Stepping up from my Browning 9mm (FReeper advice needed for higher caliber pistol)

vanity ^ | 8-5-10 | wac3rd

[wac3rd]

I bought a 9mm and love using it, but am debating what to get for home protection at a higher caliber.

I like the looks of the 1911 45's and I also like the idea of a 40 caliber Glock or 10mm Glock. I think I want a semi-automatic, so the revolver is out...

Finally, should I get a shorter barrel (4" or less) or stick with the standard 4.5 - 5" barrel?

Your advice would be very much appreciated...

[MrPiper]

, if you don’t have a 12 guage shotgun, get one. Preferably a pump

what he said,,use the 9mm as backup, your as well armed as you need to be for home protection. Load it w/ #1 or 0 buck, not bird shot.

Practice with both, bigger pistol calibers have more recoil and can cause flinching. One COM hit w/9mm is better than 10 misses with a .50 cal.

9mm has the cheapest ammo, therefore, more practice.

I love the 1911, but, how are you going to keep it? If one round is in the chamber, the hammer is back, safety on. I prefer a double action only, round in chamber, no safety to worry about. (point, click, repeat)

[Razmataz]

Piytar, When I took my 12 Guage to a gunsmith to
have the barrel and stock shortened, I told him to
listen. I pumped it... and it made the world familiar
chouk chouk sound... he said, yes? I said, when I pick
it up I want it to be just as noisy as it is right now.

He smiled and said, I know exactly what you mean.
(s)

Razmataz

[notdownwidems]

Kimber 1911 .45 with built in laser.

That's, me, too! Crimson Ultra Carry 3-inch barrel...shoots sweet!

[FlGoldwingGuy]

I think a shotgun is a very good idea. Before my TRAGIC boating accident where the boat tipped over..and everything was deep sixed..I had a Saiga 12 semi auto 12 gauge. It did lack that outstanding sound of shotgun being racked. However it threw lots of lead at the zombie that came in the door..very quickly! (Phew..I kept everything in the past tense.)

Flgoldwingguy

[imjimbo]

Rethink your decision regarding revolvers. NO handgun is safer or more dependable. Double action is the way to go. Many calibers to choose from. .38 Special should be the minimum for human targets. Hope this helps, and that you never need the gun, but are always prepared if you do-!

[Wooly]

Remington Model 870 12 ga pump. This was the shotgun we had in the military and the balance was such that you could fire it one handed like a pistol. Smooth pump action for quick chambering the next round.
And as stated before the noise, flash and sound are such that an intruder will run and not fire back. Plus the fact that a shotgun will be less likely to harm your neighbors property.

[Tainan]

If you have a Browning Hi-Power, the HP, you already have one of the finest defensive handguns made. In functioning, natural 'point-ability' (ergonomics) and ease of operation under stress it sits at the top of the pile, along with the venerable Colt Model 1911 and its clones.
It was was designed by John M. Browning and that says about everything you need to know to calm your fears or worries about its use.
My preferred 'serious social use' ammunition for the HP was Federal 9BP. I don't even know if its still around. But there have been later cartridge offerings that should fill whatever need you might have.
Personally, I prefer the .45 acp, I like the Combat Commander, it has the shorter barrel you mention, and also a sportified Officers model. But if you already have a HP, you have no need to worry - They work.

Shot placement is everything - Practice Practice Practice...its fun also!

[PalmettoMason]

Ditto. I have (and carry all day, EVERY day) a Kimber Ultra Covert II. The Crimson Trace is nice, but I really like the Meprolight night sights. It is comforting to see those three dots softly glowing on the nightstand any time of night.

[Blueflag]

You’ve received a lot of good advice.

I prefer a large .45 semi — my Sig P220 fits my hand perfectly. And with a ProMag magazine in it, It’ll hold 9 rounds. Plenty for home defense. Plus I keep an extra mag with the pistol in the bio-metric gun safe bolted to the bed.

MY thought is that you should get a .45 with the right self defense rounds in it. But more importantly get the .45 you’ll take to the range a lot and become both confident and competent in its use. Shoot enough so that you have reliable, dependable combat accuracy at 12 - 25 feet. In other words you hit your 12” aim point circles with two or three shot groups at the fastest pace you can maintain accuracy. The practice at the range with a variety of rental guns will help you get a feel for which gun is right for you.

Also, get the tritium or other glowing sights (or pop for the built-in flashlight/laser) and practice taking aim in your darkened home at likely defense points. Just so you know what’s it’s like to “aim” at what you can’t really see - and what you won’t really have time to get a good sight picture on before you HAVE to make the choice to fire (or not).

