OT Handgun Selection

NPHuskerFL

Used sawed off SG

nolaegghead

tamu2009 said:

Any pistol is hardly going to be shot accurately in a high stress environment unless you practice in high stress environments and frequently. The simple fact is that pistols are inherently inaccurate compared to long guns. Their benefit is in maneuverability and concealment. Shotguns/ARs are the best for home defense in terms of accuracy but you sacrifice maneuverability. Just don't fall for the "you don't have to aim a shotgun" fallacy because within the confines of your house, the pattern on a shotgun isn't going to be nearly as big as you think it is. You still have to aim, period.

My mother tried to take my HK VP9 because it was the only gun she could manipulate the slide on but it's out of your price range somewhat considerably.

I get the revolvers just go bang story, but they suck to shoot and most people (and women) don't find them that easy to shoot. 

All that said, I sleep with a glock 19 with surefire x300 light on it and an elzetta bravo handheld light next to it with a 30 round mag loaded with critical defense ammo and another mag sitting next to it. My AR stays in my closet loaded and ready to go if the S really HTF.

I agree with you except the AR, at least for me where I live, would be a terrible choice.  I have a 12g shot gun which would be my first choice if I had a head start, otherwise pistol.

My neighbors are literally 7 and 4 feet away from our home, the neighborhood is densely populated.  A .223/5.56 round is hard to stop - I can see it traveling through a couple houses.  I keep light birdshot in the shotgun.  As with any gun, don't take a shot unless you're reasonably sure you're not going to miss (and you absolutely have to) and be aware of what's behind your target.

henapple

My thought is dont let price be a deciding factor. We're talking about a tool that is used to defend your family, yourself, etc.. Possible life and death. I have and carry a HK P-30. Around $1000 but it's what I'm comfortable with. It's also one of the 3 pistols I own. I don't have a collection. 

Hi54putty

Jeremiah said:

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Hi54putty said:

Glock 43

Do you have one? I tried it at the range/store the other day and it KEPT jamming. It wasnt dirty, and had been broke in (according to the store emplyee anyways).

Yes. I got it right when it came out through a family connection. I haven't had any problems at all with mine. 

Dondgc

nolaegghead said:

show previous quotes

I agree with you except the AR, at least for me where I live, would be a terrible choice.  I have a 12g shot gun which would be my first choice if I had a head start, otherwise pistol.

My neighbors are literally 7 and 4 feet away from our home, the neighborhood is densely populated.  A .223/5.56 round is hard to stop - I can see it traveling through a couple houses.  I keep light birdshot in the shotgun.  As with any gun, don't take a shot unless you're reasonably sure you're not going to miss (and you absolutely have to) and be aware of what's behind your target.

@nolaegghead - good for you.  I hope my neighbors are as concerned about my well-being!

yljkt

Taurus Judge is a nice compromise between a shotgun and pistol. Its both. 

gamason

I bought a S&W SD9VE last year @ Academy Sports for $299 bucks. Came with 2 clips and have put close to 500 rounds thru it with nary a problem. Excellent piece for the price and the wife has no issues at all shooting it.

DoubleEgger

henapple said:

My thought is dont let price be a deciding factor. We're talking about a tool that is used to defend your family, yourself, etc.. Possible life and death. I have and carry a HK P-30. Around $1000 but it's what I'm comfortable with. It's also one of the 3 pistols I own. I don't have a collection. 

Yup. I carry a Kimber. My life is worth more than the price of an XL egg. 

nolaegghead

Get dog and a good alarm system.  Use it.  Set it to go off in 15 seconds when the doors open, and immediately when anything else is triggered.  Loud sirens.  Anyone setting it off is going to haul ass.  Anyone who can defeat the alarm is probably a professional and they'll defeat you too, if that is their intention, regardless of how many guns you have.  Anyone who ignores the alarm is nuts, that's where you need the gun.

