Best handgun for home protection?
 

looking into buying a handgun for protection and every time i go to the gun store the confuse me so I'll ask you guys.

Beretta 9mm "black" :_paranoid lol Its the best for 5-15 metres close combat shooting. :cool:

The .357 and 9mm do not have the knock down power like the .40 or .45. If you want to knock them on there rear you want the .45. But depending on the barrel length and the gun a .45 is tougher to handle. So if your wife/gf could potentially use it then you'll need to take that into consideration. But in all likelyhood if you shoot at an intruder with anything they will run. I am in the markey for a 4" .40 and thats what I would recommend. A smaller person can handle it and they still have good power behind it. If you are wanting to use more than a home defense weapon I would get a .357 or 9mm because the .357 revolver you can shoot a .38 or .380 (not sure which one) out of the same gun and that makes it cheaper also the 9mm rounds are cheap to target shoot. Hope this helps and sorry for such a long answer!

.357... you can practice all day with .38 ammo, then load it with some nice .357 hollow points and really make someone's day go all to hell. The revolver is easy to fire without complex safety levers or "racking" procedures. Honestly, I have a Smith & Wesson chambered in .45 acp, and while I absolutely love it, my wife cannot reliably rack the slide. If she were to actually have to fire the thing, and it jammed, she would never be able to clear it. With a revolver, if one round fails to fire, you just pull the trigger again.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

I personally have a .45 but I am getting a hammerless .38 for my wife. Like the guys said before depending on the gun the .45 could be tough for the wife.
For the wife she needs something that she only needs to point and shoot. A shotgun will do the trick too.

I just went through the same thing yesterday. I ended up going with the Glock 21 ( 45 acp ). I also have a s&w 357 revolver for the exact reasons above ( my wife can shoot it well with 38s). I don't think 9mm has enough power behind it but would be a great practice gun.

If you're talking about specifically inside your house, like maybe a nightstand weapon, I would suggest something like this...
http://www.taurususa.com/product-det...egory=Revolver
Taurus Judge.
It can shoot a .45 or a 410 shotgun shell. With the 410, you've got serious close quarters hit, but it's not gonna travel all throught the house and hurt your family. Easy for your wife/gf to learn and with a shotgun pattern out of a pistol, they don't have to be super accurate in a high stress moment. You gotta think about how far the bullet will go through thin azz sheetrock (even a 9mm).

Now if you're talkin about a carry weapon for any situation, I like larger caliber. I want immeadiate nuetralization of the threat. I want to stop the danger permanently.


Jeff-

Inside the home, a tactical pump shotgun loaded with 00-Buck... Huge stopping power, and won't over-penetrate into other rooms or the neighbor's house... and if something goes wrong, you can still use it to club them over the head. ;)

For a handgun to C&C, then the biggest thing is to get comfortable with it, which takes firing a lot of rounds through it... A gun you're afraid to shoot doesn't do you any good. I'm really liking the Springfield XD models, although I haven't made a purchase yet. I'm leaning toward the 9mm due to ammo cost, and recoil compared to 40 S&W and 45ACP.

Jeff -- This is great info - and thinking about a slug going through bedroom walls etc is really good info -- I like the 410 "option" -- very smart!

If you have the wife using it for home protection I would definatly recommend the .357 revolver...it has more than enough stopping power and the women can handle it without any problems...My wife and I both concealed carry and I personally carry a .45 or a .40 ACP at all times, my wife carries a .38 revolver or her compact 9mm,....But she feels most comfortable with the revolvers, do to the fact that it is just point and shoot, no worries about pulling back the slide or jamming......"The Judge" they are talking about is also a great idea, but it packs a pretty good punch for most women!! Just my opinion!!

I have a friend who owns a gun shop. He always said the best weapon for home defense is a shotgun.

from what I remember a 357 mag has more knock down power than a .45. Something like 1200 fps and 500 ft/lb out of a typical 158 g bullet for the 357 vs. 950 fps with 350-360 ft/lbs energy out of a 180 g bullet for the .45.

In side the house a shotgun is the best bet. Shoot it down the hallway, your sure not to miss.

For a Handgun, bigger is better especially at short range. We have quite a few guns. I have a HK45 I simply LOVE! We take friends shooting with us often and of all our guns the HK45 is always our friends favorite. Lisa and I each have HK P30 9MMs which are very nice, almost exactly like the HK45 grip, but cheaper to shoot, but everyone seems better with the big boy 45.

