I guess it's ok to post this question here. I am looking at getting a hand gun for home defense. Me and the wife are going to get it together, taking the safety course together and will be going to the range together. I want her to be part of the whole process, and want her to be absolutely comfortable shooting it. The thing is, I know absolutely nothing about guns. I'm looking for some suggestions on what type, brand and caliber to consider. I know there is a better area to post this question, but I honestly value the opinions of those in this subforum more than anywhere else. I also though by posting here I could avoid the "You need to get two AR-15s" type of answers. Thanks, and if this isn't an appropriate discussion for here, please feel free to delete this post.
Take the course, then find a range that has rentals and spend some time trying out different guns and in different calibers. When you fine one that you both like, or find one for each of you, then consider buying that/those. You may both feel and shoot best with the same gun or you may each have a different preference.
Generally speaking, starting out one of the three primary polymer guns, S&W M&P, Glock, or Springfield Armory XD would be a good choice in a semi-auto. A basic 4-inch revolver in .357 Mag/.38 Special by either S&W or Ruger would be solid for a house gun. You can grow from there.
For a HD long gun either a Mossberg or Remington pump with the 18.5 barrel is good. If you go 12 gauge look for reduced recoil buckshot loads in the 2 3/4" length (that's the fired length of the casing btw, just to muddy the waters). You will see them listed as "tactical," "reduced recoil," or "managed recoil," depending on who makes it. These are much more shootable and are still devastating at normal HD ranges. Patterning is generally tighter in these loads as you have less shot deformation from setback.
Personally, I've gone primarily 20 gauge for HD with #3 buckshot. Lighter, faster handling gun, less recoil generally, and still a severe load at hallway distance. The "urban load" for 12 gauge shotguns has been #4
buckshot in a 2 3/4" shell. This holds 27 pellets of .24 caliber pellets. A 20 gauge 2 3/4" shell holds 20 pellets of .25 caliber. Just fine for home defense ranges and with lighter guns and a little less recoil the wife can handle it as well as being a little handier for you. Also consider a youth sized shotgun. The shorter length of pull/stock makes for easier mounting in tight quarters.
I've owned a LOT of firearms over the years from old to new. I currently carry a Colt Combat Elite 1911 in .45 ACP as a commissioned security officer. I've had 5 Glocks, several M&Ps, a few XDs, and a load of others, both semi-auto and revolver. I don't have a problem with most any of them. I've carried a variety of firearms for work and in a variety of calibers.
That said, for a couple starting out, if you pinned me down to a single recommendation it would be a S&W M&P 9mm. The M&P comes with three different backstraps so you can pick the one that fits your hand best. The gun points well and is a pleasure to shoot. I miss both the M&P9s I traded off and will eventually get another one. The trigger smooths out after some shooting, but if you want better you can easily put in an APEX sear that cleans things up nicely. I've never had an inaccurate M&P.
I'd go with a 9mm for a couple of reasons. First, ammo costs. You want to shoot it a lot. You need to learn the gun and learn to shoot it well. For defensive purposes use one of the premium hollowpoint loads such as 124 grain Speer Gold Dots, Remington Golden Saber, Winchester PDX, or Federal HST. Or you can go for Cor-Bon. Just make sure you run a few through the gun to make sure it functions well with them. Then for the range you can get WWB (Winchester White Box) 100 round Value Packs at Wallyworld for $21.97 each. For the same in .40 S&W or .45 ACP it is $32.97 per box. You can shoot a lot of 9mm than .40 or .45 for the dollars expended. Starting out you want to shoot a lot, both of you.
The 9mm will also have less recoil and that will make range times more pleasant and you will be able to work on your marksmanship. Your wife will probably find it much more pleasant and will probably enjoy herself a lot more and be willing to shoot more. I find the .40 S&W to be a rather snappy cartridge, particularly in something the size of a Glock 23. For extended range sessions I would rather shoot 9mm or .45 ACP (more of a rolling recoil than a sharp snap).
So my single recommendation is S&W M&P 9mm with plenty of practice ammo and some premium JHP for the house. However, renting and trying out several different guns/calibers is still the best way to go about it.
Amos
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just got a call back and they offered me the position!!! I have to do the usual pre-checks but I got my first job in the US.
