#4 shot, 135 pellets/oz - For the friends & family drywall equation.
#4 buck, 27 pellets/oz – for the removal of unwanted meat and bone.
Just add a few large and loyal dogs to 'buy' you a few seconds, and ta-da, home defense on the cheap.
First, a weapon for home defense is not a weapon for concealed carry. You need at least two weapons if you address these different issues. If you want ONLY a handgun answer, try the reasonably priced Taurus OSS DS 45 ACP with 12 round mags for home defense with laser hanging under the frame, and a CZ 82 in 9x18 MAkarov for carry. But personally, I would also have at least a Maverick 88 pump in 20 gage, with a bandolier of slugs and buckshot to go to once you’ve engaged with the taurus OSS DS. [I like the hammerless DS because you can have a live round chambered with 12 in the mag, and the first shot is double action with the next twelve single action. The gun is also very reliable in my experience and effective with hollow points.]
USP is an ok gun- a bit light. A good rule of thumb is to use the largest handgun that you can shoot accurately, and then you just scale back for the concealed carry. I use a Springfield Armory Mil-spec in .45 ACP- if it comes down to something bad I might not get in more than a couple of shots, and I want them to count. A 9mm doesn’t always deliver.
Borrow or rent a variety to shoot and see what feels right in your hand and what points naturally.
Well, you did ask...
I tried the USP .45 compact for a while, but finally switched to a smaller, lighter gun. Two issues with it: the stocks (”Grips”) are too big for most people making it harder to shoot well, and it’s smarter than I am. By that I mean that the “decocker-saftey” thingy gives you a lot more options than you really want if you have to use it in a high-stress situation. I got around this by carrying decocked, hammer down, though the gun is also designed to carry cocked, safety on.
I’ve found that a good M1911A1 full sized pistol is a lot more practical. It’s slimmer, very easy to conceal, and you get used to the weight. And everyone I’ve ever met shoots a full sized pistol better than a compact. With one spare magazine, you have 15 rounds of .45ACP. I figure if I can’t solve my particular problem with that, I’m probably not going to solve it with an additional 9mm rounds.
These standard calibers have affordable reloaded bullets too. Don't buy anything that's very complicated. Revolvers and simple automatic pistols (the Colt 1911, the Browning Hi Power, the Glock, etc.) are best. If you had to use a pistol in a high stress situation, you don't want something that's going to be complicated. In my opinion, only use a pistol if a shotgun isn't available or practical for the purpose.
Remember this too. Any gun you use may end up as a piece of evidence in your trial. A normal fire arm might help people think of you as a normal gun owner and not a person keen to have a gunfight. It could matter in my humble opinion.
#4 shot, 135 pellets/oz - For the friends & family drywall equation.
#4 buck, 27 pellets/oz – for the removal of unwanted meat and bone.
Just add a few large and loyal dogs to 'buy' you a few seconds, and ta-da, home defense on the cheap.
Ask yourself *honestly* how large a gun you are *really* going to carry every day, through all your normal activities. Most likely the answer is something a whole lot smaller than most of the options being discussed on this thread. About 3/4ths of successful self-defense uses of a gun don’t involve firing it, so the “firepower” issue is usually a moot point. Most criminals will change their plans when they see their intended victim pointing a gun at them — any gun.
The only gun that’s going to help you when the chips are down, is a gun you actually have with you. In my case, that’s a KelTec P32. No, it doesn’t have massive firepower, but it’s got plenty to change the mind of 99.99% of thugs who go around attacking random citizens. And I have it in the pocket of my running shorts when I’m out running, which is as likely a time as any for some thug to get an idea to attack me. I’m a 120 pound female. If you’re a bigger guy, you could probably tote the KelTec P38 around with you pretty much all the time.
I have nothing against bigger guns. My arsenal includes a .357 Magnum and 9mm Browning Hi-Power. On a couple of occasions when I was heading somewhere that seemed particularly risky, I’ve packed the Browning (e.g. in one case, to see a remote residential property which was being sold in foreclosure, and whose pissed-off foreclosee had been convicted for bigtime drug-dealing and was living in a little house right next door). But no way it is going jogging with me, or even being carried around in my handbag every time I go shopping.
The HKs are nice, but I’m still a Sig fan. There is also a great case to be made for a 1911 which would probably be my next gun since I’ve already got a pair of Sigs.
