responsible self defense -- For those who dwell in apartment

[R/T Rick]

So any recommendations? I just moved into a relatively full apartment communty so it's entirely possible for my neighbors not being more than a wall away. Ideal firearm and ammo selection, please.

[Joeywhat]

The same you use everywhere else?

If penetration through barriers is a no-no then do NOT use a firearm, period. There are better tools then a firearm loaded with less then lethal loads.

Proper 5.56 loads will do best at not being terribly efficient after penetrating typical household barriers...basically once it goes through a wall or two it loses a lot of wounding potential. Handguns are typically pretty bad and still penetrate tissue a lot after barriers, and heavy shotgun loads basically act like the wall was never there.

Light and fast is your friend, the walls slow it down enough to not be very effective. Rifle rounds like 5.56 depend on yaw and fragmentation to do damage, both of which are obtained at high speeds. Handgun rounds only rely on penetration to wound, which they still do perfectly well after exiting drywall.

[mjkeat]

.410

[Tactical Toolbox]

Do a search for frangibles and Glaser.

[R/T Rick]

What about 12 ga using a 7 1/2, 8, 9 birdshot?

[Joeywhat]

What about 12 ga using a 7 1/2, 8, 9 birdshot?

Very poor penetration in human tissue, same with frangible handgun/rifle ammo. It's called birdshot for a reason...and for those that go bird hunting they'll know the shot doesn't always penetrate that far. And that's in a bird that's maybe 6" thick, if that.

Realize that projectiles that don't go through typical household barriers will also not go through your typical human. Penetration is key in regards to effectively stopping an attacker, at least for shotgun/handgun loads. Rifles rounds are moving fast enough to cause other damage, shotty/handguns just don't move fast enough in most cases. If the projectile isn't reaching a vital organ, then what is it really doing? The human body can survive a LOT of superficial trauma, at least long enough to still attack someone for a few more minutes. The way to effectively stop an attacker is to cause severe bleeding (hit the heart or major artery), hit the central nervous system or break enough bones to cause the person to be unable to move.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I use 62gr frangible in the house, they powder in drywall but will do devastating damage to tissue.....

[phil_g80]

What about 12 ga using a 7 1/2, 8, 9 birdshot?

I will disagree with Joey because you are talking about using this in the confines of an apartment where your farthest distance will be, I would guess, 20 feet. At these distances a 12 gauge with birdshot can decapitate a human. If you have the 12 gauge then use it. If you want a second gun then use a deep hollow point in a handgun. Most I have seen fall apart after the first layer of wall.

[Bones]

Taser then baseball bat?

or flamethrower.

I agree with Phil, a 12ga will do a lot of damage. Anyone have some pumpkins for a field test?

[slemmo]

Remote controlled tear gas canisters and a very good bedroom door.

[Joeywhat]

What about 12 ga using a 7 1/2, 8, 9 birdshot?

I will disagree with Joey because you are talking about using this in the confines of an apartment where your farthest distance will be, I would guess, 20 feet. At these distances a 12 gauge with birdshot can decapitate a human. If you have the 12 gauge then use it. If you want a second gun then use a deep hollow point in a handgun. Most I have seen fall apart after the first layer of wall.

Do you have an evidence to support your claim?

At 20 feet you're probably only getting half the shot on a typical human head anyways...

Fruits and vegetables are poor indicators of how a specific projectile will perform in human tissue. Look for calibrated gel tests. You'll find birdshot is rarely impressive, unless you're talking specifically about the surface damage it can do...looks nasty, probably not going to stop someone who is determined.

[Bones]

What about using buckshot then?

[slemmo]

How about a bow and arrow, definitely wont penetrate walls

[Rusty Shackleford]

What about 12 ga using a 7 1/2, 8, 9 birdshot?

I will disagree with Joey because you are talking about using this in the confines of an apartment where your farthest distance will be, I would guess, 20 feet. At these distances a 12 gauge with birdshot can decapitate a human. If you have the 12 gauge then use it. If you want a second gun then use a deep hollow point in a handgun. Most I have seen fall apart after the first layer of wall.

Do you have an evidence to support your claim?

At 20 feet you're probably only getting half the shot on a typical human head anyways...

Fruits and vegetables are poor indicators of how a specific projectile will perform in human tissue. Look for calibrated gel tests. You'll find birdshot is rarely impressive, unless you're talking specifically about the surface damage it can do...looks nasty, probably not going to stop someone who is determined.

[Nikon777]

This is an issue for me as well, I live in an apartment. I can never seem to get a clear answer.