BurnetAggie99 said:

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Sig P250 Compact .380 Still holds 15 + 1 capacity but half the recoil of 9mm.

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Or a similar 15 round Ruger Security 380
https://www.academy.com/p/ruger-security-380-380-auto-pistol

Aggie_Boomin 21 said:

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Ar-9 would be my choice in your shoes

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Thanks for the suggestion. My daughter likes the idea of being able to shoulder it. She ruled out an AR-15 because of weight.

I'd she decides to go this way, do you have recommendations on specific makes/models for consideration?

I personally do not have any personal recommendations, sorry. I'm sure others do and it might be worth another thread asking.

But yeah, a short barreled AR in a pistol caliber seems like the best option. Easier to shoot than both a handgun and shotgun, and a higher capacity. Only downside is if body armor is involved, but probably not necessary to mitigate against.

FN PS90 in 5.7x28?
https://palmettostatearmory.com/fnh-ps90.html

• Barrel Length: 16.04"
• Overall Length: 26.23"
• Weight: 6.28 lbs.

For a AR have to go with a 5.56 SBR type

Buckshot gives no ****s and will kill someone three apartments away.

Mindset is first priority. Pulling a trigger under stress has to be mentally overcome. If she will practice then recommend a semi auto 9mm.
Simple to keep it in a lockbox handy next to bed.

Two to the chest, one to the head, stop shooting when no longer a threat. No thoughts about warning shots or shooting in leg to just wound them.

Way too easy for an amateur to loose control of a long gun in an apartment.
Also hard to store & keep handy.
Thirty rounds of 5.56x45 does tip the scales in your favor if you are hunkered down in a self defense scenario.

I keep a 9mm in a lockbox adjacent to bed and an a AR15 SBR nearby.
Wife has a single shot .410 like Sherry used

Also Wasp spray makes an effective less than lethal option she can keep openly in living room so it's quick to get to. Has good reach and effective when sprayed in the face.
Each of our girls had couple cans of it when living alone.
Neither one has the mindset to shoot for self defense so they didn't get a firearm.

Consider installing 3/4" dowels cut to block windows from being easily lifted from outside but easy to remove from inside for emergency egress through window. Along with easy to remove brace bar on entry door, one that blocks to the floor

Animal Eight 84 said:

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Mindset is first priority. Pulling a trigger under stress has to be mentally overcome. If she will practice then recommend a semi auto 9mm.
Simple to keep it in a lockbox handy next to bed.

Two to the chest, one to the head, stop shooting when no longer a threat. No thoughts about warning shots or shooting in leg to just wound them.

Way too easy for an amateur to loose control of a long gun in an apartment.
Also hard to store & keep handy.
Thirty rounds of 5.56x45 does tip the scales in your favor f you

I keep a 9mm in a lockbox adjacent to bed and an a AR15 SBR nearby.
Wife has a single shot .410 like Sherry used

Also Wasp spray makes an effective less than lethal option she can keep openly in living room so it's quick to get to. Has good reach and effective when sprayed in the face.
Each of our girls had couple cans of it when living alone.
Neither one has the mindset to shoot for self defense so they didn't get a firearm.

3/4" dowels cut to block windows from being easily lifted from outside

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So what does she do when a thug makes entry as she is opening the door on her way in from work or the grocery?

EDC on your person.

JFABNRGR said:

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Animal Eight 84 said:

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Mindset is first priority. Pulling a trigger under stress has to be mentally overcome. If she will practice then recommend a semi auto 9mm.
Simple to keep it in a lockbox handy next to bed.

Two to the chest, one to the head, stop shooting when no longer a threat. No thoughts about warning shots or shooting in leg to just wound them.

Way too easy for an amateur to loose control of a long gun in an apartment.
Also hard to store & keep handy.
Thirty rounds of 5.56x45 does tip the scales in your favor f you

I keep a 9mm in a lockbox adjacent to bed and an a AR15 SBR nearby.
Wife has a single shot .410 like Sherry used

Also Wasp spray makes an effective less than lethal option she can keep openly in living room so it's quick to get to. Has good reach and effective when sprayed in the face.
Each of our girls had couple cans of it when living alone.
Neither one has the mindset to shoot for self defense so they didn't get a firearm.

3/4" dowels cut to block windows from being easily lifted from outside

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So what does she do when a thug makes entry as she is opening the door on her way in from work or the grocery?

EDC on your person.

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Fully agree if she is committed & disciplined to carry.

Assuming that she is a competent with a shotgun I would get her a 12 gauge loaded with heavy dove shot. Unless she is going to go full on ninja training gal heavy dove is probably the best compromise between overpenetration and lethal. It is certainly not perfect but if you gave me a loaded 12 gauge with heavy dove in an apartment I would feel pretty well armed.

