Coonan Classic .357 Magnum Automatic
Price: $1,375.00
Posted on 12/07/2014 9:30:46 AM PST by savedbygrace
I have a home defense shotgun, a Maverick 88, next to my bed, but I would like to also have a handgun, for more immediate defense in parts of the house other than my bedroom.
I want to spend as little money as possible for a handgun that will stop an intruder, or at least slow him down so I can get to my shotgun, but will offer the least possibility of firing accidentally. When I add that last part, I'm thinking of those videos we've all seen with a LEO demonstrating firearm safety and the handgun fires inadvertently.
Thank you.
But for carrying, my amwx card is a Keltec .380 filled with hollow points.
Made in FL.
Guar for life.
Best Italian mags.
Don’t even know it’s in your pocket.
I see you are in Oklahoma. Go down to ATWOOD’S farm and home and look at their guns. As for price, check out the SCCY double action only 9MM pistols for less than $250 or the SAR B6P 9 MM for around $300.
If you prefer you might also look at the Ruger LCP .380 for about $350.
Take a look at this: S&W Model586 357 Magnum, which brings up another point -- you don't have to buy new. A good used gun can help keep costs down. Check the used offerings at a gun store you trust.
Snub-nosed revolvers take a lot of practice, if you want to hit your target. In general, the shorter the barrel, the less accurate. What good is even an excellent gun if you can't hit anything with it? I'd recommend a 4" barrel for in-home defense.
I'm biased in favor of Smith & Wesson. Yes, you can buy cheaper, but what good is a firearm if it's not reliable? When it comes to your life, you want your gun to be as reliable as it can be. Good luck!
Ruger LCR in 357. Double action only. Simple point and shoot.
+1 on the basic .38 revolver. Practice some and save your empties in a dry place. Someday you can reload these. Use eye and ear protection when you shoot.
Never store a handgun in a case or bag because it will trap moisture next to it. Instead read up on basic care and maintenance.
Never go shooting with a jerk even if he is your bil. If you encounter jerks at the range, leave.
First you definitely do not want to try to slow someone down so you can get to another weapon. Every weapon you own should be a stand alone.
The best safe home in home handgun is probably a revolver. Personally I would get a Smith and Wesson 686 but they are kind of pricey. Ruger has some well priced .38 specials such as the Ruger SP 101 for around $450.00 or the Ruger LCR at just over $400. If you want a really cheap home revolver Charter Arms has a little .38 special for just under $300.
Unless you can buy used, quality revolvers are generally expensive these days. You can get a Taurus or Rossi for under $300. but quality is sometimes iffy. You might find a S&W 4” .38 trade-in for about $300.
Palmetto State Armory has the Springfield Armory XD9 4” 9mm semi-auto for $349. at present. Smith & Wesson and Ruger have a few similarly priced models, $350. - $400.
Training is highly recommended. I would also suggest renting guns at a local range to get the feel for a particular model.
I have a Hungarian one of those. I like it.
That being said go to a range that rents and try some various guns in assorted calibers. You may prefer semi auto over a revolver.
Get training and a quick access lock box. Invest in a good holster and belt.
As to preferences I like a Ruger SP101 in .357 with the 3.06 length barrel in stainless steel. They are like little battleships. Tough and reliable. You can practice with .38spl an carry with .38 +P HP. The grips are good and fit a small hand well. Remember to keep your fingers away from the cylinder gap or you will learn a hard lesson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFBAcz16GvU
http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101/models.html
It is a tad heavy but it reduces muzzle flip when firing .357. In .357 it throws out a pretty good fire ball and is loud. Using .38 +P fires like like a soft magnum. YMMV
What is your life worth? Your family's life? Don't go cheap, get a quality pistol and the proper defensive rounds. My personal choice is the Glock 23. It fires the .40 S&W, which is used by most law enforcement agencies today. It is compact, holds 13 rounds plus one in the chamber. Like the AK-47, it is nearly indestructible and is extremely reliable.
Forget the wheel guns. They are an anachronism. Five or six rounds and you're done. A recent example of this is the woman in Georgia who emptied her revolver only to discover to her horror that the perpetrator was still alive, and she was in the attic with no place to escape or retreat. My Glock 23 is also my carry gun, and with a spare magazine, I have 27 rounds to defend myself. Get a two magazine carrier and you have 40 rounds. And swapping out magazines is much easier and faster than reloading a revolver, even if you have speed loaders.
I have Bulgarian and Russian Makarovs. It seems the Russians make the worst ones. Functionally, they are all perfect, in my experience. I’ve never had a misfire or fail to feed in either, but the detail work is better on the non-Russians. It’s the same design as the Walther PP pre-WWII that I have in .32ACP. Simple blow back pistols with fixed barrels, heavy triggers and strong firing pin action.
Look at used .357 magnum revolvers by either Taurus or Smith and Wesson. Best value for the money, easy to learn with, and you can practice with lower cost, lower recoil .38 Special ammunition and load it with full power .357 for defense purposes.
Loved my CZ82 so much I bought two. Great little gun for the money.
Fully agree! Though I am fairly accurate with several automatics, a .38 Special revolver resides on my nightstand. Simply put, if suddenly awakened at 3AM by an intruder, I don't want to ensure that a round is chambered in an auto AND I don't want to leave one chambered either. Just personal preference on my part. I don't anticipate needing 17+ rounds in such an encounter.
You really need at least one firearm for every room in your house since you never know where you might be when a break-in happens. In fact four per room, one on each wall, since you never know where in the room you might be either. Each weapon should also have a backup in case the primary misfires or jams. So if you have a seven room home then 56 weapons should suffice. That’s what I’m shooting for, no pun intended.
Coonan Classic .357 Magnum Automatic
Price: $1,375.00
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