WeberWho

I just picked up a 9mm Smith & Wesson Shield a month or so ago. My first handgun. I'm not affiliated with gunbuyer.com but I found my Shield there for $349 with free shipping/no sales tax. (Need to check daily as they will sell out within a day and a half once in stock) Next cheapest place I could find was $380 locally plus the additional sales tax. I looked at the Shield at Gander Mountain for $449 and the employee says they sell that gun 2 to every 1 gun they sell. Hard to find a bad review and can be found under $400 if patient 

WeberWho

Sinking thread 

tamu2009

nolaegghead said:

tamu2009 said:

Any pistol is hardly going to be shot accurately in a high stress environment unless you practice in high stress environments and frequently. The simple fact is that pistols are inherently inaccurate compared to long guns. Their benefit is in maneuverability and concealment. Shotguns/ARs are the best for home defense in terms of accuracy but you sacrifice maneuverability. Just don't fall for the "you don't have to aim a shotgun" fallacy because within the confines of your house, the pattern on a shotgun isn't going to be nearly as big as you think it is. You still have to aim, period.

My mother tried to take my HK VP9 because it was the only gun she could manipulate the slide on but it's out of your price range somewhat considerably.

I get the revolvers just go bang story, but they suck to shoot and most people (and women) don't find them that easy to shoot. 

All that said, I sleep with a glock 19 with surefire x300 light on it and an elzetta bravo handheld light next to it with a 30 round mag loaded with critical defense ammo and another mag sitting next to it. My AR stays in my closet loaded and ready to go if the S really HTF.

I agree with you except the AR, at least for me where I live, would be a terrible choice.  I have a 12g shot gun which would be my first choice if I had a head start, otherwise pistol.

My neighbors are literally 7 and 4 feet away from our home, the neighborhood is densely populated.  A .223/5.56 round is hard to stop - I can see it traveling through a couple houses.  I keep light birdshot in the shotgun.  As with any gun, don't take a shot unless you're reasonably sure you're not going to miss (and you absolutely have to) and be aware of what's behind your target.

nolaegghead said:

show previous quotes

tamu2009 said:

Any pistol is hardly going to be shot accurately in a high stress environment unless you practice in high stress environments and frequently. The simple fact is that pistols are inherently inaccurate compared to long guns. Their benefit is in maneuverability and concealment. Shotguns/ARs are the best for home defense in terms of accuracy but you sacrifice maneuverability. Just don't fall for the "you don't have to aim a shotgun" fallacy because within the confines of your house, the pattern on a shotgun isn't going to be nearly as big as you think it is. You still have to aim, period.

My mother tried to take my HK VP9 because it was the only gun she could manipulate the slide on but it's out of your price range somewhat considerably.

I get the revolvers just go bang story, but they suck to shoot and most people (and women) don't find them that easy to shoot. 

All that said, I sleep with a glock 19 with surefire x300 light on it and an elzetta bravo handheld light next to it with a 30 round mag loaded with critical defense ammo and another mag sitting next to it. My AR stays in my closet loaded and ready to go if the S really HTF.

I agree with you except the AR, at least for me where I live, would be a terrible choice.  I have a 12g shot gun which would be my first choice if I had a head start, otherwise pistol.

My neighbors are literally 7 and 4 feet away from our home, the neighborhood is densely populated.  A .223/5.56 round is hard to stop - I can see it traveling through a couple houses.  I keep light birdshot in the shotgun.  As with any gun, don't take a shot unless you're reasonably sure you're not going to miss (and you absolutely have to) and be aware of what's behind your target.

I'd challenge your assumption that shotguns and pistol penetrating more than 223.

On my phone so hard to link all the reserch but this article does a pretty good job of explaining why an AR is a great HD gun from someone who knows his guns. There's a section about penetrating rounds.

 http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2015/5/26/the-ar-for-home-defense-one-experts-opinion/

nolaegghead

@tamu2009 I stand corrected on the over-penetration of the .223 vs 9mm.  Regardless of what you use, you want to be aware of over-penetration.

tamu2009

nolaegghead said:

@tamu2009 I stand corrected on the over-penetration of the .223 vs 9mm.  Regardless of what you use, you want to be aware of over-penetration.

agree 100%. you have to be certain of what is between you and your target and beyond your target