Don't forget to teach her to leave the chamber empty. That way she can scare the perp by racking a round into her pump shotgun. .

Racking the slide is usually enough.

What happened to him? Does he still post?

I hadn't seen him post in forever, but I believe he posted out of the blue the last month or 2.

I'm pretty sure I still have his email from a hunt we planned years ago. I'll see if I can reach out.

All good info. Thank you Outdoors.

Maroonedinaustin said:

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malenurse said:

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The best answer is almost always: What is she comfortable and competent shooting?

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She's experienced with shooting handguns and shotguns. I'm just thinking in a high stress situation, a shotgun is the best option.

Less likely to accidently shot herself, or someone in the adjacent apartment units. More likely to hit her target.

The only downside I see is the perpetrator has a better chance of surviving. I'd prefer he had "no comment" for the police.

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With the exception of "a shotgun is the best option" (and the answer is still "it depends", but I would generally agree), I have to disagree with all your assertions above, and I would have to assume they are probably predicated on your incorrect assumption that bird shot is an effective or desirable self-defense load in a shotgun.

Bender (as usual) is spot on in his reply above. Anything that can stop a human being will penetrate multiple walls if you miss. Birdshot will produce a superficial wound past 4-6 feet, and that's not what you want her using when a determined adversary is trying to rape, kidnap, or kill your daughter.

Low recoil buckshot (Federal Flite Control is the winner, hands down, over any other defensive load) is EXTREMELY effective at stopping people with a high center chest hit. Lots of data from police shootings with shotguns back this up.

Signed, your friendly, local Defensive Shotgun instructor

JFABNRGR said:

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Animal Eight 84 said:

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Also Wasp spray makes an effective less than lethal option

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Please don't do this, this is another internet urban myth. A large canister of quality pepper spray (not GEL, you want the spray) will be more effective.

In case you are wondering, pepper/OC sprays only start working when the carrying medium evaporates, which can take up to a full minute with the pepper gels. That's a long time for someone who is now really pissed off to be beating, stabbing, or raping you while you wait for the dang gel to evaporate.

Maroonedinaustin said:

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My daughter just moved into a one bedroom apartment living alone. I'm thinking a shotgun would be the best option to prevent live fire from injuring/killing someone in an adjacent apartment unit, plus it's hard to miss with a shotgun.

Is there a better option? What say you Outdoors?

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So much bad and outdated info and old wives tales in this thread.

Bender and 96austinAg are definitely good, although I disagree with shotguns being a good choice.

Mindset is the single most important thing. Without the proper mental preparation any weapon is meaningless. Meaningless except maybe to the person breaking in and using it against your daughter.

The first step in a good mindset is the will to survive no matter what. If she doesn't have it, she needs to develop it. That will lead to the will to prepare with skills. With the proper skills, she can use a shotgun, rifle, pistol or a spoon to defend herself.

She doesn't have to shoot and train every weekend. One good 2-3 day class will give her the basics and then enough practice of those basics to ingrain them.

IMO, lend her a pistol (or borrow one) and send her to a legitimate 2 day class. Then she'll have enough knowledge to try a rifle or shotgun out and make an informed decision.

KR Training is fine if she's in central Texas. There are plenty of OK choices and there are a few really good choices. Which area does she live in?


Also...
Shotguns should also be kept unchambered, so you're adding another step (under stress). Armed criminals also know when they hear the racking, to start firing their gun; This ain't the 1990's. An AR15 weighs probably less than a shotgun and is handier and less felt recoil.

We used to have rules!

I agree on AR-9 with a good red dot. I've had numerous first time shooters instinctively be very accurate and efficient shooting mine.

I have a friend that has one of these. Uses Glock mags. Get her one some good ammo and a light for it. Loaded with a 50 rd mag.

Plus you can take it down and fit it in a backpack or suitcase if she's traveling and staying in a hotel.

https://www.ruger.com/products/pcCarbine/specSheets/19130.html

The "Judge" loaded with defender package ammo

Animal Eight 84 said:

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Wife has a single shot .410 like Sherry used

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I saw what you did there!!

AgTrip said:

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Booby traps!

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AgTrip, can you contact me via phone or email? I'm trying to get in touch with you about an item you want to get rid of.

HumbleAg04 said:

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We used to have rules!

I agree on AR-9 with a good red dot. I've had numerous first time shooters instinctively be very accurate and efficient shooting mine.

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I don't know how a 9mm carbine isn't the immediate answer.

It's so obvious.

Jason_InfinityRoofer said:

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AgTrip, can you contact me via phone or email? I'm trying to get in touch with you about an item you want to get rid of.

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Sent you an email!

96AustinAg said:

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JFABNRGR said:

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Animal Eight 84 said:

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Also Wasp spray makes an effective less than lethal option

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Please don't do this, this is another internet urban myth. A large canister of quality pepper spray (not GEL, you want the spray) will be more effective.

