What kind of firearm...?

Question

My wife and I are moving to a new city and crime being what it is, we think its time to get a gun. I was hoping for a light weight, easy to use, handgun for home protection. We're two women living together, its just too scary sometimes, and we need to be more prepared.
Any advice is welcomed

Answer 1

1ST You need to take some courses on firearm safety and use, if you have never been around them.
I suggest a small caliber .038 or less that has semi-auto capability
A 38 caliber,
A 32 caliber, or
A 380 caliber
any thing less would be too small unless your an expert marksman

Answer 2

I recommend that you experiment with several different types/models of guns. If you're looking for home defense, don't go out and buy a large shotgun. First off, you might be intimidated by it as it will be loud and will kick (recoil).

You also should check local laws about owning a firearm. While the federal government does have laws concerning the ownership and other issues such as barrel length, local ordnance may prohibit owning one.

Once you know that you are allowed or your restriction should there be any, its time to start shopping.

Cost is a large factor here. Carry guns (that you carry on your person) come in hundreds of models, calibers, styles, etc. Picking up a used one would be a good choice so long as it is in good shape and functions well.

You'll hear people chant about particular calibers. Once again, all that really matters is your personal opinion and your preference. A large bullet trades off magazine or cylinder capacity for more stopping power. A smaller caliber is the opposite. It's good to find a happy medium. I highly recommend finding a friend that has some experience in this field and asking him to take you and your wife out to practice and acclimate yourself with a gun. Depending on that experience and what style/caliber gun you shoot, you may want a larger or smaller one for your use. Remember, bigger is not always better.

A good choice is a .357 Magnum. Don't let the title fool you. While you can get powerful cartridges for this gun, it is compatible with the .38 Special cartridge. This is a less powerful cartridge that can fix and fire well in this gun caliber.

You can also go semi-automatic or get a revolver, the choice is yours. Be sure to check your local laws and get all the certification that you might need such as a a pistol permit or a concealed carry permit. Classes might be in order too for extra safety.

Good luck and I hope this is of some use.

Answer 3

Ask this question to 10 people and you'll get 11 answers. My personal for a light weight, easy to handle, simple to use home defense gun would have to absolutely be a Mossberg 500 HS. It comes with a pistol grip with a laser, that, when coupled with the very distinctive noise of a shotgun, should scare the living bejesus out of any would be intruder. It's a .410 gauge, which is pretty light compared to all the other shotguns people are mentioning, but it still has a greater muzzle velocity than most pistols that would be reasonable for home defense. Unlike most pistols, however, the shot will spread, and with the spreader choke found in the 500 HS, it'll be a pretty nasty spread even at ranges you'd find indoors. Using a skeet or bird shot like #7.5 or #8 will prevent the shot from over-penetrating walls, but still do considerable damage to any intruders that didn't heed the warning from the pump. If armored intruders are a threat, you can get jacketed slugs, I'd recommend the Hornady SST, which are just a large, single projectile. This will increase the penetration significantly, but will penetrate walls easier, as well.

You may also want to see about trying a few guns out at a shooting range, see what you're comfortable with. The group called the pink pistols meets and gets people such as yourself more accustomed to firearms, since they truly are the great equalizer. I would suggest you check them out, see if there are any groups in your area, and if there are, see about what local laws will allow you to own, and with what restrictions.

When you do decide on something, make sure to practice with it and get familiar with it. There'd be nothing worse than pulling out your pump gun and not remembering how to unlock the slide when the time comes and you need to. Also, be sure to practice shooting, to make sure you're capable of hitting what you want to, and as little of anything else as possible. Use the same ammo to practice as you would for home defense to maxamize your familiarity with what you use.

Answer 4

I almost agree with Old Fuzz.

In my opinion, the best home defense gun, especially for a non-enthusiast, is a double-action revolver. While a Model 49 would be just dandy, I believe a Model 19, or Model 66 with a 2.5 inch barrel, or not more than 4" barrel would be even better.

As some one else suggested, check out the laws in the new city. If it is someplace like Chicago, you won't be able to have a firearm legally without jumping through lots of legal hoops.

Good Luck.

Doc

Answer 5

1. check the local laws just to be safe.
2. Self defense training for both of you.
3. A Quality Double action revolver Colt, Ruger or S&W ( Cheap crap your life is worth the investment)
Why revolver and not and semi auto, because the revolver is the easiest to use and the very most accurate of hand guns.
I know that those high capacity semi auto sound good, but 6 very accurate shots is better the 12 some what accurate shots.
4, and final go to a range and Practice then practice some more until it is second nature.

Sorry forgot something nothing smaller then a 38 Special as caliber

Best of luck in the city, I just stay out in the country.

D58

dca2003311@ has a good suggestion for a keep at the house weapon.
The shotgun is big bad and scary if you are the one looking down the barrel of it.

dca2003311@ as to (We will be known by the tracks we leave behind) cowboy those are not tracks your leaving behind with a shotgun, those are Bodies, or at least wet spots where you scared the p1ss out of them pointing that shotgun at them.

D58

Hunting with Rifle, Pistol, Muzzle loader and Bow for over 3 decades.
Reloading Rifle, Pistol and shotgun for over 3 decades.

Answer 6

It sounds like you are not familiar with guns and I would like to tell you that handguns are only effective in trained hands.

