, such as security cameras and alarms. You also need to be concerned with personal safety, or protecting yourself once a home invader has made it past those first two layers.

That’s where a personal firearm comes in. In many ways, a gun is a measure of last resort, only to be used when someone’s made it past your locks and security systems. When that happens, the situation is dire and you’re playing for keeps. You need to have the right gun.

The right gun, however, can vary greatly from one person to the next. To pick the best gun for home security, you need to look at a number of factors, including:

• Effectiveness
  You need to be concerned with how likely the gun is to stop a home invader in their tracks.
• Penetration
  A wall won’t always stop a bullet. You need to be aware of just how powerful your gun is so that you know whether or not it’s possible for the bullet to hit nearby unintended targets.
• Ammunition
  Sometimes, it takes more than one shot to take down an intruder – especially when you’re under pressure. The first couple of shots might miss, and so you need to be sure you can keep shooting until the target is down.
• Quality or reliability
  Your gun needs to work every time without malfunctioning.
• Price
  While there are plenty of high-end guns out there for home defense, the fact is you should be able to find one in your price range.

There are three types of guns that are especially appropriate for home defense. Let’s take a look at each in turn:

• Shotgun
  In particular, a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun gives you the ability to quickly take down an intruder. It’s the most effective weapon of the group when using buckshot. Overpenetration isn’t too bad, as long as you’re using #1 buckshot or smaller. Ammo capacity is lower than the other options, but you can get an extended magazine tube that will mitigate that. They tend to be reliable, and you can find a used one for about $150. Top models include the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 500.
• AR-15 Rifle
  This is the civilian version of the famous M-16. It’s effective because it’s very lethal. Penetration is high, but you can mitigate that some by using frangible ammunition. Magazines contain 30 rounds so you’ll have plenty. They’re reliable, and they’re expensive, running $700 or more. The DPMS Panther Lite 1 is a good choice for this type of gun.
• Handgun
  This is the most convenient, but in many ways least effective option. Handguns often take more than one hit to take down an intruder. Penetration is fairly high. A handgun can hold anywhere from about 7 to 30 rounds. They are very reliable, and almost never malfunction. Inexpensive handguns start around $300. A good choice is always the Glock 17.

The best gun for home security depends a lot on where you’re located, your skill with the weapon, and your budget. Give some of these options a look today.

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