What is the best defensive weapon? A 10 year real life study

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dennishoddy

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NikatKimber

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I think people get hung up arguing between “better” and “better than nothing.”

If one has a reason not to use, or inability to use, “better”; then certainly “better than nothing” is exactly that.
 

ripnbst

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There is some bad data in the video. He compares .410 Shot shells fired from a pistol to a 12GA shotgun, stating that the 5 pellets coming out of the .410 shell are half as effective as the 12GA. Well...the .410 shells are also being fired from a significantly shorter barrel thus making the velocity of the pellets significantly less, so therefore less energy. It takes a similar approach to .22LR in that it assumes that the rounds were fired from a rifle, at least that was the graphic used. Some of those rounds in defensive situations were likely fired from pistols. I didn't see a distinction made between .22LR fired from a rifle v pistol.

All in all a pretty good study but I'd question whether or not important aspects of the data were accounted for like I highlighted above.
 

Tanis143

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There is some bad data in the video. He compares .410 Shot shells fired from a pistol to a 12GA shotgun, stating that the 5 pellets coming out of the .410 shell are half as effective as the 12GA. Well...the .410 shells are also being fired from a significantly shorter barrel thus making the velocity of the pellets significantly less, so therefore less energy. It takes a similar approach to .22LR in that it assumes that the rounds were fired from a rifle, at least that was the graphic used. Some of those rounds in defensive situations were likely fired from pistols. I didn't see a distinction made between .22LR fired from a rifle v pistol.

All in all a pretty good study but I'd question whether or not important aspects of the data were accounted for like I highlighted above.

Same could be said for shotgun data, specifically the difference between short barreled shotties (legal or not) vs full length versions.
 

FreeSpiritBalloon

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I have seen some 410 shells named “self defense “ that are loaded just for short barrels.
My use for the Governor will be around the farm so I have a choice between bird shot, buck shot, 45lc or 45acp just by rotating the cylinder, depending on what needs shot.


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dennishoddy

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The current crop of SD 410 shotshells are designed for short barrels. There is a significant improvement in performance vs back in the day when common .410 shells designed for long barrel shotguns were first used in the Judge, Governor, etc.
 

Tcox

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I too think a governor could be pretty effective at extremely short ranges. This being said I’m a fanboy of having ALOT of energy and a lot of rounds. For me, it’s an AR variant with a bunch of mags and an “Alamo” position with body armor and more weapons and ammo for me and my family plus medical gear. Maybe a little overboard but I have a few enemies....

I don’t feel like there are many wrong answers, but I do feel like whatever you’re going to use you should be proficient with it and have plenty of trigger time with it. Most importantly, you should have a plan and your family should know it.
 
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kirk1978

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I'm selling all my crap tomorrow!!! I feel that their numbers weren't good enough in the video. :)

I always thought that a shotgun would be most useful inside the home, outside a rifle for sure....but who straps their Remington 700 on when cleaning out the flowerbed? (on this forum...a couple of you probably)
 

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