When it comes to using a firearm for home defense purposes, many people will opt for a handgun or other gun type that is well-suited for the task. If your hunting rifle or sport shotgun are your only options, you may experience some limitations and inherent risks that can cause you some real problems.
When planning what you may or may not be willing to do when it comes to home and personal defense, you’ll have to give some thought as to the methods you might use. If you’re a gun owner, consideration should ideally be given to the size and type of firearm that you may employ for these purposes. That would make the most sense. In many cases though, not a lot of thought may be put into what you have available in the event of bad situation. Will your current guns do the job if necessary? Sure, but to a point. There are also a variety of firearm models that are good for double-duty, but that may not make sense for you. In any case, it would serve you well to plan ahead as opposed to waiting until you hear that window breaking downstairs in the dead of night.
Downsides
Using a hunting gun for home or personal defense can lead to several significant drawbacks. Here are a few of the negative aspects to consider:
Over-Penetration & Collateral Damage
One of the most significant concerns with using a hunting rifle or sport shotgun for home defense is the risk of
over-penetration by projectiles. Hunting rifles, designed for long-range accuracy and power, can fire bullets that can penetrate walls, furniture, siding and other barriers with ease. This poses a serious risk of injuring or killing individuals in other rooms or neighboring houses. Similarly, sport shotguns can also cause significant damage through penetration, depending on the load used. Some may argue that you may be able to train specifically for better accuracy and/or get a sense of where you may be able to shoot within your home based on the strength of the exterior walls. I would suggest that these are not really reliable ways to offset the risk, especially in high-stress situations.
Handling & Maneuverability
Hunting rifles and sport shotguns are often designed for open environments, not for the confined spaces of a home. Their size and weight can make them cumbersome to handle, especially in tight quarters like hallways or doorways. Maneuverability is crucial in a home defense situation, and these firearms may hinder your ability to quickly and effectively navigate your living space. Additionally, the resulting recoil can be more substantial, making follow-up shots more difficult. To be fair, the handling aspect becomes less of an issue if your plan is to stay in-place as you wait for the police to respond. Moving through your home to get to your kids is a different matter.
Lack of Tactical Features
Hunting firearms typically lack tactical features such as integrated lights, red dot sights, or adjustable stocks, which are beneficial for identifying targets and improving accuracy in low-light or dynamic conditions.
Optics
A magnified optic isn’t going to help you much in close quarters, and you will likely end-up using the muzzle as a guide in these cases. Many bolt-actions don’t come with iron sights anymore, so your ability to shoot more intuitively may be tested.
Capacity, Action & Ammo
A few thoughts…
- Many hunting rifles and sport shotguns have limited cartridge capacity, which can be an issue if your encounter goes beyond a certain point
- Lack of auto-loading. Bolt-action rifles in particular are slow to cycle compared to pump and lever-action models.
- Speaking of lever-actions, there are more options that are better suited for home defense compared to bolt-action rifles. They cycle relatively fast for follow-up shots and are typically chambered in rounds with less range, recoil and muzzle blast.
- The subject of ammo for home defense use is really a stand-alone topic unto itself. The trick is to use rounds that have stopping power, but that won’t blow-through walls to the point where it becomes a safety issue. If simply using whatever ammo you might have available for your hunting rifle or shotgun, it is likely to be an issue. Aside from the over-penetration, you’ll also have to contend with the hearing and night vision loss that comes with the more powerful muzzle blast from a higher-caliber cartridge in an enclosed space.
Training & Familiarity
The skills needed for hunting or target shooting differ from those required for defensive shooting. Proficiency in handling a hunting firearm does not necessarily translate to effective use in a high-pressure, close-quarters defensive situation.
Legal Considerations
The use of a hunting firearm in a self defense scenario can lead to complex legal issues, especially if over-
penetration causes unintended harm or damage. Also consider that legal standards for justified use of force can vary between jurisdictions, and using a non-defense-specific firearm might complicate matters.
Ultimately, anyone who pulls a trigger is going to be accountable for the bullets fired. Notwithstanding the fact that you may be shooting in an effort to protect yourself or your family, you do have to have a sense of the potential risk of using a larger, overpowered gun to this end. The key to effective home defense lies in choosing the right tool for the job, understanding its limitations, and ensuring you are well-trained and prepared for any situation that may arise.
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