A handgun for home defence and target purposes?

K

Kntrim

Inactive
I live in queens NY and i have about 1 month till i get my handgun permit (target).
I am very confused on what gun or guns to get,i will not be carrying just home defence and target purposes.I kinda like the S & W 38 revolver with that lazer sight built into the grip.Maybe a nice glock but there are so many to choose.Also ammo seems very exspensive or maybe there is cheaper ammo for the range.Maybe i would like a 22 for my wife to shoot or will she get sick of it too quick.What is a 380. Also i can only have a maxium cap. of 10 + 1 mags.Sorry i dont know the proper slang.Help if you can.
Thanks
 
Kntrim; you might want to start a new thread with this question.

Kntrim, I'm pretty new to this forum too, and don't know if what I'm advising you about starting a new thread for this question is appropriate or not, but I see you live in the Peoples Republic of New York, and you understandably want a gun. (So would I if I lived there, but I don't, and I don't know what's legal there. I think they're prosecuting the NY Giants player Plaxico Burris for accidentally shooting himself with his own gun aren't they? SAY WHAT? And also for owing a gun too? Ain't that a violation of his constitutional rights or something? Even in New York? Isn't the personal embarrassment this man has suffered enough?) Anyway, Kntrim the question you ask is one that everyone on this forum ought to see, because there are many wise old gun owners on here with a lot of expertise, and most of them could give you better advice on what to buy than I can, but I'm afraid your post isn't going to be seen by anybody except those who read this particular thread unless you post it as a new thread.
 
What kind of target shooting? Competition or just iformal plinking?

If you want a serious target gun that will also serve as a HD weapon you may be best served with a revolver in .38sp or larger caliber. The reason I say that is that many autoloaders that are tight enough for serious target work may lack the reliability for self defense. There are exceptions of course, but those can be rather pricey. If by target shooting you mean guns that can hold inside 3-4" at 25 yards then there are many more options. Since you don't intend to carry it I'd set the base caliber at 9mm for autos and .38sp for revolvers. The 9mm will be cheaper to buy for practice.

Once you see a gun that tickles your fancy do a quick search here and you'll see what folks that shoot it think about it's reliability, accuracy, etc.
 
Every shooter's first center-fire handgun should be a S&W Model 10 or Model 15 .38 Special. Here is why:

1. They are relatively cheap. You can buy a good M-10 for $250, or Model 15 for $300. I ain't talking about junk, but good solid shooters. If you lose interest, or decide later you had rather have an auto, you can easily get your money out of them.

2. There has never been a handgun manufactured that is as intrinsically safe as a S&W revolver.

3. There has never been a handgun manufactured that is any more reliable than a S&W revolver.

4. Ammunition is relatively cheap. They will fire anything from hot +P defensive rounds down to low-powered mid-range wadcutters.

5. They are made out of steel and wood. No plastic anywhere to be found.

6. They are simple to use. There are no slides to rack, magazines to be dropped, or safeties to engage or disengage. Just point and shoot.

7. They are high quality without breaking your pocketbook.


If I had to break it down into a sentence or two--They are safe, simple, reliable revolvers that look good and handle very commonly available ammunition.

Forget the lazer sights until you learn how to use the sights on the handgun. If you aren't going to be carrying, get a four inch barrel gun. They are much easier to shoot than the short barrel guns.

Or you can spend $1000 on up for a super-duper hot-shot semi-automatic that will probably jam before the week is out.
 
