Smith & Wesson Model 19/686, or Glock 17/19 for a first home defense gun?
- Thread starter Anferny
- Start date
Both?
The 686+ was my first centerfire pistol and I kept it handy for home defense for years. I live in CO, a friendly state for conceal carry. Fell in love with a Glock 19 at a gun show, bought one having never fired a Glock. It was all I expected and more, and can carry all day comfortably. It serves for handy home defense now, tho' the 686+ is ready-to-go in the quick safe too. Would not ever give either one up, the G19 just gets the nod for daily carry.
The 686+ was my first centerfire pistol and I kept it handy for home defense for years. I live in CO, a friendly state for conceal carry. Fell in love with a Glock 19 at a gun show, bought one having never fired a Glock. It was all I expected and more, and can carry all day comfortably. It serves for handy home defense now, tho' the 686+ is ready-to-go in the quick safe too. Would not ever give either one up, the G19 just gets the nod for daily carry.
We've all overlooked the obvious...
When someone asks for a recommendation like this -- a revolver vs. auto -- we are at a slight disadvantage because we can't physically see the person and that makes us forget to ask certain questions.
I favor the revolver for novice and "occasional" users mostly for the simpler manual of arms. No magazines, levers, safeties, jam clearances, etc. etc. But there are other reasons for favoring wheelguns, besides my personal bias for them.
Mostly, for older shooters and for some women who have trouble racking a slide, the revolver is the best solution. Some older shooters may lack the wrist strength (or lose it over time) to help the auto properly feed or experience arthritic pain from rotational forces of the recoil spring.
There's nothing wrong with a semi-auto, even as a first gun as long as the buyer(s) commit to learning and practicing with the pistol more than twice a year.
When someone asks for a recommendation like this -- a revolver vs. auto -- we are at a slight disadvantage because we can't physically see the person and that makes us forget to ask certain questions.
I favor the revolver for novice and "occasional" users mostly for the simpler manual of arms. No magazines, levers, safeties, jam clearances, etc. etc. But there are other reasons for favoring wheelguns, besides my personal bias for them.
- No worries of limp-wristing or FTE/FTF by user who's been sleeping on their hand/wrist/arm. (ever wake up with your hand or wrist "asleep"?)
- Often easier for women who have difficulty with the slide on semi-autos
- Less likely to incur an unintended discharge due than with many pistols.
- Variable power loading - can start with very light loads and progress to heavier loads if desired. No cycling worries.
- Broader choice of bullet types including heavy wadcutter loads. No FTF worries.
- Can use soft lead bullets indoors to reduce penetration hazards.
Mostly, for older shooters and for some women who have trouble racking a slide, the revolver is the best solution. Some older shooters may lack the wrist strength (or lose it over time) to help the auto properly feed or experience arthritic pain from rotational forces of the recoil spring.
There's nothing wrong with a semi-auto, even as a first gun as long as the buyer(s) commit to learning and practicing with the pistol more than twice a year.
I own a 686+ and I love shooting it ... but it's not my choice for home defense for two reasons ..
1. Only 7 rds, when most semi-autos offer more. My nightstand gun is a 4-inch Springfield 1911 ... It holds 8 rounds, only one more than the Smith, but ...
2. Unless you practice reloading a revolver a lot, a semi is almost always easier to reload. I keep a spare mag next to the 1911 and can swap them out in just a very few seconds.
There are a load of semi's, including a bunch from Glock if you insist on owning one, that offer far more capacity than any revolver ... My Springfield XDm-9, for instance, holds 19 rounds ... with a spare, you can hold off a (small) army from cover until help arrives or you've stopped the threat ...
Why don't I use the XDm? I prefer a weapon with a safety when I'm reaching for it in the dark as I am rudely awakened by my barking dog and/or breaking glass ... that's just me ...
Good luck ... save your money and get both, you'll love shooting the 686 ... but get night sights on the semi and keep it handy ...
1. Only 7 rds, when most semi-autos offer more. My nightstand gun is a 4-inch Springfield 1911 ... It holds 8 rounds, only one more than the Smith, but ...
2. Unless you practice reloading a revolver a lot, a semi is almost always easier to reload. I keep a spare mag next to the 1911 and can swap them out in just a very few seconds.
