What would be a good handgun to purchase for protection at home?

Question

I want power (one shot to get the job done). However, I don't weigh a lot, so it couldn't have too much of a kick.

I don't know. It gets a little creepy alone in a 2-story house at night.

Maybe I've been watching too many Forensic Files.

Do you think it's a good idea to get a gun for protection?

I understand the guard dog first, but I reside on over 8 acres of country land. The dog would be barking all the time at every deer, rabbit, squirrel, fox, roadrunner, etc. that wanders up on my property.

I have been trained with fire arms, but have never purchased one personally.

You all have some GREAT suggestions for me to consider. I appreciate everyone's input.

Answer 1

I would suggest you take a firearms class. There are few things more dangerous than a loaded gun in the hands of someone who does not know about the gun or the laws involved in using one.

That being said, I would suggest a Smith & Wesson Model 10, with the four inch heavy barrel. This is a six shot revolver that can be fired double action or single action. It has a fixed (non adjustable) sight. It is a .38 Special.

This particular model has been around for almost 100 years. It is a durable, reliable weapon. Before the advent of the Magnum and the high capacity semi autos, this was the police gun of choice. The .38 Special may not pack the punch of its .357 magnum brother, but it is still an effective weapon with the right bullet.

It is a good "house gun" because it does not over penetrate. Some magnum rounds can put a bullet clean through your entire house.

A good used S&W model ten, heavy barrel, will cost you about $250 to $300. Practice ammo, such as the 130 gr. full metal jacket Remingon, sells for as little as $14.00 a box at the local Wal Mart. Your defensive round should be the 125 gr. Jacketed Hollow Point by Remington or Winchester or CCI Blazer. Stay away from +P rounds, you don't need them.

There are no safety switches or other buttons and levers on the gun. Only the cylinder latch to open the cyllinder. A simple gun is a good gun.

Again, take a firearms course, learn the law about deadly force and practice with the gun.

Good luck. . .

Answer 2

Thinking about this, have you considered a shotgun instead? You can load with shot pellet and slugs.

I agree with Old Fuzz about taking a defensive hand gun course. Its a very good idea. The instructor may have firearms you can rent or use which will give you a better idea of what you like. It will also improve your shooting skills a lot faster than if you go by yourself, or have a friend teach you. There's nothing like 1000 rounds in a 2 or 3 day training program to teach you correct everything.

As a side note: I've been told, and actually seen it in my class, women tend to do better in the class. They ask questions, have no bad habits to break, and generally don't think they know better than the instructor.

Caliber stopping power is always going to be a debate. The theory of 1 shot stopping power is not realistic. That is Hollywood physics.

The reality is the bigger the caliber bullet AND the lighter weight the firearm, the more recoil you will encounter. The only way to deal with it is to practice, practice, and practice a lot more. You should get out at least 3 or 4 times minimum a year to practice with your firearm. Otherwise you're body doesn't remember and manage it well.

The 9mm has low and very manageable recoil. However, its not going to be a 1 shot stopper.

A .357 Magnum revolver is a good choice for a for stopping power, but it will either have a lot of recoil, or weigh a lot to make the recoil manageable. The perk is you can load it with .38 special rounds which are very similar to the 9mm, low recoil but not great stopping power.

The old saying is don't trust a caliber that doesn't start with 4 or greater.

The 40SW has much more recoil, but will have a greater chance for stopping power. If its a polymer based gun, its going to have a lot of recoil. There's not much mass to manage the recoil. Plan to practice a lot.

The .44 Magnum / Special revolvers are great for stopping power. Might even over penetrate. On a small revolver, its going to kick, a lot. On a larger revolver, it will be more manageable. It will still kick though.

As a side note, a lot of people saw the Dirty Harry movies, and went out and bought the .44 Magnum revolver. They shot it a few times and realized it kicks a lot. They then put it up in the closet never to shoot it again. This can be fixed by getting out and practicing frequently.

