Self-defense and security questions.....

[Jericho117]

First of all, my upcoming question is not an inmature question or one of violent purposes. I do not own a gun. Im pretty much in-expirienced with knife combat (own a Ka-bar though). But my question is, would a 60#, 50 inch self bow be effective for combat in terms of self-defense within my own home? Would it have enough power to knock down a human within a 20 foot distance? I own many handmade bows that are very short and compact (went Deer hunting this season with them). The arrows are 24" Dogwood shafts with 1 1/2 long flint points (knapped by me). Since this question basically is pertaining to survival and keeping myself alive say a burgular broke in, I think it's fairly appropriate. Im very accurate with my weapons and can nock another arrow pretty quickly, and im used to manuvering in tight spots becuase I don't use tree stands. I think many of people fail to believe the raw power and force an arrow delivers to a target. What do you guys think?? Does a 60 pound bow have enough force to knock a human to the ground for self-defense purposes?

[DOGMAN]

Shoot them in the privates...I bet that would be effective.

[Jericho117]

Good advice, but im talking about a chest shot. My arrows penetrate a Deer 8-10 inches at 30 foot ranges, so I would assume they would go deeper into a human, if not completely through.

[chiangmaimav]

It would surely do damage to anyone you hit with it but the fact is there are much more effective weapons for self-defense in the home. Number 1 being a firearm. Shotguns are excellent for home defense. They are legal everywhere and you don't have to be a marksman to use it effectively. If there were no alternatives, I suppose the bow is better than nothing but against someone armed with a gun the bow is not much use. Even if you hit the intruder with an arrow, chances are he will live long enough to blow you away. and if there are more than one attacker you are in big trouble.

[catfish10101]

In my opinion, a bow is too bulky and takes too long to make ready for a shot (epecially under tense situations). If you do not want to keep a pistol in the home, get a 12 gauge shotgun. Some are made with short barrels and short stocks for home defense. I myself have handguns with extra mags that stay loaded and accesable, shotguns with plenty ammo, and a plan to protect my family and escape the house if needed.

[Ole WV Coot]

You do what is necessary with whatever you are comfortable with. Shotguns are very effective. A bow will work, so will a cast iron frying pan. Determine your mindset and what
you would actually use on another human. It's messy, scary and you will be treated like a criminal, almost always. Killing the "armed" person(they are always armed) if you are like most civilized people will mess with your head for a long long time. The only thing I could give you is the T shirt, can't get rid of the other two.

[oly]

Any form of self defence is better than no self defence at all.
Effective or not, or you can just lay down and die.

[wildography]

for self-defense, a Bow has a number of limitations when using it inside the home: close quarters, maneuverability in hallways or incramped positions/spaces, using it in darkness, speed in reloading... and deterrence. Having been trained in unarmed combat against a person with a weapon, I would go up against someone with a bow far more readily than I would against someone with a knife; and a knife is fairly easy to go up against...

unless you've been trained to fight with a knife. Using knives as a defense weapon effectively requires some training, or - at the least - some practice.

For an "un-trained" person, a pump shotgun, with the shortest legal length barrel, is the best weapon to have for self-defense inside the home. However, use either a custom load or #2 or #4 shot... larger shot or slugs have the tendency to over-penetrate in close quarters. And the "intimidation factor" of a pump shotgun is, in my opinion, higher than any other weapon.

Using weapons for self-defense, especially in the home, is best after having had some training. As pointed out above, a bow is better than having nothing... although a typical home is chock-full of "make-do" weapons... you can use a number of items in the home for self-defense... using everything from sheets and pillows, to shoes, statues, baseball bats, and much more... but the key is preparation, practice, fore-thought, and training.

One thing you can do is set up several archery targets inside the home and see how that works out... one warning though... an arrow will penetrate sheet-rock easily... so don't miss your taget.

oh... one more thought... an arrow shot deer rarely drops to the ground immediately; same thing - or more so for a human; were I to use a bow against a human, I'd go for a face or throat shot... which is very difficult to do in a home defense situation, especially at night.

