Which Pistol?

Question

Whats the best pistol to have for home protection, looking for a combo of power and accuracy.

Answer 1

It really depends. Are you the only person in the house? Will you be the only person handling it? What level of shooter are you?

If its just you and you go to the range regularly, then there are several to choose form.

1. Colt .45 semi auto pistols there are many variants to choose from.
2. Browning HP in 9mm. or 40 cal use full metal jacket (ball) no jamming
3. Glock, any glock will do.

But if in any case an older person might have to use the weapon, or an inexperienced person or your wife who really doesn't like guns, but might have to use it one day, then choose something basic.

Smith and Wesson or taurus .38 +P load or .357 cal revolver. Any variant will do just as well. Try also the air weight or light weight models.

I my opinion and from experience Revolvers are the most dependable jam free weapons anyone can use. This is aslo very true under stress fire. No pulling of slides. No shell ejection failure. No safety switch to fumble with. You can do a quick shot from inside your jacket.

POINT and SHOOT thats all.

I used to run a security agency and am still a security consultant.

Oh Yes, do go to the range atleast 2 times a year.

Hope this helps

Nancy and Super 6820 hit it on the nose ( be it a snub nose hahaha)

Answer 2

I use a Glock Model 20 and a Glock Model 29. They both shoot the 10mm Auto round. The Model 20 is full size and the clips hold 15 rounds. The 29 is smaller, and the clips that come with it hold 10 rounds. The Model 29 will also accept the 15 round clips that come with the model 20.
I load my own bullets, and my 190 grain Sierra bullets go 1200 feet per second, making my Glock 10mm almost 2 times as powerful as a .45, and while there are more accurate pistols, the Glock 10mms are more than accurate enough for self defense.
The Glocks are also more reliable than almost any other pistol on the planet, so if you want something that has the power, accuracy, big clip capacity, and will go off when you need it to without jamming, get a Glock 20 first, and when you get the extra money get a Glock 29. I have been carrying a Glock 10mm since 1992, and plan to keep doing so.

Answer 3

German shepherd. A pistol is a great thing, but for home protection, your best bet is a dog and a phone to call 911. To prove my point, think about this: in most American homes, the longest shot you will make in a house is about 30 feet. Now, try this: You and a friend take your favorite pistol out to a range area one night, and ensure the line is safe. Set up a silhouette target about 5-7 yards away. Put the pistol in the condition you would normally keep it, and lay it on the bench. Then you and your buddy start a conversation. Your buddy will randomly call out "fire." You try to rapidly, in the dark, weapon up and hit the target. Have your friend time you. Then look at your result. Most people I have known to try this are surprised at how poorly they do. Remember that this is done while you are awake and calm, not waking up and frightened. If you must have a weapon at your bedside, try a shortened .410 shotgun with birdshot. It has a large spread, limited recoil, and will accomplish the task of making the intruder leave. Most people, when faced with the reality of it, don't want to kill anyone, just to make the bad guy go away and ensure the family is safe. Even low velocity rounds with energy dissipating bullets are likely to penetrate through walls into other rooms, and possibly other buildings (neighbors). All that said, the .40 Smith and Wesson is a very versatile round with solid ballistics, and good knock-down power without great recoil. Try the HK USB Compact, it is a fine weapon.

