Home defense

C

camillus24

Inactive
Hi everyone, I just joined the forum so apologize if this topic has been already been dealt with. I need advice on which gun to buy for my home.

General background: 31 year old male with a wife and a 4 mo. old baby girl in a neighborhood with lots of crime recently. Specifically, a friend was held up in our driveway by an armed group of 3 African-American males (later arrested and luckily we were not present), a bank two blocks away was robbed (thieves still on the run) and 1.5 miles away a lot of Section 8 families have moved in. When we rented this house, none of these events had yet occurred and of course we will move when the lease runs out. However, in the meantime, I feed we need something more potent than our dog.

Neither my wife nor I have much experience with guns (two trips to gun ranges with friends years ago but other than that, nothing). As a result, have three questions:

1. What gun(s) should I buy? Would prefer on the inexpensive side (though can afford a more expensive gun) as not sure how much use the gun will get outside of home defense.

2. Any tips for storage and/or use given the child in the house?

3. Any recommendations for where a beginner would/should buy a gun?
 
My 1st handgun purchase was a 9mm Glock 17. If you are leaning towards a pistol, the Glock 17 is an easy weapon for a beginner to learn to shoot well. As far as price, I purchased the gun used for around $500. That's not your only option of course. You and your wife should look at a variety of weapons and see what best fits your hands. If possible, go to a gun store that also has a range attached to it. This will allow you to try out different pistols before making a final choice.
 
More trips to the range. Some ranges still rent guns, though they are diminishing due to legal issues. Revolver = KISS

Depending on your wife's strength a medium or full size revolver would help with recoil and follow up shots.

As for a semi auto, S&W M&P series is nice. Hard to accidentally pull the trigger but not hard to pull either.

More training
 
I would recommend finding a local range that has rentals, and try a few out, see what fits you the best. A handgun safety class would be beneficial also. With kids in the house you should have some kind of safe that you can access the gun quickly if needed. As far as where to buy it, I would try to find a local gun store. If you post where you are located, I am sure there are people on the site that may be able to direct you to a good shop in your area
 
What KJ4963 said. Try some out, see what you both like. Seriously consider a firearm for each of you. Each of you get a CCW permit now. For new CCW folks, start to carry daily, and keep in reach in the house, just to get used to carry and the general idea. Nothing wrong with a couple of revolvers to start out with. Don't let anyone snow you about needing a magnum or something like that. Never leave the weapon in your car.
 
IMO- If you are not a "gun person" it may not be the right move for you. Are you or your wife ready to take a life? Its a question you have to have answered before going forward. If you pull a gun on someone and dont pull the trigger you will likely be killed. For home invasion or robbery a dog is probably the single best deterrent. A can of mace in the drawer next to the bed and one in the kitchen or other readily accessible areas is also a good idea, like having a fire extinguisher handy. For a gun to work you need to be able to pick it up (half asleep) acquire a target (check to make sure its not your wife or child) do a double tap and look for the next target.
I have several guns and 3 children. We have only in the last year (no that all my kids can shoot and understand the weapon) began to keep one in a easily accessible area of the home. We have a Great Dane who absolutely ardors my wife and daughter and I would put my trust there first. not to mention that he is up and ready to go at 2am before I am.
I encourage you to buy a gun and go to the range and have fun. But I dont know if its something you want to have in order to make you feel more comfortable. Unless you and your wife intend to carry (didnt sound like that was the case) than its likely it wont be there when you need it.
 
First, analyze whether you can afford to break the lease and move to a safer area. Note I say this knowing absolutely nothing about your location but it may be the cheapest and safest move.

Others have already provided good suggestions re arms for self defense and that may be something you want to consider in any event....even if it just amounts to getting outdoors and having fun punching holes in paper.
 
Personally I would find a 18" pump shotgun (usually under $300) and load the tube up with low-recoil 00 Buck.
First, analyze whether you can afford to break the lease and move to a safer area. Note I say this knowing absolutely nothing about your location but it may be the cheapest and safest move.
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And I energetically concur with this. If you cant break the lease, get the heck out as soon as it runs out.
 
Hey I just posted on another topic this response. However it works just as well on this thread. So lets do it again!