I have a really good one to carry, a Sig P239, which is a single rack clip so it is narrow, easier to conceal. It is a 40 Cal. and has plenty of stopping power. I added a laser to the 40 cal. besides the accuracy, the thought process with that laser is if you point it at someone there is a high likelyhood you won't have to pull the trigger.

Derek, look at the HK45, the recoil hollow point 230 gr round is equal to our 9MM with 147 GR rounds. The gun is so well balanced my sons 4'11", 90 LB girlfriend likes the HK45 the best. New it is pricey (about $1050) but well worth it. I grabbed one in like new condition for $750 off the HK Pro forum.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...stoms/HK45.jpg

I went looking for a handgun last summer. The first people I asked for advice were my friends who had been to Iraq. They all agreed 9mm's especially Berettas stunk. I didn't want the revolver because of ammo capacity, that took me the semi auto direction. I wanted a gun that had power and I would feel ok leaving with the little lady when I was gone for work. That led me to the Smith&Wesson M&P 40. Get it in the full size version if your not going to carry it, it will help with recoil. Kick isnt a factor and the gun will hit everything I aim it at within 20 yards without much effort on my part.

The best gun is the one you feel most comfortable with. Find a friend wih loats of guns or range where you can rent different calibers, gun types and handle sizes. Pratice, practice, practice. You have to be super comfortable with whatever gun you get; remember, chances are if ever have to use that gun, it'll be in the dark and you may be half asleep.

I would vote towards a .45 with a low velocity ammunition (to help keep the round from going through too many walls and possibly hitting an unintended person)

I have an HK USP with Corbon ammo.

For a novice then I would go with some type of revolver since the last thing you want is a complicated weapon in inexperienced hands. For example my wife has a Ruger SP101 wheel gun and a S&W (ligher weight) both with .38 +P ammo.

Lot's of good advice so far!

I have to agree with Frank. A shot gun for the house is the best way to go and for a hand gun a HK 40 or 45 with a 4" barrel is an awesome way to go. I carry my HK40 (3") daily and love the fit and feel of it. I also own a Springfield XD 40 (3") and it is a great gun. My wife has the XD 9mm 3" barrel and it to is a great weapon. The ONLY reason we go with the 3" barrel is for concealment! I shoot a lot of different hand guns on a regular basis. I really like the XD series. I would give serious consideration to the Springfield XD 9mm with a 4" barrel and use Spear Gold Dot ammo to up the stopping power a bit. It has great magazine capacity, a nicer trigger, it's easy to operate and you're wife can shoot it no problem.

I suggest you go to a range that rents guns. Shoot everything you are considering in all calibers. Take your wife with you! Start with a 45 and work your way down to a 9mm. The right gun is the one that you feel most comfortable with. Keep in mind that you may not be the one pulling the trigger when the perp comes a knocking.

Hit Marine71 up with a PM and ask him. Andy is a firearms instructor and can offer some very good advice on this subject.

The only problem I have with a shotgun for home defense is the size. It would be the best for holding a defensive postion, but tough to wield in cramped quarters (ie, down a hallway, clearing around corners).

What ever you get make sure you hit the range often and do refresher trips. Also, make sure you and your family have the right mindset and know the laws about how you can defend yourself. Then again the old saying of "I would rather be tried by 12 then carried by 6" is pretty true.

The mental part is the most important. I've had this talk with my wife and she understands that if she has a gun she must also be willing to take a life with it. The alternative is that she just provided a weapon to the intruder.

Glock 9mm
 

I have a Glock 17 for home defense pistol. With proper ammunition selection, the stop rate of a 9mm is within 1% plus/minus of a 45. Also, follow up shots with a 9mm are quicker/easier due to less recoil. Not to say a 45's recoil is going to kill you but it is noticeably greater. Glocks are like the Honda of the gun world. Not the prettiest, not the fastest but it always works. I can't even begin to tell you the things I have put mine through....Thousands of rounds later it's still ticking.

