My daughter, the new teacher and occasional shooter, lives alone and wants the peace of mind of a house gun. Taking into consideration the paltry pay she gets educating our young (she can speak the queen's english, but can't put a three-pointer in at the buzzer), what's her best choice?
Best House Gun for Gun-Shy School Marm
- Thread starter ztruke
- Start date
Sir William
New member
If budget is an issue, H&R, S&W, Ruger or even Taurus revolvers in 32 H&R Magnum would fit in used. The Taurus M64 in 38 Special or a Colt Royal Hong Kong Police trade-in would be good for right at $200.00. Another used S&W to consider would be the M64 38 Special. She can use 32s or 38s. The 32 H&R Magnum will get the job done. A 38 Special or +P will also. The RCMP traded in embassy detail DAO stainless GP-100s in 357 Magnum. I see them often for less than $300.00.
I think that needing a "house gun" means we're free to consider long guns... My two cents would be to recommend a shotgun in one of the gentler gauges (I mean really, when it's across the living room, pretty much anything this side of .410 should do the trick, right?).
Pluses to a shotgun:
1- easier to point-and-shoot with some degree of accuracy in the middle of the night, scared witless
2- buckshot - projectiles increasing chances of hitting scumbag if in situation above
3- can always be used as a club in truly worst-case scenario
I'm armed to the teeth, but if something goes CRASH SHATTER in the night, I'm grabbing my pump .20 and heading to the kids' room and sending Mr. Wonderful out to investigate/
But for every single woman, MY humble first piece of advice is to procure the M1A1 Dog, medium-to-large, loud.
Pluses to a shotgun:
1- easier to point-and-shoot with some degree of accuracy in the middle of the night, scared witless
2- buckshot - projectiles increasing chances of hitting scumbag if in situation above
3- can always be used as a club in truly worst-case scenario
I'm armed to the teeth, but if something goes CRASH SHATTER in the night, I'm grabbing my pump .20 and heading to the kids' room and sending Mr. Wonderful out to investigate/
But for every single woman, MY humble first piece of advice is to procure the M1A1 Dog, medium-to-large, loud.
I would agree about the shotgun being the first choice for a house gun with one reservation. I've taught all my daughters to shoot ( 3 of them) as well as instructing female police officers on the range. Some gals can handle and shoot accurately anything you put in front of them, some can't. You need to borrow ( or maybe buy, after all you can justify it to the wife) a variety of guns and take your daughter out shooting. If she is truly gun-shy, she needs to be equipped with something she can shoot even if it is less than ideal in the one shot stop department. If I'm an aspiring rapist in her house, my day is infinitely worse if I'm shot with a .22 than if I'm missed with a .44.
No assailant doubts that a scattergun will hit them even if it is a woman pointing it from the hip. A 410 would be my first and only choice. They can be had used for a few bucks.
More importantly, does she have the gumption to really shoot whatever she is holding because otherwise she'd only be arming the intruder.
More importantly, does she have the gumption to really shoot whatever she is holding because otherwise she'd only be arming the intruder.
Another vote for a short barreled .410 or 20 ga pump shotgun. A pump shotgun is simple to opperate ( under pressure) , requires no special handgun liciences and has reasonablly light recoil. Yet bear in mind that even a 410 1/2 oz birdshot load has considerably more muzzle energy than a 45 ACP and is less likely to overpenetrate ( walls etc) . (With luck, just the sound of the slide is going to get the BG looking for a way out before you have to shoot) The only down side is that it's not going to fit in the nightstand.
Any light guage pump will do but it's worth noteing that Mossberg made a 410 pump specificly designed for home security . They also made a "campers special ' in 20 gauge that would work well too.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?item=27414700
Having said all that, IF she wants a handgun, then she should consider a mdeium framed, 3-4" revolver in .38/357 and NOT a semi. It's nearly panic proof. Pull the trigger and it goes BANG every time.
Any light guage pump will do but it's worth noteing that Mossberg made a 410 pump specificly designed for home security . They also made a "campers special ' in 20 gauge that would work well too.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?item=27414700
Having said all that, IF she wants a handgun, then she should consider a mdeium framed, 3-4" revolver in .38/357 and NOT a semi. It's nearly panic proof. Pull the trigger and it goes BANG every time.
.410 pump
Having suggested the .410 pump, is that one .410 pumpgun still around with the home defense features? I think it was by Mossberg, but can't remember. I think it was black with synthetic stocks and a pistol grip on the forestock. Definitely was not a sporting model. Was sold specifically as a low recoil home defense deal. That would be ideal, I would suspect. Think it was fairly cheap unlike the current "combat customised" shotguns.
