Handguns for Home Protection
MorganGeo
Posts: 2,230 ✭✭✭✭✭
I'm thinking of getting one for home protection. I'd like one that I could use as well as my wife. I didn't grow up around guns and have never owned one. I've been hesitant because of our kids and such.
However, I feel that in today's crazy times I better get one and learn how to use it. A house 5 doors down from us had a peeping tom the other night. The person was looking through windows, trying to get into the garage, and ringing the doorbell at 1 am. They caught him on security camera. All that being said to mention I think now is the time to get some protection and not be a sitting duck if someone breaks in.
What do you recommend as a first timer handgun? I absolutely have no clue.
Thanks in advance!
However, I feel that in today's crazy times I better get one and learn how to use it. A house 5 doors down from us had a peeping tom the other night. The person was looking through windows, trying to get into the garage, and ringing the doorbell at 1 am. They caught him on security camera. All that being said to mention I think now is the time to get some protection and not be a sitting duck if someone breaks in.
What do you recommend as a first timer handgun? I absolutely have no clue.
Thanks in advance!
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Comments
But if you're stuck on a hand gun I would look into a revolver. Simple to use and clean.
Just my two cents but that's what I would say. I have a Taurus .45 Millennium that I absolutely love and serves me faithfully with a laser sight and custom holster.
Brett
My first handgun was a Smith & Wesson .38 Special Body Guard Snub Nose. Great little gun and easy to use. The trigger pull is a bit stiff but the Body Guard was a great piece. I felt it was fairly easy to handle, it had the laser site on it and it was hammerless. the grips on it were small and comfortable for both my wife and I. She is a pianist and I am a fat man. LOL All pros in my book. It really isn't much of one to take out shooting though. It made my hand sore. lol Honestly a great gun.
I currently own a Ruger LCP 380 Custom. GREAT GUN!!!!! super comfortable, smooth trigger pull and a decent little gun. I have yet to fire it but it is nice and compact. Comfortable in my hands and the wifes hands. Simple to handle and simple to understand.
I would recommend either one.
Some guidelines would be to look for something with night sights, probably a 9mm as that is a very easy to shoot round, cheap to practice with. I have a safe next to my bed with 2 - 9mm and a .380.
My favorites that I like are my Sig Sauer p320, Springfield Xd or Xd, Smith & Wesson M&P or Glock 41
"I've got a great cigar collection - it's actually not a collection, because that would imply I wasn't going to smoke ever last one of 'em." - Ron White
I would definitely say go with a 9mm, as it provides the best combination of effectiveness and ease of shooting. Especially with new ammo technology, the performance of the 9mm performs right with the .40 and .45 on all FBI tests. For personal protection rounds I would recommend the Speer Gold Dot or Federal Hydrashock.
Now talking about what gun to get, that is a tougher answer as everyone is different. Keep in mind that the smaller (and lighter) the gun the more recoil you will feel. If you are looking for something just for in the home, I would say choose the largest gun that feels comfortable to hold as it will be softer shooting. If you are also looking to potentially carry it concealed, you will need to find a happy medium between size and ease of concealment. My rule of thumb there is get the largest handgun you can conceal and carry comfortably.
Now I will give you my recommendation on a gun, but I want to preface this with the fact that I am a Glock fan. For something small and easy to conceal, the new Glock 43 is an excellent choice. If size is not a problem (for a house gun) I would recommend the Glock 19 or Glock 17. Two of the most reliable self defense weapons made IMHO.
Good luck and congrats on the decision to become an active participant in your self protection. I am more than happy to answer any other questions you may have.
Dark Roast
-- Winston Churchill
"LET'S GO FRANCIS" Peter
Hey, I for one respect your opinion even though it greatly differs from mine. I also respect your decision not to own a firearm.I would even enjoy discussing the issue as I find healthy debate to be important in life.
That being said, I hope you would still offer the same courtesy and respect someone else's constitutionally protected right to own a firearm.
BEFORE you buy any gun, know what you can shoot.
Buying a big ass pistol, because it looks cool won't be worth a damn if you can hit anything with it.
I grew up with revolvers, so that is my preference.
The kick is different between revolvers and slide action pistols, so be aware of that.
And go to the range fairly often. Use it at the range. The more you use it, the more familiar you will be with it, because in the time of need, you don't want to be fumbling with it, trying to make it work. And KNOW WHERE THE SAFTEY IS.
As for being anti-gun.
There is not wanting to have a gun, which I don't consider anti-gun and not wanting anyone to have a gun. That is anti-gun.
There is nothing wrong with not wanting to have a gun.
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy cigars and that's close enough.
Roland
AND LEARN YOUR LOCAL LAWS IN REGARDS TO CASTLE DOCTRINE AND DUTY TO RETREAT/NO DUTY TO RETREAT!
I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
Me? I'm a different story.
Congratulations, @Dark_Roast on your extreme good luck. Once you've spent a little time curled up in a ball on the ground while 6 guys kick you until their feet get tired, just because of the color of your skin and the neighborhood you're in, you might change your opinion.
But, of course, anti-gun legislation works wonders, I guess. That's why there have been NO gun murders in Chicago in the last 10 years, right?
Well, except for >3,700 people who were shot.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
So I ended up buying a Kimber 1911, thinking the .45ACP is great round, and the alloy frame would be lighter than steel, and the bobbed grip wouldn't print so it'd make both a good carry and home defense handgun (it has night sights and laser grips. But then I was advised that I might want something with more capacity; 8 rounds against multiple attackers, and adrenaline-induced inaccuracy, might not cut it unless a person's highly trained and can reload quickly. So I ended up buying a 9mm 15+1 Walther.
Of course, just like cigars, it didn't stop there... we always 'need' more, don't we? I have a few more that are hidden around the house, so they're available should the need arise. The advantage is that there are no children in my home or grandkids visiting, which is a huge consideration.
"I've got a great cigar collection - it's actually not a collection, because that would imply I wasn't going to smoke ever last one of 'em." - Ron White
1. Regardless of gun, Get some education. In Colorado, at least, there are no permitting requirements to possess a gun in your house or car since it's an extension of your home. Still there are so many more things to gun ownership/ personal protection use than people usually know about or research. Some of what Peter talked about is what I mean - that your pull of the trigger will be scrutinized by yourself, police, prosecutors, civil lawyers etc. A GOOD concealed carry class will address many of those things.
2. Research and explore a variety of calibers, manufacturers, and systems (double action only, double single, hammer less or hammered revolver, etc). There are a lot of differences, pros and cons, and reasons to personally prefer one or the other. Don't be scared to change if you're not happy after an actual purchase.
3. Practice/ visualize- having the gun does no good if you can't stay calm enough to use it well
Life is too short to smoke bad cigars!!!
Oh when the Blues, Oh when the Blues, Oh when the Blues go marching in!