Reply #38: The issue is human-weapon Interaction

[happyslug]

Two handled weapons with a stock permits you to very quickly bring a weapon to a firing position. Once the stock is in your shoulder the weapon naturally "points" in the direction you want the weapon to shoot.

This "Human" engineering is the reason shotguns and rifles are easier to aim, easier to learn to shoot AND HIT YOUR TARGET (and can be more powerful compared to pistols).

Pistols were developed to permit one hand use of the weapon AND TO BE CARRIED ON THE BODY AS OPPOSED TO IN ONE"S HANDS. To obtain that one handed usability several compromises had to be made. First the ammunition has to be weaker since your hand has to be able to absorb all of the recoil (In a rifle or shotgun your shoulder and whole body absorb the recoil). Thus shotguns and Rifles are almost always more powerful than a pistol. In Shotguns, Rifles and Pistols one way to reduce recoil (and thus improve aim with minimal practice) is to use lighter rounds for the caliber of the weapon. Given the design of the pistol, these lighter loads may just be ineffective as compared to light loads of a shotgun. The effectiveness of any light loads (Pistols and Shotgun Light Loads) will be less than more powerful loads, but in Shotgun the drop in effectiveness is minor at the ranges within a house, as compared to the drop in effectiveness of pistols which can be drastic at the ranges found in most homes.

Second, the aiming points of a pistol has to be arm length away from your eyes (The arm has to be rigid to absorb the recoil of the pistol firing). Given this need for the arm to be rigid, the aiming points of the pistol are at least an ARM LENGTH AWAY FROM YOUR EYES. In a rifle or shotgun, putting the stock in your shoulder brings the weapons sights (It aiming points) right to your eyes. In a shotgun without any sights, the barrel can be used as an "aiming" post to "point" the weapon. Either way, the shotgun's and rifle's aiming points are quick to find and bring into alignment compared to a pistol. Thus it is easier to learn to use a Shotgun and easier to use it once learned compared to the more extension training needed to fire a pistol effectively.

The above two reason is why Rifles and Shotguns are more effective than Pistols. The difference is IMMENSE. A comparison can be made with the Military and Police, when they are in trouble and they have a choice between a pistol or a Shotgun, they go with the shotgun every time (Unless they want a rifle).

Now, some comments on Shotguns. I advocate the use of double barrel shotguns. These are simple to use, easy to load (and easy to check if loaded) and SHORTER THAN pumps and automatic shotguns. The reason for its shorter length is that in a Automatic or Pump the "action" has to be long enough for the Shotgun round to work into the chamber (Where the round is fired). Double barrel shotguns do not need this extra length and thus 2-3 inches shorter than Pumps and Automatics with the same barrel length.

The New York City Police for years equipped their detectives with double barrel shotguns not only for their shorter length, but there simplicity. In most double barrel (Not all thus when you look to buy you have to check) once you fire one barrel, the trigger is set by the recoil to fire the other barrel. Thus all you have to do is pull the trigger. Now you only have two shots, but over 90% of guns fights consist of two shots or less, thus not a problem. If you need more than two shots you are in bigger danger than you can get out of by yourself.

Thus the best recommendation for home defense tend to be the shotgun. A shotgun's range (Under 50 feet) is within the ranges most people will find in their home (If the ranges you plan to shoot at are over 50 feet, go with a rifle and its greater accuracy). Shotguns need less training to hit targets at the ranges we are talking about (under 50 feet). It is the Shotgun's better Human Engineering that makes it is a better choice than pistol.

Now as to Shotguns and Rifles, Rifles have greater range (I am ignoring 22 caliber rimfires which are low power rifles and as such weaker than most shotguns). Shotguns on the other hand uses shells filled with "Shot". "Shot" can be anywhere from 4-5 large round lead balls, to 30-40 small lead balls. Small Shot tend to be used for bird hunting (More shot being fire the more likely that one of the lead ball will hit the bird). Larger shots are used for larger "game" and as anti-personal rounds. As these rounds leave the barrel of the Shotgun they will spread out. At about 50 feet the spread is about the size of a Human torso (i.e. the main trunk of the Human body). At leaser ranges the "pattern" of this spread will be "tighter" (Remember it will be only .75 of an inch when it leaves the barrel of a 12 gauge shotgun). Thus under 50 feet the shotgun has a better chance of hitting a person you aim the weapon at compared to a pistol or even a Rifle. Over 50 feet the pattern tends to spread out to much so that it becomes harder to hit anything aimed at.

Rifles fire one round at a time (Unless we are talking of Automatic Weapons, something NOT normally used in home defense). The rifling turns the bullet so that is rotates in flight. This increases the accuracy of the Bullet. Depending on the caliber used you can accurately hit a man sized target up to 1000 yards away (And area target of a group of men 3-6000 yards away).

I hope this answered your question, it sounds like your knowledge of weapons is limited and thus I went into details I normally would have skipped. I hope the above is helpful, if you have any question feel free to contact me.