Best pistol for home defense.

Best pistol for home defense?

  • Beretta 96d

    Votes: 9 12.2%
  • Colt 1911

    Votes: 6 8.1%
  • Glock 17

    Votes: 28 37.8%
  • HK USP 357 compact

    Votes: 4 5.4%
  • Kahr K9093

    Votes: 2 2.7%
  • Kimber Custom

    Votes: 11 14.9%
  • Para-Ordinance P12

    Votes: 2 2.7%
  • Sig P-232

    Votes: 3 4.1%
  • Springfield 1911 fullsize

    Votes: 6 8.1%
  • Wilson K245

    Votes: 3 4.1%

  • Total voters
    74

adam3

New member
My wife wants to purchase a pistol for home defense. Reliability is of greatest importance. Which of the following do you most reccomend?
 
Adam,
My suggestion for a HD gun is either a 12 or 20 ga. Shotgun. But if you want an auto, there are too many variables. How big are her hands? Does she have any firearms training? Please don't think I'm heckling you but with a little more info I'm sure you'll get some great advise. You do have a fine list of guns there though. BTW my HD handgun is a S&W 686.
 
From those on the list? The G17 would be my first buy, mostly due to cost considerations such as price of the pistol itself and cost of ammunition for practice and defense loads.

My home defense gun is a G20 loaded with 180 grain Starfires.



--------------------
I have two guns. One for each of you.
 
I'd definitely go with a shotgun myself. It's what I use. I keep it loaded with birdshot because it's exceptionally effective at home defense ranges and not prone to overpenetration.
 
Your poll reads like a list of guns you'd like to own, not your wife.
They are all over the place in calibers and sizes.

Better choices are .357 magnum, 12guage shotgun, or even a .410 shotgun for your wife.

If you really want a pistol for your wife, take her to the range and rent a few guns in 9mm, .40 cal, .45ACP, to see what she can handle. Once you settle on caliber of pistol, then move on to what type gun. She's in serious trouble if she can't even rack the slide of the 1911 you just bought her, let alone have her launch a .45 slug to who-knows-where. -Better yet, start her out with a .22LR rimfire. -even better, enroll in a basic handgun class.

Do you have any guns now? If yes, why not start training her with that one?
 
Pullleeeezzzee!

Does she want a fishing pole and golf clubs for Christmas too?

Women like small framed revolvers. Well, a lot of women that is.

K.I.S.S.:D
 
Um. . . any of the above that you find to be reliable.

Any manufacturer makes a lemon and all of them make guns that may have reliability problems (some more so than others, but they all make problem guns from time to time).

The only way you'll know is if you buy one and test it before putting it to use.

Shake
 
I voted "None Of the Above"-

cuz my choice is a Sig P220A in .45ACP.:D :)

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
If your just getting one, I would go for a .357 mag revolver. But I voted for the Kimber. The Glock would be a great choice also.

P99
 
Okay, I was fibbing

I voted for the brand I carry but it's NOT the best for home defense. The poll should have had a "none of the above" category or categories for rifle or shotgun. My primary defensive weapon will always be a long gun if I have a choice (and I do.)

I happen to favor a high capacity rifle with HP ammo. My 12 gauge 870 is a close second. The distant third place winner is my Kimber .45 that I carry every day. I practice with the Kimber very regularly and practice with the rifle and shotgun about 1/3 as much. I shoot the less practiced long guns so much better than the handgun it's not even worth measuring.

As an added bonus, either of the long guns will stop a fight faster than any handgun you can mention. I still keep both handgun and rifle close by but when I hear a bump in the night you can bet your last dollar its the rifle I want in my hands!
 
I noticed that "Mossberg" was not an option, so I abstained.

Kind of an "apples and oranges" sampling there; big double-stack DAO .40's, teeny-weeny blowback .380's and SA cocked-n-locked .45's all in the running, with a price spread of some $600 or more. Were these guns picked at random?
 
I would say that unless you have intimate experience with handguns I would go with a 3" or 4" .38/.357 loaded with Glaser Safety Slug. If on the other hand you are well versed in handguns and know how to clear a jam, and believe me they happen when you least want them to, then use whatever semi you are comfortable with. I generally keep a 4" GP100 with .357 Glasers on my nightstand but I do have a 1911A1 in my shoulder holster, but generally, if you are going to use your handgun in your home it will be at night and it's easier to remember, pick up gun, aim gun, pull trigger and in case of jam or mis-fire, simply pull the trigger again.:rolleyes:
 
Deifinetly a shotgun!Easy to aim, hard to miss.Depending on her build,you can't go wrong with a 20 gauge.SAFE-SHOOTING!
 
My wife went with a .38 snubby after trying out a Colt, Ruger P95, and Model 19. Make sure your wife is the one to pick out her gun, not you.
 
Shotguns.....

Those of you that keep answering "shotgun" need to read his question again. ;) He asked what is the best PISTOL for home defense, not what the best FIREARM for home defense is. To my knowledge, there are not that many pistols that fire 12 or 20 gauge. :D
 
Now I feel like a dumb bunny.

Out of all those listed, I know the caliber of only the 1911 without having to look up every one of the rest. PUHLEESE - put the calibers beside the names. This goes for other posts too when somebody remarks about a SIG something or other - like we all should know what that particular model is. Yes, it is a great incentive to check out Sig's site (IF you can find it) - and that of the rest of the manufacturers.

My answer to the poll - the gun you have with you when the door gets kicked in or you hear noises that are not supposed to be there. It does no good at all to have a Sig 551 in the den when you're in the bathroom or bedroom or in the basement stoking the furnace. (there - now somebody can figure out what a SIG 551 is):p

A Mossberg 385K in your hand or within reach is worth umpteen 1911's or AR15's in the gun safe or in the next room.
 
CWL wrote,
Your poll reads like a list of guns you'd like to own, not your wife.
MeekandMild added,
Pullleeeezzzee! Does she want a fishing pole and golf clubs for Christmas too?

CWL, Meek&Mild -- :rolleyes:

Newsflash: some women like guns. Some of us like them a lot. So she wants a gun for home defense and asks her husband to help her pick one. Does this mean she doesn't want the gun? Hmmmm.

Women like small framed revolvers. Well, a lot of women that is.

Glad you clarified that last. I'm not at all fond of revolvers. But then, I'm not "a lot of women," I'm me. I wonder about Adam3's wife ... suppose she's an individual too?

I'd recommend the Glock, if it fits her hand well enough. And a training class to go with it.

pax
 
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