| Author | Message | ||
     Lost_in_ohio |
Home defense gun. Hand gun is probably the worst choice. Remington 870 with piston grips, an extended magazine, bird shot. That way do don't run the risk of killing the kids in the next room or your neighbors next door. Over penetration is your enemy in this situation. Jon is on top with his questions as always. As a side note, I always get a kick from the guys posting they use an SKS for home defense. I have a current neighbor who is retired because of a wound she received from a neighbor defending his house. The neighbor shot at an intruder with his SKS, the round when out thru the wall of his house and thru the wall of her house striking her in the leg. She sued him and is now set for life. The moral of the story is think before you shoot. Once you pull the trigger your life will never be the same. Hit or miss. | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
Far as a choice for carry. I initially went for a glock......but I was concerned about the trigger and cocking mechanism combined. I bought a tarus snub in 45 colt, High mass bullet with low velocity. Good combination for personal protection especially with hollow points. My Attorney also said not to use fragible ammo. It shows intent to kill and will cause you problems with the grand jury. If you shoot some one you will go before the grand jury and hopefully they will not find a cause to indite you. If you carry and have not consulted legal council I am going to call you foolish. I have my attorneys card in the holster with my side arm..... Just in case. Remember punks have family's who believe they are innocent. There are always attorneys to represent them too. Right or wrong. | ||
| Azxb9r |
Sig makes an excellent gun, I like mine alot. The .40 cal. that I would really like to have though, is the H-K USP. It has great balance and feel. It is also quite accurate. | ||
| Bonjoxb12s |
Really depends on what fits your hand and budget the best. I have two Smith and Wesson M&P's one full size, and one compact in a .40 cal. I also shoot a glock .40 on a regular basis. Both are about the same cost wise, but the M&P fits my hand so much better. (It has 3 interchangeable palm swells to "custom" fit it to your hand as well). I wouldn't go the route of a 1911 model unless your willing to fork over $1k for a brand name model. Also depends on what you plan on using it for. If conceal and carry is your game, I'd go for a compact model, or a snub nose J-Frame revolver. Nothing will beat the reliability of a revolver..... home defense I'd pass up a pistol and look at a nice Remington 870 with a pistol grip. I personally am a Smith and Wesson guy, but to each his own. Feel free to message me with any questions, concerns or comments. Also remember with your caliber choice.... pick the gun that you can shoot easily and still maintain a good degree of accuracy on follow up shots. No need to get a .45 or a .40 if you can't put your second and third shot on target. As far as being concerned with ammo choice.... don't be worried about what a grand jury or anyone else would think. You have to condition your mind that you will ONLY use the weapon if you've exhausted all options and you fear for your life or someone else. At that point you shoot to stop the threat.... not hurt, not kill.... just to stop the threat. If you are smart about it, and you are responsible, any jury would over look your choice of ammo and see your "justifiable cause". | ||
| Stang37 |
I have a Glock 19 (9mm)and like its useablity and simplicity, plus my wife is petite and can still handle it. That said, I would have preferred to explore the .40 (stopping power)as well as one with a manual safety mech. I can't say I trust the Glock safety method ( though I understand it and have never heard any issues with it.) | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
The racking of a pump shotgun is recognizable and will stop any body in there tracks with out a shot being fired. How many movie gun fights stopped before they started when a shotgun was pumped. Jon...have you actually talked with an attorney. Are you going to speak with Law enforcement about the incident without representation? What are you going to do with the gun once they arrive? are you prepared to go "down town"? I live in an urban area and fairly liberal community. You never know what kind of grand jury your gonna go before. Locally anything involving a firearm goes before the grand jury. Just food for thought. Stang.....the glock is inherently safe by design or so they say. The firing pin is not "cocked" until the trigger is depressed. Their reason for it not needing a safety. I guess I would rather have to make two separate motions instead of merely pulling the trigger to fire. Don't need an accidental discharge. | ||
| Mxer83 |
Thanks for all the input guys!!! I went to a gun show today & handled about 20 guns, I kinda narrowed it down , but now my brother in law wants to sell his sig.40 with triad. sights a holster different grips & 3 xtra mags for $550, maybe 300 rounds been through it. The smith & wesson m&p 45also fit nice & they are having a $50 rebate on them, glocks are nice too & def. proven, Its a hard call to make, thanks again!!! | ||
| Beachbuell |
Glock, Smith, Rock River and any 1911 are good weapons. | ||
| Cowboy |
Beach buell is correct they are all good weapons, one thing that should be addressd here is width and weight. If you carry 10/12 hrs a day as I do it can be a factor . Narrow for better conceallment and light as by the end of the day they do get heavy. Happy shooting | ||
| Socoken |
