I'm not saying it wouldn't be awesome for a guy to take out an intruder with a blunderbuss, The chance's of it happening are practically nill

Ahem... :D

Other suggestions in this thread include knives, swords, a minigun and a hypothetical auto-firing 88mm anti-tank SMG. I'm not sure, but I dare venture that none of those were serious either :P

Problem with black powder as I see it (after thousands of rds through both 50 cal black powder rifles and 45 cal black powder pistols) is the delay. When i want to shoot, I want it to happen now!!! Not a second from now, Now!!!

This is what makes them poor close range weapons.

In along to medium range setting, not a big deal because you are trained on your target and continue to train through the firing sequence.

So, if one of you ever manages to kill let alone hit an intruder in your home with a black powder based weapon, kudo's! Though I pray that not one of you ever has to deal with an intruder in your entire lifetime!

-S

That's why it surprises me that people were so good at killing each other back when only black powder muzzle-loaded weapons existed :D

Man, we've obviously lost a tad of skill at some point... :lol:

If you analyze the rifles of the period, you can tell they never relied upon the bullets when it got close and personal! :D

Oh, and trust me, we are much more efficient killers today in modern war! :p

-S

Lob a Moltov in to the air vent! Its a lot cheper. Or shove a pole charge up its tracks. :rock:

If you find your self in need of improvised anti-armor weapons read the US Army Field Manual FM21-75 Appendix G-1.

http://www.deltagearinc.com/Downloads.htm

The Eagle Cocktail and Fireball are my favrotes! :arrgh!:

Good old 21-75 also covers placment and defusing of land mines. Which if you live in a real bad neborhood could be a good investment. Or is that against the Geneva Convention? :D

While improvized anti-armor weapons are nice, It still means you have to carry around more objects, While my 88mm Anti-Tank Submachine gun with a Bayonet can take care of anything (Except Aircraft, But you can always attach the special Radar-Guided AA kit)

Well I actually was being serious with the sword and gun combo part. In all honesty, you're good to go on all levels. If he's got a gun, shoot him. If he's got a knife or baseball bat, skewer him THEN shoot him.

Aren't you better off shooting him before he even gets close with that knife or baseball bat?

Well... do you want to lose a perfectly good bullet when you could simply crack his skull in with a saber? Bullets cost money... but if he's not as cheap as I am, then he wouldn't have a problem with it.

I'd much rather lose a bullet then get close to a lunatic with a knife or a baseball bat...

Baseball bat usually works! Though I'd prefer to lose a bullet too. Safer.

-S