What caliber handgun do you guys recomend for home use?

[superfluousmonkeys]

You guys in the other thread convinced me into a revolver. So what caliber, I want more stopping force than a .22 but I don't want it to go through 12 walls or something (I live in a apartment complex). I am also thinking about a 12gauge 18" with pistol grip, but if I miss it would take me awhile to get back on the sights. Course, if I miss within 15-20feet with buckshot then shame on me.

 

[Alex]

damn ... what ya need a revolver for?? in an apartment??

get a Desert Eagle .50

LOL i know its an auto... it still rox tho...

 

[DaiShan]

forget revolvers, get an uzi.... you WON'T miss with that

 

[Supahfreak]

Get this... never fired one so tell me how you like it

FreAk

Just neffing if you didnt notice...

 

[UltraQuiet]

Your thought on getting a 12 gauge for home defense is right on the money. Forget the pistol, buy the shotgun.

 

[Codewiz]

My revolver is a .38 special. It should be about what you need for home protection.

Just make sure you use hollow point ammo.

Jim

 

[Nemesis77]

I'm sorry but I find the phrase "handgun for home use" extremely funny .

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

120mm at least. You never know what those nasty commies will come with.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Actually a 12 gauge is an excellent home weapon. Have to have the right one and learn how to it, as with any weapon. Revolver? .38 Special or .357. Don't let some azz try to talk you into something like a .44 cal. In spite if the old Dirty Harry movies, it is a better hunting weapon than defensive pistol.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

<< I'm sorry but I find the phrase "handgun for home use" extremely funny . >>



LOL, I was thinking the exact same thing

 

[BentValve]

You would be best off with any of these Special Purpose Mossberg 12ga pump action rifles..
Mossberg 500s

Think about it...its the middle of the night and you hear someone out in your living room...gently pick up the Mossberg and tip toe out to near the living room without the guy seeing you then pump the rifle. This should do the trick..if not blow his ass away. Home security is best done with a 12ga and Mossberg makes them best. Now if by chance this guy gets away and you find he has already made it 100 yards down the street then drop the Mossberg and pick up your AK47 assault rifle, w/built in scope and night vision scope..extremely powerful and accurate even at extrememly long distances. I am talking so accurate that with some practice you could hit a pencil from 100yards.
AK47

Its the American Way

 

[AaronP]

uh, what are you going to use it for at home? turning off the TV when the remote's batteries die?

 

[jemcam]

I agree with the 12 ga. for home defense. It doesn't have long range, is easy to aim in the dark, and depending on where you live, it's easier to ammo for. Go with an 18" barrel and a pistol grip and it's not unwieldy in small quarters. 00 buckshot will do the trick nicely.

If you're bound and determind to get a pistol, don't go less than a .38, and get hollow points. Sounds like you're already convinced to get a revolver, but I prefer the old gov't. issue .45 M1911. There are plenty of manufacturers still making these, and Thompson (yes, the same ones that make high grade match pistols and sub machine guns of yesteryear) is one of them.

Plenty of stopping power, and they're cheap to buy compared to other pistols. Yes, you can't hit anything beyond 25 feet accurately, but it's hard to prove self defense even at that range. A .45 will drop 'em right now, whereas .38's and 9 mm's won't.

For what it's worth....

 

[JonnyDuke]

Go with a .357 Magnum. Any flavor will do you well (S&W,Taurus) You can shoot .38 Special for practice and plinking, and load Magnums for home defense. Just remember to get some practice with the Magnums so you'll know how they feel and shoot.

Edit: BTW I kinda agree with the other guys EXCEPT, a handgun is a lot easier to keep a hold on if someone tries to take it away.

 

[serialb]

Super-Soaker 1500 is more than adequate.

 

[mdennison]

If you want really cheap and decent stopping power, go with a 9mm.

 

[goob2k]

<<
AK47

Its the American Way >>


The American Way is to use a Russian rifle?

 

[BooneRebel]

On a serious note (since he did ask for advice, after all): A revolver is an excellent choice for a first handgun and an all-around logical pick for a self-defense firearm.

You definitely do not want a .22 or similar small calibers like the .25 ACP seen in a lot of the cheapo guns like Jennings autos, etc.

Most professionals will recommend .32 (rarely) or .38 caliber at a minimum to provide lethal one-shot stopping power. There isn't much demand for .32, you're more likely to find handgun choices in .38 Special, .357 Magnum, quickly jumping up to .40 & .44 Mag. 9MM and 45ACP are both popular for automatics but due to the cartridge design they require special adapters (moon clips) for user in a revolver and you won't find many designed for them.