Reliable and versatile

I wanted somebody else to say it first because I haven't been on this forum long enough to start making independent pronouncements to other members about what's best for them, but I'd agree with the previous posts that a 38 Special revolver is what you should get. They are versatile and reliable. I keep one chamber of mine loaded with a shotshell for snakes which we have around here and I've killed several Cottonmouths in my yard, just by dialing up the shotshell and blasting. Try that with a semi-auto! But here's a tip: never say 38; always say "38 Special". That's because there are several other kinds of 38 revolvers, and most of the others are weak sisters. The one you want is definitely the "38 Special", which despite all the bad press for "38's" isn't a weak sister. With +P ammo, and a long enough barrel, it's a big hitter. I agree however, that you should not get a short-barrelled one; particularly not a lightweight short-barreled one. Some of those little lightweight ones are a bear to shoot with +P ammo. Get a steel one made by Colt or S&W or Ruger because you'll surely want to use +P ammo for your home defense load, and it will improve your aim if you're not more frightened of your gun than you are of the bad guy.
 
i will disagree and say get a 357 k or l frame and then when comfortable shooting the 38's go to some 357's and then you will have a good home defense gun as well as somthing you can plink targets cheaply. i just dont understand the thought of owning a gun that limits you to 38 ammo when you can have a choice of 38 qnd 38+p and 357 all in one. it just doesnt make any sense.
 
First handgun

I totally agree with Mnhntr.A 4 " .357 mag revolver will do it all.Shooting for fun with target ammo(wadcutters) ,plus being able to shoot standard 38 spl ,38 +P,and .357 mag.:)
 
A S&W model 15 (or 19 if you find a good deal on one) or a Ruger Security Six. With a 4" barrel. The S&W's are built like a Swiss watch. The Rugers are just a little cruder; like a cross between a Swiss watch and a tank. ;) I have both, and I like them both. I use the S&W for target shooting and the Ruger for HD. Occasionally they trade places.

If you go with the Model 19, stay away from lightweight jacketed .357 ammo (shoot whatever you want in .38 Special or "+P", or use 158 grain .357 Magnums.) Full-power .357 loads with 125 grain bullets will eventually crack the forcing cone, and last I heard S&W is out of replacement barrels.

A .357 is more versatile than a .38 Special, but it also costs $100 more, and you'll shoot .38's in it 90% of the time anyway. IMHO .38 Special is a better defense cartridge than .357 Magnum.
 
Kntrim,welcome to the forums.I suggest a 4" Smith & Wesson 66 or 686.It will cover HD and target practice.Easily manipulated by men and women.You have cartridge versitality with .357 mags and .38 spls.tom.:cool:
 
I second redlevel42. One really can't go wrong with a Model 10. If you want a .357, there are K-frames all over the place. I used to live in NYC until I was 31 and am a little familiar with the place. A .357 may be a little too hazardous for your neighbors as it will definitely sail through some walls. But, a .357 will fire .38 SPL. However, a .357 gun will cost more than a .38 SPL. Anyway, good luck.

You know, a Makarov is a great first gun; it's simple, rugged, reliable, user friendly, accurate, a pleasure to shoot and ammo is pretty cheap. The mag holds 8 rounds, too, within the NY state limits. Just a thought....
 
My 1st center fire handgun was a S&W 686, 4" barrel. I 1st shot the .38 Spl 158 grain SWC ammunition. As noted by some that lasted for the two boxes I had originally bought. I moved to .357 magnum and have not bought a box of .38 Spl since.

I do not think a new shooter interested in home defense and range shooting can go wrong with a S&W 4" 686.
 
This is my first post here and I'm a relatively new gun owner but I live in NJ and understand your need to get it right the first time. People who live in free states are usually amazed at the trouble you have to go through to buy a handgun in places like NY and NJ.

Once you get your permit you should go to the Westside Pistol Range in lower Manhattan. If you've got an NYC permit they can rent you a handgun and you'll have a chance to try a few before you buy. If you want to get a headstart you can go to the Sunset Hills range in PA. It's just off route 80 not far from the Delaware Water Gap. Maybe about 2 hours from Queens and outdoors but they have a pretty good selection of guns for rent and since it's in PA all you need is a drivers license to rent one. My wife and I spent several hours and quite a bit of money there but by the time we got our permits we had a pretty good idea of what we wanted.