Having suggested the .410 pump, is that one .410 pumpgun still around with the home defense features? I think it was by Mossberg, but can't remember. I think it was black with synthetic stocks and a pistol grip on the forestock. Definitely was not a sporting model. Was sold specifically as a low recoil home defense deal. That would be ideal, I would suspect. Think it was fairly cheap unlike the current "combat customised" shotguns.
Practice is what makes a shooter. When the problem arises you tend to work mostly on pre-programed reactions...
A Ruger 22/45 (.22 caliber) would make for a good first gun. With it she can shoot 500 rounds of ammo for $10.00.
The cost of the little .22 would be $200.00. After putting several thousand rounds ($100.00) through this gun, she would then be able to go to a nice 9mm.
Although the shotgun is a good choice for a house gun, 100 shells will cost $15.00 at Wally Mart!
For most Gremlins, a .22 will discourage them..a round fired low into their "love" life equipment will send said Gremlin's running to the hospital...any other ideas they might have had will removed!
For defensive rounds for a .22 use either Yellowjackets, or Stingers, which are high velocity rounds for the .22.
A Ruger 22/45 (.22 caliber) would make for a good first gun. With it she can shoot 500 rounds of ammo for $10.00.
The cost of the little .22 would be $200.00. After putting several thousand rounds ($100.00) through this gun, she would then be able to go to a nice 9mm.
Although the shotgun is a good choice for a house gun, 100 shells will cost $15.00 at Wally Mart!
For most Gremlins, a .22 will discourage them..a round fired low into their "love" life equipment will send said Gremlin's running to the hospital...any other ideas they might have had will removed!
For defensive rounds for a .22 use either Yellowjackets, or Stingers, which are high velocity rounds for the .22.
Dusty Miller
New member
Shy people should buy better locks and leave the shooting to somebody else!
I agree about locks. Also a burglar alarm and sign would be a good and inexpensive idea to pursue. She also might think about getting a dog. Depending on where she lives, local PD might be willing to perform a security analysis of her house.
As for guns, I favor a four-inch S&W m10, but only if she's willing to practice enough to attain a reasonable level of accuracy. (I've never shot a 3-inch Ruger SP01 but wonder how easy they are to shoot accurately.)
Otherwise a 20 ga. or 410 might be good. In addition to a pump, you might look at an inexpensive, short-barrelled, double-barrelled coach gun.
As for guns, I favor a four-inch S&W m10, but only if she's willing to practice enough to attain a reasonable level of accuracy. (I've never shot a 3-inch Ruger SP01 but wonder how easy they are to shoot accurately.)
Otherwise a 20 ga. or 410 might be good. In addition to a pump, you might look at an inexpensive, short-barrelled, double-barrelled coach gun.
Kiss
Keep it simple, sister.
Gun shy usually also means not interested in becoming proficient with guns, moving up in caliber and complexity, etc. Such people still may want a gun, but it has to be the simplest, easiest and most effective one possible--requiring the least training. My daughter used to fit that profile. When she had a baby, she decided to get a gun.
I showed her one at a gun store. We bought it. She still has it and would use it first although there are numerous other guns in their home now.
It is a simple side-by-side 20 gauge coach gun (short barrels) with five extra rounds in a sleeve on the stock. Two triggers. Easy to load and shoot, from the hip. #4 buck. She practiced with #8 bird shot for $3.99/25 from WalMart.
When you look down those two tubes from the wrong end, they might as well be howitzers. The initimidation factor is huge. No complex loading/unloading, pumping, etc. Slide the safety, bang bang.
Not for everyone of course, but this might fill the bill in this instance.
CB3
Keep it simple, sister.
Gun shy usually also means not interested in becoming proficient with guns, moving up in caliber and complexity, etc. Such people still may want a gun, but it has to be the simplest, easiest and most effective one possible--requiring the least training. My daughter used to fit that profile. When she had a baby, she decided to get a gun.
I showed her one at a gun store. We bought it. She still has it and would use it first although there are numerous other guns in their home now.
It is a simple side-by-side 20 gauge coach gun (short barrels) with five extra rounds in a sleeve on the stock. Two triggers. Easy to load and shoot, from the hip. #4 buck. She practiced with #8 bird shot for $3.99/25 from WalMart.
When you look down those two tubes from the wrong end, they might as well be howitzers. The initimidation factor is huge. No complex loading/unloading, pumping, etc. Slide the safety, bang bang.
Not for everyone of course, but this might fill the bill in this instance.
CB3
Shy?