For an apartment, I'd stick to a .38 Special with hollowpoints. A .357 Mag or bigger is just too much for a confined area. A shotgun is also a good choice. Loaded with buckshot, though, it's still capable of hitting someone in the next apartment. Think about using something smaller. Pump actions are nice and simple, but -please- don't fall for the Dirty Harry "Pump the gun so he can hear it" macho crap. If you have an intruder in your home the last thing you want to do is to enter the room with an unloaded weapon. What are you going to do if it jams?

Finally, unless the intruder is already in the house and threatening a member of your family, the best thing you can do is to lock yourselves in a room and phone the police. If an intruder is really ambitious and breaks in to the home, then breaks in to your locked room after you tell him that you've called the police, then you let him have it. Remember, you're likely still going to be wiping the 'sleepies' out of your eyes while the intruder(s) is/are wide awake, fully alert, and juiced up on adrenaline (at a minimum). You don't need to attempt sweeping the house when you're not even sure what you're dealing with. Let the pros handle that.

 

[burnedout]

12 ga. pump shotgun or a revolver of .38 caliber or higher. If you have little ones, get a trigger lock. Personally, I prefer a shotgun for use in such close quarters as my aim isn't the greatest in the dark without NODs. In my opinion, stay away from magazine fed pistols. Why? Reliability. I've fired 75 year old "wheel guns" that have been sitting for 20 years and never had a misfire. Can't say that for semi-autos even with brand new magazines.

As with any weapon, become familiar with it. Practice shooting from time to time. Maintain and keep the weapon clean. Then when you actually require the weapon for it's intended purpose, you can be reasonably sure it will function. Above all, remember where loved ones are in the house should you actually employ your weapon against an assailant.

 

[LordMaul]

Get two of these and put them on your back with the appropriate version of this.


Oh My God, I want those.


But Seriously, the other people in this thread have good ideas.

 

[Cattlegod]

hmm

isn't it illegal to kill someone for breaking into your house?

if it were me, i'd go with a .22 or smaller so i don't kill the person and have a big ass lawsuit and go to jail.

i tell you one thing, if i'm a robber and someone starts shooting at me, i'm not going to know what size it is and i'm going to run, especially if i get hit.

 

[AaronP]

isn't it illegal to kill someone for breaking into your house?

ok, from now all, all AT OTers, when you have a legal question, please forward it to Cattlegod because he is obviously an expert on the law.

It depends on the situation Cattle God. Let me just say, its always nice to have a spare big knife or other weapon laying around that you can plant on the person you shoot.

 

[JupiterJones]

isn't it illegal to kill someone for breaking into your house?

No, actually it's encouraged.

The .357 is the most effective against human predators. I would get prefragmented carts, to minimize penetration.

 

[BooneRebel]

<< hmm

isn't it illegal to kill someone for breaking into your house?

if it were me, i'd go with a .22 or smaller so i don't kill the person and have a big ass lawsuit and go to jail.

i tell you one thing, if i'm a robber and someone starts shooting at me, i'm not going to know what size it is and i'm going to run, especially if i get hit. >>



I'm not a lawyer and this is not legal advice; however: If you shoot someone and do not kill them you have a much greater chance of a lawsuit by the injured party than if you kill them outright. If an intruder breaks into my house, they've already proven their intent to break the law. If they further endanger my family by ignoring my shouts to leave and notice that I have called the police, then they have proven their intent to cause us bodily harm. At which point I will empty every round at my disposal into said intruder. In a court of law it will be my word against 'deceased'.

However, if I just fire off a few random shots with a .22 and don't kill the intruder, then I am A. Still threatened by an injured intruder. and B. Likely to be on the receiving end of a lawsuit at a later date for the poor 'victim' and his medical expenses, disability, loss of income from work, etc.

 

[Mookow]

<< hmm

isn't it illegal to kill someone for breaking into your house?

if it were me, i'd go with a .22 or smaller so i don't kill the person and have a big ass lawsuit and go to jail.

i tell you one thing, if i'm a robber and someone starts shooting at me, i'm not going to know what size it is and i'm going to run, especially if i get hit. >>



I will leave it to the others to rip the substance of your statement apart as I lack the time, but I would like to ask you what are you going to use that is smaller than a 22, the smallest commercially available round? And usually, if they die, they have a hard time suing you, whereas if they live then they might try to take you to court.