First Home Defense Pistol Advice

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One has to be careful about brandishing a firearm as a warning and firing warning shots. As with shooting to wound, both can be interpreted as indications your life was not truly in danger. The rule seems to be one only draws a weapon to shoot, and you shoot center mass until the threat is stopped. If you do either brandish or fire a warning shot, it's likely wise to immediately call 911 (assuming the threat has withdrawn), report your action, and give your reason, hopefully that you feared for your life -- then shut up until you consult an attorney. The reason for reporting your action immediately is to disarm your presumed assaillant, who, if they report your behavior first, becomes the victim in the eyes of law enforcement.
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So if someone is moving towards me with a knife I'm not allowed to draw my pistol and yell STOP, DROP YOUR WEAPON!.....?

That seems strange. If I can stop a situation without firing the weapon (still need the presence of the weapon to stop them) that seems the best option in my logic.

The other question I keep asking myself is in all the tons of "after math of a self defense shooting" videos I've watched they say to put the gun down before the police arrive or you could be shot. But what if I've disarmed a would be assailant and need to keep my weapon trained on them for my safety until the police arrive to apprehend them? Convoluted.
 
So if someone is moving towards me with a knife I'm not allowed to draw my pistol and yell STOP, DROP YOUR WEAPON!.....?

That seems strange. If I can stop a situation without firing the weapon (still need the presence of the weapon to stop them) that seems the best option in my logic.
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The laws as to what is considered brandishing can vary state to state. It's best to ask someone in law enforcement or a lawyer licensed in your state about what is considered brandishing. If an assailant is approaching you with a weapon I know in my state that drawing a firearm and yelling a stop command would NOT be considered brandishing.

The other question I keep asking myself is in all the tons of "after math of a self defense shooting" videos I've watched they say to put the gun down before the police arrive or you could be shot. But what if I've disarmed a would be assailant and need to keep my weapon trained on them for my safety until the police arrive to apprehend them? Convoluted
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This is one of the trickiest parts of an armed encounter. In this instance it's very important to have communication with 911. If you live alone, walk with the phone on speaker even if in your pocket. If you have a cohabitant, that person's job is to be constantly relaying information to 911. Make sure 911 knows you are holding the suspect at bay and relays that information to the arriving officers. When you hear the police arrive, keep the weapon at the low ready. Again, communication is key. Yell to them that you are the home owner and obey all commands they give you. If possible, put the weapon down where the assailant can't access it (perhaps just inside the front door) and move slowly out the door to the police with your hands extremely visible. If the assailant is between you and the police, again, keep the weapon at the low ready and communicate when the police enter the home. There's some thought to putting the weapon down when the police come in the home, but they might think you're actually picking up a gun and movement draws fire. Give some thought to having a holster setup that would allow you to holster the pistol when police arrive to help mitigate the problem of a gun in hand with entering police (i.e. a belt with a holster that lives on your bedframe).

Communication is key. The sad reality is there are documented stories of police shooting the home owner when arriving on the scene. Pray your local police are well trained and try to think this through. Also, talk to your local police department about what they suggest you do. They'll know their officers operating procedures and it's a good way to cover your butt.
 
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I have only ever held and dry fired the Canik... I have shot the Walther p99 it emulates.

I bought a Walther PPQ... so personally I am not a fan of the 99. I am also not a fan of the sig 2022.

The reason is trigger feel. Both have quirks of the trigger that I do not enjoy. The trigger feels like it breaks too far back, it's just how the pistol fits my hand that causes that. For many, it is not a problem... They are good reliable pistols, I just have my preferences.

The TP9V2 has a bit of a different shape, and doesn't have the problem for me as much as the Walther.
 
So if someone is moving towards me with a knife I'm not allowed to draw my pistol and yell STOP, DROP YOUR WEAPON!.....?

That seems strange. If I can stop a situation without firing the weapon (still need the presence of the weapon to stop them) that seems the best option in my logic.
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If I have someone advancing towards me with a weapon, IN MY HOME, they're going down. They know damn well that they shouldn't break into houses, especially brandishing weapons, so they don't deserve a warning in my book. If I'm pointing a gun at them, and they aren't immediately running, that tells you all you need to know.

You might want to watch some knife attack training videos on youtube. If they really intend to kill you, by the time you say Stop, drop yo... you'll have a knife in your throat. You're not an LEO, and being actively attacked isn't the same as doing a felony traffic stop. Sorry if I seem harsh, but I just want you to have realistic expectations and be mentally prepared for what might actually occur in that situation. You don't want to be a trigger happy maniac, but hesitation can get you killed. It's a fine line between prison and death.
 
