[GoLightly]

If I found I could hit anything from a reasonable distance, I'd love to go with a handgun. I'm not sure I could. Guess I won't know until I try.

[HiTech RedNeck]

What's reasonable, in the context. If you can't hit a target's head on the other side of your front lawn, does that mean you shouldn't use the same weapon at near point blank range?

[PoorMuttly]

My friend...you will HIT with a 4" .357. You will HIT what you THINK is there...with your EYES CLOSED. The LONGER and HEAVIER the barrel, the BETTER. The original "Cowboy" gun, the one that "won the west," was a 7 1/2 inch...and it really, and easily WORKED !

Counter-intuitively...the bigger tools handle better. Get a 4-6" revolver...and/or a double-barrelled shotgun.


You will have a nice day, and see next week...unlike your misguided assailant. May this never happen...but if it does...may it be easy for you to get out of. The right, natural gear always helps. It is like legitimate Prayer. What works...works !

[ought-six]

A .357 Magnum revolver is the very best personal defense weapon, unless the shooter is very good with control, in which case a .44 Magnum would be okay. But from your posts, I'd say forget about a .44 Magnum; it is too much gun, and you will likely not like shooting it. That's very important: You MUST NOT be afraid of, or itimitdated by, your personal defense weapon; you MUST be comfortable with it. I'd also go with a longer barrel, as it is easier to control (it is a bit heavier than a snubbie and is more accurate). I have a 7-inch Rossi .357 Magnum, and it shoots very accurately, and is not intimidating to the shooter. It is my home defense handgun (I also employ a 12-gauge pump shotgun for home defense).