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 Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 6:43 pm
Okay, for the past few weeks, some young guys (highschool I guess) have been...lets say less than friendly since being confronted about throwing trash, running straight exhaust and speeding through the neighborhood. Thing is, they get more and more brazen in their actions. It went from revving the engine to walking by shouting obscenities (90% certain they were on drugs). We filed a report with the state police and they had an observe and report on that vehicle. If they walked by my house shouting "F*** you", one could resonably conclude that their vehicle was confiscated by the cops and we could be seen as the cause. Now, I have always kept a shotgun handy with shells nearby, but this is the first time I have EVER kept a loaded gun under my bed (or anywhere). Granted it is just my black powder .44 revolver, (and yes I loaded 5 in a 6 gun) but it makes me feel much better and it is adequate IMHO. I also chose it because I just wanted something small to make me feel better than my cheap-o katana.
Now, I think I know a little bit of stuff when it comes to defensive handgun, but that mostly applies to a balanced standard pistol, not a muzzle heavy single action with a 12" barrel and 5 shots period. I have confidence that I can hit what I aim at, and I have mentally run scenarios about what I would do in a home invasion situation, but I especailly need some advice and techniques that I could use to light up an area to make it more visible. Am I supposed to turn on every light I come accross, or is there a special way I can hold a flashlight I haven't thought about? A new gun or proper training isn't really in my budget or time, so any pictures / manuals / anything would be great. Thank you in advance.
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Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 6:53 pm
Fair warning: Nothing written here is binding or legal. Take what you think is common sense and form your own best judgements.
Talk to the neighbors you are on speaking terms with first. Strength in numbers as well as reliable witnesses. Find anyone who will collaborate your observations. Don't try and do this alone.
Take any photos or video you can to document these miscreants. Of course, don't let them see you taking the photos if at all possible. Any documentation you can provide will help should you have to defend yourself legally in the aftermath.
See if there is any way to involve law enforcement first. If you can't get their attention, then you are stuck with researching your local self defense laws as to home invasion and when you can take action.
As far as pistol and flashlight techniques go, I prefer the gun in my shooting hand (in my case, the right) and the flashlight above my head or extended far to the left. This will draw any fire away from your chest and head.
Good Luck. With any luck, these losers will get bored and move onto some other locale.
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 11:30 am
i keep a pipe right next to my bed... i sleep just fine... don;t worry about who's going to do what and when, just know your rights (i.e. look up if your state has a castle law) and get some sleep... once your life is affected by fear of an external force, that external force wins without even doing anything... that;s a weak way to loose...
or you could go all clinteast wood, grand torino, badass xp
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 12:29 pm
Floyd As far as pistol and flashlight techniques go, I prefer the gun in my shooting hand (in my case, the right) and the flashlight above my head or extended far to the left. This will draw any fire away from your chest and head. I've always preferred the Harries technique, listed among others here. The problem with what you describe is that you can't do it indoors, because hallways are too narrow. Outside, shooting at someone thirty feet closer and ten feet to the right ******** your aim good. Someone else suggested that for a gun with shitty sights, you should hold the flashlight on top of your head. It looks ridiculous, but it illuminates both your target and your sights. Considering you're using a 100-some-year-old revolver, I figured you probably don't have the best of sights. The one thing I have to suggest is NEVER hold your light to the side and above the centerline of your gun. It ******** up sight picture something massive, at least for me. But try out some of everything in a very dark room or at night, see what works and what doesn't. I always thought a modified Harries would work with a rifle, but when I actually TRIED it to shoot a skunk, I flooded my own sights and couldn't see anything.
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 5:03 pm
thanks for the input so far guys. I've calmed down a lot since posting this, but I'm still keeping it loaded just because it seems like a good idea in any case. Lucky for me, castle just passed into law a couple weeks ago, so it's good to go. As far as sights are concerned, I have pretty decent irons with a front post and rear. My issue is that the gun is incredibly muzzle heavy so it takes 2 hands for me to get a steady aim without the front post wandering. Something to work on, I guess. A good excuse to post porn (for example of sights): 
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 5:27 pm
Personally, I keep a Mosin-Nagant and several hundred rounds of ammunition next to my bed. My dad's got a pistol he keeps loaded. If TWO loaded guns aren't enough to deter a criminal, a .30 caliber slug and 9mm bullet are.
