Wasn’t sure where to post this, but since I currently use a handgun for home defense, this seemed like the right place.
Given the choice with all else being equal (magazine capacity, caliber, reliability, both supprressed, etc), would you prefer a PCC SBR or a handgun for home defense? I ask because I honestly don’t know what the real-world pros and cons would be as I’ve never used either in any sort of defense scenario.
From my non-versed perspective, it seems like all else is equal other than a pistol allows one hand to be kept easily free if necessary, and a PCC would be more accurate (especially with an optic like a T1) and allow quicker follow-up shots. It also seems like a pistol would be easier to store safely with kids in the house while maintaining accessibility.
Is that really what it comes down to? Are there any other major tactical differences? Does it just come down to preference, and has anyone had any BTDT experience with both that could chime in?
Thank you!
P.S.: please keep the discussion to handguns and PCC SBRs. No true SBRs or alternatives. Just trying to analyze a 9mm SBR versus a 9mm pistol.
This is a great question and I look forward to comments by people with real world experience. I never investigated a shooting in which a SBR was used and I am anxious to hear qualified opinions.
In the incidents I investigated involving either a shotgun or handgun, the shotgun more quickly minimized the threat. That is fodder for another thread.
A pistol is easier to maneuver in tight spaces and tuck in close to the body if needed for a search (which might be necessary if moving to family members in other rooms such as children). A pistol is also easier to handle one-handed if you have to guide/herd loved ones to safety, or if you are on the phone with 911. A carbine is easier to shoot accurately if distances are a factor. For me in my house, the pistol with a weapon light is more practical. But it really depends on your situation and needs–there’s a place for both.
Well, if all things were equal, as you say, no NFA hoops or the like, I would much prefer the SBR. I know with 100% certainty that I’m quicker and more accurate in every facet of shooting with a RDS equipped rifle, sans reloads. Doubling barrel length in say, a 9mm from 4" to 8" wouldn’t hurt in the realm of ballistics either. To me, that’s like saying, what’s easier to shoot, a Glock 17 or MP5? For me personally, it’s a no-brainer. Also, I’m sure it’s mostly do to hand size and training time, but I’m much better at manipulating a tape switch activated light on a rifle than I am an x300 on a handgun.
ETA: FWIW, my nightstand gun has been a 16" carbine for about 10 years now, and the XO has a 12ga, no plans to change. Then again, we have a very open floor plan home, so that could make a difference to those in more compartmentalized spaces. My only reason for leaving our bedroom, should things go bump in the night, is to secure my daughter. From there it’s bunker down and defend, so I’ll take the rifle.
Id personally take the carbine every time. I can shoot a carbine more accurately and faster with a carbine than a handgun. Plus a carbine can be slung up for weapon retention and securing it if hands are needed to be free.
Also having investigated and or been to several scenes where people have been shot with handguns… Im going to want to be able to put multiple rounds in the A-zone in the least amount of time possible. Thats why I use a rifle.
From my humble perspective, I would ask the question. How long is the farthest distance in my home? If yours is 100 yards, the SBPCC would be my answer (and would you adopt me?). Train like hell to that standard with whatever platform you have/choose, better yet more.
Can I mitigate this (ie the distance)? What other options besides the two that you gave can I use? Im currently playing with a six second mount for a home defense scenarios but am still trying to become comfortable with it before I take it into a home defense course.
Whichever firearm you end up choosing and it may be both, constantly train. Using a firearm in a structure for the first time with your kids around is not the best idea. Having taken LAVs home defense course a few times, I will tell you , all the wheels fell off my cart the very first time.
Take your firearm(s) and run them through home defense course(s). Test your kit and tweak it to your particular circumstance. Im playing with larger capacity magazines ie 22/25 and 30/33 rounds. Im trying to see if works for me. Mr Hackathorn and Vickers have been both very accommodating and understanding in this regard. They are both great sources of information.
In my humble opinion there is no one perfect answer, only less sucky solutions.
Thanks for all the input, everyone. Fortunately for me, NFA laws aren’t much of a hindrance outside of monetary and time costs, so if a SBPCC ends up being the better solution for me, I’m more than happy to go with it. I live in a great place with a great Sheriff.