Shotguns are not necessarily the best options. A miss conception is that the buckshot will not over penetrate. I can tell you from personal experience that 00 buck will go through multiple layer of drywall/doors. Believe it or not with the correct ammo an AR15 is better regarding over penetration. They are also much more fun to accessorize:thumbsup:

The noise alone from this sucker will knock a intruder down! Looks a little obscene on the nightstand though!

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u.../PWSDiablo.jpg

Lol. Short barrel ARs are a different story all together. You're right they are pretty loud. We have 11.5 length AR's for entry work that are atrocious without the surefire suppressors attached.

Nice boom stick by the way. Here's one of my 100-600yds tools.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...DSC_0045-1.jpg

I tried all of you guys suggestions -- but I finally just mounted a Dillon Aero on the footboard of the bed. One quick trigger pull and the the entire wall was gone -- clear to the front of the house. That ought to scare those pesky intruders off. It's really neat at Halloween too!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYvEFATaRMY

Well I'm in the military as well so I'm qualified sharp shooter with the 9mm. This gun doesn't impress me to much not enough power. I do not have a wife or girlfriend (as of now). I really love the 357 mag I owned a colt king cobra for a long time great gun one of the best Ive owned but i want to conceal as well so I'm really looking into the xd 40 and xd 45 they feel great and all the reviews are just outstanding. the colt 1911 really does it for me to though but not so good for concealment.My debate is probably really between .40 and .45

This bad boy gets them every time:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/...8eeb13d3_b.jpg

Load it with soapy water, that will hurt their eyes...

How abot this http://www.bullygang.com/images/cruella.jpg

Or for a real serious protector

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/anatolianshepherd.htm

If you serious about a Gun (I would advice against it simply because of the statsistics) then Get a Pump shotgun their is nothing as chilling of a sound as the racinig of a pump to scare the !@# out of any intruder.

For CCW go titanuim..

Great video on wall penetration...

http://www.downrange.tv/bestdefense/...enetration.htm

Another classic on various rounds going thru all sorts of stuff:
http://www.theboxotruth.com/

X2:thumbsup:
S&W .357 7 shot revolver in night stand next to bed.
I use my 9mm to shoot tin cans....

If cost is a factor, and you are buying new, it's hard to beat the Beretta PX4 Storm in 9mm. Also check out the Springfield XD9. Don't buy until you shoot. Many ranges which are also gun shops, will rent various pistols for you to try out.

As far as which caliber, I would emphasize the 9mm since the ammo is relatively cheap and therfore you will tend to get more economical range time with it...and therefore shoot (practice) with it more...Whatever you buy, spend enough time at the range and get professional instruction so that you feel capable with the firearm. That is the most important thing.

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That's a good modest home defense gun for sure.

Nothing says love better than buying a Mini-Gun for the Mrs. :unibrow:

I know mine would love one.

Ty

Are you guys living in a Iraq ? Or somewhere close to it..

No...we just happen to have the right to bear arms....:yes:

Most of Iraq is safer thnn many of our larger cities and some of us would rather not sit around like sheep hoping the wolves of the world butcher someone else.

Bear arms? Like this?

http://tomgpalmer.com/wp-content/upl...0a%20Right.jpg
http://rookery2.viary.com/storagev12...a_625x1000.jpg

:D

The way I figure it, no one but you (even the police) is responsible for you and your family's safety, you best be prepared to defend yourself if the time ever comes. I hope it never does, but I want to be well armed if it ever comes to pass.

I like my Glock 17 and Mossberg 590A1
http://fototime.com/DDB9D1A92202460/standard.jpg

9 rounds in the shotgun, 6 on the side saddle and 4 in the stock. Having watched what bullets do to interior walls, a shotgun with like #4 shot would be by choice of home defense. Given that I don't want a stray bullet injuring or killing my loved ones or neighbors (since I live in the city). The Glock is just for getting to the gun safe and getting the shotgun or as a backup.

try an xd or colt officers model 45

im in love with my springfeild xd40..

I owned a PX4 Storm but it was a 40. Great Gun! (Regret selling it) I second this recommendation.

That really depends on the ammo used. About the only shotty round that wont penetrate multiple walls is bird shot.

There are several very high tech (and expensive) handgun rounds that address the wall penetration.

DRT is good stuff (the military nicknamed it Dead Right There.. lol)

http://drtammo.com/products.html

And then there's the stuff from Glaser..

https://dakotaammo.net/shop/product_...roducts_id=163