Answer 4

Your question is awfully broad. Do you live in the city or country? Are you male or female? How much training/experience do you have with handguns?
For home protection stick with a double action revolver. Waking up in the middle of the night and having to fumble with a semiauto's various controls could cost you your life. You can also leave the rounds in a revolver without a problem; with an auto leaving the rounds in a clip compresses the spring and can lead to failures to chamber (rare, but happens).
Use a 4 inch revolver. Longer barrels are to unwieldy. Snubby's usually have smaller grips which, again in the middle of the night, can be hard to get a decent hold on. the 4 inch barrel is a good compromise for handiness and accuracy.
Caliber: .357 magnum or 44 magnum.
Reasons: You can shoot the .38 special out of the .357 mag. You can shoot the 44 special out of the 44 mag. Which load depends on your training/experience with handguns.
My "house gun" is my S&W 629, 44 mag. it is loaded with Blazer 240 grain jacketed hollowpoints. I live in the country, my nearest neighbor is over a mile away. I don't have to worry about overpenetration. When I did live in town I used the same gun but loaded it with 240 grain flatnosed lead, 44 specials. About half the velocity of the mag round but still a pretty leathal round.
Stay away from handloads! Use only factroy ammo. You shoot someone, you will be sued (no matter how justified you were) and the lawyers will try to say you handloaded super powerful "killer" bullets.
Take a gun safety class and one, or more, of the personal protection gun classes. Learn the laws of your state and city regarding the use of deadly force.
Join the local gun club and go to the range and practice, practice, practice.
Good luck with your choice, and be careful.

Answer 5

Any decent .38/9x19mm/.40SW/.45ACP pistol will do. Accuracy for self-defense is way overrated. You have a lot more to choose from than a target shooter like I do. If you get hung up on "the best" (no such thing) you will waste money. Home protection guns are the most economica when you get past the brand-name fetish and marketing hoopla. I am not going to name a company because that is what those companies would like me to do. Other people have already tried to tell you to buy the "ACME" pistol or "John Doe" combat supermatic.

Answer 6

Pistols aren't really a good choice for home defense, you might want to consider a pump-action or semi-automatic 12 gauge shotgun. Shotguns are the most powerful at close range and they have a scatter effect so all you have to do is point a shotgun rather than aim it. However, if you are keen on a handgun, you might want a .357 Magnum Revolver with a 4 inch barrel, preferably a Smith & Wesson.

Answer 7

There are many good pistols for home protection. My recommendation would either be a .45 semi auto, or a .357 revolver (4" or more barrel). For the .45 there are a number of excellent choices, go to your nearest range, rent and shoot some. You can't go wrong with a Glock or Springfield Armory.

I personally prefer the .357 revolver for home protection. I have a 6" Ruger, but a Smith and Wesson is also a fine choice.

Answer 8

If you are looking for a home protection firearm usable to all inhabitants of the home a double action revolver (concealed hammer a plus) in .38 is the best bet, otherwise a .357 Mag or a .40 S&W or .45ACP pistol would be my choice.
Glocks are nice (reliable, prevelant, resistant), but their trigger pull is very heavy, not so great for a woman or a contested control situtation, although good for perventing accidental or trigger-happy fire, but if you are in my house I don't care if i shot you 2 seconds early, although I would be remorse to shoot you 2 seconds late.
10mm can be even more powerful than .357 but is extreme for most shooters.
Actually a shotgun is best, nothing stops someone in their tracks faster and more reliably than the "Kech-Kuch" of a Pump Action 12 Guage.

Answer 9

I am a retired police officer and in my opinion stick with KISS. Keep it simple stupid. A solid frame American made revolver 38 Special or 357 Mag. 4 to 6 inch barrel. My choice would be a S&W model 19 blue steel 4 inch barrel 357. It's a great gun.

Answer 10

I keep my service automatic, a Glock Model 20 .10mm w/Trijicon night-sights fully loaded in our bedroom by our bed. My nightstand guns are a stainless steel Beretta Model 3032 Tomcat .32acp loaded w/Winchester Silvertips & two extra clips; a Walters P-22 with fitted laser sight and extra magazine with Mini Mag ammo. I have to worry about 'over-penetration,' but the .10mm is always close by if I need more firepower.

The rest of my handguns & long guns are safely stored unloaded under lock and key, with quick access to the appropriate ammo. I have a cellular phone right by the bed also, and two outdoor dogs and a couple of indoor 'lap' dogs that are even more alert to prowlers than the outdoor dogs. Really, the dogs are my first line of defense; then the cel phone w/911 capability. Finally, whatever fire power may be necessary to stop the threat. Prayer is always present, that such a situation may never threaten our home.

Best wishes & Happy New Year!

H