I love my XD40. The best thing to do is just go in and hold a lot of different weapons and see which one fits your hand the most comfortably. Make sure you look down the sights and make sure you like the angle of the handle vs the sights. It should feel natural and not forced. Also, check on the prices of ammo for a caliber you are considering buying. .45acp is a lot more spendy than 9mm to shoot. | ||
| Bonjoxb12s |
Not sure on the M&P .45, but I know their .40 has a magazine disconnect feature which is very nice. If your ever in a hairy situation, just pop the mag out and the gun will not fire. I have it on my full size, but do not on my compact which is my conceal and carry gun. You can also get the .45 with or without the manual thumb safety. Best thing to do is head to a gun shop with a range if you have any in your area, and shoot a few different models to see which fits you best. The glocks kick harder when compared to the M&P's, and I cannot comment on Sigs, but I know a few agencies around here that carry them. Very reliable weapons...... all up to your personal preference..... | ||
| Mikej |
" .45acp is a lot more spendy than 9mm to shoot." Yeah, but ..... nah, not going to go there  "The racking of a pump shotgun is recognizable and will stop any body in there tracks with out a shot being fired. How many movie gun fights stopped before they started when a shotgun was pumped. " This is the equivalent of a contact patch thread coupled with synthetic oil for engine break-in. Home defense is usually done at 30 feet or less. Everybody has to look at their own situation, how their home is laid out, and how their personal make-up works in a stressful situation. Some do well with a shotgun, some do better with a handgun, some do well with a revolver, some do better with an auto, some go limp-wrist and get all sorts of jams with automatics, some don't, some like pistol grips on shotguns, some prefer a traditional grip on their shotgun, some like folding stocks, some like shotgun stocks to be able to deliver a head thump, some like firearms that make noise when you chamber a round, some prefer dead silence if they need to chamber a round due to some bad folks attacking instead of running away at the sound of a round chambering, and sometimes, well, sometimes it comes down to personal experience and personal preference. Whatever you do just do what works for you, and be aware of your backstop and be sure of your target. | ||
| Bcordb3 |
Home defense gun. Hand gun is probably the worst choice. Try this one its not a semi-automatic, it will do the job. http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details. cfm?id=199&category=Revolver | ||
| Old_man |
For home defense: Coach gun with exposed cocking hammers, 12 gauge, double barrel shotgun, short barrels. Simple to operate and anyone looking down the barrels will certainly notice. | ||
| U4euh |
Just a question, if it for the little lady to use also why a 40 or 45? The .40 cal. that I would really like to have though, is the H-K USP. It has great balance and feel. It is also quite accurate I agree 100% about the HK lineup. The only factor being we went with the 9mm. My wife is small framed and had trouble pulling the slide on the Ruger, Glock, and S&W. What fit me easily, she was not comfortable with. If it is a gun that she might use, take her with you and make sure she is comfortable handling the piece. | ||
| Polacking |
I have two favorites for protecting life and property. This is after being a tactical firearms instructor for 35 years involving military and police operations, now retired. My first is a Browning Hi-Power in .40S&W. I carried this tool everyday for 15yrs and shot many thousands of rounds thru it and never had a misfire or jam, great gun, good round. The other is a Colt Gov't Model in .45ACP, great round, good gun. The main thing is to get one of good quality that you can shoot well, and then practice. Shooting is a muscle memory sport like golf, the more you do it the better you will be at it. Remember if you can't hit your target it doesn't matter what kind you have | ||
| Aldaytona |
Good advice from Polacking, what ever you get, go to the range and practice, then practice some more. Shoot lots and often. Any gun is only as accurate as the one shooting it. The 22, 25, or 32cal that some little schmuck nails you with is a lot more powerful than the 40, 45, or 50cal that you miss him with. It's also a lot more powerful than the 40, 45, or 50cal that you left at home in the drawer because it's too big or too heavy to have it with you right now. | ||
| Dynasport |
Lots of things to think about here. A very personal decision. First, ANY firearm in the home poses a danger of an accidental death. Second, the more you do to protect against that possibility, the less accessible the firearm is if you need it quickly. I would also prefer the Remington 870 for my home defense weapon. I don't think my wife would use it though. I am just not sure the firearm for husband and wife is always best. Men seem to let ego get in the way and pick something too big. They also don't take instruction as well many times and the wives end up outshooting them. Anyway, as far as handguns go, I have carried a Glock 19 for the last 14 years. The same Glock 19 for the last 14 years to be precise. The firearm has been reliable for me over the years. Prior to the Glock I carried a Barreta 92F. I didn't pick either of those guns, they were picked for me. Of the two, I like the Glock better for its lighter weight and more consistent trigger pull. I didn't really like the double action/single action trigger of the Barreta, having learned originally on wheel guns. In fact, I still prefer wheel guns and if I was going to have a handgun as my primary home defense weapon I would probably take a SW Model 686. If I wanted a gun for carry, I'd take the little SW five shot, I don't know the model number. I have played with one that had a laser sight built into the grip and that would be my choice. That thing is sweet. But I am not a gun nut and can only give advice based on my personal experience. (Message edited by DynaSport on January 27, 2008) | ||
