Posted on 02/15/2021 6:12:34 AM PST by w1n1
I keep a 9mm with me at all times in the house. It is usually within reach, never more than a step or two away. This is my "just in case of a home invasion" protection. Not being paranoid - there have been a couple of home invasions in this area. My 9mm is a S&W M&P Shield M2.0 with the external safety. It has a full mag, one in the chamber, and the safety on.
We live in a two story with the master bedroom upstairs. Bedside I have a full size 1911 loaded with 230 gr JHP. Full mag, but empty chamber. (carry condition 3) Also beside the bed is a Mossberg 12 GA pump with adjustable stock (collapsed) and 18.5" barrel. It is also condition 3. The first shell is a slug, then #1 buck, then another slug, then #1 buck... The idea being that if someone breaks in during the night, between the dog and the alarm system I should get a few seconds warning - enough time to bring the Mossberg into play. Because these are out of my immediate control during the day I don't have a round in the chamber. Note, there are no children in the house. The 1911 is there as a back up in case plan A doesn't work out. I have no intention of clearing the house - descending the stairway would just expose me in an obvious way. The Mossberg and 1911 are really just there to prevent anyone from entering my bedroom. The slug is first up because if there were someone in the house, I know I'm going to have to shoot past the dog as it attacks them. After the first shot I expect she'll run away or cower some, hence buckshot comes next...
You can’t go wrong with a revolver for a beginner. Even a cheap .22 revolver is better than nothing. And I have yet to see anyone volunteer to be shot.
BUT
You need to also consider ammunition and time on the range for practicing. Get to where you can hit a fist sized or cup sized target consistently at 25 feet. And practice, practice practice.
Also consider a future upgrade. Either to a .357 magnum revolver and shoot .38 specials or to a pistol that you can operate effectively.
You will see several people advocate for a shotgun. It is not a bad choice but your circumstances my impact your decision. If you live in an apartment complex that has thin walls, a missed shot might hit someone else. Small hallways may make a long gun impractical. Just take your situation into consideration. The primary reason for recommending a revolver as a first firearm is due to it’s simplicity.
And always remember the five rules of a gun fight:
1) gun beats no gun - if you don’t have ammo or cant clear a jam, you have club not a gun.
2) fast beats slow - he who shoots first often shoots last
3) a hit beats a miss - a .22 that hits is worth a WHOLE lot more than a .44 magnum that misses
4) big holes beat little holes - bigger bullets make bigger holes that bleed out faster
5) two holes beat one hole - two holes bleed out faster
I agree, My first was a Ruger SP101 / .357 for that very reason, i'm more comfortable with a double action as i confirm my target. I now have a 9mm semi that is double action all the time - similar reason. Muscle memory at the heights of adrenaline rush is the last thing i want to worry about.
Fwiw, I’m a retired soldier of the USA’s Military Police & a Certified Rangemaster, with a lifetime Instructor’s “ticket” for every Army weapon from .38 SPL revolver up to & including .50 caliber Machine Gun.
My sincere advice to “NEW SHOOTERS” for HOME/FARM DEFENSE is a DOUBLE-BARREL or PUMP 12 or 20 gauge shotgun by ITHACA, MOSSBERG, REMINGTON, or WINCHESTER with an 18-20 inch barrel & loaded with #4, # 3 or # 1 BUCKSHOT.
IF you are NEW to firearms, get PROFESSIONAL TRAINING before you try to load or use your shotgun.
Even persons, who have never TOUCHED a firearm with be COMPETENT with a DOUBLE-BARREL with TWO HOURS or less of professional coaching.
IF your choice is a PUMP shotgun, expect to be COMPETENT with THREE HOURS of training.
IF you want a handgun, the BEST choice is a .38 SPECIAL revolver by COLT, RUGER or SMITH & WESSON, with a TWO or FOUR INCH barrel. = GETTING PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED is VITAL & may well SAVE YOUR LOVED ONES or YOUR LIFE.
Generally speaking, with proper coaching, a brand new revolver owner will be able to quality on a standard police course of fire with EIGHT HOURS of PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.
Just my OPINIONS, ex-cadet
USAMPR, Retired
Somewhere in the Bible it teaches “never ever ever limit yourself to one handgun”. Collect em’ all.
You are correct, as to the articles professionalism. i.e. “a 45 has more stopping power than a 3006” really! Where do they get such authors? enlightened fools. Not one mention of CCP guns, for self defense!
I know, preaching to the choir...
But just sayin', anyway.
Rossi Circuit Judge (shoots both 410 shotgun and 45cal bullets). Revolver, so no ‘semi auto’ to remember. Available in Stainless
For a first time gun owner if the weapon is to be used in the home only a good 4 inch .357 magnum loaded with .38spl P+ hollow points is a good choice. The larger magnum will absorb recoil nicely from the .38spl rounds and the .38spl P+ in hollow point is a good self-defense round. If they are going to carry it on them or in their vehicle then I would go the 2 inch .38spl route and consider the polymer revolvers from Ruger or S&W. If you are looking for a used revolver go to the High Road Revolver Forum and look for a sticky note on what to look for when buying a used revolver.
Long gun wise I would suggest a .12 gauge shotgun, a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 with a 20-24 inch barrel for home defense with low recoil buckshot loads. Get a thing called the Limbsaver for the stock, it helps with the recoil. If you want a rifle of course the AR or AK platforms but finding ammo for these is near impossible. If you can find a Marlin or Winchester 1894 lever gun in 357/38 or 30-30 caliber you can throw some lead down range nicely.
Another long range firearm you might consider is the SKS rifle the communist block fielded before the AK was introduced. They usually hold 10 rds of the AK-47 caliber with their traditional magazine. But these are getting harder to find as well.
It depends on the individual circumstances.
One big advantage of the pistol is it can be held with one hand, leaving the other hand free to open doors, grab kids, use phone, etc.
If you fire .357 inside the house without hearing protection, you will damage your hearing. Keep electronic earmuffs next to the gun.
The best home defense firearm is the one you own, have practiced with, know how to use effectively. If you own one and have not been trained, and practiced, it is nothing more than expensive paper weight that can be used as a close quarters club.
Gunner
Bad advice! This advice can easily subject the shooter to manslaughter. There are numerous situations where the shooter has done this only to end up in jail. You MUST know your target, and that also means threat or non-threat! A drunk mistaking your home for a friend’s home or the drunk’s home does not warrant injury or death.
WW2 manufactured M-1 carbines selling for $2,000+ is a bit steep for me.
Bad advice! This advice can easily subject the shooter to manslaughter.
—
Manslaughter for shooting seals (the kind with flippers) 30 years ago? Prove it.
I was shooting at seals (the kind with flippers) with a Ruger .22 stainless revolver - the rest is not important .
The .88 Magnum - it shoots through schools...
Found a Universal carbine for $100 at a gun show, 2 30-round and other mags, even found an original 3-round nylon mag to boot. Great fun, but pricey to feed at $8/50 rounds—wasn’t gonna try reloading for it, just had fun with it. The SKS 7.62x39 ammo was way cheaper! And being fire and forget about the empties was cool at the dump. That steel core ammo ventilated my buddy’s half-inch thick steel angled 4x8 backstop. Gobsmacked, we were!
Loaded with .38spl P+ is what I said, not magnum loads is what I said. I wouldn’t recommend magnum loads for a newbie ever.
Train to shoot and shoot to kill.
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