Posted on 11/23/2010 4:41:59 PM PST by pepsi_junkie
It’s the consumables. Just like buying a printer, you will spend much more on toner-ammo than u will on the printer-gun.
Someone else had it right. Find the ammo you think is sufficient, readily available and cheap. Then, find the gun that shoots that ammo.
I chose 9mm and 7.62x39. So I bought a Ruger P89 revolver and a Ruger Mini-30.
Both cartridges are widely available and cheap. Police and military use 9mm so that will always be around. 7.62x39 is cheap and widely available.
Consider a 20 gauge, youth model shotgun, which is easy to point, as effective as you would ever need, and does not send bullets through your house and into the neighbors’ as most rifles will. The 20 gauge and youth features (as opposed to 12 and full sized) are because the little lady will be blasting bad guys with it. Can’t beat the Remington 870 pump, which will probably still go bang when the End Times are upon us. Buck or number 4-6 shot would likely work pretty well. A handgun as a first gun can be awfully frustrating.
I came here, basically to say exactly this. I keep a .357 for home defense, with the nice feature of being able to shoot cheap .38 wadcutters at the range. My wife has a “Lady Smith” .38+p, which is nice, and substantially more powerful than regular .38 loads.
I’ve got, well, “used to have” semi-autos as well. They are nice, but one stovepipe jam can ruin your whole home invasion experience. With a wheel gun, you just can’t go wrong in an emergency. And with .357 magnum, even if you miss, the report and flash will likely scare the assailant to death. There are special home defense rounds too which minimize collateral backstop damage.
My 2 cents.
Well said. Re this part: “And remember a pistol is what you use to fight your way back to your carbine.” That’s why I have a 9mm in a safe in the storm room. If the SHTF, it’s there - for fighting to the long rifle safe. And my CMMG M-4 with an Eotech sight and mags!
A .45 probably is a lot of gun for most women. Some women of my acquaintance are even a bit overwhelmed with the 9mm. I’d be somewhat concerned about recoil with a shotgun as well. Maybe the best advice is for pepsi_junkie
to take his wife to the range and try some rental guns to see what she’s comfortable with.
I’m female, average size — guy at gun store suggested Ruger SP101 revolver — .357 magnum. Small pistol and not hard to handle. Only practicing over and over and over at gun range made my hand/arm a little sore.
Gun shop owner said for home protection, a box or two of ammo should be all one needs — the gun was, as I recall, at least $600 + tax. This was back in ‘08, after the election. I am REALLY glad I made the purchase!
I have an SP101 too and love it. It is rugged,reliable and easy to shoot. It is one of my conceal guns.
Re the Ruger SP101 — I recommended it in another post. Thanks for the photo — that looks like mine — the short barrel is the one I have —
Do you have it in .357 or .327?
I believe that the statistics on gun ownership and use favor the homeowner or person defending themselves against the criminals. Most criminals unless they are insane or are professional criminals are afraid of guns being used against them and will leave the premises if they see a homeowner or victim with a gun. Most times just showing a gun will make the criminal leave. The number of times that the gun is actually fired is small, the number of times that the criminal is actually shot is even smaller and the criminal actually dying is even smaller.
Many people here talk about “stopping power” or “knockdown power” and recommend large caliber weapons and many very expensive H&K and Sig Sauer pistols (near $1000).
Ask yourself if you've ever been shot or shot anyone. Would you like to get shot with a puny .22? Would it hurt? Would you like to get shot with a 9mm or .45 caliber? Would it really hurt? Would you want to hang around after getting shot with even a .22? I wouldn't. Maybe I'm a wuss or a girly man.
If the Terminator or Rambo is going to invade your house soon, you might need a bigger gun than a 9mm or a .38 but I doubt the “regular” criminal is going to hang around after being shot with a 9mm or a 38 or even a .22. If they do, you might consider moving to a better neighborhood or getting a very large gun. Most criminals are not the Terminator or Rambo.
You might consider getting 2 different weapons, one for you and one for your wife. Be sure she can handle the trigger or the slide and that it fits her hand and that she knows how to use it and is not afraid of it.
RE: “Do you have it in .357 or .327?”
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I have the .357 — short barrel though.... Feels pretty comfortable in the hand.
I bought it for home protection —
If you live in a CCW state and have a permit you have “about town” and “home defense” considerations. About town you have a small gun with the best performance for you. I have CCW and my choice is a pocket carry 40 cal Semi-auto or in winter a 1911 high capacity 45ACP. At home you can use the CCW to fight your way to a better gun. Myself, I have a Mossberg 500 12ga (sometimes slugs, sometimes buckshot depending on bear threat). Thinking of pulling the Springfield Armory MiA Match grade 308 out of the safe due to greater magazine capacity. If someone broke in the dogs would be all over them. I would need to make a precision shot to avoid hurting my dogs. I wish the worst on crimminals so they would get what they deserve.
The thing I like about Hornady Critical Defense is for the short barrel pistols in 9mm, where the bullet hardly has a chance to get moving. The engineering behind it id genius, and you’ll get maximum effectiveness in a marginal circumstance. 45 is easy-peasy, but I’d still trust the geniuses at Hornady .
Was 1977 a good year ?!
I have recently purchased one, very accurate. Also corrected tendency to anticipate when using 9mm.
Ammo is inexpensive,Wally world has 550 rds for approx 20.00.
A few thoughts -
1. Its all mental. Any decent gun will work.
2. Physical issues - can your wife handle loading, trigger pull, etc. Pulling back slides and loading some of these semis is not for feeble hands. Nothing personal.
3. Go to a range that rents and try some stuff out.
4. Something that no one ever mentions - possibly include under mental control issues - when practicing, most people wear headphones. If you fire one of these in an enclosed hallway - expect near deafening sound. Again - psychological preparation.
Personally I like CZ-83 in 380ACP. I like how it fits my hand, and handles. I saw many fancy names on the list - but few mentioned Bersa - good budget gun with first class handling. Bersa 380ACP is too small for me - but the Thunder 9mm ultra compact (copy of Walther 99) is nice.
But see list of priorities. It is mental, then physical, then caliber, then model.
A woman would like the sweet trigger pull force of the Cz-83.
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