Self Defense

[The Conquistador]

Originally Posted by Tread

I don’t see the “need” for weapons that blow elephants away or rifles for home defence.

Most people use medium to low power cartridges for sporting and self defense(Generally .30 cal/7.62 ranges are usually medium power and anything below that is low power.) Unless you own a rifle chambered for .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, 4 bore or 2 bore or a punt gun, your rifle, shotgun or hand gun is not going to stop an elephant. Rifles like the AR-15 can be tailored to the operators needs and fire cartridges that have a good compromise between stopping power and recoil. That is why they are seeing an increased use in home defense.

Originally Posted by Tread

I don’t know why you should, I even don’t know if you own one.
For me it sounds like an excuse to have a big home defence weapon, cause I don’t see the need. Maybe you can change that with the examples you want to post.
I have a car because I would walk 14 hours or 4 hours a day to get to work, depending where (changes sometimes). I need 1 hour to get one way to the city. And I don’t have to carry things I buy.

I own an M44 Mosin-Nagant and I primarily use it for target shooting and other recreational purposes, however it is also used as my home defense weapon. I don't have it just as an excuse for anything; I have it because it has a variety of uses; home defense being one of them.

You have a car because it is more efficient in terms of time, distance and practical uses, correct? I own a rifle because it is more efficient compared to OC spray and tasers because of the standoff distance which doesn't require me to get in within arms distance of an assailant to use it.

Originally Posted by Tread

I don’t own or ever touched a real gun, only paintball, airgun and things like this.

I behoove you to at least go to a range and shoot for a day. That way you can develop an accurate opinion of firearms.

Originally Posted by Tread

I can’t, but I guess in nearly 90% it is a robber, in 5% its family, house mates or friends, and in 5% it’s a stalker.

For robbers 99%, except they want to rob me for ransom or my organs, but not here and not at my home.

Unless you know why someone is in your house, it is always better be on the cautious side. Especially if said person has forcefully uninvited themselves into your house.

Originally Posted by Tread

But projectile weapons could also hit my family, even a well trained SWAT-team or whatever can’t do this without risk, for my family, at close gun combat.

There is something that a wise man named Col. Jeff Cooper wrote called:

The 4 Rules of Firearms Safety

1) The gun is always loaded. (Even if you have just unloaded it, you still treat it as if it was loaded)

2) Never point the gun at something you are not willing to destroy.

3) Keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

4) Be sure of your target and what is beyond or around it.

Mr. Tread. Alot of these risks can be mitigated with common sense rules like this. Training is key when handling firearms. Should you become proficient in handling a firearm, you will not have to worry about accidently hitting your family as things like this will make you more aware of what you are doing and how you are doing it.

SWAT teams are usually called in for a barricaded hostage situation, not home invasions.