[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!

[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.

[Tijeras_Slim]

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

[Tijeras_Slim]

A lot of it depends on how familiar you are with firearms and how much you can practice. For simplicity, the revolver is hard to beat, and my preference is a Smith K-frame .357 (which will also shoot .38 Special ammo for practice). If you have the time to learn how to safely use an auto (although some are as simple as revolvers), I recommend a small .45 in the 1911 style, such as by Kimber or Springfield.

Of course, just about any gun is better than nothing if you need it.

[Pharmboy]

The gentleman who suggested the S&W .40 is, of course, correct. Big bang, relatively small frame. I like my 9mm Taurus but it helps to have larger hands for this baby.

[TroutStalker]

I have a .45 cal Glock 30, and my wife has a S&W .38 special revolver, my daughter has a .45 colt, son-in-law .40 S&W. My carry holster is a shoulder rig, the women have purses with a gun compartment.

I had a CC permit for ten years in my former state of residence, but Kansas doesn't permit. That, however, doesn't stop me. You will have to catch me first to prosecute me.

[Double Tap]

A few questions first.

Are you female or male?

If female, how strong are your hands? How large are your hands?

And one comment. Keeping the gun unloaded and up out of reach sounds like a good idea, until you need it. Better to keep the gun where you can get at it and use it. Education of the children is the way to prevent accidents, not hiding it away where it is useless.

[TC Rider]

What Type of Handgun Would You/Do You Own For Personal Protection?

I always carry a snub-nosed .38 in my pocket loaded with +p Federal Nyclad hollow points.

When weather permits, I carry a S&W 625 revolver in .45 acp.

Images are not to scale, trust me the .45 is bigger than the .38

Both are utterly, absolutely reliable. If I thought I might have an encounter with a pissed off meth head, I might feel the .38 was not enough gun. But then, if I knew I was going to a gunfight, I'd take the shotgun.

Home defense? Shotgun loaded with 00 buck. A Remington 870 or Mossberg 590 with a Surefire fore-end will do the job nicely. Then buy yourself a Second chance vest. Keep the pockets loaded with reloads, a light, a handgun and a cell phone. Keep the straps open on one side so you can slip it on quickly and stash it under the bed. As previously noted by another poster, have a plan and safe room and make sure your family knows the plan.

Go to a range and rent them all. Once you decide on armament be sure to get some training. FWIW, I recently took a tactical shotgun class, I was amazed how little I knew and how wrongheaded I was with what I thought I knew.

[Centurion2000]

I will recommend two .... Taurus 605 5 shot 38/357 double action revolver (very concealable) and a Baby Eagle in .45ACP.

use the Taurus until you are comfortable carrying every day around your kids.

then kick it up to the Baby Eagle.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

A good and inexpensive first handgun would be a 2 or 3 inch barrel .357.

A used sp101 from ruger should be easy to find around two hundred bucks.
A fairly stiff trigger so you don't fire by accident.
A .357 in hydrashocks or glazers or jacketed hollow points are all good rounds. .38 wadcutters for practice, practice, practice.

Pretty concealable. Don't lock it up at home, keep it loaded and on your person and on your nightstand when you sleep. The family will get used to it.


Don't hide it from the kids. They will find it.

[Kadric]

Mine is a 1911 .45, My wife has a Hi-power and my mother in law has a S&W M-19. If you are not familiar with handguns and don't plan on spending the time and money to build experience with a semi-auto then you best bet is a good double action revolver with a couple speed loaders.