[stuck_in_new_orleans]

Wife and I are looking into buying a gun for the sole purpose of self defense/home safety. Neither of us has owned a gun nor know anything about guns. Silly question but do gun shops usually have ranges to rent/test guns? Also, any recommendations for guns for home safety? Thanks

[TruthInThoughtWordAndDeed]

Two shotguns for close-up (in or near home) defense. One for you, one for her. Blast does damage to target, but is less likely to go through walls and harm your neighbors. Aim for center of mass. Go with 12 gauge, a common size.

Two hand guns for close-up tactical defense. One for you. One for her. Easier to conceal and carry if you have to be on the move. Go with 9 mm, a common size.

Make sure that both you and your wife practice with each firearm.

Do NOT get a concealed firearms permit. You do NOT want to inform your enemy that you have firepower.

Store the firearms in separate locations. Primary and backup. Split up your ammunition as well.

Buy as much ammo as you can afford. You can use it for barter is necessary.

[funfan]

Thanks for asking this I find myself in the same situation.

[Mr. K]

Almost every person you meet at a gun store will bend over backwards to help you get comfortable with using a gun safely.

Just go, tell them exactly what you told us (that you are newbies) and you will get all the help you ever wanted or needed.

[sarge83]

There are ranges which will allow you to rent and fire a variety of guns. I would also recommend a class on basic firearms for both of you. Also consider, if you are not ready to shoot someone and kill if you have too don’t buy a gun.

As for a firearm, if it is solely for home defense and there are no children in the home I would recommend a S&W or Ruger .357 magnum revolver with a four inch barrel. Don’t let the term magnum scare you. You can fire P+ .38 spl. rounds from this gun and with it’s heavy weight it will take away most of the recoil from the .38 rounds.

If there are children and you want an semi-automatic pistol any 1911, Beretta 92, or Ruger P series. I didn’t mention a Glock simply because of its unique safety which might be an issue for a new shooter, but if you intend to train a bit go for it on a Glock.

You might also consider a potent man stopper for home defense as well the pump shotgun. I would suggest a limb saver accessory and a 18 to 24 inch barrel would be my suggestion. A Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 will do nicely.

Above all learn and practice the four rules of shooting and you will be fine.

[jboot]

If you can only have one gun, get a 12-guage pump shotgun with a smooth bore (i.e. not a slug gun). It is easily the most versatile firearm that anyone can own. The Mossberg 500 is cheap and robust. The Maverick 88 is cheaper and is just as robust. The Remington 870 is tried and true. There are other brands. Almost all of them are suitable for home defense. Select a self defence load, though. Don't use bird shot (#6 - #9).

If you must have a pistol, go with a standard size revolver (not a snub or "airweight" with a 4" barrel in .357 Magnum. The kick isn't bad in a standard frame gun and it hits much harder than .38 Special. Taurus and Ruger make inexpensive revolvers. Smith & Wesson makes expensive ones. They all work well. Fixed sights are preferable for home defence.

[DonkeyBonker]

I personally recommend 9mm. Big enough for stopping power and still controllable for a woman.

[buffaloguy]

A couple of good rules derived from my experience and others:

1. If it feels good in your hand it is a candidate.
I have never handled a revolver that did not fit my hand. The conical grip is designed to fit your hand as well as your wife’s hand. Semi auto fit to my hand is not good as most of the grips are too large.

2. Recoil is subjective and it is also affected by the position of your hand. .38 has pretty low recoil and is a good learning tool.

3. The gun you buy now will probably not be the gun with which you finish. Your needs will change as you progress in your skills.

4. Revolvers can use wax bullets (google it, very cheap ammo) semis can’t. They probably can but getting the wax out of a semi auto would be problematic to say the least.

5. Used revolvers may be a good deal for you. They are generally well maintained and will continue to shoot well.

[Gabrial]

Mossberg 590 pump 12 ga with ghost ring sights for him. Buy #4 shot for home defense.

Colt Agent .38spc revolver for her.

[LouAvul]

I saw where somebody already suggested a pump shotgun. Stay away from pump shotguns. They are good defense weapons, but for somebody not experienced with guns, in the heat of stress, you'll likely forget to pump a second round. That kind of delay is very bad.

Actually, stay away from shotguns altogether. In the typical residence, in hallways, etc, there's just not enough room to maneuver. Plus, you typically would enter a room barrel first, which, given the length of a shotgun, would allow the bad guy to grab the barrel, wrest it out of your hands, etc.

There will also be semiauto weapons recommended. Again, stay away from these because for the novice/occasional shooter, the whole process of loading a magazine, pulling back the slide, safety/no safety, etc, can be kind of daunting for the novice/occasion shooter.

I also saw the Ruger GP100 revolver recommended. It's a 357 magnum and is an excellent choice. That revolver, or any quality revolver, is perfect for your circumstance. The average gunfight is over after about 3 shots, and the Ruger holds six. Once it's loaded, all you have to do is point and pull the trigger. No worrying about pumping the action, pulling back a slide, safety/no safety, etc.

