SELECTING A GUN FOR HOME DEFENSE

learn about guns dot com ^ | 10-2008 | Author is not DfU

[Who is John Galt?]

It wasn't free tho, they charged $25 which was still a bargain

It was a few years back, so I might have got the charge wrong (my memory ain't perfect anymore, if it ever was). FWIW, and either way, it was next to nothing. In all honesty, and if my memory serves me correctly, I think Ruger did do it for free - I suspect they were as impressed as I was by the mileage that lady put on on that pistol...

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

12G BENELLI M3 SUPER 90

[RipSawyer]

Atlas is shrugging!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

So... that must have been the tremor I felt when the bailout plan was passed.

[TXnMA]

Definitely not my first --and I'm looking for a Mossberg 590...

My wife had never shot a handgun until I started training her on the HK4 (with .380 barrel installed) for her Texas CHL. When it lost its (oil-damaged Delrin) recoil buffer, I handed her my P7M8.

To make a long story short, she shot within 10 points of perfect with it on the CHL test. Then she nearly gave me a heart attack when she called my son that night and told him she really liked the P7... (Have you priced one of those things lately?) '-)

~~~~~~~~~

Yep, the 10/22 mag would be nice -- but my trusty old (1967 model) 22LR 10/22 still does a fine job -- even after my son converted it to a folding-stock "assault weapon" with all sorts of aftermarket stuff...

[Brad’s Gramma]

Did you get the answer(s) you were looking for here?

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

thank you for a reasoned post.

I think all the doomsayers are expressing anxiety, which is ok, but after awhile it can become a self fullfilling prophecy.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

this is an important thread. Your post I am sure is very helpful. I don’t own a gun, but funny..earlier today I asked two friends “What kind of gun do you think I should buy?”

It is time to get over my ignorance in this area. Regardless of what happens with the election, this is something I have been avoiding and now I realize I have a choice to have a gun avilable for protection once I learn how to use a gun effectively and safely.

[Elle Bee]

any thoughts on The Judge ?

I've been toying with the thought of getting one of these:

What a name! It's based on the fact that many judges are now carrying it into the courtroom with them - and for good reason. We know of no better self-defense firearm. Whether loading all 45s - all .410s or alternating them in the cylinder, the Judge is the ultimate shotgun/revolver duo. New for 2008, we're giving you the Judge in Ultra-Lite forged alloy. You'll also be amazed how light this gun is and how easy it is to tote around. Also new is the Judge 3" Magnum. Larger and more powerful, this Judge gives you the extra firepower you need when you have to lay down the law.

TAURUS MODEL 4510 .45/.410 (3" CHAMBER) MATTE STAINLESS REVOLVER

Or if you think that size does matter (and can remember your earplugs) you can just get silly:

RAGING BULL MODEL 500, .500 MAGNUM REVOLVER IN STAINLESS STEEL

Taurus' Raging Bull® 500 has a well-earned reputation for outstanding strength, reliability and accuracy while delivering the world's most powerful revolver round. Chambering the powerful new .500 Magnum, the Raging Bull 500 has won the respect of hunters world-wide for its big bore capabilities, comfortable feel and "one-shot, one-kill" performance. From big bears to monster bucks, you'll feel confident knowing you're holding the biggest and best hunting revolver on the planet.

.

[calex59]

Years back, a gun writer (I forget which) decided to test the home defense advice he'd been giving. To simulate a middle-of-the-night scenario he arranged to fire his .357 in a dark, enclosed space. The short story is that the .357 was good for one shot. Good for one shot because the first shot blinded him with muzzle flash and had him flinching for the painful sound

The way it is done,and the way you are taught in the military,is you keep one eye closed. The beauty of a handgun is that you can shoot with either eye open, unlike a rifle, and you simply open the other eye after firing. We used this technique with parachute flares(giving my age away?), you close one eye and shoot the he** out of the enemy then open the other one after the flare goes out, this saves the visual purple in the closed eye and retains your night vision. The sound is another matter that you will just have to deal with. Beats he** out of being killed by some intruder.

[imfrmdixie]

Choosing the right firearm is very important, too. When you start thinking of purchasing find a really reliable shop that will have resources to teach you about the weapon, the various types of ammunition available, safety matters, a shooting range, how to protect yourself with your firearm in various situations. One thing a famous target shooter said about his children and guns was that he taught them about the firearm...what it was for....what it could do...and he taught them how to unload the gun and for them to do that before any of their friends came into the house. His premise was that if you educate children about firearms then they will appreciate them the way they should. If you don’t teach them, then it is the unknown that will attract them and they will get into serious trouble not knowing how to handle the weapon. He said kids that play with guns have not been taught about guns. Anyway...those are some thoughts....I remember the first time I fired an automatic weapon...WOW...was that a kick!

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

THANKS.

[Shooter 2.5]

The Judge can be judged as an inaccurate .45 Colt or an ineffective shotgun used against garden pests. Those two revolvers are the ones you buy after you have simply ran out of ideas on what to buy.

After you buy:
A defensive semiautomatic handgun
A defensive shotgun
A defensive rifle in .308
A semiautomatic .22 pistol
A Ruger 10-22 rifle
A bolt action target .22
A target bolt action .308 rifle
An AR-15 in .223
A pocket defensive revolver in .357 Magnum
An M1 Garand
A 1911 in .45 Auto
A Browning High Power in 9mm or .40 S&W
There are others like a German Luger or Uberti 1873 lever action rifle.

You’ll also need a Dillon 550 reloading press.

[calex59]

Well, I like revolvers also, keep several around the house and use them for CCW use also. However, I will have to disagree with your statement that you have to chamber a round in a semi before you can use it. If it is for self defense and if it is a double action only, and even if it isn’t, you can safely keep a round chambered ready to go. You might have to worry about the spring in the Magazine getting weak, and some of them jam and tend to break, but waiting until you have a break in to jack a round in is foolish. I keep two semis as well as several revolvers spotted around the house(I live in CA and we have a high home invasion rate here)and keep one in the chamber at all times in the ones I don’t have locked up. This is JMO and not intended for a recommendation to others.

[Elle Bee]

Thanks ... you're not the first to characterize this handgun as a shiny snake killer

It's just intrigued me as a close quarter weapon

I haven't heard good things about Taurus steel either

.

[allmendream]

Keeping a round chambered is asking for trouble for anyone who is not an experienced lifelong user of firearms. A recent thread here on FR was about a gun “expert” who shot himself cleaning a gun with a round in the chamber.

My training in semiautomatics was to take out the clip and then check the chamber to make sure it was unloaded. Many people forget the second step and end up in trouble.

Home defense is not just for the person, but often also the wife and family. Anyone can easily be shown how a Revolver works and one good lesson will serve you well for decades. A semi is a more precision instrument, much more complex.

And the last thing you need is your wife attempting to use your semi for home defense in a panic and forgetting from her lesson three years ago that there is a SAFETY that must be taken off before the thing will fire.

REVOLVER for home defense. REVOLVER.

[EdReform]

“I thought he was going to kill me,” Chandler said. “The most thing I need to stress is that 911 did not respond.”

Dial 911 and Die

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Taurus' Raging Bull® 500 has a well-earned reputation for outstanding strength, reliability and accuracy while delivering the world's most powerful revolver round.

Not any more!

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

S&W...

[rosenfan]

My new choice for home defense:

[rosenfan]

Don't forget yur bible. Gotta have both ya know.

Perhaps I'm being obtuse, but what does The Bible have to do with home defense?