What is a good handgun for self/home defense?

weilke said:
Are you locking them in a safe when you leave the house ?

Not so much an issue of child safety, more one of not arming your opponent if you happen to return during a burglary.
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No.

I guess there is always a chance of that but both are pretty well hidden. The shotgun is behind the armoire. The pistol is in the bottom night stand drawer beneath all of Chris' sex toys. i.e. it's buried deep! :rofl:
 
weilke said:
Are you locking them in a safe when you leave the house ?

Not so much an issue of child safety, more one of not arming your opponent if you happen to return during a burglary.
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Doesn't really matter unless he lives in a real crime prone area. Neither scenario has a significant probability of occurring that it warrants much consideration. Most home defense weapons are never called into service.
 
Morgan3820 said:
So, why are there no Nobel Prizes for Law Enforcement/Security?

People become cops because they are;

1. Bullies
2. like the idea of shooting people
3. Can't think of anything better to do with their lives.
4. Have inferiority complexes
5. Were not loved by their Mother

The concept of 'Protect and Serve' is gone. They are now an armed revenue service. I would discourage my daughter from getting involved with a LEO.

I Guess you are even more offended now
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You are a completely un-informed idiot.
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
I would tend to avoid those places. They seem to always be more expensive than anywhere else, even your local gun shop. Online buying is usually cheapest, but it seems like the big box stores have the highest prices consistently on firearms.
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I agree on completely avoiding Gander Mountain. Cabelas has been pretty good for prices. Don't know about the other place. Buds Gun Shop online store has been my go to place for my last few purchases.
 
Check out gunbroker . Com also once u know what u want I got some killer deals on there ...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'm actually seeing two different questions here, even though it's phrased as one.

While home defense and CC could be satisfied with one handgun, I don't think it is. In your house (if you are home) you're most likely going to to end up in a safe room - not 8" concrete with lead lining walls safe room - but a designated room where there's only a single point of entry. Which means while you have made it so you only have to worry about one point of entry - you also only have one point of egress and they are coming in through it. Which means they are blocking your only escape.

What we were told in CC class is that after the first shot - even if it is the kill shot - the attacker can still keep coming at you for the next 30 seconds. 30 seconds. Sit there, and count out thirty seconds and see how long that actually is. And that's assuming they aren't hopped up on something. You really only want a handful of shots? Not me. Next to my bed sits a 15+1 M&P .40. If someone makes it all the way to my room, and is intent on coming in, it is obvious they are intending to do great bodily harm, at which I am unloading the entire magazine plus the one already chambered, and putting in the second magazine to make sure.

Unfortunately for carry, the thing is huge. I can carry it concealed in the winter under a coat, but spring, summer, and fall that's a no go. However, unlike putting yourself in a safe room, you are most likely going to have multiple/infinite points of exit even if you do have to fire. Which means, you most likely don't need 16 shots ready to go. Sure there may be a rare occasion you do. But that's a rare occasion inside of rare occasion, and there's no reason you couldn't carry an extra magazine on your weak side should you feel the need to. A extra magazine (or 3) plus my carry is still smaller than my full size .40.

So, for my carry I went with the Kahr PM40, and I love it. I actually shoot a tighter pattern with the PM40 at 10 yards than I do the M&P. Mine came with a 5 round magazine and an extended 6 round magazine. I generally carry with the 5. They also make it in a 9mm if you are intent on carrying a nine.
 
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Henning said:
Doesn't really matter unless he lives in a real crime prone area. Neither scenario has a significant probability of occurring that it warrants much consideration. Most home defense weapons are never called into service.
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http://murderpedia.org/male.Z/z/zabawa-michael.htm

This was a drunk idiot who broke into a rural home after he got stuck in the ditch in front of their property. Found a shotgun in the garage and ended up killing the homeowner and his son with it, the wife survived with severe injuries.
 
timwinters said:
No.

