New gun owner

[mosgood]

I'm thinking about getting a hand gun for Home defense and target shooting.

Anyone now resources that can help me figure out what kind of gun to get?

[rogwar]

Get yourself a shotgun for the house. You can hunt with it as well.

[Wotan]

charter arms .44 bulldog is all you need for home defense.

1 shot will drop and pcp/crackhead.

A shot gun you'll just end up fediddlein your house all up. Where are you going keep a shot gun? in the closet? how you gonna to it?

A hand gun definately, and 1 that drops the attacker quickly.

[GtoRA2]

If you are just starting out on a handgun look into a 9MM it will take you less time to learn cause the recoil is not so bad.


http://www.sigarms.com/

These guys make the finest stock handguns in the world in my opinion.

I have owned a P220 for 8 years and put well over 4000 rounds through it. The only time it ever gave me trouble was when the magazine springs went bad.( after 3 years holding 7 rounds all the time) I called sig and had new springs on the way no problem.
The gun has never failed to fire.

I wish the Colt Mag springs lasted even 1/5 as long.



Ultimately, get what you are comfortable with.

[mosgood]

I have an British Enfield that will drop an elk.  I'm looking for something a little more well...err.... little .

[gofaster]

.22 calibre handgun for home defense.  Anything bigger is liable to go through walls and into your neighbor's space.   Small enough with little recoil -  anyone can shoot it with a fair amount of accuracy.

Or, pistol-grip shotgun.  No aiming necessary when creeping around dark hallways.  You see, you spray. Downside is that it can cause a lot of collateral damage to furniture and decorations.

[mosgood]

what are the issues to consider when comparing the Sig form a Glock from a Colt... etc?

[H. Godwineson]

If you don't have a lot of experience with firearms, get a revolver, not a semi-auto pistol.  Revolvers are easier to master.  If wall penetration is not a consideration, a .44 special is a good choice;  large caliber, low velocity, low recoil .  Ammo is a little difficult to find, but not inordinately so.  Taurus makes a high-quality .44 special, as does Charter Arms and Rossi.  Stick with 3 to 4 inch barrel, Pachmayr grips, and practice, practice, practice.

Regards, Shuckins

[GtoRA2]

Glock and Sig are both great. Just personal preference.

I of course would choose Sig cause mine has been great. All the Glock owners I know love theirs.


Colt sucks, if you are going to get a 1911 of some form go with Springfield armor or some other company.

Colts are not as good now and you pay for the colt name.

Does colt even sell to civilians anymore? They said at one time they where going to stop.

Mostly make sure the gun feels goon in your hands, and you can reach the controls and that it points well.

[GtoRA2]

I do not like revolvers they are big and clunky, and the trigger pull on most sucks.


But again, if you feel comfortable with one over an auto, by all means go for it.

One other point, if you do have to use it and the local DA, has a burr up his butt or you get sued by the guy you shot's family. Anything with in the .44 caliber could be played up as a big man killer to make the jury not like you.

Shuck, do not flame me! hehe I know its a fine handgun, just no my taste.

[AKDejaVu]

I'd recomend a .357 (ruger is my fav here) with a 4" barrel for home defense and target range stuff.  You can load .38 bullets in it if recoil is something you'd like to avoid or magnum if armor is something you'd like to penetrate.

Its a good well balanced weapon... if you're looking for a handgun.

Of course, a shotgun with an 18 1/2" barrel is your best bet... though I would not use it at the range or for hunting.

AKDejaVu

[SaburoS]

Originally posted by mosgood
I'm thinking about getting a hand gun for Home defense and target shooting.

Anyone now resources that can help me figure out what kind of gun to get?