The .45 is probably your best choice for a defensive caliber but make sure you train and practice. It doesn’t matter how big the holes would be if you miss. . .
hand gun ping
My go to guns are a Glock 19, Glock 26 and a Walther P-99..all in 9mm.
My J frame 38 special model 642 is in my pocket most of the time too
Hey SnakeDoc,
Check out this neat little package from Sig Sauer which I am considering. It is a great value and can meet a shooter’s needs across a wide spectrum.
http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=54&productid=281
One of the things you need to check out thoroughly is whether the gun will handle hollow points without jamming. Which is why a small revolver might be a good idea. Revolvers don’t care what kind of bullet goes into the gun, they just fire. Many semi-autos do care and they will jam with Hydro-Shocks or other hollow points.
Another issue that is generally not dealt with is that a semi-auto can be disabled if the top of the magazines are dented or bent. That denting or bending can happen if you store your mags in a field bag and they bang around around for a while. I have had this happen and it has put me off semis for a while. I am going to be changing over to a non-semi in the next year or so.
Revolvers can be quickly loaded using moon clips and that shouldn’t be a real consideration. Most encounters (95%?)with perps end after your gun is shown. Of the rest, most perps will voluntariy exit at high speed after you fire the first shot.
The remaining few will require puttin’ steel on target quickly and you are not going to be able to afford to have a jammed gun.
I REALLY like my .45 Glock. However, they are a bit pricey new... you may be able to get one used that fits into your desired price-range.
PSA opportunity ping.
Get a SIG Sauer. Trust me on this. The Secret Service, Navy Seals, and a plethora of other high speed low drag units use the SIG’s... These are guys the don’t go by the lowest bidder mantra.
I’ve been carrying a SIG P226 for well over a decade and I never have to worry about it not working or that it might Kb on me.
Avoid polymer frame handguns. They are susceptable to UV light which will make the polymer brittle over time. Or, as many of my customers say... fantastic plastic, the 20 year disposable handgun.
We really can’t help you.
Go to a IDPA match in your area and ask a lot of questions. The guns used for IDPA are really close to what you need for CCW.
How about a Ruger LCP380? I’m thinking of getting it for my CW.
Now I’m going to make a recomendation that will get me flamed, but it is a gun that is becoming common with those whose shooting skills I immensely respect.
The Bond Arms .45/410 two shot derringer.
The load for the .410 is not bird shot, but buck shot for a defensive scenario. Six wound channels per shot or if you get the sightly longer barrel 8. Hard to survive
It fits in your pocket and can be drawn more rapidly than one that is in an inside the belt holster.
For a third of the price you can get different barrels, 22LR through .45 cal only.
This is the one I am going to get.
It is highly recommended by people who really know their pistols.
Of all the guns you listed, the Glock 19 is the most appropriate for an “all around” handgun. The USP is a nice pistol, but far too large for concealed carry. If you want one, by all means get it, but don’t get it because you trhink you can carry it comfortably. It wasn’t intended for concealed carry.
Concealed carry 1911s are very nice, but they’re light, small and not much fun to shoot due to recoil. I love my Sigs, but I rarely carry them concealed. They’re too big, and the P229 is one of the heavier models.
I personally have no use for the Walther P99. If you really want one, get a Smith and Wesson SW99. It’s the same gun, made under license, and cheap. If you like Walther, take a look at the PPS. It’s extremely light and thin, excellent for concealed carry. It is also not a chore to practice with it in .40 caliber, which brings me to another good carry gun. Take a look at the Kahr P-9. The full size one is an accurate pistol, good shooter, and also very thin. The PM-9 takes some practice to master its rather stout recoil. The .40 caliber versions of these guns are, IMO, torture to shoot. I was offered an almost new P-40 at half the retail price. I shot five rounds through it and said, “No way.” For some reason, recoil is significantly harder than the 9mm versions.
You might also look at the Glock 26 and 27. The .40 caliber G-27 is another one with recoil issues, and it takes some practice to ensure that it doesn’t jam. This practice will not be fun. The 9mm is noticeably easier to control and more reliable. I know quite a few people who carry the mid size Glocks, either the 19 or the .40 caliber G-23. They’re light, relatively thin, and fairly comfortable for all day carry.
They’re also relatively inexpensive. If you’re going to carry it, you’re going to beat on it. It is something to think about. Will it bother you that a $1,000 handgun is getting beat up as you carry it?