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.

[Travis McGee]

I want to add a little bit more of a plug for revolvers as your initial choice. Revolvers are "intuitive." You see where the bullets go in the cylinder, you pull the trigger and it works. This is very important for a novice shooter! You will be ready to defend yourself the first day.

With autos, there is a serious "screwup factor" to contend with as a novice which can prove fatal. When someone is breaking into your house and your adreneline pumps from a deep sleep, is NOT the time to wonder, "Did I chamber a round last month? Should I rack the slide to make sure? Do I have to put the safety up or down for shooting?" And so on. These mental doubts cause hesitation and can cause mistakes, leading you to jam your own gun half-racking your slide (checking your chamber) etc.

This will NOT happen with a revolver, every. You see the 5 or 6 loaded bullets peaking out of the cylinder. You pull the trigger, it goes BANG! Period. No mental screwup factor.

Autos are better for pros or serious shooters who go to the range a lot. Revolvers are better for novices, and those who just want protection, not a new hobby.

Another factor: you can hand your revolver to a complete novice (a wife or friend who's being stalked for example) and he/she will have protection right away. A five minute safety lesson, dry fire it a few times, and they will be able to effectively use the gun for self defense at inside the room ranges. You cannot do this with an autopistol: there are to many permutations to absorb in a quick verbal lesson.

Good luck!

[Lurker]

A 5 or 6 shot revolver chambered for .357 magnum. Load it with .38 Special rounds. Practice and carry with those rounds.

Taurus and S & W make good pistols. Either brand will serve you for the rest of your life.

L

[Attman]

Cool sig line!

[Barnacle]

Keep it simple. And, keep it handy.

Get a .38 revolver with a two inch barrel. Stay away from automatics. Sure, they can do great things. But, that's only if you are proficient. They can get you in a load of trouble in a panic situation.

Keep it loaded with hollow points and keep it loaded always. Unless you can use it NOW, it's useless. There are small key-less safes that are perfect for the bedroom.

Get training and get practice. The gun has to become an extension of yourself if you can ever hope to use it in a crisis situation. Best of luck.

BTW, Can you also get a restraining order against that garbage just so you don't have to hear his threats?

[Shooter 2.5]

Freep the poll.

http://www.ashlandwi.com/

[sgtbono2002]

this is my choice also the 38 ammo is a lot cheaper for practice firing, although I use the 357 ammo when I am not practicing. Semi -auto's sometimes jam and if your weapon is for slef- defense you dont need to shoot a lot of bullets , just one that fires simply and easily, and hits what you point it at. Revolvers always fire, just cock 'er back and let 'er rip.

[B4Ranch]

Choice Out Of 280 Votes
Residents should be allowed to carry gun 55%

Governor never should have vetoed law 8%

Issue should be dropped 1%

Let individual counties decide 1%

Keep 130-year ban in place 35%

[SoDak]

.50AE 6-inch Desert Eagle Mark XIX pistol

[Blood of Tyrants]

I would either get a double action revolver in .357 mag or a semi-auto in .40 S&W or .45 that would fire double action on the first round with no safety (none is required since the hammer is down on the first round, jus tlike a revolver). The EAA Witness comes to mind. Great gun that won't break the bank. In an emergency safeties get in the way.

Get your CC permit and carry a lightweight .38 or .357 mag DA revolver available from several companies companies. Avoid the temptation to go cheap, because cheap will break long before a better gun and usually when you need it most.

Practice with it until you can load it in the dark and get your wife to practice EVEN IF she hates guns. She will quickly change her mind if that nutjob tries to break in when you are out of town.

[Barnacle]

Been there. Freeped that.

[freedomlover]

I agree on the validity of a revolver. I have come full circle from revolvers to semiautos back to revolvers. Carry a 357 Airlight on my ankle wherever legal in Ga. I have done a LOT of range time and even a Glock will fail sometimes. I have never had a revolver fail. If you have a dud you just, well, pull again. My suggestion is a 357 revolver for carry, the semiautos for fun.

You semiauto buffs begin your retort with a report on whether or not your semiautos have EVER jammed.

[Mulder]

You semiauto buffs begin your retort with a report on whether or not your semiautos have EVER jammed.

I've put over 5,000 rounds through my SIGs and have never had a jam.

The only non-ammo related problem I've ever had was when a round stovepiped on a Sig P245. That was during the first 200 rounds, which I consider a break-in period.

My preference for semi-autos is simply because that is what I learned first, so I'm most comfortable with them.

[Blue Collar Christian]

You gotta admit the 625 for $300 was a real bargain. I paid that kind of money for a 696 and LOVE that gun. Unbelievably smooth and accurate. Not bad to carry for a 220 pounder, but I wonder for a smaller person.

