For home/personal defense would you choose a pistol or a revolver
- Thread starter chrisintexas
- Start date
As for a gun that sits in the home for self defense- I'm partial to revolvers. I have a couple of old model 10s in a bedside lockbox for my wife in case I'm not home in the event of a hot burglary.
The effect of a magazine spring sitting around compressed has been debated ad nauseum, but I know it isn't an issue with a revolver. Add to the fact my wife isn't exactly an avid shooter- there aren't so many user-induced malfunctions with a revolver, and less training necessary to defeat those malfunctions.
Of course, I type that as I sit here in a hotel room with a Sig P250 within arm's reach.
The effect of a magazine spring sitting around compressed has been debated ad nauseum, but I know it isn't an issue with a revolver. Add to the fact my wife isn't exactly an avid shooter- there aren't so many user-induced malfunctions with a revolver, and less training necessary to defeat those malfunctions.
Of course, I type that as I sit here in a hotel room with a Sig P250 within arm's reach.
chrisintexas
New member
Old grump what revolver is that? Thanks
Crow Hunter
New member
I will turn this question around on you.
Do you have fire insurance on your home because you are in fear 24 hrs a day of a fire?
It isn't fear that makes people do this, it is practicality and mitigation of risks that does it.
Personally, if I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt there was no way I would ever lose my house to fire, I definitely wouldn't be paying for the insurance every year, but because I don't, I pay it every year even though I have never had a fire or even lived near someone that has.
Same way with carrying a gun or having them available around the house. I don't live in fear, if I did, I would move too. I do, however, know that if I needed to I could defend myself and/or my family and that is a comforting feeling. Just like knowing if I have a fire in the house, I have insurance.
That being said, it can be dangerous here. I went with my wife to a doctor's office in Memphis TN just today, in a decent/secure area (Baptist Hospital Campus). They "buzzed you into" the examination rooms and the receptionist staff was behind 1" bullet resistant (at least impact resistant based on the interlayer) with an interior locking sliding panel and no way to open it from the waiting room.
I made mention of it to my wife as we were leaving, she said: "Well we ARE in Memphis..."
I don't know a whole lot about NZ but I get the impression that it is a mostly culturally homogenous well ordered country with a relatively small population of hardworking industrious people.
Unfortunately, the US is only like that in some areas. Others, not so much.
general use; location(s)....
For most US home or property owners, a standard 6 shot .357magnum med frame DA or DA only revolver(with 3"-4" barrel) will do fine.
Lenny Magill, www.gunvideo.com & his wife say the same thing in their home defense guide DVD.
I go by the 3x3x3 Rule, that most armed citizen(not sworn LE officer, armed guard, soldier, etc) will have a lethal force incident that's; 3ft or less, in 3 seconds with approx 3 rounds fired(by both sides).
Now, if you have a large house or a big estate or you live in a rural area, a 12ga shotgun, a patrol rifle(M4) or a semi-auto pistol may be a good security plan.
As for major brands, I'd look at a Ruger GP100, a S&W L frame 686+ 7rd, a Ruger SP101 5 shot(DA only), or the big S&W N frame 627 M&P tactical. With the M&P you can add a green laser or white light.
For a home protection semi-auto pistol, I'd buy a new SIG Sauer DAK model; P226R, P229R, P220R with night sights or a Glock 21, 32, 22, 23.
Good calibers include the .357sig, the .40, the 10mm, and the .45acp.
Only use new, factory made ammunition; NO reloads or hand-loaded rounds.
Stay safe & stay legal,
CF
For most US home or property owners, a standard 6 shot .357magnum med frame DA or DA only revolver(with 3"-4" barrel) will do fine.
Lenny Magill, www.gunvideo.com & his wife say the same thing in their home defense guide DVD.
I go by the 3x3x3 Rule, that most armed citizen(not sworn LE officer, armed guard, soldier, etc) will have a lethal force incident that's; 3ft or less, in 3 seconds with approx 3 rounds fired(by both sides).
Now, if you have a large house or a big estate or you live in a rural area, a 12ga shotgun, a patrol rifle(M4) or a semi-auto pistol may be a good security plan.
As for major brands, I'd look at a Ruger GP100, a S&W L frame 686+ 7rd, a Ruger SP101 5 shot(DA only), or the big S&W N frame 627 M&P tactical. With the M&P you can add a green laser or white light.
For a home protection semi-auto pistol, I'd buy a new SIG Sauer DAK model; P226R, P229R, P220R with night sights or a Glock 21, 32, 22, 23.
Good calibers include the .357sig, the .40, the 10mm, and the .45acp.
Only use new, factory made ammunition; NO reloads or hand-loaded rounds.
Stay safe & stay legal,
CF
riggins_83
New member
My nightstand gun is a S&W 642. I'm generally a semi auto guy however I like the fact I can leave the revolver loaded for years without any additional spring tension.
It depends on what room I'm in. I shoot them equally well, but I have to admit that the 12 rounds of 40 cal federal HST's from my XD sub compact kind of warm me up. I've gotten real good with that gun in my six shot drills. Two to the belly button (Lower aorta and femoral branch) Two to the chest (Heart aorta) and two to the head for a CNS shot. That XD fits me perfectly, much better than a Glock.
Revolver!
First of all, you have to think of the intimidation factor. The first handgun I ever shot was a Smith and Wesson model 29 .44 magnum. (Dirty Harry Gun) It is a big gun and will scare people away. A semi auto handgun is good, but it has the tendency to jam unlike a revolver. Revolvers usually carry a bigger round and are more accurate, so that's that. Hope my input has helped!