In case you are wondering, pepper/OC sprays only start working when the carrying medium evaporates, which can take up to a full minute with the pepper gels. That's a long time for someone who is now really pissed off to be beating, stabbing, or raping you while you wait for the dang gel to evaporate.

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I don't think you meant to reply to me. Wasp spray is for wasps.

Maroonedinaustin said:

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My daughter just moved into a one bedroom apartment living alone. I'm thinking a shotgun would be the best option to prevent live fire from injuring/killing someone in an adjacent apartment unit, plus it's hard to miss with a shotgun.

Is there a better option? What say you Outdoors?

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Two myths in one post. Impressive.

ConfidentAg said:

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HumbleAg04 said:

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We used to have rules!

I agree on AR-9 with a good red dot. I've had numerous first time shooters instinctively be very accurate and efficient shooting mine.

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I don't know how a 9mm carbine isn't the immediate answer.

It's so obvious.

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Why is it so obvious?

NRH ag 10 said:

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ConfidentAg said:

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HumbleAg04 said:

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We used to have rules!

I agree on AR-9 with a good red dot. I've had numerous first time shooters instinctively be very accurate and efficient shooting mine.

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I don't know how a 9mm carbine isn't the immediate answer.

It's so obvious.

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Why is it so obvious?

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Low recoil, easy to handle, easy to aim, cheap to practice.

You're going to have better aim with a PCC than a pistol any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

ConfidentAg said:

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HumbleAg04 said:

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We used to have rules!

I agree on AR-9 with a good red dot. I've had numerous first time shooters instinctively be very accurate and efficient shooting mine.

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I don't know how a 9mm carbine isn't the immediate answer.

It's so obvious.

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9mm has the most over-penetration issues (the exception may be a shotgun slug), especially in a carbine length.

Pistol caliber rounds have the worst terminal ballistics; it's not even close in comparison.

InfantryAg said:

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ConfidentAg said:

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HumbleAg04 said:

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We used to have rules!

I agree on AR-9 with a good red dot. I've had numerous first time shooters instinctively be very accurate and efficient shooting mine.

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I don't know how a 9mm carbine isn't the immediate answer.

It's so obvious.

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9mm has the most over-penetration issues, especially in a carbine length, and pistol caliber rounds have the worst terminal ballistics; it's not even close in comparison.

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Ballistics doesn't even matter.

How many bullets can a girl put into the target is the only question for me.

ConfidentAg said:

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InfantryAg said:

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ConfidentAg said:

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HumbleAg04 said:

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We used to have rules!

I agree on AR-9 with a good red dot. I've had numerous first time shooters instinctively be very accurate and efficient shooting mine.

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I don't know how a 9mm carbine isn't the immediate answer.

It's so obvious.

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9mm has the most over-penetration issues, especially in a carbine length, and pistol caliber rounds have the worst terminal ballistics; it's not even close in comparison.

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Ballistics doesn't even matter.

How many bullets can a girl put into the target is the only question for me.

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Ballistics doesn't matter? Really???

20 rounds in a non vital area, especially in a doped up person isn't effective, especially compared to one round in a switch CNS hit). Terminal Ballistics in a pump makes all the difference. It takes longer to bleed out of a 22 round vs a 9mm+ defensive round.

If what you were saying was true, the world would only use .22s.

Being able to accurately engage is important, but effective rounds are what wins a gunfight. And if the person has prepared beforehand, like I described in my previous post, rounds on target are gonna happen.

InfantryAg said:

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ConfidentAg said:

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InfantryAg said:

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ConfidentAg said:

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HumbleAg04 said:

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We used to have rules!

I agree on AR-9 with a good red dot. I've had numerous first time shooters instinctively be very accurate and efficient shooting mine.

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I don't know how a 9mm carbine isn't the immediate answer.

It's so obvious.

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9mm has the most over-penetration issues, especially in a carbine length, and pistol caliber rounds have the worst terminal ballistics; it's not even close in comparison.

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Ballistics doesn't even matter.

How many bullets can a girl put into the target is the only question for me.

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Ballistics doesn't matter? Really???

20 rounds in a non vital area, especially in a doped up person isn't effective, especially compared to one round in a switch CNS hit). Terminal Ballistics in a pump makes all the difference. It takes longer to bleed out of a 22 round vs a 9mm+ defensive round.

If what you were saying was true, the world would only use .22s.

Being able to accurately engage is important, but effective rounds are what wins a gunfight. And if the person has prepared beforehand, like I described in my previous post, rounds on target are gonna happen.

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I guess I value being able to reliably shoot the target than assuming the guy breaking in is high on PCP and body armored.

I guess you are not wrong but I'd still put my trust in a PCC.