| Diablobrian |
Between sig and glock in my book there is no question...Sig makes what I feel to be a superior handgun. Of course if it were me I would be buying the H&K USP40, or if concealed carry is in your plans I would go towards the compact version of the USP in a hammerless DAO (double action only) trigger group configuration to reduce snagging on clothing.....But that's just me. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I agree guns and motorcycles are equally fun to collect. I've got a pretty good collection including a variety of wheel guns, 1911's, and several Glocks. For concealed carry I rely on a pair of G27's (.40 cal). For home defense I sleep with a Winchester 1300 with an 18" barrel and double pistol grips. I carry safety rounds in the Glocks out of fear of hurting an innocent bystander. Since I live alone and don't have neighbors nearby, the Winchester is loaded a little different. I like to alternate 00 Buckshot and 3" Magnum Slugs in the magazine. If I ever have to defend my home I figure I'll begin with a spray of buckshot, and then once I've got my bead lay into the target with slugs. Someone above gave some sage advice too. Remember if you pull the trigger, it's probably going to cost you dearly whether the shooting was justified or not. My concealed handgun license instructor said to plan on around $50,000 for attorney fees if it's a good shoot. If it's a bad shoot, how much you got to spend? Feel me? Be careful out there guys. It's a pretty big responsibility to carry a weapon out in public. Sometimes so much so for me that I leave it at home occasionally because I'm weary of shouldering the responsibility. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
No matter what your choice, practice with it, get used to it, spend some trigger time with it every month. If you have family lay down the gun rules firm and clear. Guns are like the Lays potato chips... betcha cant have just one ;) | ||
| Mxer83 |
bcordb3., I checked out that taurus 'judge' model, cool concept shooting both .45 &410 would be a good nightstand item for sure, after further review my significant other will get her own gun, she likes the smaller .380s or maybe a small 9mm .Thanks for allof your input!! | ||
| Cowboy |
My wife carries and loves her 38 special snbbie (16 0z revolver) | ||
| Bcordb3 |
Greg, Check out the Taurus PT 111, relatively small 9mm and a good shooter. If you want smaller check this out, drawbacks, no finger guard and single action, but very noisy. If you don't hit him, you will scare him. A North American Arms .22 magnum.  | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
Mxr... most ranges rent firearms. I would go to a range that does so and shoot everything you think you might like. Take the wife with you and let her shoot a few. You maybe surprised what you like and dislike. | ||
| Bonjoxb12s |
++++++ 1 with Lost's comment.... if your in the mid mo area, I've got two M&P's you can take for a spin. | ||
| Sleez |
another vote for the Rugers; either the P90 (KP90D if you can find one lightly used) or the P89 are both great pistols. http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAFamily?type=Pistol &subtype=Centerfire%20Autoloading&famlst=1&variati on=P345%C2%AE http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAFamily?type=Pistol &subtype=Centerfire%20Autoloading&famlst=3 my handgun of choice; http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=170 5&return=Y | ||
| Jayvee |
My 'nightstand gun' (locked up in a quick-release little safe-like box) is the original Kimber Pro Carry with some 230 gr. hollowpoints. I used this exact same gun for several IDPA matches, and even several USPSA matches (with different ammo.) Go with what you know... I also have a .45 revolver hidden on the other side of the stairway, in case an intruder is between me and the nightstand Kimber. My pumps (870 and 500) are just too big to have hidden around the house like this, they're in the safe. I got inquisitive little kids often poking around unauthorizedly. Statistically that's a MUCH bigger danger than an intruder, in my neighborhood anyway. I sure would not choose a home defense weapon based on minimizing over-penetration. Well, truly a baseball bat IS better than nothing. (Message edited by jayvee on January 28, 2008) | ||
| Azxb9r |
The main thing is to get one of good quality that you can shoot well, and then practice. Shooting is a muscle memory sport like golf, the more you do it the better you will be at it. Remember if you can't hit your target it doesn't matter what kind you have Probably more important than the weapon itself. Also practice operating the safety with your eyes closed so you will be able to do it in the dark if need be. | ||
| Polacking |
This started out as a semi-auto pistol thread and I gave my input on that point. I just wanted to add that since I retired and moved to the country where there are few people, I put away my handguns for a Winchester Mod. 1894 rifle (not carbine). Now I have nine rounds of 30/30 to dish out. The nice thing about where I live now is if you see anyone that you don't know, they are not welcomed. Plus you need something of larger caliber for the bears, wolves, coyotes, etc. |