There are a load of semi's, including a bunch from Glock if you insist on owning one, that offer far more capacity than any revolver ... My Springfield XDm-9, for instance, holds 19 rounds ... with a spare, you can hold off a (small) army from cover until help arrives or you've stopped the threat ...
Why don't I use the XDm? I prefer a weapon with a safety when I'm reaching for it in the dark as I am rudely awakened by my barking dog and/or breaking glass ... that's just me ...
Good luck ... save your money and get both, you'll love shooting the 686 ... but get night sights on the semi and keep it handy ...
m&p45acp10+1
New member
Ms. M&P seems to think this is so great that I should get me one too.
S&W Mod 67-1 pre lock.
S&W Mod 67-1 pre lock.
Y'know, if someone lived in a really terrible neighborhood -- or such was very nearby and trouble spilled over on weekends -- I might give credence to your reasons. Then I'd suggest a 9mm like the Beretta, S&W 5906 or even a CZ-75 for the magazine capacity. That advice might also apply to rural residents with few neighbors and very long response times too.
If your Springfield 1911 is holding only 8 rounds you're behind the curve. I'm using Wilson 8-round magazines in my 1911's, giving me 8+1 when sitting in a bedside holster.
The reality is that in most intruder situations, once the resident begins firing, intruders tend to exit quickly. They may fire some parting shots, but they won't stay long. The odds that your intruder will be sufficiently motivated¹ to either charge into your muzzle or engage in a protracted gun battle just to reach you are very slim. And the vast majority aren't tactically inclined or seriously motivated to try to charge into your gunfire. Statistically, civilian gunfights are over in 3 shots or less, fortunately. The thugs who pull home invasions want a quick score of cash, valuables or drugs.² But unless you have the appearance or reputation for having lots of valuables at home or have to face off members of MS-13, the odds of group having the discipline to work together tactically is infinitesimally small.³
¹ Motivated, crazy, stupid or stoned
² There is the 2-minute rule; after 2 minutes, the risk of capture increases exponentially with every minute you remain in the area. Fighting a noisy gun battle for 1-2 minutes before they can even look for valuables is a huge risk.
³ Even if they're tactically minded, if you're prepared and hold up in your "safe" room, they lose the element of surprise and their momentum to go against your "fortified" position. This means the risk that authorities are coming increase dramatically. The rewards have to be large enough to justify getting caught or killed.
Certainly not worth debating, BillCA, you have good reasons and arguments ... however ... I believe in hoping for the best and preparing for the worst ... the worst to me would be two or three determined invaders, in which case a reload would be vital to success ... sure, the odds say seven rounds should be plenty ... but when you happen to be the victim of a group rather than one addled methhead, more is better and being able to reload quickly if necessary is also better ... If I had no choice, my 686+ would be on my nightstand and I'd feel well-defended ... but since I have a choice, I'm choosing a weapon I know well and one I can reload quickly and easily ...
By way, I USED to be Bill in CA, left the Bay area almost 10 years ago for the free state of Texas and wouldn't come back if you gave me a house on Malibu Beach ...
By way, I USED to be Bill in CA, left the Bay area almost 10 years ago for the free state of Texas and wouldn't come back if you gave me a house on Malibu Beach ...
Racking the slide
Don't overlook this important point.
I love my Glock 19, it my EDC.
However I have encountered a lot of women who really struggle racking the slide on a semi auto. The G19 is pretty easy, some pistols are much harder to rack the slide.
If you choose semi auto, make sure your wife can comfortably rack the slide.
Don't overlook this important point.
I love my Glock 19, it my EDC.
However I have encountered a lot of women who really struggle racking the slide on a semi auto. The G19 is pretty easy, some pistols are much harder to rack the slide.
If you choose semi auto, make sure your wife can comfortably rack the slide.
As you said, getting both would be an ideal situation. I'm looking at this from the standpoint of advising a "novice" or occasional shooter, not someone with lots of trigger time. When you can use multiple guns, the best advice is to use what you can shoot best under stress, have a plan and a fall-back plan.
I use a revolver precisely because there are no safeties to forget but the trigger pull is sufficient to prevent an ND. If six ain't enough, the fall back is a 12 bore pump gun with #1 buck or a 5.56mm self-loader.
I use a revolver precisely because there are no safeties to forget but the trigger pull is sufficient to prevent an ND. If six ain't enough, the fall back is a 12 bore pump gun with #1 buck or a 5.56mm self-loader.