[TC Rider]

That Tarus .38 Ultra-Lite is tough on the hands when shooting +p rounds but still is a very sweet concealed carry choice for smaller persons.

I'm a big guy and find it very easy practice with regular 158gr for practice. I wouldn't want to fire hundreds of the +p rounds, but I blow off a round every practice and it stings a bit, but quits hurting when I quit shooting.

The porting helps control a bit, but needs to be considered as a source of pain if you get into a retention situation (better scorch marks on your belly than dead). However, snubbies are at their most devasting if you can deliver a contact wound to some bad guy.

I love the light weight, 13.7 oz unloaded it floats in my pocket.

[TC Rider]

You gotta admit the 625 for $300 was a real bargain. I paid that kind of money for a 696 and LOVE that gun. Unbelievably smooth and accurate. Not bad to carry for a 220 pounder, but I wonder for a smaller person.

The N frames are not for everybody for carry, but make anyone a great piece to keep in the nightstand. The Mountain Gun versions are great for bear country.

Bears or bad guys, a .45, 230 grain flying ashtray that expands to .75 has gotta hurt.

[TC Rider]

I borrowed it from a list they used to keep at Gunzone.

[TC Rider]

Remember, there are plenty of pro-Second Amendment guys out here without guns that are really glad you guys have a fun hobby.

I'll take a non-shooting supporter of the 2nd any day, over a hunter who thinks that RKBA isn't his fight.

[Drammach]

I'm probably chiming in kinda late here, but here's my 2 cents worth..

For a male of average hgt/wgt or larger, a good quality .45 cal or .357 cal revolver is probably best.
I don't recommend the 2" or even 3" barrel, I prefer a 4" or greater.. 5" to 5 1/2" is best.. ( If you MUST get a "detective" type, get the 3", it's going to be a little more accurate.)
I prefer a Heavy frame weapon, in either caliber, but especially for .357, as it helps to negate the difference between "practice" shooting with .38 sp, and "real" shooting with .357 mag... (There is a difference in recoil, and noise.. a discernable difference..)
While the .45 is my personal favorite sidearm, the .357 is my favorite at the range.. (weird, huh? ) partially because of ammo costs..
I can buy ammo from reloaders, and often get .38 sp. "wadcutters" just for punching holes in paper..
For carry, semi-wadcutter or hollow points are nice..

For a .45, there are "specialty" loads available, including shot shells.. (someone mentioned them earlier.. something like a #9 bird shot [my fav..] is available, as well as other pellet sizes)
If eyesight is any sort of a problem, or lack of accuracy, new glasses or practice is preferred, respectively , but in certain circumstances, specialty rounds may meet the requirement for the task at hand..

One last thing.. KIDS & GUNS..
As someone said earlier, don't hide your guns from your kids, don't make them a "secret", because secrets are temptations. ( Let them "share" the secret, as you don't necessarilly want them bragging around school and neighborhood that you have a gun, either. )
Your kids need to know what the gun is, touch it, understand what it can do, that it's dangerous, and that they are never to play with it, and only touch it or handle it when they are with you and have your permission.
When they are old enough, (generally about 10 yrs.) start them out with a .22 and take them shooting with you.
Take them to an outdoor range with you so they can see and hear guns.. ( bring hearing protection, they're kids, their ears are much more sensitive than yours. )
If possible, show them the damage a gun can do..
Some gunshops and shooting ranges will have "target blocks" set up that are made of clay or plastic that show penetration, spread, and damage caused by specific ammo..
There is probably literature and video available that does the same thing... Some possibly geared for kids and younger shooters, designed to instill a sense of responsibility... ( If there isn't, there should be, all you entrepeneurs out there.. )

Last but not least, impress upon them that they are NEVER to point a gun at anyone.
Because, "If you shoot someone and they die, they are DEAD, and they will NEVER come back."..
NRA has a fairly good program, called "Eddie Eagle" that teaches kids about gun safety..

I would suggest finding a certified NRA instructor and getting training for your ENTIRE FAMILY..
Whether they want it or not.. This is not an issue for "discussion"..
If there is going to be a gun in the house, EVERY member of the family is responsible...

Hope I haven't scared you off..
The Gun, while not the only means of self-defence, is still one of the best..
Get two. (2).. One for carry, and one for the home, when you're away.. ( Yes, your spouse needs to learn how to defend herself when you're away.. Tell her to get used to it. )

Good hunting..

[SLB]

I would advise all concerned, however, not to divulge any personal details of what they might individually own on a public forum such as this.

Good advice.