I recommend a shot gun, just point it and shoot it and the bad guy will fall down. A Mossberg model 500 6 shot is short and pretty light weight for a shot gun.

No matter what gun you get, you need to go to a range and practice with it until you get the hang of it.

Simply owning a gun does not mean that you are protected. You need to learn how to properly use it in a emergency situation.

Answer 7

Okay Ms. Kettle, congratulations on deciding to take responsibility for your own protection. First let me suggest that you (and possibly your mate as well) take a gun safety course. Then decide on whether you prefer a revolver or a pistol. A revolver tends to be more user friendly.

Pick out a caliber you can handle from .32 acp to .45 acp. Probably something in between will work well for you like a .38 Special in revolver or .9mm in automatic. If you're sharing your home with others or if you are in apartment consider getting pre-fragmented ammo for safety's sake. These cost more but you only need six and they usually come in packages of six. These won't penetrate dry-wall like regular bullets so you keep neighbors and loved ones sleeping in the next bedroom safe. You won't be practicing with these and practice ammo is a lot cheaper.

As far as gun makes are concerned for revolvers consider S & W, Taurus, and Ruger. Semi automatic pistols consider Glock (just keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you're ready to shoot and keep in a holster that covers the trigger), Beretta, Ruger, Sig, Browning (or clone), H & K (but kinda pricey) or a 1911 or a 1911 clone.

Best.

H

Answer 8

My father who is about to retire to his cottage in the sticks asked me a very similar question as of late and I'll give him the same answer I gave him.

Don't go for a pistol. A short-barrelled 12-guage pump action shotgun, loaded with #6 or #7 birdshot will be a much more effective weapon for home defence and I'll explain why.

First, a shotgun is a bigger weapon. The intimidation factor is always there when dealing with someone who preys on apparently "soft" targets. When they expect an easy prey but run into a loaded gun, this sort tends to run away.

Second, it HAS to be a pump-action. The sound of a shotgun's slide in one of the best-known sounds in the world. It's loud, it's extremely distinctive, and from a friend's personnal experience, it's often enough to make a burglar turn tail and run.

Third, slugs and buckshot can go through sheet rock and your typical wall insulation. For home defence, especially if living in rowhouses or an apartment building or anything of the like, you really have to consider where your projectiles are going. Birdshot will not punch through a wall or a floor or a ceiling unless it's at really short range but it will still go a damned good number on anyone at the sort of engagement range that you're talking about, and you hardly have to be an expert shot to make a shotgun blast count.

Just my two cents.

Answer 9

1 take a gun safety course
2 find a gun shop in your area that preferably has a range and rents guns
3 try as many as you can calibers and styles find the one you can handle and like
4 I don't care even if it is a 22Lr after the first shot they will know you mean business (not an endorsement for a 22Lr for home defense just saying)
things to consider
the sound of a pump action shotgun is very unique and a deterrent but a long gun is easier to have taken away from you by an attacker
handguns smaller and harder to have taken away
revolver more reliable and accurate
semi auto more rounds but can jamb if it jambs i doesn't matter how many rounds it holds

so I suggest if there is a gun store near you that has a range and rents guns go and experiment and find what works for you

Answer 10

I am assuming that you are relatively unfamiliar with firearms, so my answer is based on that assumption.
I own a number of handguns and shoot a couple of different disciplines. During a typical week of competition it is not unusual for me to fire 500 rounds a week. I'm not the best shooter in any league, but I don't embarrass myself either. My choice for home defense is a Mossberg 500 shotgun with an 18 1/2 inch barrel, loaded with 12 gauge field loads loaded with #6 shot. My reasons are pretty simple. 1. It's easier to hit what you're shooting at with a shotgun. 2. #6 field loads are certainly capable of inflicting a fatal wound at gunfight distances. 3. #6 shoot is unlikely to penetrate typical building materials with lethal force. 4. If you're lucky, after you rack a round into the chamber and yell, "I've got a shotgun and I'm gonna shoot your @&&" the intruder will start running in the opposite direction. A Mossberg 500 is reliable and cheap--The MSRP on one with both 28 inch and 18 1/2 inch barrells for $351. I picked up mine for $100--it was ugly but it works and for self defense that's really all that matters.

P.S. Make sure your purchase is within the law that prevails in your location.

Answer 11

don't buy a pistol!!! you're more likely to shoot yourself or the kid next door. and if you disregard that then DON'T BUY THE BIGGEST PISTOL IN THE STORE!!!! you don't need a hog-leg to take someone down. Go to a range, a decent indoor will let you "rent" guns to use on their range, I'd recommend that. start with the .22 (not to buy mind you, just to get used to shooting) slowly work your way up the calibers. GO TO GUN SAFETY COURSES. I know people have said this, you can't say it enough. wouldn't advise anything over a .40 cal in pistols.
Now I'd recommend a shot-gun. sawed offs are usually illegal, but nothing like a street-sweeper with some medium pellets to turn a guy into hamburger. the Army uses mossberg 500's. huge spread with 00 buck at 25m so wouldn't be bad, get pistol grips and only use it if someone breaks in, charge it and off the hip, don't worry about aiming, it holds 5 rounds and one in the pipe if I remember correctly. just like with the pistols slugs will rip through walls, 00 buck too, unless you live in a well built house. (if you can HEAR your neighbors you can SHOOT your neighbors). be safe, buy a dog...a big well trained dog