My final recommendation is the .45ACP. Its a proven workhorse. Since the bullet is heavier, the recoil is a little less.

My recommendation is the .45 ACP, night sights or laser sights (essential for low light situations, laser would be better since the laser tells you where you aim; night sights are radioactive, but aren't dangerous, they light up in the dark, overtime though they fade ), in a 1911. Several manufacturers make the 1911. Kimber, Smith and Wesson, Springfield, and many, many more make it. Its a heavier pistol as its typically made of steel, but you can get one that is lighter weight. It also has thinner grips, which if you have small hands like I do, it will fit your hand better. It is a single action pistol, so the trigger pull is the same from the first shot to the last.

Other pistols to consider are the Springfield Armory XD and Smith and Wesson's MP series. Both pistols come in a variety of calibers: 9mm, 40SW, and .45 ACP.

The XD's grip is a little bigger than the 1911, so it still fits my small hands.

The MP has an interchangeable backstrap which will allow you to adjust your grip to fit your hand better.

One other thing, for home defense, you'll want Jacketed Hollow Points, JHP. These will hit, and then expand a lot making a bigger exit wound than the entry wound. This improves your one stop chances of one shot stopping power. A full metal jacket, FMJ, or total metal jacket, TMJ, in a high speed round will typically overpenetrate, making a small hole on the entry and exit point.

Answer 3

The best is a revolver, I have a Colt 38 special snub nose Cobra, with soft hollow point bullets. Let me tell you why this is the best, first a snub nose is loud as **** so if you miss the SOB he will at the very least flinch and freeze up for a second. It's louder than any shotgun I have fired, it's ear piercing. Second they never miss fire, automatics miss fire all the time and that can be very costly if the intruder has a gun. Lastly hollow points mushroom on impact so instead of a 9mm full metal jacket, where it would simply pass through, these bullet expand giving you a lot of stopping power and could probably take down anybody in one center mass shot. They also don't have the kick so any person man or woman no matter how small can operate it and fire multiple shots without kickback problems. I like a good shotgun next but they are a bit cumbersome and not better than a handgun for tight situations.

Answer 4

The very best calibre for a home defense gun would be the .40 calibre. It has the kick of a 9mm with the power of a .45. Win/ win situation. Try a Glock 23. This "combat Tupperware" is extremley good at... anything. It's light, quick to load, easy on the arms, has good pointability, is generaly pretty small, so it will handle much better inside then a larger handgun, plus, it's made out of a plastic polymer (thus the name "Combat Tupperware"). ALSO, all of the Police forces here in Arizona are using the Glock, which should be some testament that it is good. Peoria Police Dept. also has a few Dodge Charger squad cars, so they would have the money to get something better... If there was something. Try this link:
http://www.remtek.com/arms/glock/model/40/23/index.htm

Answer 5

Well, If you think someone is in your house, you certianly don't want an autoloader. Is the saftey on? What way is the saftey off? Is there a round in the chamber? Like someone else said, with a loaded revolver, you simply pull the trigger! That solves that question! As for caliber, I know this must be getting repetive, but .38 special hollow point would be ideal. Of course it's not as powerful as a Luger or Desert Eagle, but I must say their recoil is VERY low. And remember, this a PERSON who would be the threat, not some charging beast. Unless they're on PCP, it doesn't matter if you hit them in the chest or leg. Most people are going to go down with WHATEVER you hit them with, even if they're not seriously injured! .38 special has FAR MORE power than it needs to incapacitate or kill a person, yet perhaps the biggest issue here is wether or not you can auctually shoot someone. Obviously, the sight of a gun can cause many attackers to flee, and if that doesn't work, you can just shoot a round into your celling and that should work. But say the attacker draws a sword and starts running at you! This obviously means the intimidation factor is OUT the window! What do you do? Are you able to shoot him, or do you stand there in the confusion of conflicting moral principles while the attacker's cold stell bears down on you? Just something to cinsider! Altogether though, I think a .38 revolver would be ideal for you! It's cheap and conceleable, so you can have it nearby if the need ever arises.
(A white lab gaurd dog, plz, get real! And if the guy's in your house, what good's it gonna' do if it's out there treeing squirells? I'd consider a gaurd dog more of a deterrent, a skilled attacker with a heavy kick in the right place can have your dog incapciated before it get's off more than three or four barks! A MINI-CROSSBOW would be better!)

