What to recommend for a family arsenal?

G

Glamdring

New member
What would you recomend for a "typical" family [two adults and 2.5 children :)] for CCW and home defense weapons?

Assume cost is a factor and that all people involved know little about guns but will be getting gun safety training.

This is strictly for home defense & CCW no hunting or IPSC or anything else.

Want specific recomendations to be able to give to people.

Currently I recommend Glock 9mm's or DA Revolvers [Ruger, Taurus, S&W] in 357 [to be loaded with 38 +p's as general HG and CCW. One handgun per each adult. After those are purchased I suggest either a Mini 14 or AR-15, with cost and personal preferance deciding which model to get as the long arm.
 
Good start.. but since you are ONLY talking about defense... I might lean towards a shotgun before an AR or a mini-14. That is unless they live on property that needs that longer reach of a rifle. The scattergun would be a little easier to train them with as a rifle does take a bit more dicipline to learn. Shotgun... point and press... aiming not as critical. :)

Just my 2 cents...

Bubba

[This message has been edited by Bubba (edited July 19, 2000).]
 
Yes, for portability's sake in the house I'd recommend a good 4" .357 revolver. Easy to check to see if it is loaded and pretty much fool-proof. Just pull the trigger and it goes BANG. No worries about how to clear jams or FTFs. If it doesn't go bang on the first try, just pull the trigger again. I've had autoloaders for years, but if something goes bump in the middle of the night, I'll be half asleep even with the adrenalin dump and don't want to screw up. I grab the 3" snub from the quick-access safe next to the bed.

For home defense intimidation factor, you can't beat a shotgun. They are generally cheaper than most handguns and have less of a negative stigma given our current PC hysteria. That big hole in the pointy end is quite intimidating, and just the sound of a pump action being racked is enough to remove the criminal intent of most would-be crooks right now. Also, the projectiles have less chance of seriously injuring innocent bystanders or neighbors two doors down than a stray handgun or rifle bullet.

For CCW, just as in the house, I'd stick with a good snub revolver for the same reasons as stated above. A CCW weapon will probably be carried much and actually practiced with very little, especially from concealment and 'without warning'. I'd stick with a 5-6 shot .38 or .357 with a 2-1/2-3" barrel. If you really need it, you are not going to have to worry about things like 'is there one in the chamber?,is the safety on or off? Which way is on or off? has the mag release been pressed, disabling the gun if it has a mag disconnect safety? How grungy has it gotten since the last time I cleaned it?--a little grime and dust can really screw up the functioning of an autoloader. A small, lightweight snub like they have these days, especially the titanium versions, makes packing a wheelgun a real breeze.

I suppose a Glock would be about the simplest auto to use, but I don't like that it doesn't have a repeat strike capability if it doesn't go bang the first try.

Remember, what works best for me might not work best for you. Then again, the best thing is to practice, practice, practice!
 
Makes and models notwithstanding, if you are going to arm everyone for defense, I think I would suggest the same for each. This would allow interchange of mags, parts, training, etc.

The shotgun is a formidable intimidator in anyone's hands.
 
Good thinking on the rifles. A carbine would be a good choice to keep under the bed. Nice thing about those is that they more readily punch through kevlar than typical pistol rounds. Never know when you might have some batmen break in, eh.

Joel
 
Beretta 96 for you;

Beretta 9000S for your wife;

Beretta Cougar for your oldest offspring;

Beretta Bobcat for the young one;

Beretta 1201 next to the bed, just in case....

:D

[This message has been edited by 416Rigby (edited July 20, 2000).]
 
Okay like I said this is for recommending to people that don't know much about guns, but are willing to learn, and COST is a factor.

I think a Benelli is a bit much for people who are not gun nuts.

The 22 rf is a coin toss I think. Even a very cheap one will run around $100.00 with tax. That could buy a lot of ammo to practice with for the centerfires [for this level of shooter].

I figure if someone shoots one box of shells per month and dryfires once per month they will easily surpas typical LEO's shooting skills in a short time [a year or less].
 
1. Two service grade handguns of your preference.

2. A 12 guage pump action shotgun of your choice.

3. As an option for your wife if she chooses, her own pump action shotgun, either 12 or 20 gauge.
 
Training, Training, Training.
Practice, Practice, Practice.
Planning, Planning, Planning.

Given those, the choice of weapons is wide open. If cost is a factor, IMHO Rugers are the best bang for the buck. A P97 in .45 or P95 in 9mm for autos, or a 4 inch GP100 in .357 would do well for the home. If you have brawny wrists and want the maximum felon-flattener, the Ruger Redhawk is now available in .454 Casull. :) The autos can be concealed for carry, but the SP101 .357 snubbie is a better CCW wheelgun.

For a carbine, Ruger's Mini-14 is reliable and you can get lots of stuff for it (mags, etc.) If a shotgun is preferred, Remington or Mossberg work well. Get the biggest gauge the user can handle comfortably.

Don't forget good tactical flashlights. (I wish Ruger would start putting accessory rails on their autos.) Learn the Harries technique for shooting with a light.

