What kind of handgun is best for self defense???

Question

I like the.357 but I want some other opinions.

Answer 1

The 357. is great for home defense. If price is a concern, but you want the quality of a Smith & Wesson, like the 686, you can get a Taurus that is ported, great sights and all for $459 or less. A S&W 686 run into the $650's+. Taurus owns S&W machines and that's why their built the very same and both have a lifetime warranty. You can also fire .38 with both guns. Taurus has greatly improved as a company and are building excellent revolvers and semi autos at great prices. You also get a free year of NRA membership with each purchase. Some people talk smack about Taurus, ignore them, great guns. Read the review online. Put a S&W 686 and a Taurus 357. side by side and they're the same guns, made on S&W machines that Taurus bought. minor differences, but both high quality. The ported feature on a Taurus 357. is great, because you'll get less gun flip and you can stay on your target better. Plus, it looks sweet and who doesn't like the flames coming out of the top. Looks rad. Especially in a 44. mag lol.

Now, I am into home protection guns and have 6 quick access safes all over my house and own many handguns. If you're looking for a great semi-automatic handgun that holds 10+ rounds and is great for home protection, then you're talking about Springfield Armory XD 9mm or XD 45.ACP. Great guns, safe guns and both with lifetime warranty. As a Glock owner, don't buy a Glock because the name is cool. The guns are the finest plastic you can buy and the name is better than the gun. The XD's run $500+, but have excellent safety features than Glock do not and that's why people & cops are having accidents. I don't trust mine loaded and honestly don't 100% trust it loaded. It's my range gun, because I demand higher safety for home protection guns. Smith & Wesson make the Sigma, which is basically a Glock 19, but safer and about the same quality. It's $325+/-. They also make M&P (Military & Police) 40.cal. Great home defense gun and that runs $500. Don't buy Hi Point. Junk.

Remember there is nothing more important than safety. If something happens, you'll be held for it. Keep the guns away from children, visiting guest and friendly. Buy a quick access safe that is built for guns. It's the best $59 you can spend. You want to keep the gun locked away, unless you need it right away. Those safes allow you to do both. Best of luck.

Answer 2

Massad Ayoob is a NH police instructor and a well known author and he said that anytime you go to a gun fight armed with a pistol you are underarmed.

I wouldn't trust my life to a 9mm and especially not to a 38, it's not that they won't kill anyone, it's just that they don't maximize your chances. The 9mm is at least typically equipped with a large capacity magazine, the 38 just gives you six shots of less power than you _can_ carry in the same sized package. A 22 rimfire will kill a person, just not right now, unless it's a lucky shot.

I have 22, 9mm, 357, 10mm and 45. I'd only consider the last two and always use the most powerful rounds I can find. The 10mm is a Glock 20 and I use Winchester Silvertip 175gr rounds that run around 650fpe, for the Kimber CDP II 45 I think I have Winchester Lawman in the magazine. The 45 is narrower and more concealable and the Glock has more capacity and has been utterly dependable. With two reloads I get 46 rounds of 10mm or 25 rounds of 45. Most gunfights are only about 3 shots a side, it isn't like you see on movies. At my friend's ranch where bears and mountain lions are an issue I always carry the Glock. I considered a 4" 44 mag but I know I wouldn't use it enough to get good with it, besides which the 45 makes just as big a hole, just not as deep.

Basically, if you are buying something your life depends on then buy the thing that is going to give you the best chance of winning, that is the largest caliber you can shoot accurately under stress.

My friend is a former Navy Seal team commander, his ideal self defence handgun is a derringer loaded with 410 bird shot shells (I think they fit in 45LC barrels?). Nobody is going to be interested in continuing a fight after they take one of those in the face and you have little chance of missing. But they are illegal where I live.

Take a good defensive pistol course, consider taking up a combat shooting sport. You must practice and the combat sports add stress to the equation.

(below) Some military units are still using 45 1911s and some are using an H&K USP (SOCOM model IIRC). One of the guys who dragged Sadam out of his hole was wearing a 1911 in a WWII vintage tankers chest rig.

(I agree with Bounds hubby, if you ever fire a major caliber handgun indoors without good ear protection you are going to get major short term and some long term loss of hearing. However, I think most people will overlook that in the short term, same thing with recoil, in the heat of the moment you ignore non disabling pain.)

Answer 3

Bound's hubby here:

You did not say whether you are seeking defense in the home or on the street. But since you stated "handgun", I will presume two things:
1) You are seeking protection outside of the home, and
2) You have little to no firearms experience.

My suggestion would be a medium frame .38 Special/.357 Magnum revolver (my preference is a Smith & Wesson). A good model would be a Model 10 or 13 Military & Police. Revolvers can be more reliable in the hands of the inexperienced, and safer. Also, you have a greater selection of ammunition for revolvers and you do not need to worry about auto-loaders reliably feeding the rounds into the chamber.

While a .357 magnum may offer more flexibility and better re-sale value, letting a .357 magnum loose in a dark alley or room is both deafening and blinding ... reducing the chance of a accurate follow-up shot, if needed. Yes, a .38 Special will still have a flash and loud report, but no wheres as bad as a magnum round.

