New House ~ New Handgun ... any advice?

February 27, 2007 | Vanity

[Elle Bee]

I'm 90 miles from Cuba and I'm going to purchase a new handgun for a new house.

I'm thinking .45 ... Kimber

I'm open to all opinion and option.

I'm still holding out the thought of a revolver over an automatic for ease of maintenance in the subtropics

These threads are always informative and I would appreaciate your input before I make a final decision.

.

[angkor]

A pump shotgun can not be beat IMHO for home defense.

Agreed, but not one of those revved-up tactical models. As you say, a standard Rem 800 with regular shot would do the trick.

Should anything go wrong I'd hate to end up before a court jury with a black Darth Vader combat shotgun, which makes it appear that you were looking for trouble.

Simple is better.

[Elle Bee]

Im not an expert but 90 miles is a long shot with a handgun.

LOL

.

[Elle Bee]

Glock 22 or 23.

I'm 6'5" amd 265 ... I can handle a bit more firepower

.

[sure_fine]

"Im not an expert but 90 miles is a long shot with a handgun."



use both hands to steady with, and at 90 miles, just aim for chest cavity.



oh yea, need to be on steady diet of carrots too

[from occupied ga]

You can also score hits on more than one target simultaneously

Not true. What it the pattern dispersion at 10 feet (typical indoor distance to target)?

you always have the option of just racking it (using the fore grip on a pump to chamber a round) and/or putting a round in the floor

Read - you always have the option of letting intruders know exactly where you are, so when they open fire on you they have a better chance of hitting you. Oh and suppose you're wounded in one arm how do you work that shotgun now?

[trisham]

If you're a woman, you may find a revolver is easier to operate. Pistols can be difficult for those small of hand and lacking in hand strength. This one is not small, but it is very easy to shoot:

It's a Smith and Wesson Medium Frame (K or L) - Model 686 Revolver - 4", 6-Shot

[Elle Bee]

In this way you won't kill a neighbor by accident if you happen to shoot at a burglar or other home invader.

Long shot to the neighbors' ... and I'm not that fond of them anyway

.

[Kolb]

I keep a Kimber pro carry by the bedside. Nice weapon, easy to shoot, deadly accurate.

I have been contemplating using the Kimber for concealed carry instead and changing my home defense weapon to a Smith and Wesson model 629 revolver, .44mag, 5" barrel in stainless steel. I shot one for the first time last year and loved it. With standard .44 rounds the recoil feels just like a .45 auto. Put in the .44 mag rounds and you'd better have a good grip on the gun to handle the recoil. It makes people at the range look up to see who brought the cannon!

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

How do Glaser's stack up with hollow points? Glaser

[Cuttnhorse]

I recently bought an XD 9, and have shot about 600 rounds through it, mostly at an indoor range. I am very happy with it. Was shooting last week with friends with Glocks and we traded guns and all the Glock guys were very impressed with the Springfield. Mine has night sights and they help my somewhat "advanced-in age" eyballs.

Cheers

[OXENinFLA]

You can go smaller with the G36 in .45 if 6 rounds will be enough, or you can go larger with the G21 if you want 13 rounds.

Or you can buy a G30 and use G21 magazines. Glock mags are interchangeable.

[Elle Bee]

Is this gun going to sit in a drawer for years at a time, until you absolutely, positively need it to work? Or is this gun going to be practiced with regularly and maintained periodically?

a little of both ....I'm in liberal lala land so the nearest range or gunsmith is in Key Largo about 100 miles up key....... the base is closed to civilians since 9-11 (thank you oncce again Clinton)

.

[Doohickey]

My babies are on my FReeper homepage.

[Recon Dad]

I had the problem with a Semi S&W, my first gun, but since moving to the Glock 22 no problem.

I shouldn't give advice, I'm not that good. I got into guns because of my son, now he can shoot!

[Gorzaloon]

I'm thinking .45 ... Kimber

All these threads become a showcase of dream guns. The Kimber is a work of Art, but do not forget that if you defend yourself and take out a perp, the gun will likely be confiscated, at the very least for a while.

I suspect strongly that the more expensive something is, the greater the liklihood of it evaporating from the Evidence Room.

We have had that happen around here, and a couple of LEO's are doing time for it. In some cases, the guns were taken for frivolous reasons, such as restraining orders, and not because of actual use.

A used .357 revolver is my choice as a tool, despite having other things I like more and shoot more for fun.

If you are in the Dark Place, you do not need the added problem of losing expensive hardware.

[Elle Bee]

As far as semi-auto, be still your fears, go get yourself a Glock 23 or 22. Low maintenance, cheaper than the Kimber and shoots just as well.

My Bad .. (Semi-)

that seems like a round better suited for the boys in the 801 Club on Duval

.

[Elle Bee]

I just bought a new Kimber Ultra Carry II with night sights and laser grips. Haven't had a chance to actually shoot it yet but it's a nice looking gun. A bit pricey. If you're just looking for a home defense weapon and can only get one, I'd go with a 12 gauge pump like a Mossberg 500 instead of a handgun. If you're set on a hand gun I'd recommend a .357 revolver. Reliable with plenty of stopping power and you can shoot .38 Spl. for practice. You can get a decent one for around $300.

a pump was going to be my follow up question ... you like the Mossberg?

.

[STONEWALLS]

....Elle Bee sounds like a lady's handle to me and your comments are the best I've read...guns are inherently dangerous and I hope Elle Bee will take your advice....there is so much mis-information out there about the castle doctrine....in my state if I shoot somebody, the following will happen:
1.an investigation WILL be held
2.the county DA will decide whether to prosecute me or not (I've got to sweat that part out and we all know some DAs like to grandstand...think: Duke lacrosse)

In my concealed carry class we spent far more time on legal responsibilities than on live fire and I'm glad we did.

Elle Bee, you may want to get started ASAP...the right to personal protection will only get harder under Pelosi and the Democrats

[Elle Bee]

Get a HK USP.I can't think of a more reliable weapon.

You find the HK more reliable the the Kimber?

.

[cyclotic]

Which size XD9 do you have?

I thnk they make 3 barrel lengths.