Handguns or extremely short carbines are the tool for house clearing

[Ron3]

Based on the small amount of training I've had and my own attempts at getting better at it.

I'm not talking about being in a squad and I'm not talking about clearing rooms when you KNOW very strongly suspect somebody uninvited is there and a threat.

I'm talking about those times when you don't expect anyone to be there but want to be sure. Alarm system issues, clearing a friends or relatives house after a period of inoccupancy, or you may have heard a suspicious noise in your own house but it's "probably" nothing.

Anyway, I was working on this (Haven't really put effort into training on this lately) with a carbine and comparing it my 14 inch 590 and a pistol.

I was never really satisfied with how it went with any kind of non-pistol and I've decided it's simply not a good idea and a pistol is the tool for the job. Or perhaps a very short shoulder weapon. Like 4 or 5 inch barrel shoulder weapon with a short stock. (Mp5K, etc. at the longest)

Thoughts?

[1168]

Super short barrels are overrated. You should be able to do this pretty reasonably with a M4. MP5Ks are just more forgiving of poor technique and laziness.

[Budget]

If you're just looking through a house why is your gun out? If it's a threat area, known or unknown, call the cops.

Seriously nothing wrong with getting training and advancing your own skills but if you strongly suspect someone just committed a home invasion dial 911 and barricade yourself or stand off and be a good witness.

As to handgun vs rifle, go with a rifle. If you have to address a threat 30 rounds of more accurate, more potent, less likely to over penetrate ammo is better than any double stack 9 to include PCCs. You should be able to maneuver a rifle one handed, especially an SBR.

[Ron3]

If you're just looking through a house why is your gun out?

Well, that's not a bad thing to debate, either. "Just in case", I suppose.

[202]

Well, that's not a bad thing to debate, either. "Just in case", I suppose.

Staying in your room (weapon ready) and calling 911 is the best option. But, if you have to clear/check your house (to make sure your kids are safe, etc) in any of the “probable” reasons/scenarios you posted in your original post, for “just in case”, it is better to do it with gun in hand.
Between rifle and handgun, go with a rifle always (train accordingly).

[CrashAxe]

If you're just looking through a house why is your gun out? If it's a threat area, known or unknown, call the cops.

Seriously nothing wrong with getting training and advancing your own skills but if you strongly suspect someone just committed a home invasion dial 911 and barricade yourself or stand off and be a good witness.

As to handgun vs rifle, go with a rifle. If you have to address a threat 30 rounds of more accurate, more potent, less likely to over penetrate ammo is better than any double stack 9 to include PCCs. You should be able to maneuver a rifle one handed, especially an SBR.

This.

I have had to clear buildings by myself before. I would rather sandpaper a lion's ass than do it ever again.

If I HAVE to clear a building for some reason, I don't want to do it with a pistol. I want to do it wearing as much armor as possible and with a rifle with ammunition that is likely to stop a threat's actions as close to instantaneously as possible with one shot and the ability to fire more shots quickly to that threat and other threats.

[markm]

As to handgun vs rifle, go with a rifle. If you have to address a threat 30 rounds of more accurate, more potent, less likely to over penetrate ammo is better than any double stack 9 to include PCCs. You should be able to maneuver a rifle one handed, especially an SBR.

This! Hand guns are for going out in public where you can't fight with the correct weapon. And if anyone chimes in with the damned Bird gun option, I'll kick them in the vag.

[Ron3]

For example:

A 34 inch wide short hallway going into a 4-way of open doors each door way 24 inches wide.

Even with doing things like raising the stock over your shoulder, I don't see how a shortish, 28-inch long carbine isnt going to make things much harder and make you more susceptible to a gun grab / parry. It also seems easier to get a pistol and your eye pointed towards corners without telegraphing your muzzle.

And if you go, say, right, and an attack comes from the left (now the rear) it's a hell of alot quicker to respond with a pistol then it is a rifle in such a tight confine.

If I was a bad guy with a kitchen knife hiding in a tight area like this I'd hope the person doing the clearing used a rifle or shotgun because I think my chances of getting that gun / killing the user before they could line up the muzzle on me are higher than if they had a pistol.

[Travelingchild]

For example:...

And if you go, say, right, and an attack comes from the left (now the rear) it's a hell of alot quicker to respond with a pistol then it is a rifle in such a tight confine.

If I was a bad guy with a kitchen knife hiding in a tight area like this I'd hope the person doing the clearing used a rifle or shotgun because I think my chances of getting that gun / killing the user before they could line up the muzzle on me are higher than if they had a pistol.

Not my lane either as I've only taken a couple of classes a year, referring to the underlined you need more training because in That senario you knowingly went past a room without "Clearing it".

With Regard to the second part , If you know it's a bad guy, and not some family member or friend you gave a key to. And he/she/it has the muzzle end
Pull the "Damn Trigger". Some intruder at 0 dark thirty ain't grabbing your gun to ask what make and model it is.

Very few people can handle the sound of any firearm going off next to their body parts without flinching or trying to be elsewhere.

[sinister]

The military has an acronym for everything, and one analytical tool we use is called "METT-T."

Mission - Enemy - Terrain - Troops (available) - and Time.

What is your enemy's (bad guy / possible bad guy[s]) Most Dangerous (to you) Course of Action? What is his Most Likely Course of Action? What is your acceptable level of risk?

In civilian parlance, pick the right tool for the job. If you have a whole gun safe or gun room, which should you pick for the nightstand (or in this case, the original poster's scenario)? Kinda like a new golfer getting handed a big bag of loaner clubs.

If your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like nails.