To all the folks recommending birdshot in any form for self defense:

Birdshot is for birds. Birdshot will not penetrate deep enough to reliably stop a human attacker. Reliable penetration in a shotgun (At least 12 inches in ballistic gelatin) starts at #1 Buckshot and larger.

Any round of ammunition that will reliably stop a human attacker, rifle, shotgun, or handgun, will go through at least one layer of sheetrock.

The next time ya'll go deer or hog hunting, take a Taurus Judge loaded with birdshot or a .38 loaded with snake shot and see how well it will stop a large deer or a large hog, which weigh about what a full grown adult human weighs.

Don't play games when it comes to self defense.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

When I travel I typically take a folding stock AK that will fit into a duffel bag with my clothes. I also keep my normal everyday carry handguns on me.

I agree to a certain point but I bet that hog or deer runs off. I also bet that if you shoot it in the face it will screw up eye sight and breathing. If the attacker goes the other direction then the goal of self defense is met. The beauty of all of the guns you mentioned is the fact that you can run the first one or two rounds as bird shot and the next few as solid projectiles, almost like the best of both worlds.

Put a light on whatever it is-- or have a EDC light handy... nothing like being in unfamiliar surroundings and having low to no visibility or idea where light switches are.

Whatever you carry.

Over penetration. Innocent by stander. Friendly fire.. whatever category it falls under
the point of carrying a firearm is to have the ability to defend yourself and others
to the best of your ability. The best backstop is a bad guy so just be comfortable with
i.e.. PRACTICE with your sidearm.

Carried a S&W pin barrel 38Spcl M60 for more years than I care to remember. Almost never used Airlines in those days so out of state Onboard carry issues not a problem. The lil 5 shot pistol has a highy tuned super lite letoff trigger and I also used it to hunt cottontails in briar thickets in the winter to keep my skills up to par. It's still within reach every nite some 40+ years later. Favorite round was a 158 gr original WW "Silver Tip" for easy opening, but full power semi wad cutters work real well too for the intended purposes. Single handed 5 Round Rapid Fire DA accuracy is usually about the size of the end of a beer can at 20/25 paces consistently when I've kept up my shooting..regularly.
Ron

If you can fit a 12 gauge in the briefcase that is what i'd go with. Pistol is never the best tool, only the easiest to carry and conceal.

But forget about using the sound of the slide to scare bad guys. Keep one in the tube ready to go, only warning an intruder gets is the sound of the muzzle blast. Intriders are ready to deal with you, dont give them a chance.

YoU CaNt MiSs wItH a ShoTguN

Ruger P94 .40 for the spouse and my S&W 640 Centennial for me, 357 mag.

Just pack them all in your luggage then you can pick and choose.

Just hang some skid marked draws on the door knob. You will be able to sleep in total security

My normal semi-auto, a 9mm with proper self defense hollowpoints.

Years back while travelling i woke up to someone trying the door to my room, was it a mistake, a drunk wrong room kind of thing? I dunno, but I racked the slide, they made tracks and I pushed a chair in front of the the door and went back to sleep. It was not the only time that the friendly/unfriendly sound of racking a slide has had that effect.

This is a very, very bad outlook to have. It's a gross under-estimation of the amount of motivation someone might have to cause you harm.

Racked the slide? Did you not have a round in the chamber or did you dump a live round? Bluffing is a bad way to fight.

Not a recommendation on type, but a scary story.

In the early 90s a lady I worked with got married in the winter. We lived in Tulsa at the time and she and her new husband were planning an extravagant honeymoon, but they were not going to be able to go until that spring. So they planned a short getaway for the few days following the wedding to a resort located in eastern Oklahoma. A pretty well-known place.

They checked in an were surprised to find that the resort was nearly empty, yet they were given a room on a bottom floor, toward the far end of the corridor. At some point in the early morning hours someone knocked on the door and the groom (B) looked through the peephole to see two dudes. B asked what they wanted and they immediately tried to crash the door. The chain and deadbolt were in place and he scrambled for a chair to prop/hold the door while his new wife (L) tried to call the front desk/security. No answer and they also could not access an outside line through the phone system - this was before cell phones. This went on for many minutes and L told us that about the time they felt these guys had given up, they would start again. Finally the dudes left and only then were they able to get an answer from the front desk who called the sheriff. B & L were sure that the hotel staff set them up, but could not prove anything and also got the impression that the deputy who came either didn't believe their story, was not interested, or knew exactly the who/what/why/how and wasn't going to push things.

I guess in that case, they would have definitely wanted something that would penetrate the door...

This an hourly rate hotel?

I don't see where chambering a live round is bluffing, but make of it what you will.

Not sure I agree w this that shot cup moooooves

Why not buy some frangible if really worried about over penetration

The usual, HK USP Compact

Your gun oughtta be ready to go when you pull it.

1911's require you to take off the safety when in condition 1, or in the case of a 17 round Glock dumping a single round isn't going to make a difference as far as i'm concerned. You're welcome to do them both differently, knock yourself out.

I always bring my Glock 19 with a Gunvault and flashlight. I carry it always why would I change.