Smith & Wesson Model 19/686, or Glock 17/19 for a first home defense gun?

A

Anferny

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After learning to shoot on .22 handguns and getting plenty of experience from that, I feel like I'm ready to buy my first defensive handgun. A few weeks ago, I went to a range and rented a S&W Model 10 and a Glock 17 and tried them. I liked both of them, and I shot both of them well. I did shoot a little more accurately with the model 10, but it wasn't a huge difference in terms of accuracy. Anyway, the Smith & Wesson Model 19, 686, and Glock 17 or 19 are the guns I'm currently interested in buying. The main people using the gun will be me and possibly my wife, (who has .22 experience, but nothing more). We'll only be able to practice once or twice a month, and sometimes we'll have to skip it. Whatever choice I make, the gun should be able to be ready for use whenever I need it, without anything getting the way. We're definitely going to be "casual" gun owners and not hardcore enthusiasts. Furthermore, I have a few newbie questions:

1. I keep hearing that semi-auto pistols aren't good for casual users because of the fact that they require much more attention and care than revolvers, and that you need to practice and maintain them regularly. Is this true, or are semi autos fine for people like us?

2. I also keep hearing that a .357 Magnum is too much for home defense, and that .357 rounds can over-penetrate, and the muzzle flash and noise can temporarily blind or deafen you. Should I just use .38 rounds for home defense?

3. If I get a revolver, should it have a 4 inch or 6 inch barrel? I may or may not be able to carry it (thanks to the retarded laws here in CA), so which would be better for home defense?

4. How much harder is it to shoot a compact pistol as opposed to a full size one? Me and my wife both have large hands, so it shouldn't be too hard to use a full sized Glock 17, but would a Glock 19 be any better?

Well, that's pretty much it. By the way, please don't suggest a shotgun. I live in an apartment, and a shotgun would be too unwieldy. Feel free to suggest anything else if you want too, though.
 
Based on your post I'll suggest a 4" 686 loaded with +P .38 Special.

Something readily available like the Speer 135 grain +P Short Barrel, or the Remington 158 grain +P Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point, should work fine.
 
I will agree with nate45, but to answer your questions directly:
A pistol like a Glock (or its several competitors) doesn't really require a lot of maintenance, and they are simple to field strip.
Defensive revolver is generally recommended at 4". Good compromise between enough for sighting and velocity and still easy to handle.
When I had a revolver in the nightstand, I loaded .357 Mag. It's a judgement, but I went with maximum hurt. The .38 Spl loads now available are certainly adequate.
The "compact" Glocks have plenty of grip. The "subcompacts" leave your pinky hanging.
FYI, I keep a Glock 23 in the nightstand now.
 
A 686 with a 4" barrel is over 9½" long - that's bigger than a Colt Gold Cup, or a Beretta 92FS and is larger than the Glock 17L !!!

If you're thinking that a 4" barrel is going to make a difference for carry, you should keep in mind that the 686 with a 4" barrel is still a very big gun.
 
Being a revolver guy I would of course recommend a revolver. But why not find a good used S&W model 10 4 inch. For home defense there are lots of good options from ammo companies. My home defense gun is a S&W model 10 4 inch heavy barrel. I am currently using as my self defense round Buffalo Bores 38+P LSWCHP 158 gr round.
The model 10 is a no nonsense simple handgun to use. I have many 357 magnum revolvers and I like them but do not recommend the 357 magnum round for home defense.
Good luck,
Howard
 
Id go with what youre most comfortable with and shoot best "realistically" with. Thats not what you do leisurely shooting at bullseye targets at the range either. Its how you do in a hurry under stress.

Also consider loading/reloading the gun, especially under stress. Most revolvers only give you 5-6 rounds, and they are not as quick and easy to reload as a auto. Right off, most hi cap autos carry twice what a revolver does. They are also easier to reload under stress.

Compact autos tend to be a lot easier to shoot with than the compact revolvers. This is especially true with the lightweight guns. The revolvers take more practice to stay on top of, and its usually not very pleasant practice. If youre not a gun person, they are probably best left alone. Even if you are, you'll probably grow to distain them with constant use. I shoot S&W 642's on a monthly basis, as well as a Glock 26. Both guns are similar in size, but the Glock has better sights (and night sights to boot), and twice the on board ammo as the 642's. My hits on target at 15 yards with it, are usually better than my hits on target at 5-7 yards with the 642.

Comparing my hits at 15 yards with my 26 and 17, and theres really not any difference. Personally, I prefer the 17's, as they have a more comfortable, hand filling grip, but I really dont have any problem with the 26's either.
 
