Please recommend a good handgun

[Charlotte M. Corday]

I need the advice of an expert. Two nights ago, in nearby community, a high school football coach and his teenage son were murdered by a home invader. In the wake of this, I have finally decided to buy a gun and take a class in how to use it.

Here's what I am looking for in a handgun:

1. Easy to use, but not easy to discharge accidentally.

2. Powerful enough to stop an attacker, but not difficult for a small woman to handle.

What would you suggest?

[cinFLA]

Have you tried to find one? If you're serious, I can recommend a shop that I KNOW sold them.

I have never seen a .38 chambered for .357. If it is chambered for .357 it is called a .357, NOT a .38.

[Centurion2000]

Taurus 605 double action 5 shot 357 magnum.

Good gun

[Gargantua]

I went with a Ruger (Smith & Wesson is just as good) Police Service Six .357 Magnum.

It's a six-shot revolver which has the capability of dropping an intruder with one shot. The experts will tell you that if you have to shoot an intruder, twice in the chest (a "double tap") is recommended.

With a .357 Magnum, a double tap is tough because you need to be able to hit a target flying backward through the air to hit 'em with your second shot. DEFINITE stopping and dropping power.

I prefer a revolver because it won't jam, it has no safety button so you just "point and click", there is no need to chamber a round because your load is sitting there waiting to be used, and those few seconds not spent clicking off the safety and cocking an "automatic" might just save your life some day.

The trigger effort is smooth, but heavy enough and with enough travel that you'll never fire a round accidentally.

I recommend Federal Hydro-Shock Plus-P .138-or-.158 grain hollow point ammo. With a little practice, a lady can handle this piece and an intruder cannot. The hole going in will look like a pencil poke and the back will look like a basketball came through.

Good luck. Whatever your choice, it'll be the right one, because once you choose to exercise your right to bear arms, the rest of the decisions are just window-dressing.

;-/

[cinFLA]

There have been enough instances of the .38 or the .357 not getting the job done immediately, even with a good, center-of-body hit,

Please cite an example of a .357 NOT getting the job done!

[AAABEST]

Oh OK. You're correct, my nomenclature was off.

Why didn't you just make that point from the beginning? I don't mind being corrected.

[Wisconsin]

Do you need to carry the weapon with you outside the home?

If the answer is no, then a shotgun makes more sense than a handgun from almost evry point of view:

1. It's much safer
2. It's more versatile -- load the first shot with rock salt or fine birdshot as a warning shot, the second with buckshot
3. With buckshot it is a near absolute "knock down" weapon at close range.
4. It is an instinctive point and shoot weapon that does not require the extensive training and regular practice necessary to shoot well with a handgun.
5. The instinctive aiming of a shotgun works well when you are scared and trembling like a leaf. Not so with a handgun.

My own suggestion would be a double barrel because of its simplicity, reliability, and high intimidation factor.

I know if I were an evildoer invading a home, I would far rather meet a scared woman with a handgun than a scared woman with a double barrel.

[RiflemanSharpe]

I have seen a old picture of what a 10ga double barrel at close range will do. It is kind of messy.

[Revolting cat!]

[PoorMuttly]

I just got here...and without reading all the other posts...your solution is very simple.

Simply purchase a .357 Revolver. You will know how to use it even out of a dead sleep, there is nothing to manipulate, reloading takes no strength, and is intuitive.

You can see if it's loaded from the outside, it is unshootable from a "thumb-break" holster...it is not sensitive to ammunition failure...and it will always "go off" every time you pull the trigger, hard.

The snub-nose ones are handy, 5-shot...easy to hide and carry...but remember...the longer barrels are a LOT more pleasant to use, are a lot less bright in the dark (why temporarily blind yourself when there's trouble), and longer barrels are much easier to be accurate with.

You can load revolvers with Glaser Safety Slugs, and not "overpenetrate" if you are concerned about going through sheetrock, etc.....and the longer barrel gets the full potential of the round out the barrel, into the target, without great muzzle-flip/recoil...and the common .357 is a well-known stopper from a longer (3-4") barrel....AND you can practice with or use .38 Special ammo if the magnum is too much. (but try, anyway. If you need it, you won't care how punchy it is...may not even hear it!)

Look at Smith & Wesson and Ruger. There are many other brands too, most very good...but copies of the S&W mostly. I personally like the originals...but they will all work...

Do NOT start learning how to shoot, under lethal threat, as you are...with an automatic. They are ammo and magazine sensitive...have switches and levers...and the ones that don't...in fact ALL of them, can fail from "Limp-Wristing," from holding it loosely, incompletely, improperly...and the attractively lightweight "Polymer" ones flex, and could make them even more sensitive. Buy a double-action revolver, load it, leave it there, grab it and punch it into whatever attacks you. You will know what to do, and how to do it.

Your best bet is a shotgun...but handguns are "handy !"

[dansangel]

Second, a nearby range, at Peachtree Industrial and Medlock Bridge, has many guns available to try, so you can try a few before a purchase. I'd also be willing to meet you there, I may have a few things that they don't, that you could also try.