Well she might be gun shy until she gets her hands on one and finds out how much fun it is. That is, unless she gets put off by someone doing alot of macho posturing and trying to get her to fire off a bunch of 12 ga. slugs or something. Important for her to be introduced to the hobby/craft/martial art correctly, and she might buy a fancy rig and be the next Annie Oakley!
Well she might be gun shy until she gets her hands on one and finds out how much fun it is. That is, unless she gets put off by someone doing alot of macho posturing and trying to get her to fire off a bunch of 12 ga. slugs or something. Important for her to be introduced to the hobby/craft/martial art correctly, and she might buy a fancy rig and be the next Annie Oakley!
Is she really gun-shy, or just inexperienced?
If she's really gun-shy, I'd avoid the shotguns.
I think a 4" M10 would be ideal for that situation. It doesn't kick hard. It's reasonably accurate. Ammo is cheap enough to practice with and won't be punishing to do so. It's easier to carry from room-to-room. Maybe one of the "pretty" Lady Smiths would be good (hey, the little extra "bling" may the little extra kick she needs go and get serious about it? Never hurts).
If and when she gets used to the .38, then I'd broach the subject of shotguns.
If she's really gun-shy, I'd avoid the shotguns.
I think a 4" M10 would be ideal for that situation. It doesn't kick hard. It's reasonably accurate. Ammo is cheap enough to practice with and won't be punishing to do so. It's easier to carry from room-to-room. Maybe one of the "pretty" Lady Smiths would be good (hey, the little extra "bling" may the little extra kick she needs go and get serious about it? Never hurts).
If and when she gets used to the .38, then I'd broach the subject of shotguns.
Didn't we have a thread similar to this a while ago? A shotgun is the ultimate self defense weapon, or can be, I agree. But it takes more training than most realize. Recoil is a factor for the truly gun shy. It takes large body movements and constant readjustment of the stance to keep a moving target in your sights. If the intruder surprises you, and manages to get into truly close range, this becomes particularly problematic. Massad Ayoob also mentions that the leverage of a long gun works against the user. If the user is physically weak, it becomes easy to take the gun away.
He also mentions that if you find yourself in the situation where you are trying to call the cops, and keep a gun on the BG, how do you do it with a shotgun? Can you fire it one handed?
Tamara weighed in on this too. I agree with her. A large frame snubby is almost impossible to wrestle away from someone. It minimizes recoil, and goes boom if you pull the trigger. That would be my choice. Believe me, with my infirmities, I've given this a lot of thought.
Mike
He also mentions that if you find yourself in the situation where you are trying to call the cops, and keep a gun on the BG, how do you do it with a shotgun? Can you fire it one handed?
Tamara weighed in on this too. I agree with her. A large frame snubby is almost impossible to wrestle away from someone. It minimizes recoil, and goes boom if you pull the trigger. That would be my choice. Believe me, with my infirmities, I've given this a lot of thought.
Mike
I have an SP101... at first I wasn't to impressed, but it did what it was supposed to do. But, after a 100 rounds or so the gun really smoothed out. THEN, I started using hand loads in it and it just blew me away... it REALLY shoots nice. Actually became fun to take it to the range, get a spot between guys with their fancy pistols and leave extremely tight groupings with it.
No wait.. that pisses people off
lol
But yes, its affordable and is actually quite easy to handle. A set of hogue grips did really improve the feel of it... I would almost recommend a set of Crimson Trace grips for a novice.. though I prefer plain old iron sights. I think the one thing that would improve the 101 is the front sight to be painted red... it can be kind of difficult to pick up quickly.
Now... model 19's... if I could find another one I would jump on it in a heart beat. Mine is atleast 25 years old iirc... probably older. It was my dad and he bought it in his 20's iirc (so atleast 20 years ago) and it is hands down the nicest shooter I own. Nothing even holds a candle to it (though our new 686 is pretty nice... still... not quite).
Doug
No wait.. that pisses people off
lolBut yes, its affordable and is actually quite easy to handle. A set of hogue grips did really improve the feel of it... I would almost recommend a set of Crimson Trace grips for a novice.. though I prefer plain old iron sights. I think the one thing that would improve the 101 is the front sight to be painted red... it can be kind of difficult to pick up quickly.
Now... model 19's... if I could find another one I would jump on it in a heart beat. Mine is atleast 25 years old iirc... probably older. It was my dad and he bought it in his 20's iirc (so atleast 20 years ago) and it is hands down the nicest shooter I own. Nothing even holds a candle to it (though our new 686 is pretty nice... still... not quite).
Doug