Mosgood,
Go to a good gun range that has rentals so you can try out the different handguns. Also, try to hook up with friends and co-workers to go target shooting with (make sure you have ear and eye protection), so you can try all the different handguns.
Ask yourself some questions:
1) Are you going to practice shooting the gun? If you can't 'handle' your gun in pressure situations, during all lighting conditions (get one with tritium night sights), hate to have your own gun used against you. If you can't hit what you're aiming at, don't buy a gun.
2) I hope you realize that if you ever fire your gun in a 'self-defense' setting:
2a) If you miss and your bullet travels into/through your neighbors house and hits your neighbor, kiss your house and car goodbye to legal bills. Attorney's fees are expensive. Depending on when election time is, you might get an overzealous DA charging you with attempted manslaughter or worse.
2b) You actually hit the suspect, kiss your house and car goodbye to legal bills. You can bet that his family will sue you.
2c) If you unfortunetly do end up shooting someone (better be because you feared for your life and the suspect better have bullet entry holes facing you and there are no 'coup de gras' last shot to finish him off), You need to say only two things to the police (they are not your friend in that situation no matter how they appear). "I feared for my life." and "I would like an attorney please." DO NOT answer any other questions! You will not be in a normal frame of mind.
3) Will the gun be stored properly? Better be sure no kids EVER have access to your firearm as they seem to be the one's shooting themselves out of ignorance (happens once in a great while). More people get hit by lightning than a kid accidently shooting himself or his friend.
4) Do you really need a gun? Do you fear for your life on a constant basis? THAT is the million dollar question. Are you into recreational/serious target shooting?  If you do decide to get a gun, make sure you store it in a gun safe that happens to be bolted to the frame of your house/apartment. You'll have ready access IF you've practiced to open your safe. Takes only 5 seconds to spin the dials to open your safe.
5) If you live where there could be others around when you have to shoot (apartment complex or nearby houses), get a .22 or make sure you have Glaser Safety Slugs (fine shot) for the caliber of your choice. You don't need collateral casualties.
Remember that a solid hit with a .22 is much more effective than a loud miss with a .44.
6) You better spend more time and effort on choosing the right gun for yourself. You're going to have to live or die by your choice.
It better be bought legally and registered (follow your local, State, and Federal laws).
Regards,
SaburoS

[capt. apathy]

if you are new to handguns I gotta second the .22 for a couple reason.

1. while it doesn't have much knockdown power. it has little or no recoil, so it's very easy to get several rounds on-target in a very short period of time.  it will drop an intruder at 'in house' ranges.

2. very little mussle flash.  it won't blind you for a couple seconds in a dark house.

3. ammo is dirt cheap-  the same $15 that will buy you a box of 50 rds for a .44 will get you about 500-700 rds of .22lr.   I mention this not because it's worth the difference to pay $.35 per clip for .22 as apposed to about $3 per clip for most larger guns.  the main benifit is you can take $10-$20 worth of ammo for a .22 out into the woods and when you run out you will be damn near expert with that gun.  by the time you've fired the same amount through a larger gun you've spent well over $150 in ammo, so most wont do as much practicing with their gun.


if you've never owned a handgun before go with a double action revolver, preferably double only(internal hammer).  the key here is simplicity double only revolvers require a full pull on the trigger to cock and fire the gun.  they require a fairly strong pull, so they don't make very good target pistols (the extra effort throws your aim off slightly, but not enough to matter in home deffence).  the main benifit to these is they don't have or require a safety.  just pick it up, point, and pull.  safetys, jacking the slide, or cocking the gun really confuse people in a stressful situation unless the are VERY comfortable with their guns.

if you are more experienced with shooting, loading, safteys ect. then a nice automatic is good.  for in the house I prefer a 9mm.  factory loads have alot of mussle flash, but no more than most, other than the .22 (personally I take care of this by handloading my own ammo,  Blue-dot powder is great for the 9mm, low recoil, high volocity and the mussle flash is blue not orange so it doesn't blind you)

IMO .44 and .357 are overkill in the house. too much chance of hitting your nehbores or your kids through walls.  (besides I'm not particularly fond of either load anyway,  .41 mag is a better all-around load than either of them)

if you are ready for something bigger than the .22 but not comfortable with the auto's.  I'd recomend a hammerless double-action revolver in .38 spl.  I'd probably go with a S&W, or a Colt.  

whatever you decide as far as style go with a brand name (S&W, Ruger, Colt, Sig) I've heard good things about Glocks but they just feel weird in my hand (if you've never known anything else I guess they'd be fine)

you'll know the names you've heard before.  guns rarely depritiate in value (they loose some value the first time they're fired, after that if you take good care of them, keep them cleaned and oiled, good quality hand guns only apriciate in value)  I've owned many over the years and I've never sold one for less than I payed for it.

what ever you get practice with it, a lot.  you should be able to load, cock and get it ready to fire by feel alone.  you should be able to tell the positions of safetys and wether or not it's loaded or cocked in the dark.

while someone is breaking into your house is no time to educate yourself on your gun.

btw, if you got kids in the house take them with you when you go practice (after you are confident in the gun) let them fire it and answer all questions they have.  you don't want that gun to be some big mystery your kid explores on his own the first time your back is turned.

[GtoRA2]

Everything Subaru says is true.


But consider this, it is better for you and your family to be alive and facing litigation then dead, if you ever need to use the gun.


But everything he says is true, it is not just a purchase, it needs to be taken very seriously, and you need to be very careful.

[mosgood]

Thanks for taking the time to write those up guys.

I appreciate all this advise and will be considering it all.