Choosing handgun for home defense...

[napoleon1815]

I realize there will be a lot of opinoins on this,and it is a matter of personal preference, but I am having trouble with this one and wouldn't mind hearing what other people think.

I can only keep one handgun and am trying to decide between a .45acp handgun (8 rounds) or a .357 4" revolver (6 rounds). I CANNOT carry so this is strictly a closet gun for home defense.

 

[Philly3458]

I have a GP100 as my bedroom gun. I favor a revolver because at 3 am I don't want to think about racking slides, flipping off safeties, etc. Also, if it sits for a while no worries about reliability. Pistols need to be lubed, mags routinely checked and shot. I keep the GP 100 loaded with 38 plus p and 2 6 round speed loaders on hand.

 

[napoleon1815]

Funny...the handgun I am talking about IS a GP100.

 

[Philly3458]

I love it. Soft shooter , 4 inch

 

[Lukes83]

My M&P 45 (Full Size) lives at my bedside. I love it. My only complaint (along with everyone else) is the 10+ lb trigger. I'm going to get a trigger job done soon.

 

[Gidge]

I have a GP100 as my bedroom gun. I favor a revolver because at 3 am I don't want to think about racking slides, flipping off safeties, etc. Also, if it sits for a while no worries about reliability. Pistols need to be lubed, mags routinely checked and shot. I keep the GP 100 loaded with 38 plus p and 2 6 round speed loaders on hand.

Can't go wrong with a wheelgun at 3AM (I love my GP100) !
If you live in a free state, a loaded shotgun behind the bedroom door is best for home defense, IMO.

 

[napoleon1815]

Can't go wrong with a wheelgun at 3AM (I love my GP100) !
If you live in a free state, a loaded shotgun behind the bedroom door is best for home defense, IMO.

Agreed...I actually have many shotguns but a handgun is the only thing I have successfully talked the wife into putting in the walk in closet...HAHA. Getting there...

 

[usp45ct]

Something that is comfortable to hold and simple to use. Striker based pistols are a favorite as all you may have to do is load it, rack a round, aim it and squeeze the trigger (depending on what condition it is in). The elvers are fine as well, I am just not a revolver guy.

ps. Cater to the lowest common denominator as well meaning if you are good with a home defense gun but you wife Hayes it and is not good with it , this may not be the right choice.

 

[Usmc1345]

Buy a double barrel shotgun and just shoot it in the air! Didn't you get that public announcement?

 

[Boghog1]

AR15

 

[napoleon1815]

AR15

Would be great but it would be a club with no ammo...can't find 5.56mm anywhere.

 

[4runner1443]

Glock 21 or 30. Ten + one rounds of 45 acp and very reliable.

 

[Boghog1]

Would be great but it would be a club with no ammo...can't find 5.56mm anywhere.

buy an AR and I'll give you 20 rounds of Tula .223

 

[napoleon1815]

buy an AR and I'll give you 20 rounds of Tula .223

While not an AR I have always wanted a Sig Sauer 556...

 

[Boghog1]

that will work too

 

[napoleon1815]

The way this State is going, I might end up with a Super Soaker to prevent a break in.

 

[Ranger007]

Few questions Nap.
1. What's your living environment?? Single family dwelling? Multiple Family? Condo? How close are your neighbors. What kind of construction is your dwelling, brick, traditional vynal siding and dry wall interior? Roughly what's the square footage of your living area, 900 square feet, 1200 etc etc.
2. Do you currently own a .45ACP or .357 MAG? if so what is it?

I realize there will be a lot of opinoins on this,and it is a matter of personal preference, but I am having trouble with this one and wouldn't mind hearing what other people think.

I can only keep one handgun and am trying to decide between a .45acp handgun (8 rounds) or a .357 4" revolver (6 rounds). I CANNOT carry so this is strictly a closet gun for home defense.

 

[napoleon1815]

Few questions Nap.
1. What's your living environment?? Single family dwelling? Multiple Family? Condo? How close are your neighbors. What kind of construction is your dwelling, brick, traditional vynal siding and dry wall interior? Roughly what's the square footage of your living area, 900 square feet, 1200 etc etc.
2. Do you currently own a .45ACP or .357 MAG? if so what is it?

Single family home...two stories...~2200 sq feet...vinyl siding...neighbors are 20-30 feet away on both sides. The .45acp is a Ruger SR1911, the revolver is the Riuger GP100 .357.

 

[slap shot]

i would say revolver as it jams less and home defense is about being there when you need it.

Love that 357 mag Ruger LCR

 

[BrianK]

The way this State is going, I might end up with a Super Soaker to prevent a break in.

