Home Defense

D

dcobler

New member
In the days of the "Old West" lever rifles and shotguns were preferred weapons for home defense weapons. Lever rifles were able to protect homesteads for days and weeks at a time due to the nature of being able to load while not disabling the weapon. Shot guns are still used widely today as home defense weapons. Since I do not anticipate a band of raiders or a rouge army platoon ravaging the land, and since this thread falls in the handgun forum, we are going to pretend that handguns are the only existent home defense weapons.

I believe that under the circumstances of a home invasion, my Glock .45 will do more that what I desire to de-escalate a situation.

I know there are other opinions out there.

What do you feel is the best home defense handgun, provided we are not including situations such as zombie attacks, pirate raids, etc?

Do you prefer your .357 or your .44 mag?
Will you stick with your Glock 17 or Springfield XD?
Or does your old Hi-Point .380 fit the bill?
All opinions, all welcome.
What HANDGUN, and why?
 
My main house gun is a Glock 17, mostly because it is the gun I have shot the most and am the most familiar with. But I'm not picky. I often use a .38 S&W snub of some type because it is handy and I don't want to go to the safe and swap out the guns. The gun is just a tool, and most of them will do the job just fine.
 
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I use my S&W 1006, 10mm pistol. Double action semi-auto, full size (and then some) and holds 9+1 rounds of 175 grain Winchester Silvertip 10mm ammo.

The cartridge is forbidable, and I'm sure in the opinion of many, too much for home use. To combat that, I consider myself outrageously cognizant of my direction of fire and what's beyond it, and my concern in that area is minimal.

Of all the firearms I have, I picked this one for a few reasons. One is that I'm 110% familiar with it... I could field strip it and reassemble this thing blindfolded in the dark if I had to. Also, it's dead-balls reliable and I'm comfortable with it. I can't double tap with it like I can with a 9mm, but I can direct my fire better than I need to without concern of recoil or muzzle rise. I also chose it over a shotgun because I prefer one handed operation if necessary and also something I can handle in close quarters without it being yanked out of my possession like a shotgun might. The fact that it's double action is something I like as I keep it with a round chambered.

I mentioned this in another thread, but a BIG reason why this pistol pulls home duty is that it's got a (rare, in these days) magazine disconnector safety and won't fire without the magazine in place. This allows me to keep the pistol and the mag apart when I'm sleeping, which gives me piece of mind that there's a genuine hurdle to unauthorized use of it.

Anyway, that's what's been my go to piece since about '95, and I don't see that changing any time soon. It's not what I carry concealed. Too big and too prized.
 
It comes down to what you can shoot the best and most accurate, not bigger is better. I would grab my G23 with night sights and Crimson Trace grips, it is well suited for night time work. You should also have a good quality flash light and know how to use it in conjunction with the firearm of choice. I prefer a handgun to a long gun for maneuvering through the house.

NCH
 
A 1911 in .45 acp is always a good choice / my favorite is a Wilson Combat 5" CQB model. .45acp is a great caliber - and the trigger and fit and feel of a 1911 is unsurpassed by any other handgun on the market.

My 2nd choice would be a Sig 226 in .40 / its not as good a gun as a 1911 but with 12 rounds of .40 its not a bad choice.
 
G23 w/ night sites

My reason is I'm the most comfortable with this firearm & b/c of the night sites. Plus, I like the fact it's ready to go & I don't have to worry about a safety.

We do have a 2 year old so I do have to worry about the small safe in the top of our closest, but it's worth it imo.
 
My full size, all steel, RIA 1911 in .45 ACP is my CCW, HD, trunk, fishing, glove box, and where ever handgun.

Why? It is the one I am most familiar with, . . . most comfortable with, . . . shoot the best with, . . . and I am a firm believer that some folks are not as adept as others in the use of different platforms for different scenarios. I may or may not be one of those people, . . . and I don't want to be on the short end of the stick finding out.

In the military, . . . they have an acronym for it, . . . KISS, . . . (keep it simple, stupid) :D

May God bless,
Dwight
 
i prefer a 12 gauge backed up by a .45!

the best home defense gun is one that will take out the badguy and not somebody eles in the house by accident.

a pump 12 gauage with 18" barrel loaded with high brass #6 or #4s will be enough to take out an intruder and not penetarte the wall behind, very imporatant for those who live in a suburban or apartmnet complex setting.

the .45 backs up the shotgun if an extended exchange follows. high capacity is good but most exchanges in a home don't last long, and you have to think about where EVERY single bullet is going before you pull the trigger.
 
My first grab is a .475 Linebaugh, Freedom Arms.
DSC_0059FA83frontshotbulletscylinde.jpg

Currently on the desk, PM9 Kahr. In the drawer, Detonics CombatMaster. The Detonics is loaded with 45 Super, 230 grains around 1100 fps. Second choice.
DCM360LNGs_0038.jpg


Bump in the night, the FA. Answer the door, Detonics, Kahr, or 360PD, depending on clothing, and pockets.

Breaking glass, and the window? Run for the hall, pull the 'safety' on the M44, and go check...
 
I have a couple of choices either a P89 with high capacity mags or a 1911A1 with 7 shot mags.

More and more often I find myself choosing the 9mm with a 20 shot magazine. Okay 20 shots seems like overkill...but that is almost 3 reloads with the .45. If statistics are right I will only need 3-5 shots to end the confrontation but 20 in the mag feels so much better.
 
My favorite house gun is the same one it's been for over 20 years.

S&W M66 .357, born in 1983 and still alive and kicking! (especially with 158gr SJHP's) :D

SWM66.jpg
 
I should point out that the reason shotguns and rifles were used in the old days for home defense was because for the average sodbuster it was a multi purpose arm. For them a handgun would be an expensive luxury and perhaps useful only for home defense or carry. So you are going to move to an unsettled area and you will potentially face hostile natives, outlaws, bushwackers, thieves, wild beasts and need to hunt food or dispatch predators, Do you chose a puny .36 cal Colt Navy or a shotgun or rifle for the job?
 
My prefered long gun for HD is a M1 Carbine.

My pistol is the same one I carry, that is a Glock 27 and Smith 640 Centennial.

But I prefer that M1 if I can get it in time.
 
For a handgun it's Glock 33 (357sig) because it's all I have but it's not my first choice by a wide margin. 12ga 00 or 000 buck.
 
I prefer my S&W 329PD, .44 magnum lite weight. It is loaded with Buffalo Bore 185 grain Heavy .44 Special JHP.
 
I'm assuming this is a "best handgun" for home defense, right? Cuz I'd think a shottie with 00 or #1 buck would be the best for home. As for handgun, my Walther P99 .40 with a laser/tac light loaded with 180g. HST's would be ok.:cool:
 
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