Also, with a 357 magnum revolver you can practice with lesser expensive 38 special rounds, then load the gun with plus P 38s, or even 357 magnums, for home defense.

Good luck

[uncommonsense]

Winchester Defender pump shotgun

FN Five Seven handgun - high capacity, low recoil, light, good penetration but not too much, highly accurate

S&W .357 revolver - can use high power mags, .38 specials, or .38 wad cutters for practice

[tayper]

For home use nothing sounds like a pump shotgun.

[WinMod70]

You’ll shoot your eye out!

Seriously, this is not the perfect time for buying unless you insist on getting in at the peak price. IMO a pump shotgun is the best for home defense but whatever you end up with learn how to properly handle and shoot it, pay someone to teach you if need be.

[prisoner6]

Thanks for the thread. I am in the same boat although I have fired both at our farm and on a range. However that was a long time ago.

I have settled on a shotgun, probably Mossburg, for home defense. The make isn’t the deal maker though. More important will be the shop and service.

I also want a handgun but there is one huge problem in my case.

QUESTION: Since I have poor vision in my right eye (lazy eye) it is very difficult for me to sight a target. That is why I am going for the shotgun. But there must be some way people like me can learn to sight a handgun or rifle. Where do I go for info?

[Jewbacca]

Get a benelli pump shotgun.

[Fletcher J]

I’ll join those posters recommending going to a gun shop that has a range and rental guns. It shouldn’t be too hard to find one.

Take your time and both of you shoot a variety of handguns and calibers. I can almost guarantee that you’ll find one that you just instinctively like. And, I can guarantee that what you like and your wife likes won’t be the same one... Buy one of each. heh

Once you purchase your handgun(s), shotgun, or whatever, put in plenty of range time until operating the weapon is second nature, and could be done in the dark, under stress, etc.

Also, consider what you will use it for - for a handgun to keep at home, light weight is a liability (heavier recoil), whereas if you want a handgun to conceal carry, you want something light and comfortable that you will actually wear.

For a shotgun, the Remington 870 Express Tactical is a great gun at a reasonable price. Before all my guns were lost in a tragic boating accident, I loaded mine with low-recoil 00 buck shot, with a “side saddle” of extra shotshells on the stock.

[Mamzelle]

A hard thing to learn is to never pick up a gun with your finger on the trigger. We’ve all played with squirt gun toys and its natural to automatically put your finger where it shouldn’t be. Find an indoor range because it is less stressful than firing for the first time in a rural area where you feel like you’re attracting unwelcome attention. Suggest to your wife that she spend some time learning how to pull back on a semiauto pistol. A revolver is a good first gun but it hurts a beginners hand.

[Charles Martel]

Jefferson Indoor Shooting Center (David Drive in Metairie, at the corner of Saints Drive - between Veterans and Airline) is worth checking out. It's a small shop (a former Time Saver convenience store, IIRC), but they have a small indoor range in the back. They've got a website that lists the guns they have available to rent.

I agree with those that suggest a .357 revolver. Those can be loaded with .38 Special (less expensive and kicks less) when practicing at the range. Don't buy the alloy-framed "airweight" type of revolver. It may be more pleasant to carry in a holster, but the lighter weight gives those a sharper kick. The Ruger SP-101 is a great choice for men and women alike.

If you do choose to supplement the handgun with a shotgun, stay with a common semi-auto (Remington, Mossberg). When not using that as a home defense tool, you can put the longer hunting barrel on (easy, tool-free swap) and go shoot clay targets across the lake at Tallow Creek (just off of I-12, west of Covington).

[Casie]

Hi New Orleans :)

I'm up in North Louisiana. Congratulations on your decision to purchase your first firearm! Shooting is just a great skill to have.

This is a Taurus .38 special. It was my first revolver and I still love it. To me, you just can't get more simple than this. Here are some of the things that made me feel very confident and comfortable with this gun right from the start.

Revolver-
•5 shots
•easy and fast to load
•lightweight (which makes it fun to shoot!)

Hammerless-
•nothing to snag in a pocket or other clothing
•simplicity
•consistent means of operation and trigger pull

It's point and shoot. Mine is loaded with hydra shok hollow points and is always ready to rock.

Perhaps this is something that your wife would also like.

[Conservamum]

I would suggest letting your wife try out and choose the gun. It it fits her hand size well and she if comfortable with the fire power, you’ll both be able to use it. I did this and chose a 9mm that my husband, of course, can handle easily. Anything larger was hard to control and seemed to jam more frequently.

Our local gun shop/range had a ladies night where I could “rent” the gun for free, paying only for the ammunition I fired on the range. It took several weeks of trying different calibers and types to decide. It also took that long to get over being girly and get over being afraid of the gun. Didn’t want one in the house if I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I’d use it if threatened.

[CodeToad]

Let me add a vote for training. A simple handgun safety course goes a lONG way to you being happy and safe with firearms. Most courses also teach about the various types of guns, how they operate, and why you might want one versus another. Well worth the money.