I think that you've got a fine choice for a defensive weapon. Sure, it ain't a Glock 17 or M&P9, but as long as it's reliable, (which all good revolvers are- if it fails to fire, c**k the hammer and try again!) accurate, powerful, and has at least 3 shots, you're golden. For two reasons- you have a gun, and if that doesn't convince the would-be assailant, getting shot will. If you cannot place 1 in 3 rounds in center mass at in-home distances, you have absolutely no business using a gun to defend yourself. And as long as your is more powerful than a .22mag, one shot to center mass will stop someone.
Sorry I can't really help you about flashlights. I was about to suggest you steady the barrel of the gun using your left forearm, holding the flashlight in your left hand, but then I realized the gas would burn you terribly.
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 5:47 pm
I have a baseball bat, a replica katana, replica dagger, Guitar Hero II controller and pocket knife within easy reach of my bed. I don't need a gun should someone break in, but it would be nice to have.
I wonder how much being hit with a GH2 controller would actually hurt. It can't be pleasant, I'm sure.
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 6:26 pm
Requiem in Mortis I have a baseball bat, a replica katana, replica dagger, Guitar Hero II controller and pocket knife within easy reach of my bed. I don't need a gun should someone break in, but it would be nice to have. I wonder how much being hit with a GH2 controller would actually hurt. It can't be pleasant, I'm sure. Baseball bats take too much room to achieve full power swings. If the replica katana isn't really sharp, it's about as useless as the bat. And using a Guitar Hero controller as a defensive weapon is just plain silly.
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 7:03 pm
ArmasTermin Requiem in Mortis I have a baseball bat, a replica katana, replica dagger, Guitar Hero II controller and pocket knife within easy reach of my bed. I don't need a gun should someone break in, but it would be nice to have. I wonder how much being hit with a GH2 controller would actually hurt. It can't be pleasant, I'm sure. Baseball bats take too much room to achieve full power swings. If the replica katana isn't really sharp, it's about as useless as the bat. And using a Guitar Hero controller as a defensive weapon is just plain silly. An overhead swing to the back of someone's head can knock 'em out instantly. Better'en nothing, but of course, a gun would be preferable. 'Specially with Glaser slugs.
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 8:38 pm
Mr Savoy ArmasTermin Requiem in Mortis I have a baseball bat, a replica katana, replica dagger, Guitar Hero II controller and pocket knife within easy reach of my bed. I don't need a gun should someone break in, but it would be nice to have. I wonder how much being hit with a GH2 controller would actually hurt. It can't be pleasant, I'm sure. Baseball bats take too much room to achieve full power swings. If the replica katana isn't really sharp, it's about as useless as the bat. And using a Guitar Hero controller as a defensive weapon is just plain silly. An overhead swing to the back of someone's head can knock 'em out instantly. Better'en nothing, but of course, a gun would be preferable. 'Specially with Glaser slugs. A full power downward swing has shorter range, and if you don't connect, you're left wide open. Or you can try to stop the swing mid-way, before the bat hits the ground, and you sacrifice power. Plus with the bat in front of you in a neutral stance, bat pointed outward, you pretty much can not achieve a decent swing without wide body movements that take quite a bit of time. I mean a baseball bat is significantly better than nothing, but there are much more valuable options.
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 8:54 pm
Don't forget a proper kitchen knife. You must have a few proper blades in the kitchen. Fine for close up work, and shocks the crap out of some attackers.
Also, don't discount the value of an improvised mace. I was watching a show on the history channel this morning on the history of key weapons of war.
A 2 pound ball on the end of a large rope, swung like mad, could be released on target, leaving cracked bones in its wake. Not great for indoor work, but not bad for the yard.
In related news, next week's MythBusters focuses on the use of both tasers and pepper spray at the same time. Seems the propellent of some sprays can be ignited by the arc of the taser wires. Cool effect.
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 11:56 pm
Good luck man. I hope nothing too serious comes of this.
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Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 4:07 am
I've got a 30" steel pipe next to my bed for OH MY GOD HE'S IN MY DOORWAY work, the AR with a full mag of 45gr. hollowpoints in my safe (I think they'll self-detonate after 30 yards regardless of if they hit anything or not... thin jackets and high barrel twist), and another full mag of SS109 semi-penetrators on the shelf above it.
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Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 10:14 am
I just keep the 12 gauge in my room, 00 buckshot is plenty enough to stop a home intruder.
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Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 12:04 pm
I have a 14" machete close at hand in my room. Its better than nothing, but I'm trying to convince my dad to let me keep my Smith & Wesson 40 cal semi-auto in my room.
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