First of all, you have to think of the intimidation factor. The first handgun I ever shot was a Smith and Wesson model 29 .44 magnum. (Dirty Harry Gun) It is a big gun and will scare people away. A semi auto handgun is good, but it has the tendency to jam unlike a revolver. Revolvers usually carry a bigger round and are more accurate, so that's that. Hope my input has helped!
FloridaVeteran
New member
Gaz in NZ - from your earlier posts, it seems that you might be into Cowboy Action Shooting there in New Zealand, or at least something similar, and that you are accustomed to having guns stored at the gun range rather than in the home. I'd imagine you have not lived in another country, or at least not in one that is so homogeneous as is New Zealand.
Wikipedia can give you some useful information about differences between our two countries. What is essential to know, and nearly impossible to learn, is the degree to which firearms crimes in a given country are committed with guns that were legally purchased and owned by the perpetrators/guilty parties. New Zealand probably has a very, very low number of illegally-acquired and illegally-available-to-acquire guns
I think it is great that you are interested in shooting sports and, possibly (but it doesn't seem so) hunting. But I think the fact that you don't feel a need to have guns in your houses in New Zealand is due to characteristics of your country that are unlike those of the U.S. As an extreme example, I wouldn't feel any need at all for a handgun if I were at the South Pole.
Best advice, for a happy life on forums like this (subject to admonition from the forum-master) is: keep political questions concerning guns, however couched, relative only to the country in which you live or plan to reside, not the other guy's country (ours, in this case). No offense intended, but I am a plain-speaking person and hopefully this advice will keep you from appearing to "bait" the others here.
Wikipedia can give you some useful information about differences between our two countries. What is essential to know, and nearly impossible to learn, is the degree to which firearms crimes in a given country are committed with guns that were legally purchased and owned by the perpetrators/guilty parties. New Zealand probably has a very, very low number of illegally-acquired and illegally-available-to-acquire guns
I think it is great that you are interested in shooting sports and, possibly (but it doesn't seem so) hunting. But I think the fact that you don't feel a need to have guns in your houses in New Zealand is due to characteristics of your country that are unlike those of the U.S. As an extreme example, I wouldn't feel any need at all for a handgun if I were at the South Pole.
Best advice, for a happy life on forums like this (subject to admonition from the forum-master) is: keep political questions concerning guns, however couched, relative only to the country in which you live or plan to reside, not the other guy's country (ours, in this case). No offense intended, but I am a plain-speaking person and hopefully this advice will keep you from appearing to "bait" the others here.
For CCW, I tend to prefer revolvers, though I do carry a 1911 from time-to-time. I am most consistent, particularly when point shooting, with a K, L or N frame S&W. Also, I've run enough limp wrist/weak grip drills with autos (simulating injury) with eye opening results to be a little squeemish about carrying one, though my 1911 doesn't seem to care how I hold it, much like my trusty revolvers. But YMMV.
For home defense, my S&W 686 lives in a gunvault by my bedside. Here again I prefer the revolver platform. No safety to mess with (ie 1911), or no lightweight trigger to squeeze by accident (ie Glock or XD) when being startled out of a dead sleep. Years ago I had an XD9 as my bedside gun, but I always left the chamber empty for fear of grabbing the dang thing wrong in the dark and putting a whole through my floor.
That said, the purpose of my bedside gun is to provide immediate protection until I can retrieve my AR-15 or 12 ga.
For home defense, my S&W 686 lives in a gunvault by my bedside. Here again I prefer the revolver platform. No safety to mess with (ie 1911), or no lightweight trigger to squeeze by accident (ie Glock or XD) when being startled out of a dead sleep. Years ago I had an XD9 as my bedside gun, but I always left the chamber empty for fear of grabbing the dang thing wrong in the dark and putting a whole through my floor.
That said, the purpose of my bedside gun is to provide immediate protection until I can retrieve my AR-15 or 12 ga.
peacefulgary
New member
Yankee Traveler
New member
1911
Because I hit what I point at, and I hit exactly what I aim at.
Because I hit what I point at, and I hit exactly what I aim at.
Gaz-in-NZ,
I don't think you understand the mind set here in The US. We don't have them all over out of fear. We have them because our 2nd amendment says we can and we would rather be safe than sorry. Plus,we just plain love 'em! As to what are we afraid of ? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! Would you be afraid of anything if you had a weapon at hand all the time.
I don't think you understand the mind set here in The US. We don't have them all over out of fear. We have them because our 2nd amendment says we can and we would rather be safe than sorry. Plus,we just plain love 'em! As to what are we afraid of ? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! Would you be afraid of anything if you had a weapon at hand all the time.
Southern Shooter
New member
Home Defense and Personal Defense
Home Defense:
I have one .357 Magnum revolver in a holster that is attached to the headboard of my bed and another .357 Magnum revolver concealed on a bookshelf at the front of the house. Both are easily accessible, neither require much thought of maintenance, and they are simple understand and use. If there is a bad round, heaven forbid if that were to ever happen, just squeeze the trigger, again. No tapping or racking.
Personal Defense:
Because they are slim and lite, I carry a Kel-tec P-3AT .380 ACP and a Ruger LC9 9mm. Because I make visual contact with them on a regular basis it is easy to remember to perform maintenance check-ups and cleanings on them.
Home Defense:
I have one .357 Magnum revolver in a holster that is attached to the headboard of my bed and another .357 Magnum revolver concealed on a bookshelf at the front of the house. Both are easily accessible, neither require much thought of maintenance, and they are simple understand and use. If there is a bad round, heaven forbid if that were to ever happen, just squeeze the trigger, again. No tapping or racking.
Personal Defense:
Because they are slim and lite, I carry a Kel-tec P-3AT .380 ACP and a Ruger LC9 9mm. Because I make visual contact with them on a regular basis it is easy to remember to perform maintenance check-ups and cleanings on them.
Last edited: