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YAGT: Gun noob looking for good self-defense revolver

F

Flyback

Golden Member
Looking to get the firearm license for self-defense reasons. I now live in a densely populated area. Should social breakdown occur similar to something like we saw in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, then I want some method of protection.

I'm thinking about the Taurus 651 or the S&W 642. Both seem to get good review from what I can see. My intent is to get a robust "tool" which they both fit profile of. I don't plan on expanding any further than one. I considered a shotgun, but it won't be exclusively for home defense.

Do they have enough stopping power? I don't know jack about caliber. The Taurus shoots a .357 Mag and the S&W shoots a .38 Special +P.

My goals are in this order:
1. robust
2. stopping power
3. controllable recoil
4. cost

Additionally, how often would I have to visit the range to keep up my skill? Can I do it once a month? If it has to be weekly, it might be more inconvenient then its worth to me...
 
I don't personally own a gun, but I have done a decent amount of research on guns. I could be wrong, but I don't think a revolver is the best idea for self-defense. A semi-auto holds more shots, has similar stopping power (or can), and reloads faster.
 
Not a fan of revolvers, but either one of those would probably stop an assailant.....
if it was me though, I would get a smaller framed semi automatic in anything bigger than 9mm........

(never had one jam either)
 
Originally posted by: Flyback

My goals are in this order:
1. robust It aint a cup of coffe
2. stopping power .357 mag
3. controllable recoil Dont be such a girl
4. cost How much is your life worth?

...
Click to expand...

 
Originally posted by: Flyback
Looking to get the firearm license for self-defense reasons. I now live in a densely populated area. Should social breakdown occur similar to something like we saw in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, then I want some method of protection.

I'm thinking about the Taurus 651 or the S&W 642. Both seem to get good review from what I can see. My intent is to get a robust "tool" which they both fit profile of. I don't plan on expanding any further than one. I considered a shotgun, but it won't be exclusively for home defense.

Do they have enough stopping power? I don't know jack about caliber. The Taurus shoots a .357 Mag and the S&W shoots a .38 Special +P.

My goals are in this order:
1. robust
2. stopping power
3. controllable recoil
4. cost

Additionally, how often would I have to visit the range to keep up my skill? Can I do it once a month? If it has to be weekly, it might be more inconvenient then its worth to me...
Click to expand...

As far as the stopping power, shot placement always trumps caliber. However, as far as comparing the ones you've listed, I'd say the 357 has more stopping power of the two. Be prepared to pay more for practice ammo though, as 357 is not nearly as popular as 22, 9mm, .40 or .45. Personally, for self defense I prefer .40.

If you're so inclined, here is some interesting reading on ballistics and calibers, and how they affect the human body from someone who has a better idea than most people (a forensics scientist that works for an Atlanta morgue). The guy's name is "Deadmeat2" on there, and the interesting stuff starts on page two of that thread. Sample:

First, as you've pretty well guessed by now, I'm a big fan of the .40 and .45 for personal defense, and for the same reasons. They're both big, slow-moving bullets. Of the two, I think big is more important. As I've said before, I want something that will plow through bone and keep going, not skip off of it. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a .380 or 9mm strike bone on a well-placed shot and skip off in a non-vital direction, leaving the BG free to return fire. With the .40 and .45, this seldom happens.
 
If you get a revolver get a 357. You can use .38 in them too.

But if you ask for my personal opinion, I'd probably get a .45 and a few spare mags. A .45 will stop mostly anything that comes your way and reloading will be faster with a mag. But no matter what firearm you buy, take the firearms safety course and a gun defense course if possible. Keep your firearms secure, locked and out of children's reach. Remember, a lot of responsibility comes with gun ownership.
 
Originally posted by: Slacker
Originally posted by: Flyback

My goals are in this order:
1. robust It aint a cup of coffe
2. stopping power .357 mag
3. controllable recoil Dont be such a girl
4. cost How much is your life worth?

...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

I was meaning to convey that cost was my least important factor. I shouldn't have put that in the goals. It's late and I'm tired. I was trying to say its definitely at bottom of list 😀
 
When I made my decision, I went with a Smith and Wesson Model 686 Plus with a 6 inch barrel.
It's a 357 mag revolver.
It's got a 7 shot capacity.
It's got some decent weight to it, It would suck for those who like to carry concealed weapons, but the recoil is minimal with 38 special ammo, and the recoil isn't bad with 357 mags either (just a bit more recoil then a ruger 45 semi-auto that I've tried)

One mention, The build quality of the Taurus revolvers really doesn't compare to Smith and Wesson.
On paper it may look or sound good, but the differences are pretty big between S&W and Taurus.
There is a reason why S&W costs more.

(Note: I'm not telling you not to buy a Taurus, I was very tempted to get one myself, I would have saved about $200 to $300.)
 
Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Originally posted by: JS80
38 special ftw
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

semi-auto's are fast but prone to jam, revolvers are more reliable and durable
Click to expand...

Look no further than Smith and Wesson. They offer lots of choices, they should definitely have something that will work for you.

Taurus's are okay quality wise, but their warranty is second to none.
 
I would recommend a .357, I like the offerings from Ruger (good quality, fair price). I have experience with the first two I listed, I will be going to look at (and hopefully purchase...) one of the third ones on Tuesday evening:

Nightstand GP-100

Concealed Carry SP-100

Napoleon Complex Good Gravy!!!
 
Originally posted by: adairusmc
Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Originally posted by: JS80
38 special ftw
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

semi-auto's are fast but prone to jam, revolvers are more reliable and durable
Click to expand...

Look no further than Smith and Wesson. They offer lots of choices, they should definitely have something that will work for you.

Taurus's are okay quality wise, but their warranty is second to none.
Click to expand...

