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?

[BayouCoyote]

Sorry I jumped the gun on my post, I didn't read the part about small hands. Keep in mind the narrow profile of the 1911 design is a perfect fit with several of my female companions. SA sells a compact that is matte in color and can be matched with any outfit you choose. ; )

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

let me join the throng of .357 revolver advocates.
A shotgun is also good.

Both can be found slightly used for fairly cheap.
My personal choice is a Ruger gp100. I like a six inch barrel and the heavy frame, since weight feels good when you are in danger. Makes a good club empty, too:)

I'd also reccommend a lazer sight, since aiming in the dark can be tricky, and a burglar with a bright red dot on his chest is a burglar with a load in his pants. The ruger is easy to attach the sight cuz it has a squared off whatever you call it along the top if the barrel.

Practice.

Practice.

Practice.

For concealed carry, Colt mustang .380, or if you can find it, the Iver Johnson's version of the .380 pony. It has a better safety mech. Both are very concealable, should you feel the need to carry in a zone that forbids it.

Look into Smartcarry under such circumstances.

[yarddog]

I agree with the person who said that safety is in your own knowledge and attitude.

All guns are dangerous or safe depending on how you use them. It is much better to gun proof your children rather than trying to childproof your guns.

Your decision to take the safety course is obviousely a good idea. Try to be even safer than the experts. Be an absolute fanatic on safety, but still keep the gun where it will be available quickly when needed.

I wouldn't recommend a really powerful gun like a .357 mag or .44 mag in the house as the blast is terrible, deafening and penetration is often too great. Maybe a .38 special with full wadcutter target loads.

A shotgun is great except even short ones are a little hard to handle indoors.

[Space Wrangler]

I got my wife the SP101 two years ago in .357 as well. I liked that choice because she can practice with .38's, and load it out for carry with .357 hollow points. That should do the trick!

[Xenalyte]

Perhaps I should have pinged the correct FReeper!

[stainlessbanner]

Just re-reading your posts on the "shotgun/home defense" thread. Good stuff!

[Hildy]

Very good you should ask this today. We have had this gun, a Ruger P95DC for two years. My husband swears by it, I am going shooting for the first time tomorrow. I kept putting it off but now I figure if it's in the home, it would be dumb for me not to know how to use it. I will report back to you how it was to use for me. I'm a woman and have never shot a gun before:

[litehaus]

Good Choice....Daughter has had one for years and practice had made her a very good shot..........

[doodad]

suggest (American Classic Marksman) on Peachtree Industrial. It is free for women on Thursday's. Plus the guys there will be more than happy to offer you instruction

Ditto on this. This is where my daughter will go now that she is old enough.

[Psycho_Runner]

My suggestion has been mentioned several times here. A 357 is powerful, intimidating and flexible in the ammo. My fist handgun was a 44 magmum and I regret not getting a 357. The danger with a 44 is that it could go through walls. Not really a good thing if occupants are in other areas of your house.

Once you get your gun, periodically go to the gun range to keep your aim sharp. Non gun owners think every shot will hit the target, kinda like Hollywod. Not true. Markmenship takes practice.

Keep safe. Take courses.

[BayouCoyote]

1 other thing. The 1911A1's by Springfield Armory include the Intergrated Locking System. It keeps your gun "locked" while in storage from prying hands, and they send a set of keys with each gun. One for home and one for my key chain.

Take care.

[absalom01]

"I policeman friend of mine suggested using a shotgun with 00 buck."

You get stopping power to spare with this, but now you have an over-penetration issue to deal with. Maybe a problem, maybe not, but something to consider. Just for yuks, you might take a couple of pieces of drywall to the range as a target holder. Put something behind it, and let rip with a single round of #6-7 birdshot. You'll see over-penetration through the second sheet of drywall, but pretty low energy in the pellets as well. (wet phone books are a good "poor man's ballistic gellatin" for this purpose). Then try the same thing with the 00. Still plenty of energy left in those pellets. Just something to consider. At home defense ranges, the birdshot will have gobs of goblin-stopping power without as much of those nasty after-effects should you miss. Still have to watch your background, though.

"in my house, I might not be as accurate as I'd like."

At home defense ranges (at least in my house, the longest shot I could even theoretically find is 20') you're dealing with, max, a 4" pattern. Still have to aim pretty good to avoid damage to non-combatants. Powerful tool, the shotgun, but it's not a panacea, and it's not as maneuverable in a hallway as a pistola. At my house, it would be my job to grab the pistol and go police up the kids and shove 'em into the safe room, while wifey stays behind cover and 'holds' the top of the stairway with the Mossberg. Gotta choose the right tool for the job, and teamwork is sooo important!

[joesnuffy]

Smith and Wesson Scandium 38 special revolver or the 357 640 PD with a HI Viz green front sight...no worries about limp wristing possible malfunctions in a revolver vs an auto

[yarddog]

Thanks, I hope I have been consistent.

[Eaker]

The only way to get that feature on a gun, is to get that feature in your brain.

If you can follow puppage's advice then the sky is the limit.

As to the revolver ~vs~ semi-auto garbage spewed here completely disregard it. I am very comfortable with both, but the main difference is that there are no ten or fifteen round revolvers and reloading a revolver in the dark when in a life or death situation requires icewater in your veins.

In other words, with a revolver you get six rounds and that is it. Better be a stone cold great shot.

Disregard this post too. ;<)

[xp38]

All the best. Be prepared for the kickback of the gun. It's not like in a lot of movies and tv.

[philman_36]

I'll chime in with others and say a shotgun for home defense. You may find the 20 gauge automatic with 00 buckshot and pistol grips easier to handle than the 12 gauge as a woman. The distinctive sound of chambering a round in a pump does have a chilling effect though.
In handguns I'm partial to the snubnose .38 Chief's Special myself, either the 2" or 3" barrel, and it is pretty easy to handle too. Some speed loaders and practice and you're as good to go as an automatic.

[from occupied ga]

I prefer an Uzi

[xsrdx]

In fact, this last class is so good, I'd urge you to make a particular point of finding an instructor and taking the class.

BUMP for Post 52 - EXCELLENT advice. Find an NRA course and ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS!

Only then, should you make a purchase decision.