Whether you arm the kids or not depends on their age and maturity. I would have trusted my son with a home defense weapon when he was 15, but your mileage may vary.
 
Gun safety training is nice but do more.
Try to get at least one tactical course under the belt of one adult.

That will do you as much good as worrying about guns. Probably more.

If you can't afford it - then get some good
books by Gabe Suarez, Andy Stanford, Ayoob, etc.

Shotgun myths:

1. You don't have to aim or aiming is not that important. That is very wrong.
2. Racking is an important part of the equation of using a shotgun. Pure BS according to most shotgun trainers.
3. How many shotgun recommenders have taken a defensive shotgun course?

If cost was an object - I would equip all with some quality used 357 magnum revolvers and then load them with a quality 38 SPL load. Get a bunch of speed loaders for each.

As far as the long arm - if you get past the shotgun mythology, you can get a fine pump
for $250 range easily.

But some folks recommend a 223 - then the mini-14 for the house seems fine. ARs are expensive.

The Glock 9s are great but training with them is a good investment.
 
My recommendation is politically incorrect but you can always find used models which will help reduce the cost aspect of the equation ... To keep things simple, all the firearms should be similar in operation because with enough practice, you can train your body to go through the motions without having to think because under a life & death situation, your mind will have other things to think about at that time -- such as shoot/don't shoot, friend or foe, etc.

That said, I would recommend the {pre-sellout} S&W line of pistols -- a compact version (such as the 3913) for concealed carry and a full-size one (such as the 5906) for home defense. If 9mm is not to your liking, then you can have the 4013 & the 4006 combination in .40S&W or the 4513 & 4566 in .45ACP.

Another option (with regard to keeping things the same) would be to go with a J-frame revolver in .38 special for CCW and a larger size revolver for home defense. As far as revolvers go, I would give serious consideration to the Taurus line. I'm not too fond of their pistols (a personal thing) but their revolver line has really come into it's own.

Additionally, as others have pointed out, I would consider a rifle to be last on your list unless you live out in the middle of nowhere with police response time being on the slow side and even then, I wouldn't place the rifle very high on my list. Pick the largest room in your house and go to the range and place a target out at twice that distance. If you can empty your gun under rapid fire and keep the bullets in the X-Ring (or close to it), you're ahead of the game.

While I do not place very much importance on a rifle, a good shotgun is a different story and something to consider. Going around your house and gathering the children, you want a handgun because a shotgun makes it difficult to move around corners & hallways but onces everybody is safe in one room, nothing beats having a shotgun at the ready and pointed at the door.

Just my $0.02 worth. Regards,
FUD
fudeagle.gif

Share what you know, learn what you don't.
 
I'll tell you what I have.
Mossberg 500 with short and long barrels (about $200).
Wife carries used Sig P228, and I carry KelTec P11. We also have HK USPc .45 and Beretta 96 Inox.

For cheap and reliable, I would go with the Mossberg and a .357mag revolver (or 2 :)).
 
At the not inconsiderable risk of being a "spoilsport", I believe that the choice of terms, and the use of "arsenal" are poorly done.

PC is a large pain in the behind. It is also akin to "doing it for the children", the absolute last refuge of scoundrels. That being said, when dealing with the general public, and even some people supposedly on "our" side, it is not to be lightly dismissed.

For typical "home defense" situations, I suspect that the simplest, reliable shot gun would be best. On handguns, it's hard to go wrong with a good quality, double action revolver, caliber 38 Special or larger, thopugh a pistol, in the hands of an experienced person would work too. In so far as rifles, go, keep it simple silly (The KISS Principle). Almost any of the military surplus bolt action rifles, in sound condition, around these days would serve admirably.

Enough already.
 
Just one point:

Either get all handguns in the same chambering, or choose ones whole cartridges LOOK much different.

The non-expert easily confuse .380ACP, 9x18 Mak, 9mm, and .40S&W, especially while grabbing extra ammo in the dark with adrenaline pumping.

JP

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Nehemiah 4:18 " ... and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked."
 
Forget the rifle, unless you live in the woods and are fighting off large animals.

Get a shotgun instead, 12 gauge pump or auto (auto is simpler, IMHO) Preferable 6 rounds plus.

Get TRAINING. If you are going to carry, then definitely take at least one tactical pistol course. Safety training is fine for target shooters, but if you are going to rely on this weapon you have to be proficient. I took a four day course this summer, and until I took it I did not know how much I did not know.

I would recommend you find a local IDPA club in your area, and go at least once to check it out. You may find it the most enjoyable and useful form of weekly/monthly practice you can get. But constant practice is important, so it may as well be FUN. And you may make some new friends.

Also get a .22 for training and fun shooting for the kids. If they have their own guns they can shoot, they are less likely to want to play with Dad's until they are big enough.
I think $100 on a .22 and another $100 on .22 ammo (5000 rounds!!!) will do more for your shooting than $200 worth of centerfire ammo.

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galt
Speak Out on the Net http://www.netcitizen.org
 
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