Thanks, man! I saw your collection in another thread so I take it you know a few things 😀
 
The first thing I have to say is: God Bless You, man. God Bless You. It's people like you who are exercising your 2nd amendment rights that allow us to have guns to keep the dangerous minorities at bay. Sure, we can keep giving them crack cocaine to keep their virile men down, but when the time comes, it's good to know that you have a gun in your right hand and your woman by your side as you finish off every dark-skinned man, woman, and child that claws their filthy way up to your trailer home. Praise be Bush, I know that my wife (also my sister) depends on me to protect her and to hunt possum for dinner. God bless the 2nd amendment.
 
Originally posted by: shuttleboi
The first thing I have to say is: God Bless You, man. God Bless You. It's people like you who are exercising your 2nd amendment rights that allow us to have guns to keep the dangerous minorities at bay. Sure, we can keep giving them crack cocaine to keep their virile men down, but when the time comes, it's good to know that you have a gun in your right hand and your woman by your side as you finish off every dark-skinned man, woman, and child that claws their filthy way up to your trailer home. Praise be Bush, I know that my wife (also my sister) depends on me to protect her and to hunt possum for dinner. God bless the 2nd amendment.
Click to expand...

Wow, I just don't know what to say. Why is it that people think that owning a firearm is a bad thing? I enjoy responsible gun ownership as do many other Americans. I feel sorry for you.
 
Have you considered any semiauto pistols such as the USP? Paired with a solid home-defense round like a glaser safety slug in .45 ACP, you could do some serious damage.
 
Originally posted by: VWhed
Originally posted by: shuttleboi
The first thing I have to say is: God Bless You, man. God Bless You. It's people like you who are exercising your 2nd amendment rights that allow us to have guns to keep the dangerous minorities at bay. Sure, we can keep giving them crack cocaine to keep their virile men down, but when the time comes, it's good to know that you have a gun in your right hand and your woman by your side as you finish off every dark-skinned man, woman, and child that claws their filthy way up to your trailer home. Praise be Bush, I know that my wife (also my sister) depends on me to protect her and to hunt possum for dinner. God bless the 2nd amendment.
Click to expand...

Wow, I just don't know what to say. Why is it that people think that owning a firearm is a bad thing? I enjoy responsible gun ownership as do many other Americans. I feel sorry for you.
Click to expand...
/me hands you some fresh batteries.

 
Originally posted by: shuttleboi
The first thing I have to say is: God Bless You, man. God Bless You. It's people like you who are exercising your 2nd amendment rights that allow us to have guns to keep the dangerous minorities at bay. Sure, we can keep giving them crack cocaine to keep their virile men down, but when the time comes, it's good to know that you have a gun in your right hand and your woman by your side as you finish off every dark-skinned man, woman, and child that claws their filthy way up to your trailer home. Praise be Bush, I know that my wife (also my sister) depends on me to protect her and to hunt possum for dinner. God bless the 2nd amendment.
Click to expand...

#1 I'm not in the states.
#2 I never mentioned exercising the 2nd amendment.
#3 If people want to do crack cocaine, that is their choice. If you do crack cocaine, it's 100% your own fault for keeping yourself "down" and you are a dreg on society.
#4 No one "gives" it to black people. If you want to believe in conspiracies then you are beyond reasoning. But hey, anything to hate a white guy, right?
#5 Icing on the cake that you blame everything on Bush. Why did he come into this conversation again? Who said I'm in the Americas?
#6 Nice stereotyping of trailers, possum and inbreeding.

But hey, what more can you expect from someone making ASSumptions?

You have an abnormal fear of guns and it has become very apparent (coming back to crap again on the thread). Tell me, why do you oppose gun ownership for the sake of protecting oneself? Would you rather die if someone was aggressive against you? (as opposed to ending them) ?

It's simple, really: don't screw with law-abiding citizens and they won't have a need to shoot you. What is to fear? Or, being from California, are you all about criminal rights superseding those of the law-abiding citizen? One can only guess from your extremely abnormal fear...
 
Originally posted by: Flyback
Originally posted by: shuttleboi
The first thing I have to say is: God Bless You, man. God Bless You. It's people like you who are exercising your 2nd amendment rights that allow us to have guns to keep the dangerous minorities at bay. Sure, we can keep giving them crack cocaine to keep their virile men down, but when the time comes, it's good to know that you have a gun in your right hand and your woman by your side as you finish off every dark-skinned man, woman, and child that claws their filthy way up to your trailer home. Praise be Bush, I know that my wife (also my sister) depends on me to protect her and to hunt possum for dinner. God bless the 2nd amendment.
Click to expand...

#1 I'm not in the states.
#2 I never mentioned exercising the 2nd amendment.
#3 If people want to do crack cocaine, that is their choice. If you do crack cocaine, it's 100% your own fault for keeping yourself "down" and you are a dreg on society.
#4 No one "gives" it to black people. If you want to believe in conspiracies then you are beyond reasoning. But hey, anything to hate a white guy, right?
#5 Icing on the cake that you blame everything on Bush. Why did he come into this conversation again? Who said I'm in the Americas?
#6 Nice stereotyping of trailers, possum and inbreeding.

But hey, what more can you expect from someone making ASSumptions?

You have an abnormal fear of guns and it has become very apparent (coming back to crap again on the thread). Tell me, why do you oppose gun ownership for the sake of protecting oneself? Would you rather die if someone was aggressive against you? (as opposed to ending them) ?

It's simple, really: don't screw with law-abiding citizens and they won't have a need to shoot you. What is to fear? Or, being from California, are you all about criminal rights superseding those of the law-abiding citizen? One can only guess from your extremely abnormal fear...
Click to expand...

QFT.
 
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