[Beans]

Nothing smaller then a .50 Cal MG rd will KNOCK DOWN a human. Some human will fall down when shot because they think they should.

In a recent case of a Boulder City NV police officer he was shot with a small .380 Auto that missed him but hit his handcuff case and he was "knocked" off his feet. Another Boulder City NV police officer also answering the call shot the shooter and he was DRT

On the other side

There is documented case of a Missouri Highway Patrolman that was shot in the heart, he chased the bad guy up three flights of stairs and killed him on the 3rd floor before succumbing to his own wound.

The corner stated the Highway Patrolman was technically dead when he was first shot.

The only sure area is:

A hit to the lower part of the brain either from the side, from the rear, or if you go for the frontal shot it will have to be in a triangle formed between the upper lip and the bridge of the nose.

A hit in this area will disrupt the nervous system and cause the human to fall down.

[crashdive123]

Jericho - at 15 years old, I assume that you are still living with your parents. Are you in Navy housing?

[Jericho117]

No, I don't live in Navy Housing anymore. My dads out in Iraq, so I just wanted to make sure my sister and mother are safe.......turning 16 in 1 month though.

[crashdive123]

I can appreciate what you are concerned about. The reason I asked about on base housing was to try and understand what threats you were concerned with. To answer your original question - I think you already did as part of your first post. Sure it's powerful enough. A bow would be a bit cumbersome to use inside though. I think that with a goal of helping to protect your sis, prevention will probably be your most productive focus of your energies. Lights on motion sensors, positive locks on doors, keeping shrubs near windows cut back so a potential intruder can't hide behind them. I know you said that this was a new duty station for your dad, so I'm assuming it's a rental. These are things that your mom, with your help can probably press the landlord into doing.

[skunkkiller]

I would say if your a good shot with your bow keep it handy if you have no gun but also keep knife hawk any thing you know how to use.a short bow in the house can and will work and if they don't see you they will not know the arrow is coming and if they do see you be ready with your knife or hawk

[Beans]

BTW most kevlar that will stop a bullet will not stop a hunting arrow, FWIW a insert plate will stop both

[SARKY]

I agree with wildography about the shogun, but 7.5 shot at 20 feet (the length across a room) will barely spread more than the width of a human torso. and the chances of 7.5 shot penetrating 2 sheets of drywall is almost nil from that distance. Besides the sound of a pump shotgun being racked is a pretty good deterent in it self.

[chiangmaimav]

I must disagree with the statement that a knife is fairly easy to go up against. Unless you are armed with a gun, it is far, far from easy. In 25 years working in prison I have been involved in altercations with knife-wielding inmates both when I was unarmed and when I had a baton. I am a well-trained person and have been a martial arts teacher as well as unarmed defensive tactics instructor and I always got cut and am lucky to be alive. I think it is a dangerous thing to tell people it is easy to defend yourself against a knife. it is not, and my best advice for anyone who is unarmed and must face someone with a knife is to run like hell if possible. I would. If you cannot run, then concentrate on not getting killed, because you will almost surely get hurt.

[Beans]

1st rule of knife fighting : be prepared to get cut. as it will happen

[catfish10101]

2nd rule of knife fighting: Make sure the fight you are in IS a knife fight!! Don't bring a knife to a gun fight!!

P.S. I CAN ASSURE YOU THERE WILL BE NO KNIFE FIGHTS IN MY HOUSE!!!

[Stairman]

I dont think an arrow will knock down a man.An axe handle will but you have to be close.I have several bows and would grab a knife,club or spear first.If you miss with the arrow your screwed.Personally I have a 12 guage for home defence.Home invations are very rare though,when someones home.Its much easier for a thief to case the place and wait till everyones gone.

[SARKY]

Noone wins in a knife fight! As to birnging a knife to a gun fight.... depends on the distance between us and wether or not the gun is already drawn.
If it a choice between being good or lucky i'll choose lucky every time! You can be the best there is and the bad guy only has to get lucky once and then your done!