I guess there is always a chance of that but both are pretty well hidden. The shotgun is behind the armoire. The pistol is in the bottom night stand drawer beneath all of Chris' sex toys. i.e. it's buried deep! :rofl:
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In other words, the first places any burglar will look for them.
 
weilke said:
http://murderpedia.org/male.Z/z/zabawa-michael.htm

This was a drunk idiot who broke into a rural home after he got stuck in the ditch in front of their property. Found a shotgun in the garage and ended up killing the homeowner and his son with it, the wife survived with severe injuries.
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Yeah, but remember...

Guns don't kill people, people kill people! :rofl:

And Henning said
significant probability
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And not

never.
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I'm sure we could find a story from the last 50 years that describes just about any contrived scenario.
 
And you can count on me, waiting for you, in the parking lot!!
 
weilke said:
http://murderpedia.org/male.Z/z/zabawa-michael.htm

This was a drunk idiot who broke into a rural home after he got stuck in the ditch in front of their property. Found a shotgun in the garage and ended up killing the homeowner and his son with it, the wife survived with severe injuries.
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Well, uh, hmmm, just don't know what to say about this one.....



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For home defense a 12ga with low-recoil 00 buck is definitely the best choice. As others have pointed out, home defense should be more than a loaded shotgun in the closet. Ed is right that a 'safe room' with a single point of entry and IMO keeping a hidden but readily accessible shotgun is the best solution.

For me, I have a handgun but its a compact .380 and I only practice with it occasionally. With all the adrenaline that might come with a home invasion, considering it might be dark, plus the layout of my house.. one or two intruders would be a pretty big target and with .380 or even 9mm it would take more than one well placed shot to drop a really determined intruder. OTOH I deer, duck, turkey hunt and target shoot with a 12ga and have confidence in being able to hit and stop even the biggest, most cracked out intruder.

So in my case I have lights, an 80lb dog that does not like strangers approaching the house, and I habitually lock doors and windows. If someone wants to break into a house, they're going to get in. The point is to give myself warning and some time, ten seconds is all I need, to run from anywhere in the house back to my bedroom (its down a hall with single point of entry) where the 12ga is loaded up and waiting. If someone makes it through a door or window, ignores the barking dog and my yelling at them and then breaks down the bedroom door they have earned the $1 buckshot round coming their way.

Short of practicing a lot and carrying a handgun on your person at all times when home, I think this is the best you can do.

As far as preventing access for burglars I'm really not worried about someone breaking into my house and finding a hidden weapon before I do. There is no way for them to know exactly where it is. I also wouldn't expect any average crack head to be able to pick up my 12ga and quickly find the slide release, figure out nothing is in the chamber, rack one in, then find the safety and flick it off. I would be 50 yards down the driveway in a full sprint by the time that happened.

Preventing access to kids... nothing short of a lock and key. There are some solutions that can provide pretty quick access.
 
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Didn't read the whole thread but here is my .02

First of all a Pistol serves only one purpose in self defense and that is to fight back to your rifle. :D

For home defense: Shotgun with buckshot (not birdshot) is a good choice. You want something that will penetrate the bad guy without going too much further through your house or your neighbors house.

For concealed carry I like a P3AT or the Ruger LCP. 380 is not the best self defense caliber but it is beats throwing rocks and it fits in your pocket. A gun you have on you is far better than one home sitting in your safe. If you feel under gunned step up to the 9mm, 40, 10mm, 45, 357.....

Ren: I was typing while you were posting looks like great minds think alike. :D
 
I know nothing about handguns.
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Normally I don't bother to post in these hog-pile threads, as whatever I might say had probably been pounded into the ground already. But here I have not seen anyone point out the following:

It is very difficult to shoot a pistol accurately.

Among the guns in my safe are the following:


  • Steyr LP1. In the right hands, this gun could shoot a world record.
  • David Sams-built 1911 wad gun with Aimpoint scope. This gun could win at Camp Perry.
  • Hammerli 208S. Erich Buljung's world record, shot 30+ years ago with a 208S, still stands.