Then fill it with brake cleaner or battery acid.

 

[Ranger007]

I would say the .45 ACP versus .357 MAG for home defense after of course a reliability package is done on it. Primary reason among a few others is .357 has allot of velocity and and penetration considerations for home defense.

Single family home...two stories...~2200 sq feet...vinyl siding...neighbors are 20-30 feet away on both sides. The .45acp is a Ruger SR1911, the revolver is the Riuger GP100 .357.

 

[chopper_man]

M&P 45 with APEX DCAEK along with a Streamlight TLR-4, best night stand firearm in my opinion. Absolutely love mine.

 

[dogdoctor]

I did this exact assessment a few months ago as well. I settled on the GP100 - 4". Reliable as hell. Built like a tank. I put mine into three categories. Range Use/Home Defense/Pistol Whipping. The added bonus right now is that if you actually want to get proficient at using and reloading it, you can at least find 38 Sp ammo more frequently in stores.

 

[PATRON]

Go with the GP100.

 

[napoleon1815]

I did this exact assessment a few months ago as well. I settled on the GP100 - 4". Reliable as hell. Built like a tank. I put mine into three categories. Range Use/Home Defense/Pistol Whipping. The added bonus right now is that if you actually want to get proficient at using and reloading it, you can at least find 38 Sp ammo more frequently in stores.

Excellent call...forgot about that and I see tons of 38 special everywhere...seems to be the round no one is buying.

 

[Nectaris]

If you go with a 45 just dont use a 1911, went to a shoot yesterday and every gun that malfunctioned were a few 1911's and a hi-point. I wouldnt trust my life with one especially after it sits in a closet for a long time.

 

[Dadstoys]

i would say revolver as it jams less and home defense is about being there when you need it.

Love that 357 mag Ruger LCR

^ This

Heart pounding, hands shaking. Safety on? Trying to clear a stovepipe in the dark? Love my semi auto's, but a wheel gun is about as idiot proof as you can get.

 

[fencer]

If I had to choose between the two handguns you mentioned, it would be the revolver, hands down.

If the semi-auto was not a 1911, It might be a harder decision.

My current bedside gun is a Sig 226 in .40 with a rail mounted laser/light/strobe combo. It is loaded with a 12 rnd preban mag with one in the pipe and I keep 2 spare mags in the bedside safe. So if the dogs start barking at 3am, in 2 seconds I have 37 rounds of GTFO Hornady hollow points handy. The light is blinding and the laser is easily discernable. There is no safety, so pull the trigger and boom

I am confident in my shooting skills, but in the middle of the night, with the dogs barking, my adrenaline pumping and heart pounding, I will take any advantage I can get.

Before I dedicated the Sig to nightstand duty, it was a S&W 686 - 4" with 2 speed loaders.

 

[whacko]

If I had to choose between the two handguns you mentioned, it would be the revolver, hands down.

If the semi-auto was not a 1911, It might be a harder decision.

My current bedside gun is a Sig 226 in .40 with a rail mounted laser/light/strobe combo. It is loaded with a 12 rnd preban mag with one in the pipe and I keep 2 spare mags in the bedside safe. So if the dogs start barking at 3am, in 2 seconds I have 37 rounds of GTFO Hornady hollow points handy. The light is blinding and the laser is easily discernable. There is no safety, so pull the trigger and boom

I am confident in my shooting skills, but in the middle of the night, with the dogs barking, my adrenaline pumping and heart pounding, I will take any advantage I can get.

Before I dedicated the Sig to nightstand duty, it was a S&W 686 - 4" with 2 speed loaders.

THIS

A very good choice in a home defense fire arme is a BFR......."Big F*****G Revolver".

 

[dwarven1]

Pistols need to be lubed, mags routinely checked and shot.

i would say revolver as it jams less and home defense is about being there when you need it.

If you go with a 45 just dont use a 1911, went to a shoot yesterday and every gun that malfunctioned were a few 1911's and a hi-point. I wouldnt trust my life with one especially after it sits in a closet for a long time.

??? What kind of Kool-Aid HAVE you guys been drinking?

Mags routinely checked & shot? I leave my .45 mags loaded. They're fine. They go bang when I do want them to. I don't bother to unload and reload them or "check" them.

And if your 1911 jams, OP, I'd suggest you return it to Ruger (after cleaning it and oh, I don't know, SHOOTING a few hundred rounds through it so you're sure it's broken in?). 1911's are usually pretty darn reliable. Certainly MY 5 are.

And yes, Nectaris... I would trust my life to any of my 1911s. They all go BANG when I press the bang-switch. I get rid of any that don't. *cough*AMT Hardballer*cough*