Hope this helps

Ed
 
defense handgun

Ruger GP-100 revolver
Dependable, affordable and easy to use by anyone.
My 10 year old knocks down 6" plates at 15 yards with ease using .38
 
IMHO, .38sp or .38sp +P is plenty for home defense. The muzzle flash and report of a .357mag inside a room or hallway would be horrendous. And there's also the penetration factor of that round. Any miss with a premium JHP could easily wind up in the neighbor's house. A good hit with a SWC could too.
 
Kntrim, welcome to the forum. I'm 39 yrs old living in Broward County, Florida, but I lived the first 35 years of my life in Queens, NY (Forest Hills, Rego Park, Bayside). I know what you're going through trying to get a gun permit. I'm actually surprised you're getting one. Most folks i know were told their information was lost after about 7 months and that they'd have to re-apply. I knew one guy who had anice nickel plated S&W .357. We shot it once or twice. Unfortunately, he was my girlfriend's father, so there was always a bit of caution involved when the gun was discussed. :p

Anyway, I like semi-autos. I like the Beretta 92FS and the sig P226 or the new P250. If you're not going to carry it (and unless you own a jewelry store, good luck getting a carry permit in NYC) then you should get a fun gun. You don't have to worry about being in a "shooting" situation and fumbling with the slide or clearing a misfire when your life is on the line.

For home defense, YES, get a revolver. Some of the suggestions in this thread have been excellent. And I think .38 spl Jacketed Hollow Points are fine for home defense. You DO need to be concerned with your backstop and whether the walls will stop your bullet.

And make sure the castle doctrine is the law for NY or you won't be able to shoot an intruder in your home unless to make every attempt to retreat.

I know you probably don't want to get two guns, so get the revolver first, but rapid-firing 15 shots from a semi-auto is something you just can't do with a dual-action revolver. It's cathartic.

And just an FYI for others, Memphis, Nashville, Tampa, Oklahoma City, Mobile (AL), Tucson, Colorado Springs, Denver, Albequerque, Wichita, Minneapolis, Charlotte (NC), and about 25 other populous cities all had a higher violent crime rate (Murders, Manslaughters, and non-negligent homicides) than New York City in 2008. Detroit's was 8 times worse. The Big Apple ain't all that bad. Sure, don't walk around Liberty Ave in Jamaica, Queens at 1 AM. But that doesn't mean New York is bad.

And no, personal embarassment is not punishment enough for the illegal discharge of a firearm in a public nightclub. And I don't think Antonio Pierce (Plaxico's linebacker buddy) was too embarassed when he drove the gun to New Jersey and hid it. If anyone fires a gun (even into their own leg - the idiot) in a public place, they've committed a crime (probably a felony) pretty much anywhere in the country. Carrying does not make firing OK. As a gun-owner, I'm obviously all for people being free to exercise their second amendment right to KABA, but it's morons like Mr. Burress who bring the ire of gun-hating liberals down on law-abiding people who practice safe and responsible gun ownership. [OK, off my soapbox now] :D
 
Last edited:
Welcome to the forum. I am also a brand new gun owner (so new that I'm currently in my waiting period and have 10 more days until I can pick up the gun I bought) A friend has a few guns that I tested extensively at the range. He has a Smith & Wesson model 686 with a 6" barrel. I really enjoyed shooting this gun and have shot about 400 rounds with it. I decided to buy a Model 686P with a 6" barrel. The p means it holds 7 rounds in stead of the standard 6. I got 6" because in San Francisco, Kalifornia there are only 7 CCWs out of 750,000 citizens so I'd rather a bigger more accurate gun. The gun is for home protection and target shooting. I have zero experience with guns and most on this post are way more qualified to advise on this. I just know that the 686 looked, shot and just felt great to me. Good Luck!
 
I think they're prosecuting the NY Giants player Plaxico Burris for accidentally shooting himself with his own gun aren't they? SAY WHAT? And also for owing a gun too? Ain't that a violation of his constitutional rights or something? Even in New York? Isn't the personal embarrassment this man has suffered enough?)
Click to expand...

I "think" there was a little more to it than that. Not licensed to ccw, in a nightclub serving alcohol.... Read up on it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top