It's quite likely that I could put any of these guns into your hands and you would not be able to put ten shots on the paper at 15 yards though any of them is capable of shooting a single ragged hole. (Though I could probably not do that either!)

So your first purchase should be a .22 and a couple of bricks (500 rounds) of ammunition. Get some instruction and start practicing. A Ruger is a popular choice but if you can find an original Hamden, CT High Standard it will shoot better and will hold its value much better. I won't go into details but stay away from the Smith 41 and the various Brownings including the beautiful Medalist.

When you can shoot satisfactory groups at ten or 15 yards, then consider moving up to a center-fire gun. Starting with a CF gun is expensive for ammo and the recoil will probably keep you from shooting as much as you need for true proficiency.

While you're shooting, you will see many CF guns at the range. Ask people about their guns. 99.5% of them will love to talk and probably at least 50% will offer you the opportunity for a few shots. From that you will learn a lot and will become a much more knowledgeable buyer. The only other suggestion I have is to buy a CF gun with night sights.
 
timwinters said:
So, serious question. The OP mentioned "honeymoon" and that may mean rugrats (curtain climbers, yard apes) running around the house in the near future.

How does one keep a handgun adequately "safed" from kids but yet accessible enough to get to and loaded before an intruder is on top of you?
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One product that has really taken off recently is the rapid-entry safe. Most of them have a foam insert attached to the lid that you put your handgun into. The safe can be opened either by code OR when a fob is within a certain distance. Some of the fobs are wristbands that you wear and when your hand gets within several inches of the safe then the lid of the safe pops open and your gun is readily available. These are incredibly popular right now. Here is one:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/17...ic-rfid-safe-steel-black?cm_vc=ProductFinding
 
I keep reading about shotguns being the choice for home defense. But is it really? I mean, after I take out the bad guy(s), do I really want to be scrubbing corners with a tooth brush for the next few days?



Oh, well. I guess I can always call Serve Pro.
 
PPC1052 said:
I keep reading about shotguns being the choice for home defense. But is it really? I mean, after I take out the bad guy(s), do I really want to be scrubbing corners with a tooth brush for the next few days?
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You shoot anybody, there is going to be blood. Goes with the territory. Better his blood than yours or a family member.
 
JB1842 said:
You shoot anybody, there is going to be blood. Goes with the territory. Better his blood than yours or a family member.
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Reminds me of something that the county sheriff said during my initial carry class: "If you shoot someone, it is going to ruin your life. One way or another."
 
airdale said:
Reminds me of something that the county sheriff said during my initial carry class: "If you shoot someone, it is going to ruin your life. One way or another."
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That's why you live way out of town, on 20 acres or so, with sandy soil.
 
weilke said:
http://murderpedia.org/male.Z/z/zabawa-michael.htm

This was a drunk idiot who broke into a rural home after he got stuck in the ditch in front of their property. Found a shotgun in the garage and ended up killing the homeowner and his son with it, the wife survived with severe injuries.
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Yep, doesn't make it not an anomaly though. Shotgun in the garage isn't exactly your typical home security set up either unless you are the type that has 50 weapons stashed in a 3 bedroom house.
 
JB1842 said:
No. Bullies pick on people for no reason. Slamming cops like that and calling them bullies shows how much of a hypocrite and bully he is.
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Bullies pick on people who can't fight back, as mental compensation their own inadequacies.
 
Henning said:
Yep, doesn't make it not an anomaly though. Shotgun in the garage isn't exactly your typical home security set up either unless you are the type that has 50 weapons stashed in a 3 bedroom house.
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That one hit pretty close to home for my family. Just an odd freak occurrence though.

That said, that very event, is one I keep in my memory. There isn't a firearm capable of attacking in my home that someone is going to get to without going through me first.
 