To answer a few of the questions above:
[ol]
[li]Largest distance would likely be 50 yards (in the extreme scenario of something happening outside the home in the yard). Likely self-defense encounter ranges would be around 10 yards, the farthest distance inside my home.[/li][li]Distance likely can’t be mitigated depending on the scenario. The lengths are what they are.[/li][li]I’m using a suppressed Beretta 92 currently due to their reliability with a silencer and cheap/reliable high cap mags, and with a 30-round magazine/suppressor/weapon light, it’s already a bulky beast. There’s not much out there for the gun in the way of a 6 second mount (some grip mounts I’ve seen), but even if there were, I doubt I’d go with it. It’s just getting to be too much to add even more on this gun.[/li][li]Training is consistent with whatever gun I’ll have, which is the aforementioned 92 at this point.[/li][/ol]
It looks like the differences are what was apparent at the beginning: SBPCC will be more accurate and more rapid, while the pistol allows one hand to be free. Added bonuses of the SBPCC are that it can be slung for retention (though I could get some type of lanyard for the pistol, I guess), and the pistol can also be held more compactly in tighter quarters. Does that about sum it up?
Any of the BTDT crowd want to chime in with their experiences and insight? I understand the final choice is ultimately up to me and my circumstances, but any experience with the above would be greatly appreciated.
For me a pistol makes the most sense. I can maneuver much better, and faster with a pistol. On the other hand I have an 870 police with buckshot for defending a fixed spot (waiting for a home invader to come in the door) and for sweeping up yard pests.
Your factors above would probably be well-served with a PCC. If you’re pistol is already heavy and bulky, you may lose that advantage with having a light compact weapon.
A carbine allows you to easily use a sling, light, and a good optic (Aimpoint RDS) for easier handling and shooting, with the added advantage that you can sling the PCC if both hands were needed. If SBR/suppressed is not an issue for you, I would go this route either with a 9mm or 300BLK.
If you’re going to run a carbine or SBR, get one in 5.56. You’ll have more effective hits and no additional penetration with the right ammo, like a 55gr TAP or softpoint round.
Because I knew it would turn into the exact kind of discussion you’re attempting to turn it into, and I already know how that discussion goes and don’t need to run through it for the millionth time.
I only care about the differences between a pistol and a SBPCC.
ETA: That reply is a bit too snappy. Sorry. I know an SBR is better and more lethal and doesn’t suffer from penetration issues. I’m not making any of those arguments and I appreciate everyone’s concern on this front. That said, I’m still only interested in discussing a 9mm pistol vs. a 9mm SBPCC.
I think it would largely depend upon the space where you live.
I currently live in an apartment complex, so a pistol works fun fine for me. The longest shot I could possibly take would be somewhere around 10 - 12 feet. However, were I living a large house when I could possibly be looking at long hallways or large open areas, something like an SBR’d MP5K clone would make a lot of sense. That gun would be extremely easy to maneuver and work with inside of a house, would offer double the capacity of most handguns, and would be very easy to make fast and accurate hits with in the dark provided its topped with something like a T1 or RMR sight.
That’s what I’m leaning towards at this point. The T1 and more rapid/accurate shots are what are really selling me towards the SBPCC. It would make for much better encounters and especially help at night (T1 vs. Trijicon HDs).
Both would have 30+ round magazines, though. Part of what makes the Beretta so bulky!
This is a good question and as I think about it more, the more my original opinion changes.
I have both, and have used both to clear my house when my damn cats have knocked stuff over in the middle of the night, heck even in the day. I will say both scenarios were different in the fact that my neighbors could see in my house during the day, thus I felt more comfortable with a pistol as I could blade my body so they couldn’t see me with a gun if they were really looking. When searching my house during the day, I even thought “what if it’s a mailman dropping something off or a neighbor letting me know my front door was left open in a rush, would I want to approach him with a pcc sbr slung around me, or a pistol I can either tuck in my waistband, or set somewhere concealed quickly?”
As such, I’ve decided to stick with a light equipped pistol for now due to it’s compactness. I also feel the support hand of the pistol allows me to react quicker to threats from either side when entering a room if someone is in there waiting, vs a sbr where there’s a lot more mass to try to maneuver or wrestle away from the intruder should it get to that point.
I’d opt for the pistol caliber SBR. I’m most proficient with a carbine, and the SBR would give me greater ability to put more rounds on target more quickly and confidently. I’m plenty find with a pistol, just better with SBR. However, if I had to select just one and did not already have a good handgun, I’d opt for a pistol, since I would carry it holstered around the house all the time.