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Raz,,,The problem I have with that “noise” factor is that

it gives away your position to the other guy,,,

If I rack my Mossberg very sloooowly I can be pretty quiet.

I’m sure most crooks will run when they hear that sound,,,

Hopefully the first/last sound is !BOOM!...;0)

[Eye of Unk]

For close quarter living areas like where you have neighbors I would suggest .45 or .40 frangibles.

Where I live in rural Alaska where two and four footed vermin wear heavy winter coats its a maxed out 10mm Glock for me.

[bmwcyle]

Good home defense is quick access to a gun. That usually takes more than one gun place around the house.

[Jim Noble]

Here's my theory about home defense:

The most important thing is consistently hitting the target while scared shitless.

It is not "stopping power", it has nothing to do with ballistic gelatin or watermelons on youtube.

If you miss, you're probably going to get killed, perhaps with your own gun.

Taking that into account, try a number of different loads at the range, if you can arrange a session where you are placed under stress, so much the better.

There's a reason more bad guys die from 9mm rounds than any other - find out what it is before you quit it.

[Radio_Silence]

“Rethink your decision regarding revolvers. NO handgun is safer or more dependable. Double action is the way to go. Many calibers to choose from. .38 Special should be the minimum for human targets. Hope this helps, and that you never need the gun, but are always prepared if you do-!”

This man speaks the truth. If you’re not going to extensively practice with the gun (clearing malfunctions etc) a revolver is the way to go. Simple to use under stress and if it doesn’t go bang all you have to do is pull the trigger again.

A couple of other comments...

1) Don’t get hung up on lasers. The primary benefit of a laser is to increase the profit margin of the manufacturer. I’m a big believer that it’s faster to bring the gun up and to acquire a proper sight picture than it is to search your background for a red dot while also tracking your attacker who will be moving fast. Keep the gun simple and your shooting technique as repetitive as possible.

2) Shotguns are great HD weapons. If you’re going to use one use 00 buck - not bird shot. Also, don’t buy into the “the sound of racking the pump will scare them away” comment. That’s bad tactical advice. If someone’s in your home you should assume that person means you harm and the last thing you want to do is give away your exact position.

3) If you do go with an auto pistol, the HiPower is an excellent gun from an ergonomic standpoint. My advice would be to send it to Cylinder and Slide for an action job to smooth out the trigger and a reliability job to minimize malfunctions. My advice would be the same for any 1911 - action job and reliability package. However, for autos I would recommend a Glock in 9mm (G17/34 for home or 19/26 if you want to carry concealed). They are cheap, simple to use, reliable, have a very low bore axis which minimizes muzzle flip, and have the same trigger pull -no DA/SA. I recommend 9mm because that’s what the platform was designed for and seems to function the best with.

Finally, caliber is not as important as shot placement. The minimum I would recommend is 9mm or 38SPC. Going up the ladder only increases one shot stop percentages by a point or two. So, you’re trading recoil management and faster follow-ups for ~94% (40SW) one shot stops versus ~90-92% (9mm). Shot placement is king.

Hope this helps.

[Jim Noble]

when I pick it up I want it to be just as noisy as it is right now

That's a good idea if the guy kicking in your door has a normal view of risk/reward.

Most people with that normal view are in bed with a beautiful woman at 3am, not kicking in doors.

If you're comfortable giving up your position before you have to pull the trigger, be my guest.

[USS Alaska]

If you already have a 12 gauge, I’ll defer to other Freepers re handgun choice. (My preferred is a .357 magnum wheel gun, but you stated that wheel guns are out.)

Me too. I keep an S & W 357 in my bed stand and a 12 gauge with double ought buckshot in my closet.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"but am debating what to get for home protection at a higher caliber."

I'm surprised this thread only has 35 posts to it. If there's one thing that gets freepers posting, it's advice on firearms. I'll put my two cents in. For home protection, I think a shotgun works best. Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. They're both inexpensive pumps and will do the job.

[Recon Dad]

I went with the 40 cal Glock model 22. It was a compromise between the 9 and 45. Plenty of punch and holds more rounds than the 45, but I do like shooting 45’s just as much.

The 12 ga for my money is the gun for home protection, it's just a bit large for conceal carry.

[Recon Dad]

a shotgun works best. Remington 870

Amen brother! The sound of an 870 being racked makes the hairs on my arms stand up. If I were an intruder and heard that sound I’d drop a load.

[absolootezer0]

you’ve got a high power and a pump.. you’re set.

speaking in terms of home defense, the only thing you really need a handgun for is to get you to the pump.

if you want more handguns to place around the house to help you get to that pump, go with a 1911. controls will be very familiar.