For those that say it's unlikely you'll ever need a firearm in your home. You're right. But unlikely isn't impossible.

I have a close friend that held an attacker at gun point for over a hour in a very rural isolated area when he was 13. He was home with his mother and they were watching tv or something late at night. Suddenly a glass front door was busted and a hand came through reaching for the deadbolt. By the time he got the door open he was met by a 13 year old holding an AK47. It took a *LONG* time for law enforcement to show up. When they finally did the intruder was sent back to prison. He had a nasty violent criminal record.

It's unlikely he'll ever have to do that again. But he isn't one that's going to be living in a home without a firearm for the rest of his life.
 
I'm partial to the Model 1911 Colt, and the Taurus .410. I also keep a .20 gauge, with alternating shot, and slug rounds.
 
airdale said:
  • Steyr LP1. In the right hands, this gun could shoot a world record.
  • David Sams-built 1911 wad gun with Aimpoint scope. This gun could win at Camp Perry.
  • Hammerli 208S. Erich Buljung's world record, shot 30+ years ago with a 208S, still stands.
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Interesting list. The closest thing I have to the Hammerli is a Benelli MP90


It's quite likely that I could put any of these guns into your hands and you would not be able to put ten shots on the paper at 15 yards though any of them is capable of shooting a single ragged hole. (Though I could probably not do that either!)
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Oh, I could get the ragged hole, but at 25 yards. Well, when I was competing anyway. Now, I'd have a flyer or two. ;)

For SD/HD, I carry a CZ-75D PCR, which is a Czech made wonder nine. They've have become very popular in the U.S. While compact, and relatively light weight it still carries 15 rounds, and is very accurate. It is a do everything 9MM.

Hard to beat a Colt 1911 .45 ACP for nightstand duty though. :)
 
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wanttaja said:
How do the magazines for semi-automatic pistols handle long-term loaded storage? Will the feeder springs "take a set" and cause loading problems?

Ron Wanttaja
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Some of them will. Just had that problem with my Browning.
 
wanttaja said:
How do the magazines for semi-automatic pistols handle long-term loaded storage? Will the feeder springs "take a set" and cause loading problems?

Ron Wanttaja
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I'm using Wilson Combat magazines in my 1911 (wish I could afford a Wilson Combat pistol, as well) and haven't had any trouble with this. Stock magazines in a couple other pistols and so far no problems. YMMV.
 
wanttaja said:
How do the magazines for semi-automatic pistols handle long-term loaded storage? Will the feeder springs "take a set" and cause loading problems?

Ron Wanttaja
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The way to deal with it (prevent possible problems) is to practice regularly (cycling through the magazines).
 
Guns don't kill people. It's husbands that come home from work early that kill people.

Sorry, someone had to say it.
 
All in all I'd say a shotgun gives best service for the typical home protection firearm since most people do not practice to any real level of proficiency with their guns. You can also use escalating levels of ammo to allow for a non lethal first round to hedge against the accidental death scenario. If nothing else in an intruder situation it will stun them for a cleaner second shot.
 
Bob Noel said:
The way to deal with it (prevent possible problems) is to practice regularly (cycling through the magazines).
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Well, some claim that cycling the spring is what causes it to lose tension. Still better than having it sit, you get the practice and you notice if a spring goes bad.

On a related note, ammo does age. No point in buying some high priced superfrafigilicious self defense ammo and let it sit in the same mag for 5 years, wearing out the top round from chambering it repeatedly. Buy a goverment use/law enforcement hollow-point that is available in 50rd packs and cycle through the mags once a month. With a 15rd mag 4 boxes will last a year.
 
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If you ever have to really pull a gun out to possibly shoot an intruder, you're going to be shaking like a leaf on a tree.

Get a shotgun for home defense.

The Mrs. or anyone with no training will have better results from a scattergun if they truly must point a weapon at someone and pull the trigger. :redface:
 
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