I agree with the Model 10. They are still plentiful and deals can be had on them. The .38 is plenty powerful enough and not overly costly. A good, solid Model 10 with a 4 inch barrel would be a good choice for a first handgun, in my opinion.
 
You should definitely try out a 686 first. Revolvers while needing less maintenance generally more fragile than semi autos. Also how well can you control the DA pull? Its harder to master a revolver DA pull (especially stock non performance center tuned) and shooting in SA might get you in trouble with the law. Just something to consider
 
shooting in SA might get you in trouble with the law
Click to expand...

I've never heard of this. And the OP does say Home Defense. If someone breaks into your house I don't see how cocking the hammer back before pulling the trigger could possibly get someone in trouble with the law.

Drawing the hammer is going to add extra time to the process of shooting.

Is this idea of geting in trouble with SA firing coming from NYC or some especially anti-gun enclave in California?

But anyway, I do agree that some double action triggers on revolvers make for more difficult accurate firing than some striker fired or single-action triggers of some semi-autos.
 
The SA issue has more to do with negligence, or the perception of it, than it does for a criminal thing. The chance for an unintended discharge is a lot higher with a "cocked" or as they will describe it, a gun with a "hair trigger".

DA revolvers, and pistols as well, should be shot DA. Thats how they are meant to be shot.
 
Countzero, as ak103k mentioned in SA mode the trigger is VERY sensitive with almost no room for error. Liabilities aside, I cannot trust myself not to accidentally bump it in a stressful situation. Let's just say I am good at keeping my fingers off the trigger in SA, I would still need to decock the hammer after the situation deescalates. For defense situations it's just best to leave it DA
 
As a first gun,a revolver is a stone simple gun to operate.

That said,a Glock is also a stone simple gun to operate.

You will need much more self-training with the Glock then the Smith revolver.

It's trigger system requires you to train yourself better than with the revolver to not touch that trigger until you fire it.

And a Glock requires you to handle it with extreme care when loaded at all times.

A revolver will not fire until the cylinder is cycled which means usually a good tug on that trigger is required.

But both are outstanding handguns for home defense.
 
If you are going to practice with 38s, and load with 38 spl +P, the Smith & Wesson Model 19 Combat Magnum is an awesome revolver. If you decide in the future that you want to load it with 357 Magnum for the nightstand the revolver will handle it.

It sounds like a Model 19. or a Model 60 would work for you if you're thinking of also using it for carry some day.

The Glock 19 can be carried fairly easily though too...
 
A nice 4" .38 or .357 is pretty hard to beat for a home defense pistol.

As far as shooting one in single action mode in an actual shooting, I think it is a non issue. You will fight like you train.
 
Glock for our HD. Here's why...

For years, I had a Smith & Wesson M66 with 4" barrel loaded with Nyclad 38+p as our primary HD piece. My rationale was that it is a quality gun that is large enough to be clearly seen by a perp, and maybe run him off, and that 38+p was sufficient at close range without too much of a blinding fireball after each shot.

Here are a couple of caveats that made me reconsider that choice. I keep my issued duty gun, a Sig P229 .40 nearby as well. That is the gun I will grab in a home defense situation if I am home. I qualify quarterly, not just for score, but working through tactics as well. The occasional practice session in between also helps with the edge a bit. So, I am very comfortable with it. The M66 on the other hand was mainly for my wife to utilize if I am not home, or otherwise incapacitated. Well, not too long ago, she said to me after all of these years that the gun she prefers far and away over the M66 was our Glock 26, with a grip extension. Then I thought about it... She's not a bad shot with the M66, but she is clearly better with the G26. One of my justifications for the revolver is that it is FAR less likely to malfunction than a semi. Well guess what, that G26 has never had a mishap for her, or me, at any time over the last decade. I think the gun has proven its reliability. And, 9mm +p+ is not a bad HD round either.

I'm sure you can guess what happened next... The M66 was transferred to our safe and the G26 was reassigned to our HD spot.

Bottom line, don't discount a gun in which you are most comfortable shooting. In a HD moment, if you are completely comfortable with your gun of choice, that is at least one positive aspect in an otherwise very negative situation.
 
1. I keep hearing that semi-auto pistols aren't good for casual users because of the fact that they require much more attention and care than revolvers, and that you need to practice and maintain them regularly. Is this true, or are semi autos fine for people like us?
Click to expand...

No gun is good for casual users.
 
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