Home Defense Pistol
Hey guys. I am a gun-newbie who knows nothing. I am in the market for a hand gun that my wife or myself can handle. I am thinking .38 caliber but want a dependable, easy to use option. Any recommendations?
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.38 Special revolver. If you get a .357 Magnum, it will also shoot .38 Specials.
My choices, in order are: Smith & Wesson, Colt, Ruger, Taurus. (Newer Taurus, not old)
Any of the above makers offer a number of models. Make sure it fits her and she can handle it. Small and light are fine, but small and light increases felt recoil, and can make her afraid of it.
You might find some good deals on used major brands if you look around. The market was glutted with police trade in revolvers back when so many police were switching to autos, but that is over.
SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com the best gun auction site on the Net! Email gpd035@sbcglobal.net0 -
First, you should probably go to the range and try out several different types and calibers before you buy anything. Also, find a friend with a shotgun and give it a try. You might find that you are more competent with a long gun than with a pistol. 0 -
Got to go with nunn except I would put Colt ahead of S&W. You don't want something too powerful in your own house blowing through the walls. 0 -
.38 special is an adequate caliber and you have a good choice of cartridges from frangible bullets like the Glaser to hollow points to solid lead. The choice being based on how much penetration you want e.g., do you want something that will penetrate a sheetrock wall and still inflict a serious injury. By all means get a double action revolver of good quality. I would suggest Smith & Wesson, Ruger or Colt. The choice of frame size would depend on the size of your and your wife's hands. Custom stocks are available to enlarge the size of a small frame revolvers grip. A double action revolver can be kept fully loaded with the hammer down and all that is necessary to remember to fire it is to pull the trigger. Semi auto pistols have advantages for people that handle them a lot but things that have to be remembered with most semi-autos are 1) is there a magazine in the pistol? 2) is the safety on? 3) is there a cartridge in the chamber? When you are stressed out over the prospects of confronting an intruder, you don't want to have to think about the three questions I mentioned. Good used double action .38 specials can be found in the $200 price range. 0 -
Welcome to the forum. A question like yours always gets a lot of responses; everyone has a different opinion.
First, a general suggestion: If you don't have a safe, buy a lock box & bolt it to the wall or floor. You don't want a family member or visitor to get injured or killed by an unsecured gun. And, most guns in the hands of criminals come from homes that were burglarized.
Second, if you live in an area where you need to be concerned about being safe in your home, you live in an area where you need to be MORE concerned about your safety OUTSIDE your home. If I lived in such an area, that would be something to think about.
Third, whatever you buy, first make sure that it is a gun that BOTH of you can shoot. A lot of new guns have triggers so heavy that some women are unable to fire them. Once you buy one, be sure that you are both very familiar with it, & practice, practice, practice. A gunshop that has a range, & offers lessons & loaners, would be a good place to buy your gun.
Finally, a .38 special revolver is probably a wise decision. Taurus, S&W, & the now obsolete Colts are good choices. I like the S&W Chiefs Special, M36 or M60; both were made in a Ladysmith version that should fit your wife well. I recommend pre-fragmented ammo, such as Glaser or MagSafe; these will not kill someone on the other side of a wall.
Neal0 -
Thanks for the tips folks. Keep them coming. I am leaning toward geting a used revolver of some sort. See what I like and dislike about it and then upgrade in the future. 0 -
S&W model 649 you cant go wrong, stainless I never saw one give any kind of trouble, 38 inside your house is plenty as your being newbee , later you can start looking at auto pistols, but a 38snubbie under your pillow or in a draw or on a night stand or even in the pocket of a bathrobe is A1..[:D] its snag & idiot proof ....just be carefull if you got kids....good luck & be safe........................................Billy 0 -
A revolver from Colt, Smith or Ruger in .38Spl or .357 Mag will fill the bill. A 4" model would be perferred over a 2" "snub-nose" as the recoil and muzzle blast will be less. Make sure your wife uses ear plugs when practicing so she will not be afraid of it. Use .38 Spl ammo for controlabilty by your wife, with the right loads, that will be all the power you need.
SEMPER FI MAC, SEMPER FI0 -
I agree with those who are saying .38 Special and .357 Magnum revolvers. I have both. They are a lot safer to the handler. Or someone mentioned a shotgun. Personally I'd be more afraid of some guy with a 20ga shotgun than a .38 special.
Mike0 -
.357 4" Smith & Wesson filled with 125grHP +P .38's. Take her to the range to get familiar with it. Load, shoot and reload ( calmly ).
Get out of the left lane.. you're holding me up.0 -
I keep a .38, a .357 and a shot gun with 00 shot all handy. given the choice of one only, I might well go with the shotgun. 0 -
If you do not mind spending a little money the Colt Diamondback in 38spl is a very nice hand gun. If you want to use both the 38spl and the 357mag the Colt trooper Mk3 is a mighty nice hand gun. My 2 cents. [8D] Oh yea,,, the S&W are also nice. [:)]
Greg
Former Marine
A N G L I C O0 -
Since you and your wife are new to guns, then go with used K or L frame S&W. These are the medium frame revolvers. They are much better for the novice to learn on than are the small J-frame guns that some of use for concealed carry purposes. Good used S&W can be found in the $200 to $350 price range. One piece of advice, do not cheap out on your first gun because you will never be satisfied. I suggest the following.
S&W K-frames, Models 65 or 66 with 2.5" or 4" inch barrels
S&W L-Frames,Models 586 or 686 with 2.5" or 4" inch barrels
Boomer
"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as it is by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed"
. and the antithesis to this philosophy was uttered by Bill Clinton "I smoked it, but I didn't inhale."[V]
NRA Life Member0
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