Choosing handgun for home defense...

GP 100 hands down. Simplicity of operation and manual of arms, all springs at rest and most importantly great versatility in ammunition from mild to wild .38 spl wadcutters to the hottest .357 magnum loads. This is a no-brainer in my opinion and if I was limited to one handgun, that's what it would be.
 
mark056 said:
GP 100 hands down. Simplicity of operation and manual of arms, all springs at rest and most importantly great versatility in ammunition from mild to wild .38 spl wadcutters to the hottest .357 magnum loads. This is a no-brainer in my opinion and if I was limited to one handgun, that's what it would be.
Click to expand...

Agreed and that's what I ended up with. :)
 
napoleon1815 said:
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.
Click to expand...

I have 1911s and revolvers. I do love my K-frames, but my home defense gun is a 1911.
 
I keep a G21 in my head board for my bump in the night gun. Also my carry piece either my g23 or g26 is always with in reach.

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2
 
daceman63 said:
what about an S&W 686?
Click to expand...

If you are on a budget the 686 may not fit the bill.

IMO ruger makes a goo quality fire arm for a more reasonable price than smith. Is the trigger a better out of the box on most smiths......yes......is that worth $200 more than the comparable ruger? Not in my opinion.
 
Have to agree with the shotgun guys here. Pistols are the great, but if you were in a situation where you had to defend in place or shoot move then communicate, and all you had were the six rounds in your GP100, youd be bumming out. a 12GA with 00 ought buck gives you a way better chance of blasting a bad guy while under stress. Just my opinion as well.
 
Shotguns have advantages and disadvantages. Their longer length makes them easier to shoot accurately, but that same length makes them harder to maneuver around furniture and harder to retain in a struggle. Shotguns are also slower to reload than semiauto handguns, though they can be topped off. Handguns are easier to store in a small, push button safe. Handguns are also easier to use with a handheld flashlight or while holding the phone and talking to the police. Shotguns are a lot more powerful than most all handguns, so if you do have to use it, the shotgun is more likely stop the attacker quickly.


So I really don't think this choice is as cut and dried as some people seem to imply. Personally, my first line of defense is a semi-auto handgun. If I have time to get to it, then I'll grab an AR15 out of the safe.
 
My home defense lineup is a wide body .45 ACP pistol in the night stand (15 in the loaded mag, 14 in the one next to it), then the 300 Blackout pistol in the cabinet (in the bedroom) with 40 110 grain Barnes black tips (in two mags). IF I need more than that, I'll get the AR15 with my 30 round magazines. BTW, the bedroom is on the second floor. So IF I'm in a HD situation, chances are I'll be firing down the stairs at the intruders/victims.

I don't own any wheel guns, and seriously doubt that I ever will.
 
M1911 said:
[...] Handguns are easier to store in a small, push button safe. Handguns are also easier to use with a handheld flashlight or while holding the phone and talking to the police. [...]
Click to expand...

And handguns are easy to fire one-handed. If something happened at my home, I'm going to want a free arm to grab the kids, toss the phone to my wife, etc.

- - - Updated - - -

Golddiggie said:
BTW, the bedroom is on the second floor. So IF I'm in a HD situation, chances are I'll be firing down the stairs at the intruders/victims.
Click to expand...

Nice to have a safe free-fire zone on the staircase.
 
Dream to Dream said:
And handguns are easy to fire one-handed. If something happened at my home, I'm going to want a free arm to grab the kids, toss the phone to my wife, etc.
Click to expand...
Being single, no kids, pets, etc. I have both hands/arms available for home defense... [smile]

Dream to Dream said:
Nice to have a safe free-fire zone on the staircase.
Click to expand...

It is nice. Since any shots that don't hit an intruder will go either into the floor (possibly the basement wall) or into the ground outside. I'm thinking about getting the noise makers to go onto the outside doors. That way, if anyone opens any of them, I'll know it. [mg]
 
The two things to look at are of the two pistols you have, which do you shoot better with and has that one ever had a failure to go boom at the correct time.

If the one you shoot best has never had a single problem with a few hundred rounds of what ever you would be using for defense, go with that one.

If it has ever had a problem and you have not been able to get it fixed, then and only then, go with the other.
 
BattleSnail said:
man I just sold my 686. Damn I regret selling it!
Click to expand...


Oh NO you didn't! Say it isn't so!!

I will never sell my 4" -686. I shoot it well and have actually carried it a few times and was surprised how well it conceals and that it really is not any heavier than my 229.

Someday that gun will be my Son's and then my Grandson's and then....
 
Philly3458 said:
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.
Click to expand...
\\
nice set up ! good points mentioned!
 
I have an M&P 45 near me. I don't have to rack a slide or flip a safety. It's a point and shoot type of thing.
 
Philly3458 said:
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.
Click to expand...

I just noticed this after it was quoted. While I agree with the revolver choice, I can't for the life of me figure out why you would load a self defence gun with 38 special instead of 357 magnum.
That is like setting your phasers on stun. [thinking].
 

Similar threads

Help on which Rifle to choose
Replies
18
Views
374
P. Lopes
P. Lopes
Looking for custom engraving on O/U shotgun
Replies
5
Views
104
tinhorn
tinhorn
Looking for suppressor storage ideas
Replies
7
Views
147
Tartakovsky
Tartakovsky
Gunsmiths for pistol slide and frame work
Replies
11
Views
423
DW357
DW357
Form 5320 approval times?
Replies
2
Views
52
DW357
DW357
Back
Top Bottom