Hey All,
...I have mapped out my residence for possible points of enrtry and potencial distances to BG's and most importanty identifed my backstops.
That's a good first step, but realize you're going to have little or no control over where/how a fight actually happens should somebody break into your home. Maybe you don't wake up until they're on the stairwell, maybe there are several who each cover an entrance, etc.
...my thought is to alternate rounds. First round of #4 shot or PDX-1 and then have 45 Long Colts. Thinking the first shot is for coverage/accuracy/warning and then the 45LC's if the threat(s) keep coming...
I think Cypher hit this one on the head:
CypherPunk said:Any experienced and competent instructor will teach you that you shoot to stop a threat - center mass until the threat ceases. You won't have the fine motor skills you think you will under an adrenaline dump.
Your best bet legally is to get your family together, and call the cops. If the people who broke into your house threaten you, respond with force, not warnings that disorient you and give away your position. Same thing for the silly "just rack the shotgun and they'll run away logic".
If they're in your house, you have to make the assumption that (1) they've cased the place, (2) they know you're likely armed and (3) they don't care. I don't want to shoot, or potentially kill, anyone over a TV - but if they want to do serious harm to my family or myself, then I'll respond with whatever force is necessary.
Being in Maryland I'm wondering if pre-loading my firearm in this manner opens up addtional scrutiny from prosecutors in the case I need to protect myself/family from deadly force.
No more than loading your gun with hollow points, in my humble opinion. I am not a lawyer though. It's not like you have a .50BMG aimed at your door 24/7.
My opinion (and worth exactly what you paid for it!):
No matter what gun you use, if you use ammunition that stops in one layer of sheetrock it will likely have trouble doing enough damage to an attacker as well (meaning: your .410 out of a very short barrel). My point is - a 12ga/20ga slug would work wonders, as would buck shot - and they'll penetrate almost as well as a handgun...and all penetrate more than an AR-15. For an inexperienced home owner, an AR is easier to shoot well, penetrates less than many handguns (9mm, 40S&W, etc.), delivers a bigger punch, etc. Unfortunately, using an AR may be frowned upon in courts in MD (again; I'm not a lawyer, and don't have expertise there) so expect to call in some experts with ballistics experience.
Regardless, dealing with the aftermath means you lived through whatever threatened your life. I think some gun owners in overly restrictive states like MD worry too much about "what if the court/jury/etc.", and too little about "what do I do when somebody tries to kill me". Take it one fight at a time. Worrying too much about the former means you might not make it through the latter.