Vanity - What Type of Hangun Would You/Do You Own For Personal Protection?

Vanity Question | January 31, 2004 | GreatOne

[GreatOne]

I am a prosecutor in a small, rural area. My state has a conceal and carry law. I recently convicted a person who has subsequently made veiled threats against me. Nothing specific enough to charge him with assault or terroristic threats, but enough to take note. He has a drug (meth) background, and is in the process of being civilly committed for his overdosing and engagin in violent behavior after the conviction (misdemeanor charge, requiring him to do 90 days in jail starting in February).

So, I am now seriously thinking about obtaining a handgun. What type of handgun would anyone out there recommend? I have a family with small kids, so would obviously keep this unloaded and up high when at home.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

[GreatOne]

Sorry for the vanity, but don't want to ask local officials, and I don't know anyone else knowledgeable in handguns. So please, save your anti-vanity comments.

[CapnMcK]

You are wise to ask before resorting to the "buy and try" method. I don't know how much esperience with handguns you have, but the following link might be helpful in making your choice. Good luck, and keep us posted.
Mack

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=3195

[thoughtomator]

If you plan to use it to stop a person, some hollow-point ammo (if legal in your area) might be useful. For personal defense, you'll want a semiautomatic and not a revolver. More important than which gun you choose is to learn how to maintain and handle it properly, and how to shoot accurately. Go to the gun store and put your hands on a few and feel out what is comfortable for you. Also, remember that kids can climb extraordinarily well, so if your safety method is to keep it out of reach, make sure there is no way for the kids to climb up to where it's stored.

[Casloy]

Glock 21, which is a 45 caliber. If you miss it will make so much noise he'll have a heart attack. But, learn how to use it. The Glock doesn't have a safety, however it also won't go off if you drop it. I am assuming you will have to take safety courses to get the permit, which is a good thing. I would also invest in a quick open safe box and a trigger lock for when it is at home.

[PAR35]

would obviously keep this unloaded and up high when at home.

High up isn't really that good of an idea. If yours aren't old enough to start stacking stools on top of chairs as they climb, they soon will be. If you aren't going to have it ready around the house, get a small safe to lock it up at home. In the car, remember, if it accessible to you, it is accessible to them, unless it is strapped to your body.

[Jaysun]

.40 caliber Smith & Wesson. Model: SW40VE


I find that the .40 caliber Smith & Wesson is perfect. It isn't "too much" gun and it isn't a pea shooting .22 either. This gun only weighs 24 ounces and is 7" long. It holds 10 rounds. It can be bought at any S&W dealer for under $400.

[Happygal]

I am Irish, born, bred, and living, and therefore the biggest weapon we are allowed to use legally is clunking each other over the heads with empty Guinnes bottles, and slapping each other in the face with freshly caught bass or Salmon (as long as we only catch two at a time!)

Therefore, if I was allowed to have gun...I think I'd like...a VERY big on! ;-)

...so many politicians, so little time!

[Jaysun]

I am Irish, born, bred, and living, and therefore the biggest weapon we are allowed to use legally is clunking each other over the heads with empty Guinnes bottles, and slapping each other in the face with freshly caught bass or Salmon (as long as we only catch two at a time!)

LOL! Máthair's Athair de Baileyborough, County Down, Ireland

[Happygal]

*LOL*...Jaysis..us Paddy's pop up all over the place! *LOL*

[Happygal]

BTW, if you need a refresher course on the auld Gaelige, look me up! ;-)

Tá brón orm...táim ag gáire!

[Jaysun]

BTW, if you need a refresher course on the auld Gaelige, look me up! ;-)

Right, I'm terrible at it. My wife is from Germany, so the second language that we taught our kids is German. Anyway, nice to meet ya happygal!

[Happygal]

Nice to meet you too!

It's not often I come across another person on Freerepublic willing to offer a couple of words in Irish!

Mighty impressed, so I am! :-)

[gcruse]

Me? I'm just one step above wuss. But then, I got it in trade for a TV set. It's a .38 cal S&W revolver.

[WFTR]

First, I'd suggest taking a handgun safety and home defense course. I took one before I bought my first gun, and it was tremendously helpful. I took it from a local police department through an adult education program. The NRA also offers similar courses. If you aren't comfortable taking the course through a local group, the NRA could probably help you find a place to take it that would be a few hours away. That distance might be enough to let you take it without attracting notice.

Secondly, when I was active in guns, the standard recommendation for a home defense gun was a six-shot revolver with a four-inch barrel made by Smith&Wesson, Ruger, or Colt. Personally, I still think that kind of gun would be hard to beat for someone interested only in home defense. I think Taurus has risen to have a reputation in the same league with the three manufacturers listed above, so I'd throw their offerings into the mix. If you bought that gun and practiced with it a little bit, you'd be in a good position to handle most home defense situations.

I'll suggest two variations on the theme. If you think you might enjoy shooting, you can consider a six-inch barrel. The longer barrel makes the gun easier to aim and more fun to shoot. If you can obtain a concealed carry permit, you might consider a short-nosed revolver that carries only five rounds. These guns are still very reliable and require much less expertise than a semi-automatic would.

WFTR
Bill

[KrisKrinkle]

"...don't want to ask local officials,..."

That's an interesting comment coming from a prosecutor.
Unless you're going to carry concealed without a permit (and therefor probably illegally) you're going to have to talk to someone fairly local sooner or later.

"...would obviously keep this unloaded and up high when at home."

Your implication is that the chances of a family member misusing a weapon in your home are greater than the chances of your threatener(s) carrying out the threat in your home--and probably harming your family as well as you. For the sake of your family you better be right.

[bamafan93]

Smith & Wesson .357 .. There is no substitute ...

[FateAmenableToChange]

The revolver suggestion is the best one if you're just starting out. If you want a semi-auto, remember that there's a reason most police departments carry Glocks. If it's home defense, forget the handgun and get a Mossberg 590, create a safe room into which you can quickly pack wife and kids when something goes bump in the night. For CCW, I've owned a Berretta 92FS Centurian, a Berretta 96 (.40), a Kimber 1911 (.45), a Glock 26 (9mm subcompact), a Glock 23 (.40 compact), a HK USP C (.45 compact), a S&W .357 with a 6 inch barrel, and a few others I can't remember. I only carry the Glocks for CCW now - no levers to mess up or think about on the draw and reliability that is almost as good as a revolver.

[HairOfTheDog]

For personal defense, you'll want a semiautomatic and not a revolver.

Why do you say that? I would recommend a revolver for simplicity and ease of upkeep as a first gun. A .357 is hard to beat as a self-defense gun.

More important than which gun you choose is to learn how to maintain and handle it properly, and how to shoot accurately. Go to the gun store and put your hands on a few and feel out what is comfortable for you.

This was good advice. He should find someone he can learn from and go shooting in helping him decide.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Could you ping the usual suspects to help this FReeper out?