Sure, I get what you're saying about hesitation. And believe me, if I absolutely have to I'm ready to do what's necessary. But to abide by my own moral code I can't take the shot unless I'm all but certain that not doing so will result in my own or someone else's death or serious injury. Imo it isn't about what they deserve. If he's standing in my door holding a knife and I'm 8-10 yards away in my living room (and he isn't running towards me) I have the safe ability to issue him one final warning. If he still then begins running towards me then it's time.
 
Sure, I get what you're saying about hesitation. And believe me, if I absolutely have to I'm ready to do what's necessary. But to abide by my own moral code I can't take the shot unless I'm all but certain that not doing so will result in my own or someone else's death or serious injury. Imo it isn't about what they deserve. If he's standing in my door holding a knife and I'm 8-10 yards away in my living room (and he isn't running towards me) I have the safe ability to issue him one final warning. If he still then begins running towards me then it's time.
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I agree. If you have time, then definitely use it and try a warning. It certainly depends on the circumstances.
 
If I have someone advancing towards me with a weapon, IN MY HOME
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This is an important point I glossed over. Is it possible to brandish in your own home? Any laws I am familiar with in regards to brandishing involve the display of a firearm in public or in view of the public. If someone has entered your home without your consent or any legal authority and sees you walking with a gun, I don't see how that's brandishing.
 
This is an important point I glossed over. Is it possible to brandish in your own home? Any laws I am familiar with in regards to brandishing involve the display of a firearm in public or in view of the public. If someone has entered your home without your consent or any legal authority and sees you walking with a gun, I don't see how that's brandishing.
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Depends on your state. Some have castle doctrine while others have a need to retreat so depending on where you live it might be possible to brandish a firearm in your own home.:eek:
 
I agree with what Adam said.

There are two main reasons I prefer using revolvers with beginners and suggest them as a first sidearm purchase:

1) They are more "intuitive" to use. Anyone who had a capgun as a kid can operate one. The controls are simple and obvious.

2) The new shooter can be enthusiastic at first, practice a few times, and then it sits in their nightstand drawer untouched for ten years. If that is the case, which it often seems to be, they are much better off if they purchased a revolver.

That's just my two cents. Adam addressed the second reason, which is a common situation, but difficult for shooting enthusiasts to fathom.
 
Go to a range and try out the gun before you buy it. Buy a used glock. Simple to operate. If you send it to the manufacturer, I hear they will refurbish it for free. Keep bullet in chamber and finger off trigger.

I am not a huge Glock fan and prefer revolvers. I buy my guns primarily for recreation, and defensive use is not my primary consideration. But for home defense I know of nothing in my opinion is better than a glock. You will forget to turn off an external safety when you are stressed. You may forget to rack the slide. Keep it simple. Now I'm not saying a double action revolver is a bad choice, but a good reliable DA revolver is going to generally cost more, have less rounds, and can be very very loud depending on what you load it with (like 357).
 
Another thought...
This is for home defense, so all the talk about trigger pull and accuracy seem not very relevant. Sight picture and lasers too. If there was a person in your bedroom and you had a water gun could you hit them? I seriously doubt that you will be, or need to be, aiming down your sights, or will be carefully squeezing the trigger.

I'm no expert. Just a thought.
 
Got back from the gunshop a bit ago and got to feel most of my options. Glad I got to try most of them because the PT92/Beretta 92 is slightly too large for my hands.

The only gun I didn't get to try that I really wanted to try was the SAR B6P. I may try to call a few other places around such as cabellas or gander mountain to see if they've got the b6p to feel. Aside from that though I'm pretty sure I'm picking up the TP9V2 as soon as I pick up my permit.

Didn't care for the slide inside the frame making it that much harder to rack the slide when it's most critical anyway (on the b6p). Plus the relatively soft pull on the DA to SA transition on the tp9v2 compared to all the other DA/SA pistols I tried is a nice middle ground in accuracy and safety.

Thanks again all!
 
I like a metal framed Jericho 941. I have a Baby Eagle and it's nice. It's only 9x19 but it still hits my 6 inch spinner target at 50 yards without aiming high. Maybe it's the rifling they use, I'm not sure but the gun works well.
 
Get the pistol of your choice and learn to use it. In the meantime get a 12 ga. first. They're available pretty cheap and a lot easier to use. Nothing says stop as well as the sound of racking a pumpgun.
 
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