Excellent advice. For everyone that responds to this thread, there will be a different suggestion.

Charlotte, this needs to come from you and what you feel comfortable with. If you check out my profile page, you'll see I own three different handguns that suit various concealed carry scenarios. I have also owned and traded a couple of others that didn't work out so well.

FreedomPoster is a very knowledgeable and above-board person. I urge you to take him up on his offer to meet you at the range if you have misgivings about going on your own. .45MAN and I live 5 minutes from there and could meet you there, as well.

The info FreedomPoster has to e-mail you on armed personal self defense and basic pistol handling is invaluable. It is taught by an NRA instructor (David Blinder) and I can personally attest to the fact that he is an excellent teacher.

[B4Ranch]

"Can you take the life of another human being(even a scumbag)? It is morally justifiable to protect your life, but if deep down you don't think you can do it, don't get the gun."

Frequently that question is never truly answered until the time comes.

[cinFLA]

You can see if it's loaded from the outside, it is unshootable from a "thumb-break" holster...it is not sensitive to ammunition failure...and it will always "go off" every time you pull the trigger, hard.

Just make sure to clean it good after a trip to the range with the .38 wad cutters.

[alaskanfan]

Your handgun is only used in home defense to fight your way to your shotgun. A short barreled auto or pump shotgun is the home defense weapon of choice.

My first round is birdshot. The brownies have sensitive paws and I would rather run them off than have to kill them, but they only get one chance.

[Jack Black]

A .357 Mag will go through walls just as much as a .44 Mag. The better idea is to not use magnums in these guns when shooting indoors, especially if your house is made of wall board like most are these days. Use .38 specials in the .357. Use .44 specials in the .44 mag. Smith's best defensive wheelgun may have been the Model 25 in .45 Colt. As typically loaded it's perfect for home defense. Big, slow moving, won't overpenetrate but still carries a big whomp. Personally I'd go w/ the the .44 special over the .38 special. Ruger, Smith and Colt all make nice .44s.

Go to the range and try some.

[PoorMuttly]

Forget rock salt. It will get you in absurd legal trouble, and this warning shot stuff is also absurd. When you need a gun...use it. What if you only have a chance to use your "warning shot" and they kill you anyway....or if they don't stop...then sue you for being Rambo...waiting for them with your poison bullets.

Don't fool around. Get a good revolver, load it, and be prepared to stop your murderer with it. A 12ga. is even better...a short double, if you can find one, is great...but if you really want to make a warning...pumping the slide is an international language, which even dogs seem to understand. Well, it worked for me...and only cost one loaded round
flying off on to the carpet, harmlessly..and was heard through the door...which, BTW, get shot-through all the time, by bad guys...so don't stand in the middle of one if someone is breaking in.

[archy]

There have been enough instances of the .38 or the .357 not getting the job done immediately, even with a good, center-of-body hit,

Please cite an example of a .357 NOT getting the job done!

The Indiana State Police observed several with the S&W M66 when that weapon was still their duty weapon prior to their adoption of the 9mm Beretta M92FS. During part of that time I was a city police motorcycle cop working traffic [carrying a Browning GP per my chief's authorization] and we'd seen several other city police departments with the same difficulty.

This was usually more a problem with using the wrong ammo in the guns, usually 110 or 158-grain JHPs rather than the preferred 125-grain JHP or 158 grain lead hollowpoint, particularly in 2.5" barrelled .357 snubbies. But even after multiple .38/.357 hits there have been those determined assailants who survive long enough to also kill their opponent. A hit that eventually kills is sometimes not enough, whether it's a single hit or multiples that result. If only one connects, it needs to be the very best suited to the job.

-archy-/-

[cinFLA]

This was usually more a problem with using the wrong ammo in the guns, usually 110 or 158-grain JHPs rather than the preferred 125-grain JHP or 158 grain lead hollowpoint, particularly in 2.5" barrelled .357 snubbies. But even after multiple .38/.357 hits there have been those determined assailants who survive long enough to also kill their opponent. A hit that eventually kills is sometimes not enough, whether it's a single hit or multiples that result. If only one connects, it needs to be the very best suited to the job.

You slammed the .357 for not being a certain killer with a good, clean body hit. Now we are looking at snubbies; what would you carry instead of a .357 in a snubby?????

[in the Arena]

If you can manage it, a remote switch inside your bedroom that turns on many lights in the home outside your room, and in th yard is also great.

The X10 technology is perfect for this. Available at just about any home improvement store and is plug and play...the bad guys could cut your power though, but it is a good idea to be able to light up your whole house from a single, safe spot. And like other said, don't go looking for trouble, all your material possessions are not worth the life of you or a family member...

[Jack Black]

Funny they would find the .357 inadequate but then "upgrade" to the 9mm. Which is a less powerful .357, essentially. I guess they believe in the "spray and pray" method, where the hi-cap nines will let them put lots of shots into the target.

Personally I'll stick with the .45 ACP as John Moses Browning designed it for defense.

For the woods I like the .44 Mag, or maybe the 10mm in an auto.

Cheers!