Answer 6

There are those from the liberal left that say we should pray and let the police protect us after they arrive in an hour or so. Being from Montana I prefer a twelve gauge pump shotgun with 5 or 6 shot; it blows a hole the size of a cantelope in anything withing 25 feet and won't go through three walls and damage my neighbor's plasma TV. Any handgun that you are comfortable with and know how to shoot is okay, I still like the 12 gauge as if I am awakened at 2 pm I not awake enough to make sure I have a correct sight alignment and yadda. The sound of the slide racking a shell into the chamber usually clears a building anyway. Ker-chunk!!! If you worry about having to repaint your wall or something get a large pepper spray blaster (but hold your breath if you use it). A doberman works wonders, too.

Answer 7

If you decide to buy a gun for home protection, I suggest you go to your local pistol range and "try before you buy." Find something comfortable to your hand, and light enough so that you can shift your aim without tiring too easily. I would suggest an automatic, such as glock 19 or springfield xd-9 as these are low maintenance and extremely reliable. Remember, you want the gun to work when it counts.

Practice with the pistol you buy at a range from different distances, and, with the pistol VERY EMPTY, practice moving through your home, imagining where you would be most likely to come in contact with an intruder and where someone can hide.

Lastly, opt for a weapon light to attach to your pistol. Most autos these days have equipment rails in the frame to mount a light or laser, or both. Surefire is top of the line in gun lights.

Answer 8

Well, everybody has the right to protect themselves. First suggestion, take a handgun safety course. Then pick out a revolver or semi auto pistol. Bullet placement is more important than power, so practice, practice, practice...

The final decision as to what you will buy, revolver vs. automatic is up to you. What are you most comfortable with? What fits your hand better. As long as you don't pick anything smaller than a .38 Special revolver or .380 acp auto loader you willl be sufficiently armed. Consider the .357 Magnum revolver which will also handle .38 Special ammo in plain or +P loadings. Consider also the .9x19mm which is larger than the .380 acp. In this caliber use quality defensive ammo in 115 to 127 hollowpoint or pre-fragment slugs. Pre-frag slugs won't go through dry wall endangering a loved one sleeping in the next room.

Good luck.

H

Answer 9

I think it's a great idea but if you haven't shot a gun a lot then be prepared to spend a few days at the local range working on accuracy and confidence handling and shooting it.

If you aren't prepared to actually shoot and kill someone then I would suggest a taser. There are some great ones out there and for pretty cheap.

But if you still want a handgun I would recommend a polymer framed pistol as opposed to a steel/metal frame. Although revolvers are popular and powerful (especially a .357 magnum) they are heavy. If you are concerned about weight but still want power I would suggest a Smith and Wesson M&P in a .45.

Personally I prefer a 9mm but a .45 will have on average more stopping power. But ask the gun shop about the right ammunition, I would recommend HydraShoks.

Answer 10

Yes, I think it is a good idea for you to have a gun in your house for protection. Nowadays people keep thinking of outlwaing guns and that they are too dangerous, but they are not as long as you have respect for them. If guns were made illegal, the criminals and all the ones using guns the wrong way would still have guns that they get illegally and the innocent citizens of the country would be left defenseless. Guns are the right of every citizen to own to defend themselves.
The best gun for you would probably be a 9mm of some sort. There are a few out there from different manufacturers, but my personal opinion would be a Berretta 9mm. I have owned this gun for 15 years now and have never had any complaints at all. It is reliable and extremely easy to use and clean. If you do get a gun though, I advise, learning about the afety aspects of using one and take it to a shooting range and practice to be comfortable with it when needed.