Good luck!

Answer 4

By asking this question, I am going to assume that you are not familiar with handguns. As mentioned a properly loaded shotgun (either 12 or 20 ga. typically) is much better than any handgun for self-defense.
But getting back to your question. You have to decide what you are exactly looking for a revolver or a semi-auto? A revolver is easier to maintain and learn to use effectively and one that I generally recommend. A good S&W, Ruger, with a 3-4 inch barrel in .357 is one of the most versitile handguns around. I own several handguns from 1911's in .45 ACP, 9mm and .32 ACP, but I generally carry a revolver and keep one at the house 95% of the time. A .357 can be loaded with 'full power' rounds. I particularly like the Winchester 180 Grain Partition when hiking and deer hunting. At home I load it with the 'FBI' load, a 158 grain .38 special lead hollow point. My guns shoot this load very accurately and it isn't quite so hard on the ears. Another added bonus is that the Mrs. can handle this load as well. A well loaded revolver, a couple of speed loaders and you are all set with alot less money than some whizbang 9mm or .45 that you have to spend a great deal of effort being able to operate efficently. If you do have to go with a semi-auto, find one that fits your hand. A Glock or Springfield XP. Ruger also makes some nice handguns. would be great places to start. I would opt for the 9mm as the recoil is less and properly loaded is a viable self-defense round. Being cheaper to shoot also means more practice. If you can't hit it, you can't stop it, so practice is important. If the 9mm is just 'too wimpy' for you, then the .40 S&W or the .45 ACP would be my next stop.

Answer 5

I personally use a Glock 19 and have been thoroughly happy with it. However, for a new shooter, I would recommend the following:

1) Get a revolver. They are mechanically simpler and less likely to experience failure. I have seen certain automatics jam regularly, and don't believe they are good to start with. You can leave a revolver loaded for a long period of time and not have to worry about whether or not it will shoot when you pick it up. They are also excellent weapons to learn how to shoot with. There are a wide variety, but I'd recommend a .38 special. Your gun store will probably have a selection, just buy whatever feels good in your hand. Anything Smith & Wesson would be good, or Taurus, which is cheaper. You only want to shoot double action anyway, so don't worry if the pistol is double action only (DAO).

2) Get trained. If you've never had a gun before, you really absolutely need to learn proper handling. It's not difficult, but it is necessary and important. Your local gun store probably has either a new shooters class or a concealed carry class, which would be similar. TAKE IT.

3) Practice. You can't expect to buy a race car, leave it in your driveway for three years, then win the biggest race of your life. Find and attend International Defensive Pistol Association matches. They're designed to practice firing "out of the box" (no fancy/expensive modifications) weapons in situations somewhat like the real world. This will greatly increase your familiarity with your weapon and help improve your chances of being able to use it well if you are called upon to use it. The shooting range is fine, but IDPA matches will have you moving and reloading like you might have to do if you have to defend yourself. The truth of the matter is that YOU and your skill are more important than your hardware.

If you can't find IDPA, look for IPSC. It's similar, but the guns tend to be more "big boy toys." Still, it beats leaving your gun in a box at home.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

The best defensive handgun is the one that you have with you when you need it. Broadly speaking nothing smaller than a .380acp (in automatic) and .38 Special (in revolver) is recommended for self-defense. Keep in mind that some .380s are too light and recoil violently particularly in the the hands of females and/or shooters with small hands.

No one wants to get shot even with a small caliber weapon. Unless you are dealing with drug-crazed psychos or large dangerous predatory critters the best defensive handgun is the one you have with you when you need it. A loaded and ready Beretta Jetfire in .22 short or .25acp in hand is better than a .10mm or .44 Mag at home in a gun locker!

Standard disclaimer: Take an approved gun-safety class; treat every gun as if it were loaded; don't point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.

Good luck!

H

Answer 8

The largest caliber handgun you can control. If you are not familiar with weapons, go to a reputable dealer, one with an indoor firing range, and ask to try several different pistols. Consider a double action weapon, as they require less action on your part to get them into action. Take a gun safety course if you are new to firearms and store it in a safe place. The performance of a bullet is important too. Use an expanding bullet (hollow point) for personal protection. It is important to hit what you want to, and this is a skill that takes practice. Last, don't forget to keep it clean.

Answer 9

If you are willing to practice a lot and learn the firearm very well then get a semi auto pistol in 9mm.

If you are new to shooting you should get a revolver 357 minimum of 4" barrel and shoot 38 specials out of it.

The revolver is a very basic system and does not require the same amount of training to learn to use it well.

Find the one that feels and fits your grip the best.

Good luck with your choice.

Answer 10

I like a Ruger 40 cal automatic if you are leaning to an automatic. and a either a single action Ruger 357 mag. or 44 mag if you are leaning to a revolver.. But if you have never fired handguns before take a gun safety course first.
If you have small kids in the house not used to being around fire arms get a long gun like a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. Both are easy to load in an emergency..And they are big enough small kids aren't going to mess with them