Best handgun for home protection? - Page 11 - Lateral-g Forums

**Steve1968LS2** · #**101** 10-20-2009, 01:24 AM

There's more to having a home defense weapon than HUGE rounds or silly gadgets.

Big, powerful rounds can penetrate walls and kill people in the next room.. hell, in the next house.

Complicated weapons and "gadgets" are more of a hinderance if you're not proficient in thier use. You get ganked while trying to turn on your laser.

Keep it simple and "train, train, train"..

I have a HK .45 USP for my main home defense gun and it's loaded with either low velocity Corbon ammo that is designed not to over penetrate or, even better, Glaser safty slugs. The Glaser stuff is almost in the witchcraft catagory it's so cool. Great stopping power, but unlikely to blow through several walls and kill those it's not intended for.

Believe it or not 12ga bird shot in a home defense situation can be very effective at close range since it doesn't have time to spread. And unlike 00 buck you won't have a **** ton of pellets flying through walls.

So, the best handgun for home defense is a quality weapon that you train with and that you train your family on. For those that arn't mechanically inclined there's nothing wrong with a good revolver like the Ruger SP-101 since it can take 38 +p or .357 rounds. For an automatic there's a ton of choices from XDs to Glocks to Sigs.. the important thing is to train until the weapon becomes an extension.

Also, know your target.. it's sad when you hear of someone shooting a family member that came home late and just forgot thier keys.

Lastly, know the laws of your state.. it's a lot different in CA than say Texas or Florida. But, in the end the old saying "I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6" always applies.

Be smart, it's not like in the movies

70rs · #**102** 10-20-2009, 02:37 AM

I agree Steve. Train, train, train! Know how to use what you have, make your home safe and keep your head on straight.

spchiv · #**103** 10-21-2009, 01:58 PM

I threw a young man out of my house at 1:00 a.m. on a Thursday morning because he had previously given my daughter drugs and she ended up in the hospital. At the time I told him never to come back to my place or there would be trouble. I guess I was a little too rough (I didn't hurt him at all, just threw him on the floor and made my point "face-to-face"). The next day the police arrested me, cuffed me in my kitchen, and walked me down my drive and took me to jail. $4,000 later all charges were dropped, but I had to go to anger management classes. Those classes really pissed me off. Now I have a Sig P220, but still need to learn how to use it. As soon as the real estate market changes, I'm moving. Someone else can pay taxes to support the community.

CreepinDeth · #**104** 11-02-2009, 06:57 AM

http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_De..._FAQ/index.htm

More info then you can possibly imagine on this topic with pics.
You will have information overload at the end of it.

Myself....I prefer a .40 or .45.
I use to sleep with my 92FS Taurus 9mm.....until I discovered it has a nasty
ability to overpenetrate due to the higher velocity and can go through walls
and accidentally injure someone else you didn't intend to.

Read this post http://forum.pafoa.org/50747-post-4.html

ZZ3ElCamino · #**105** 11-02-2009, 08:31 PM

I just purchased a Sig P229 .40. Pretty slick! Either way it's not going to feel good getting shot with any of the rounds listed, and it's not like you only have a 1 round magazine....

70rs · #**106** 11-02-2009, 11:52 PM

New XD sub compact here. Great carry weapon and home defense too.

T_Raven · #**107** 11-05-2009, 01:47 AM

The authors of this site have some good perspective on all of this http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/propertycrime.html The whole site has good info, it's totally changed how I think about self defense.

I love guns and even have a conceiled carry permit, but this has been a much debated topic for me and my friends and coworkers. I think everyone should have guns and be trained to use them, BUT if you want to keep your family safe, using a gun in the middle of the night should be a last resort.

I don't yet own a house (4 years in Iraq and counting) but when I do, making the house secure will be a top priority. I know too many people that think they are bad a$$es because they sleep with a gun by the bed and think everything will be just like the movies if they actually have to use it. Sure if someone wants in they'll get in, but would you rather spend a couple grand on a security system and make most criminals choose an easier target, or have blood and bullet holes all over your house, a tramatized family, and possible go to prison?

Don't forget intruders aren't the only dangers at home. Got fire extinguishters and a plan in case of a fire? Got a good first aid kit? Are emergency numbers posted by the phone?

CreepinDeth · #**108** 11-10-2009, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_Raven

I know too many people that think they are bad a$$es because they sleep with a gun by the bed and think everything will be just like the movies if they actually have to use it. Sure if someone wants in they'll get in, but would you rather spend a couple grand on a security system and make most criminals choose an easier target, or have blood and bullet holes all over your house, a tramatized family, and possible go to prison?

So true. So very very true.
A home security system is definitely a great deterrent if you can afford it.
I myself believe in a LARGE canine security system, but even those aren't foolproof.

My pit is my 1st line of defense, if I hear him barking, that's my queue
Living in IL , a very anti-gun state we had the Hale DeMar case which was pretty intense.
Almost made us feel like we were victims on standby......if you defend yourself you go to jail.

I hope I never have to experience a break in while my family is home or not.

70rs · #**109** 11-10-2009, 12:22 AM

My gun is my LAST resort. 1st is a security system, then two dogs, then the maze it is to get to the sleeping area of the house. If they (an intruder) decide they want to make it that far, well so be it. The last thing I want is "blood and bullets" all over my house or to have my family subjected to anything of the sort.
Tha last thing I ever want to do in this life is to shoot another person.

BUT...when all else fails and it is us or them I will not let my family be victims.

I really do think anyone who owns a gun for protection should be fully trained in the use of that gun. Safety is the biggest factor. Anyone who does not take it serious is just asking for major problems and is better off not having a gun in the home in the first place.

Be safe!!

**GregWeld** · #**110** 11-10-2009, 12:34 AM

Wouldn't you rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6?