Second hand .38 Special revolvers are a great buy. Colt, Smith & Wesson, Ruger. You can find all of them and prices are very reasonable. Learn to inspect a second hand revolver and then load either with modern 38 Spl hollow point (from any reputable ammo maker) or +P 38 Spl hollow points (if your revolver is so rated) and you're good to go. If you find a gently used 357 magnum you can go with either magnums or the 38 Spl +P+. I still have a couple boxes of the Winchester 110 grain Semi Jacketed Hollow Point +P+. the so-called "Treasury Load". I know it's obsolete.

Everybody wants black tactical hi-cap something or another. Prices are idiotic on those items. But second hand pump action riot guns and 38 Spl revolvers (in good shape mind you) just don't have the heat. Which means they don't have the prices.

I got my tacti-cool guns several years ago. I'm good.

Anyway just my observation and personal experience. I have no doubt that the younger members will put me in the Dinosaur category and promptly ignore me. And rightfully so. :rolleyes:
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The .38 Spl revolver is a great self-defense gun for those just starting out. Easy to lean, simple manual of arms. Especially if you get a mid-size revolver lile the S&W Model 10 or Model 64.
 
I'm going to echo a few statements already made: Take a class or several on safe gun handling and the legal issues in your state. After those things have been covered, then think very seriously about getting a concealed carry permit, license or whatever it's called in your state.

Once you have a solid understanding of the safe handling and legal issues involved in using a gun for protection, then figure out what gun you want. There are a ton of excellent pistols for less than $500 and don't forget about the option of a used pistol.

As far as a recommendation on a pistol, I'd go with any of the popular polymer 9mm's. Glock 17 or 19, Springfield XD or XD(M), Smith and Wesson M&P, ruger SR series are all good choices. I have owned and carried glocks, XD and XDM's and have shot all the above. I chose the XD and XDM for my carry choices, but the M&P series have really grown on me.

If you handle the polymer guns and decide you'd rather have a steel or alloy framed, you're choices are a bit different and the trigger actions will usually be different. In a metal frame, I'm a big CZ fan, but SIG and Beretta make excellent pistols as well. The Smith and Wesson 3rd generation pistols are excellent as well, but they will be found on the used market only.

It's a good time to be choosing a first gun, as there are many very good options out there.
 
I'm going to argue against a shotgun for home defense. It's always mentioned in these topics about home defense. It's an old standby and can work very well, but effective use of a shotgun in a high stress, close in altercation is very difficult at best and nearly impossible in the worst circumstances.

Wielding a shotgun with an 18' barrel inside of your house while trying to call 911, get to your child and defend yourself is less than ideal. If you need to operate a light or carry a child in one arm while wielding your shotgun in the other, you will be hard pressed to employ the weapon if needed. Pistols are much easier to shoot and manipulate one handed and are a little tougher for an attacker to grab and fight with you over than a shotgun. If you were single or it was even just you and your wife, the shotgun works a bit better, because you can just barricade up in your bedroom, call 911 and wait it out with your shotgun at the ready.

For me, if I use a CZ SP-01 in 9mm with a TLR-1 light. It's a reliable easy to use combo that I can easily control one handed while I go grab my sons from down the hall. Once they are with me, it's back to the master bedroom while I wait for the police to show up. I will avoid clearing my home unless it is absolutely my only option.
 
First, take a class. The NRA offers a class on home defense, and there may be other classes in your area that are worthwhile. You need to learn about gun safety first, then the mechanics of shooting accurately and the laws governing self defense in your area.

At that point, you will have moved a couple of steps closer to understanding what firearm meets your needs and you can start handling and hopefully firing the guns that are on your short list.

Gun shop personnel aren't always helpful with beginners, which is a shame because no one is born with congenital gun knowledge. A good gun store is willing to teach in order to make a customer. Find one. I would not advise trying to buy online with no prior knowledge of guns.

There are several manufacturers of storage boxes that allow quick access to your handgun. Some unlock with push-button combinations, others with fingerprints. Put one of those in your budget.

You are doing a responsible thing in giving thought to your family's safety. As your questions become more specific, there are lots of good people here who will be willing to help.
 
Yes by all means take a class, but do your own research. Remember a class is taught by an individual who has his or her own opinions. Listen to them and learn from them, but just don't treat them like they are Mohammad. Consider it akin to looking into a tool box. Take what you can use (or need) and go from there. You can learn a lot on your own and it won't set you back $3,000 dollars. Isn't that about the average now for some of the courses at places like Thunder Ranch and Front Sight?
 
