Just for Home Defense.

[Josh542]

I currently do not carry a firearm.. let me just get that out of the way. But for home defense I am thinking about buying a pistol. I have decided on this over a rifle/shotgun/ because of my theory (fear, perhaps) of it being grabbed during an invasion. As for caliber, I am a little undecided. 9mm, 45acp, etc.. Even though I'm all for defending my family and property, I do value life, and would rather stop the perp instead of blowing him up. I would definitely fit it with a surefire light for identification. I have thought about the Glock 17..just something standard. I have shot 9mm and found it rather fun, but nothing else. Also, the clerk at my local gun shop advised a Smith&Wesson revolver, but I would prefer something more enjoyable to practice with. Thanks!

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Mic]

If a revolver is what your looking at, I realy like the Ruger GP100 .357, dont know why, I just think its a nice shooting handgun and CC's well. Personaly I like Glock .40 cal for all around SD and CC. 9mm is the new 38 special, a decent SD round if using HP's but lacks stoping power compaired to others (IMHO) most LE agencies have gone to .40 cal, not to big, not to small, and still relitively cheep to go to the range and expend a few hondred rounds. Whatever you decide to buy, invest in a good HP round (I reccomend Federal Hydrashoks) and you'll be fine.

[ncglock]

I would ask you to reconsider your HD weapon. Based on your experience and awareness a shotgun would provide stopping power, less accuracy and in most cases won't kill the BG. I travel often and if my wife god forbid had a break in she would simply point the gun and shoot. Sounds simplistic and it is, no aiming, no worrying about bullets going through walls. She simply points and lets the 5, 6 or 7 shot do the rest. IMHO

[Ride4TheBrand]

I do value life, and would rather stop the perp instead of blowing him up.

I hope at least that you have the mindset to know that you may very well have to "blow him up" in order to stop him/her... and it won't be pretty. Having said that, don't forget that shot placement is the premier deciding factor in your success. Caliber is secondary.

Shoot what you're comfortable with, but I would recommend a weapon with a large capacity for ammo.

[BugDude]

My advice would be to first take a gun safety course and then go to a shooting range and rent some different guns to shoot and see what fits and feels best, and most importantly what you can shoot best. You choice should be something you are very familiar with and be proficient with using it (load, unload, clear jams, maintenance, firing, the works).

Revolvers are the simplest to use all the way around (load, unload, shoot, clean) and they are not picky about type of ammo or sensitive to grip/limp wristing. If a round doesn't fire, pull the trigger again (on a double action or DA/SA model). Personally, I find them very fun to shoot. A good Smith&Wesson or Ruger 6 shot .357 Magnum with 4" barrel would be a very wise choice. You can shoot .38 specials out of it for less recoil and punch, but still have the option of .357 available. If you are thinking you might want something to carry concealed at some point in the future, the Ruger SP101 is a smaller version.

Semi-automatics are also a great choice. Glocks are very simple and straight forward. The G17 is an excellent gun in 9mm and that is a good self defense round. The G17 is a higher capacity than a revolver and can still be carried concealed with a little effort if you so choose in the future. They take a little more effort to load, operate, and maintain but it is easy enough.

It comes down to personal preference. Shoot a few and see what you think. Good luck, and stay safe.

PS. I agree that the .40 caliber is an all around great SD round and available at a reasonable price. The Glock 23 would be a great choice in that caliber. Stopping power of the round is just part of the equation...proficiency in shot placement is the most important element. If that is an issue, a "scatter gun" as we called them in my day would be the ticket. Perhaps a Taurus Judge would fit that bill (revolver that shoots 410 shotgun shells).

[Danimal]

I would ask you to reconsider your HD weapon. Based on your experience and awareness a shotgun would provide stopping power, less accuracy and in most cases won't kill the BG. I travel often and if my wife god forbid had a break in she would simply point the gun and shoot. Sounds simplistic and it is, no aiming, no worrying about bullets going through walls. She simply points and lets the 5, 6 or 7 shot do the rest. IMHO

Less accuracy and won't kill the bad guy.....sign me up. That way when the dumb arse gets peppered and survives he and his baby mama can sue me.

[GM]

It is very good to value other people life! Unfortunately, you cannot expect that the bad guys will do the same. Most probably they will not, and I can imagine that your and your family’s life is more important that the BG’s life. If you want a pistol for home defense then size and weight does not matter; I should recommend a .45 ACP.

[BugDude]

Truly justified self defense shooting is a last resort situation. It is not wise to "shoot to just wound" in a lethal threat situation. One needs to come to terms with the consequences of posessing lethal force and be prepared to utilize it if necessary. If not, it can be taken from you and used against you. That should be part of a good self defense / gun safety course. You also MUST know your state's laws with regard to self defense and use of lethal force. There's a lot more to being defended than just buying a gun. That would be like someone buying a piano and assuming they are a musucian. It's just not that simple. Wish you luck.

[jwhite75]

A Glock 17 would be an excellent choice with night sights and a surefire light.

[9mmPro]

My home defense weapon is my Bushmaster AR15, i have an 870 shotgun but the barrel is 28 inches - too long to move around in the house , a 16 inch AR15 barrel is much better choice .

and its a better choice for BG with phone books taped on them

[BlueNinjaGo]

I'm an XD fan so I'd recommend an XD 9mm... a service model or compact... depending on which you prefer.

[Ananael]

I have decided on this over a rifle/shotgun/ because of my theory (fear, perhaps) of it being grabbed during an invasion...

Even though I'm all for defending my family and property, I do value life, and would rather stop the perp instead of blowing him up.

Please take this kindly, in the spirit it is meant!
I think you need to take a good defensive pistol class and consider the reality of what your decision means. There are no "just hurt him" guns. None. Ever. A gun is a final decision. Please, talk to a professional and consider your choices after getting some training.

[TX-JB]

If the Glock feels large in your hands, check out the S&W M&P's, or the Springfield XDm9 or compact... For basic home defense and a new shooter I would stay with the 9mm, if you are opposed to a revolver. It's the cheapest ammo around, it's recoil is low, so you and your spouse can shoot it. As others have sai, it would be in your best interest to take a basic handgun course, if you're not familiar with handguns and also take a defensive shooting course...

[Spec]

I would ask you to reconsider your HD weapon. Based on your experience and awareness a shotgun would provide stopping power, less accuracy and in most cases won't kill the BG. I travel often and if my wife god forbid had a break in she would simply point the gun and shoot. Sounds simplistic and it is, no aiming, no worrying about bullets going through walls. She simply points and lets the 5, 6 or 7 shot do the rest. IMHO

good advice...

also go to the range rent some different guns/types of caliber. see what calls out to you..

Might i recommend the Smith and Wesson M&P

[Red82]

There are so many good choices. For home defense in 9mm I'd recommend a GLOCK 17, XD9, or even an XDm9. The S&W M&P is a good line too. A Sig 226 is a pretty sweet shooter too. Right now 9 is much cheaper than other rounds if you can find it. Get good ammo and practice practice practice. That's the most important thing.