Choosing handgun for home defense...

[otasan56]

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

I'd load that Ruger revolver with .357 magnum 125 gr SJHPs. Real manstoppers.

 

[Kisspik002]

if you are not carrying the gun then I would go with a ruger GP100 or SP101. Both .357 great quality and great bedside home defense gun

 

[browniee]

GET A DOG, MOST PEOPLE DON'T HEAR SHIT WHEN THEIR ASLEEP. THE DOG WILL WAKE YOU. SO YOU WON'T BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.GIVE YOU TIME TO FUMBLE WITH THE FOOLISH SAFE SOME OF YOU GUYS HAVE YOUR GUNS IN. AND IT PROBABLY NOT LOADED EITHER.
A STUN LIGHT IS GOOD TO HAVE ALSO.

 

[slap shot]

GET A DOG, MOST PEOPLE DON'T HEAR SHIT WHEN THEIR ASLEEP. THE DOG WILL WAKE YOU. SO YOU WON'T BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.GIVE YOU TIME TO FUMBLE WITH THE FOOLISH SAFE SOME OF YOU GUYS HAVE YOUR GUNS IN. AND IT PROBABLY NOT LOADED EITHER.
A STUN LIGHT IS GOOD TO HAVE ALSO.

This is good advice, i'm not so naive to think the dogs couldnt be lured away with a t-bone but if someone comes close to the house and i'm home, at least 1 of our porties will be alarming like a sonofabitch

 

[rockdoc]

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. .

.357 mag too much blinding flash at 3 am, and too much noise that could make it tough to then communicate on the phone or when the police later arrive. And, might be tougher to get back on target for 2nd shot. My GFs laser gripped 642 S&W is loaded with 38 + P. I have the 40 shield on my nightstand.

 

[fencer]

.357 mag too much blinding flash at 3 am, and too much noise that could make it tough to then communicate on the phone or when the police later arrive. And, might be tougher to get back on target for 2nd shot. My GFs laser gripped 642 S&W is loaded with 38 + P. I have the 40 shield on my nightstand.

It has been my experience that in a high stress situation, you notice recoil, muzzle flash and noise, much less than when you are on the range. When my 686 was my bedside gun it was loaded with 357 hollow points because i think it is more likely to stop a threat immediately.
If I use my firearm against an intruder I have absolutely no intention of communicating with anyone except my attorney.

There is nothing wrong with 38 +p, and what is important is that a gun owner be comfortable and confident with their firearm, but I bought a 357 magnum because I wanted a handgun that would securely anchor a target with as few shots as possible.

 

[Wicked1911]

I have one of each:

1911 .45
686+ (7shot) .357 Mag/.38 Special
AR15 with pre ban 30 round mags

The 686+ is the one I would grab first, I keep it loaded with .357 mag 158 gr federal personal defense HP. If time allows than I will grab the AR next.


Pics of the family:

 

[Nick Fury]

This is good advice, i'm not so naive to think the dogs couldnt be lured away with a t-bone but if someone comes close to the house and i'm home, at least 1 of our porties will be alarming like a sonofabitch

A good dog will go ape shit well before he starts licking his chops. Situational awareness is the number one priority. All else fails without it...

 

[MaxStravinsky]

I have 2 dogs, one will only take food from me, the other will take food from someone he knows, but not a stranger. Absolutely no one but me can get in the house without them barking bloody murder (even people they know and like).

Sorry, gotta brag about my dogs.

+1 for the 686 (mine's a 3")

 

[CTpatriot]

686s rule, i sold my 2.5 inch, looking for a 5 or 6 inch to port out.

 

[MWL556]

GET A DOG, MOST PEOPLE DON'T HEAR SHIT WHEN THEIR ASLEEP. THE DOG WILL WAKE YOU. SO YOU WON'T BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.GIVE YOU TIME TO FUMBLE WITH THE FOOLISH SAFE SOME OF YOU GUYS HAVE YOUR GUNS IN. AND IT PROBABLY NOT LOADED EITHER.
A STUN LIGHT IS GOOD TO HAVE ALSO.

This.

I have learned first hand, that dogs are the advantage to you first line of defense. The barking tone of a competent dog will give you a wake-up call like no other

Lots of calls here for wheel guns and shotguns, as well as the draw backs of both which I won't echo too much on.

IMHO - You should gravitate towards a handgun... For home defense, it's a no-brainer. You need to be able to keep your firearm close to your body when clearing your house. There are piles of information on that theory on the interweb.
Also, a handgun with a rail is a must. Having a weapon mounted light is better to have, than to not have. Anything between 100-200 lumens will be bright enough to blind/stun the BG, but dim enough to not blind you on your backdrop if you find yourself in that kind of situation in the middle of the night, 15 seconds after you have woken up (think about flipping on the bathroom lights for that midnight pee break. Bright, right?).

Do your research on ammo too. My vote is for any caliber that you are proficient and comfortable in shooting (9mm or larger). Get a round that has stopping power without the over-penetration that you would need for a missed shot. Lots of info/opinion on that too if you research.

.... and just to stir up the bees nest a little more - GET A GLOCK!

 

[MJ1]

Any thing close to 1/2 inch around 240g at 1400fps should do.



Be sure to practice at 100 yards. HD starts at the front gate when dealing with zombies.



..MJ..

 

[drgrant]

Wife can handle easier.

Get a box of Speer .357 Mag short barrel. These aren't nearly as hot as full blown .357 Mag but you'll get quite an increase in velocity without drastically increasing recoil. They're like .38+P++ .

-Mike

 

[Jim85IROC]

My firearm of choice is a Glock 35 with a mounted light. In close quarters, I like the light. No way I'm going to have the time/skill to line up sights or deal with a shaky laser in a high stress situation, but with the light, if he's bright, I'm on target.

 

[MJ1]

My f-ing E-tool worked great in 1967.