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.22 magnum revolver mine is a taurus w/4” barrel. no fuss, nothing to confuse you & low recoil. get a lot of practice with low cost ammo & then move on to whatever your heart desires...
Since by now you’ve been inundated with the conventional wisdom, might I suggest a Holland & Holland double in .416 Rigby just in case you have to shoot through the engine blocks of 2 Ford F-250’s to kill the bad guy.
A recommendation directly from Ted Nugent to me (and now to you):
A handgun that can fire a 0.410 saboted deer slug (I like “The Judge”). The recoil is minimal, the take-down is exceptional even if off-COM and, since in most home situations the shot is less than 25 feet, if you are off-target the first time, just keep pulling the trigger until the perp quits twitching.
Beyond-target issues are small as the slug will get slowed by the “construction material” it impacts; your neighbors are not in danger.
Like many replies already here, I am a fan of the “wheel gun” or revolver and would suggest such. I purchased a Taurus .38 small frame new a few years ago for $285 as carry/defense gun and it’s mind-numbingly simple to shoot and take care of. I would suggest the same for someone new to handguns or who would be a self-defense only type shooter with minimal gun knowledge.
My standard recommendation for someone who wants a handgun for home defense, but isn’t particularly “into” guns: Ruger GP100 4” barrel .357 Magnum revolver(or similar revolver)
It’s simple to operate and gives you a wide range of options for ammo. You can shoot everything from powderpuff 38 Special range or target ammo to 38 Special +P defensive ammo
to high powered 357 magnum ammo.
Nothing wrong with 9mm if you’re interested in a semi-auto. I’d suggest checking out the Ruger SR9, Springfield XDM9, or the Smith & Wesson M&P 9 models with a thumb safety. Can’t say I’m a fan of semi-autos that have a relatively light trigger pull and only have a trigger safety for a beginner. Here’s a photo of a competition shooter with “glock leg”(some of his t-shirt got into his holster when he holstered the pistol and pulled the trigger when he moved) http://myweb.cableone.net/uziforme/gsw.jpg
FWIW, I have semi-autos from 22LR to 45ACP and revolvers from 22LR to 45ACP, but a Ruger GP100 loaded with 38 Special +P hollowpoints is my primary defense firearm because it’s what my wife prefers to shoot and I know it’s effective enough to get the job done.
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’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 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.
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.
Buy used a Smith & Wesson .44 Special revolver. Cheap, simple, reliable, big hole, not much recoil.
I was just thinking the other day that there hasn’t been good gun thread for a good long time. So thanks for bringing it up.
My thoughts:
Revolvers have military type reliability, meaning they always fire. There is no section in the manual entitled “Clearing a jam” because they don’t need it.
The pistol you and your wife start with is probably not the pistol you will finish with. They tend to propagate over time.
I have small hands and have found that the 1911 A1 frame, which was developed when people were smaller (1911), is one of the few semi autos that fit my hand comfortably. Because the revolver handle is frequently conical in shape, I have yet to handle a revolver that did not fit my hand. Do not overlook this issue as it is very important as your wife will shoot less if the gun is uncomfortable.
Semi-autos are a pain to clean and unlike a revolver they must be kept squeaky clean or they will jam unless you blow tons of cash on a glock or sig. No need to. The revolver is easy to clean.
The Taurus Judge, because of the huge sales over the last couple of years, has become it’s own product line and there is probably one that will suit both you and your wife. The Taurus .45/.410 is surprisingly small and is easily handled as well as being fairly reasonable. I have heard good reports on their effectiveness.
There has developed a confusion between defensive shooting and tactical shooting, which generally occurs at longer distances with a spectacular amount of ammunition used. The normal defensive shooting scenario occurs at 10 to 12 feet and 3 to 5 shots in total are fired as opposed to multiple clips (especially in New York City..rolls eyes). So the need for massive amounts of ammo is not so great as it would be at say 40 feet against a perp who is determined to commit “suicide by cop”.
Mechanical considerations:
Most semis will jam and they sometimes will not be able to use hollow points or cheaper ammunition. Wolf brand ammo is known to malfunction in many semis, but is still good cheap ammo. You may not find this out until your first gun fight. I have had a number of semis jam on me and usually the jam is cleared by ejecting the round by sliding the slide back. I have had two jams that did not clear this way and they had to cleared by holding the slide back and picking the round out with my fingers. Had I been in a fight at the time, I would not be here.
I will be switching over to revolvers this year as a result of those experiences.
Using reloads in a semi will probably jam the gun and will void most warranties. Reloads cost 1/4 or much less than new factory automation. My reloads cost 1/10th of best factory cost.
It is not unusual for a pistol shooter to go through 80 to 120 dollars of factory ammo in a single shooting session. The reloaded ammo might cost you 10 to 20 dollars for the same number of rounds. Both of you need to go through a good number of rounds to train yourselves to shoot well.
You can reload reduced recoil training rounds that will shoot in a revolver but which will not do not do well at all in a semi. They may not provide enough recoil to cycle the gun and you will end up having to clear jams.
One of the more interesting things you can do with a revolver, but cannot do with a semi is to shoot wax rounds at short distances. They are accurate out to about 30 feet but cost about 5 cents apiece. This is particulary valuable when you want to learn how to draw quickly and shoot. It is a good way to teach women to draw their pistol from their purse as the round will not hurt her or anyone else. The draw, by the way, is not just a draw but the draw plus shooting accurately.
Recoil:
Recoil is quite sujective. I do not like the small high-speed calibers that have quick recoil as it creates a problem with getting the barrel down for the second shot. The recoil on a .45 to me is much less than most other calibers because it is slow, 900 FPS as compared to 1200 or so for a 9MM.