If you want handguns, I suggest .38 special for revolvers or 9mm for semi auto for beginners. They are cheap compared to other rounds but still powerful enough to be effective. I got a Magnum Research Baby Eagle used for $375. It's a 9mm and holds 16 rounds. Excellent gun.
 
The first thing you need to decide is what type of gun is best for you: handgun, shotgun, or rifle.

A handgun is, by and large, less powerful and more difficult to shoot well than a rifle or shotgun. Handguns are also slightly more difficult to handle safely because their shorter barrels make them easier to "muzzle sweep" something/someone you don't mean to. The advantage of handguns is their more convenient size. A handgun is much more maneuverable in confined spaces and is much more convenient and practical to carry on your person, particularly if you prefer to or must carry concealed.

A shotgun, on the other hand, is probably the most effective weapon if you choose the right gauge (20ga, 16ga, 12ga, or 10ga) and load it with the right ammunition (very coarse birdshot, buckshot, or slugs). A quality shotgun is also quite affordable as you can get very servicable models from Mossberg, Remington, Winchester, H&R, and others for $300 or less if you are a savvy shopper. A shotgun, however, is not without drawbacks. The shotgun will typically have rather heavy recoil and limited range. The shotgun will also be larger and less maneuverable and extremely difficult, if not impossible, to carry concealed. Finally, the ammunition capacity of most shotguns is rather limited as compared to what is commonly available in rifles and handguns. Most (though not all) shotguns have a capacity of 1-9 shells.

A rifle is another consideration. While not quite as effective as shotguns, rifles are commonly available in cartridges much more powerful than what can be found in a handgun. A rifle is also much easier to shoot than a handgun and has the greatest range of all three types (several hundred to several thousand yards depending on the rifle and cartridge). Rifles are also available with very high capacity magazines (30 rounds or more is not uncommon for many rifles) and most rifle cartridges produce a good deal less recoil than most shotguns do. Rifles, however, share some of the disadvantages of shotguns in that their size makes them less manueverable and they're not practical to carry on your person. Rifles are also generally more expensive than a shotgun of similar quality (though not necessarily more expensive than a handgun) and are often subject to more restrictive laws than shotguns are. Finally, rifle cartridges are usually much louder than shotgun or handgun cartridge and, depending on the cartridge and loading, can be excessively penetrative for certain applications (there are several common rifle cartridges that can easily penetrate concrete walls).

Bear in mind that the above is only a very, very general overview. Once you've educated yourself and decide which basic platform is best for your needs, you'll need to make decisions about particular makes, models, calibers, action types, specific barrel lengths, etc. There is no "one-size-fits-all" answer to your question and, as such, we cannot make good recommendations without a lot of very detailed information.
 
Everybody here telling you to take a class is 100% correct. Take a class and educate yourself first. A gun is a tool and just like any other tool - if you are not using it properly the job will not be done right.
 
Home defense is not just a gun but a series of things like lighting. It’s cutting back bushes so the BG doesn't have a place to hide, alarm system and then a gun. It is a layer of things so the BG moves to an easier target
 
home defense, firearm selection....

As posted, A few points to consider include buying a .38spl or .357magnum 3" or 4" barrel DA(double action) or DA only(double action only or no "cocking" the hammer). A police trade-in or a new stainless steel revolver like the Ruger SP101 or the S&W L frame 686+ 7 round would do well. The larger Ruger GP100 4" .357magnum would do fine also. I'd avoid using any shotguns or rifles for home defense. You'll need two hands to fend off a violent subject and the recoil/blast may cause major problems in a house or small space.
Take skill training classes & learn the local-state gun/use of force laws.
Only use factory made high quality ammunition for protection, no reloaded rounds or hand-loads.
A well made, DA only revolver with .38spl +P ammunition can protect you.
Good loads include; the Ranger T load, the Corbon DPX, the MagSafe SWAT, the Speer Gold Dot 135gr JHP +P, and the Buffalo Bore 158gr SWC-HP +P.

For more details, see these sources: www.SGammo.com www.handgunlaw.us www.brownells.com www.nra.org www.gunvideo.com www.paladin-press.com www.shopcorbon.com www.natchezss.com www.buffalobore.com www.gunlawguide.com .
 
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