Calibers:
.45
I like .45 Long Colt and ACP (I will be dropping ACP this year). Most fun you can have with a gun. Recoil can be light to heavy depending on how you load the round. Wax rounds are a easily made and used in this caliber and reloading is quite easy.
.40 I have no experience with this caliber, but ammo availibility may be an issue.
.380
Owned one, hated it, jammed continuously and was a real a pain to clean (semi). Never again.
9MM
I am not at all sure that this is a good round for defensive actions, but may be suitable for tactical shooting. Lots of complaints from the military on this round as it doesn’t necessarily take the perp down as does a .45 ACP.
.357
May be your second gun. Or you can shoot .38 special for training and fun. I dislike the recoil.
.38 Special
These are great rounds, but you may have to use hollow points for defensive purposes. Recoil is slow at 1080 FPS.
.32
Don’t bother. In Texas, we don’t even give these mouse pistols to ten year old girls.
Closing comments:
I have been on hundreds of this type of thread and I can make this statement:
“Many 9MM and smaller shooters are very concerned about the number of rounds that they can store in their pistol. I have never seen even one .45 shooter express that sentiment. One is enough.”
The Taurus is quite effective as a defensive weapon using either .45 long colt or .410 shotgun shell. Use the “Handgun .410” that are produced by either Federal or Winchester as they do not have a shotcup which would spread the shot. 3 inch spread at 10 feet. 3 or four .36 caliber rounds in the perp with penetration of 15 inches. Lethal.
I was in on the tail end of a discussion with a guy who had used the .45/.410 Bond Arms Derringer for defense at 10 feet or so. Perp collapsed like he had a bank vault dropped on him and died before the EMS could get there. Very effective. Probably could be a second or third pistol as you need to learn to shoot before getting something this specialized.
All of the best pistol shots I know, and I am talking people who can put pistol rounds into a 2 1/2 inch circle at 100 yards, are revolver shooters.
One last thing: The point of defensive shooting is to walk away under your own power, it is not to kill or disable a perp. It is quite different than tactical shooting and you need to know that difference.
Shoot the perp, stop the attack and then immediately get out of there. Move some distance from the attack and then and only then call EMS.
Cleaning and loading a revolver are easier for folks with minimal experience but they have limited capacity.
Automatics have greater volume of fire power but are harder to learn to clean.
If you have a buddy have him walk you through it 15 times.
Automatics are more concealable..Revovlers are more reliable.
There is one “fact” which is repeated many times on this thread and on just about any other similar one. That it is not correct, usually isn’t that important as it isn’t too far off, but the truth is important.
“Everyone knows that revolvers fire every time you pull the trigger. They are more reliable than autos”.
Here is the real story. With a couple of qualifiers, that quote simply is not true.
The qualifiers are if the auto is fed high quality ammo of the proper type.
I used to teach skeet shooting at the University of Southern Mississippi. The skeet range was at the city of Hattiesburg’s old police firing range. Although they had a new range the old one was still heavily used.
Sometimes between classes I would sit in the small bleacher and watch officers doing qualifying or whatever it was. When I first started they were using S&W revolvers. Probably model 13’s. I got to noticing that after just about every string of fire, a cop would bring his jammed revolver to the rangemaster to show him before clearing the jam.
Somewhere along the line they switched to Glock model 17’s. I would watch them as they monotonously went through string after string of fire with never a malfunction. The interesting thing to me, is I don’t even think Glocks are the most reliable autos tho the newer ones may be about as good as any.
There are a lot of things which can jam a revolver. If the barrel to cylinder gap is too close and/or the range is off, the cylinder face will become clogged with firing debris and jam the cylinder. Also the action can and sometimes is short cycled on the second or third, etc. shot resulting in a badly jammed action.
A bent crane is also fairly common. Dirt or mud or anything like that will jam a revolver much more quickly that an auto. A high primer can also jam one tho that might cause an even worse problem with an auto. Probably the most common one is empty cases getting stuck under the extractor star. Sometimes with hot loads and a rough chamber, the cases simply stay in the cylinder. There are a lot of other possibilities but I can’t think of all them right now.
I like revolvers. I also like autos and single shots. They both are extremely reliable assuming high quality models.
Just don’t tell me that revolvers never fail. They do. I have had it happen more than once.
For the record, I'm a New Jersey resident so buying a gun here is one of the hardest things a human being can do, it requires immense stamina and will power to see the process through. That is, unless you are a criminal; then it's easy. I, on the other hand, will follow the law. So it will take months of waiting and for that, I will get the privilege of buying one gun. (I say privilege because it can't be a right. after all, I have to ask permission and wait months until the deign to grant it). Let me repeat, One gun. If I want two, I have to go through that process for each one, more months of waiting. So I really do want one that my wife and I can share, enjoy at a range, and have some peace of mind with.
It's great to be a member at FR. Katie Couric asked Sarah Palin what newspapers she read and make it like she's a dummy because she stumbled a bit. Well I don't read any newspapers. I read FR. And for that I get the latest news and interesting analysis of politics as well as developments in physics, astronomy, archaeology, anthropology, pop culture, and many other topics. As a result my news sources are worldwide, sources from Japan, France, Australia, UK, Germany, and others because dedicated network of Freepers comb through those sources and post the salient items for us here to see. It's a good thing to be a Freeper!
So I know the answer is hiding here in the 250+ responses, now over this thanksgiving weekend I have some serious reading to do! Thanks for your help!
Did you by chance read the other 10,000,000,000,000 threads on “I want to buy a gun”?