Celebration and a question - home protection thoughts (guns!)

peripatew

peripatew

Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
1,421
My wife and I got to bed late last night, and out of no where she said something pretty amazing "You know, we should probably get a gun". I've been working on my wife for a while, and she finally saw the light!

So, all that being said, I've got a lot of researching and contemplating to do. I've got a 4 year old son and a bun in the oven, so I want family safety to come first. I have a fairly non-violent thought process, but I want to protect my family.

My wife and I will take a gun safety class, and I'm looking at some other options as far as gun education goes as well.

But for now my main question is where do you keep your gun at so it's easily accessible yet family safe, and what kind of gun do you rely on for home protection?
 
It's really going to be personal preference. If you go to a range, you guys can shoot a few different types and see what you like. I have both a S&W .45 and a 12 ga pump that are ready for home defense. I think I'd reach for the shotgun first though.
 
haha.. funny you mention that...:D my wife and I have been together for 10 years, and it took me 5 years to convince her to let me bring my 20 gauge here from my Dad's house...

anyhow, i just got the "green light" from her a few weeks ago to upgrade to something a little more home defense oriented...:thumbup: in fact i am now in the process of working out a deal with a friend of mine, for a nice Mossberg 500 in 12 guage..

i definately would recommend a 12 gauge.. maybe a Mosseberg 500/590 or Remington 870...

here's what i have coming.. the Mossy 500.. it comes really basic, but i'll probably add a few upgrades to it...:D

50577.jpg
 
After much searching, asking and thought, my first home defense/all-around/only gun was a Ruger .357 with a 4" barrel. Simple, reliable, relatively inexpensive and easy to shoot + being able to handle lots of different ammo. It's still my wife's favorite to shoot.

If I'd had small children in the house, it may have been different, but I don't know.
 
Mike, that's the exact shotty that I have. It's a nice gun at a great price. I want to mount a Surefire on it, but otherwise it's good to go.
 
Glad my wife has always dug guns and hunting.

Since you have never had any guns before I would get something like a 9mm because it doesn't have much recoil and ammo is cheap so you can spend a lot of time shooting it.
 
Get a Mossberg or Remington pump 12ga shotgun and load it with slugs. Throw a flashlight on the front and you're set for apocalypse. Nothing like an ounce and a half of lead flying out of your barrel

20ga will suffice if your wife will need to shoot it. A little less recoil. and plenty enough bang.
 
my vote goes for the 12 gauge as well.

if its the wife shooting, i would suggest a ruger mark 3, .22

my reasons for the .22 is that its relatively easy to shoot. has a low recoil allowing for her to get off more successive shots within a closer grouping, and has enough power (IMO) to take down an intruder with 2 or 3 shots max. feed it premiums and let your wife fire off as many rounds as she can (.22s are fairly cheap) and it may also help build her confidence as she gets better and more accurate at firing that gun.

good luck on finding a home gun.

cheers
 
AK47, for when you absolutely positively gotta.....



.... nevermind:P

i would have thought that for home protection something that was either mobile, easily controllable and easy to shoot like a 9mm pistol, or something, big, scary and devastating like a 12 gauge shotty would be the way to go.

remember that gus will shoot you and your family just as easily as they will shoot someone trying to hurt you, just like knives they're tools which need to be stored and used correctly to prevent injury
 
The guys here are right on in my opinion.

A .357 wheel gun would be my choice for a pistol. You can practice with .38's on the cheap, and have the magnum loads for defending the house. And with a revolver, if you get a bad round, you just squeeze the trigger again, no clearing jammed rounds in an emergency situation.

I would probably go with the shotgun, nothing will intimidate an intruder more than a 12ga pump. In addition, you don't have to be that accurate with buckshot, or even #4 shot...and either one will put the hurt on an intruder
 
I would suggest a 20ga pump gun for several reasons.

It doesn't seem like you have that much experience with guns from your post. With that said, it is easier to hit your intended target with a shotgun loaded with buckshot then a pistol IMO. Practice is key with either.

I also believe that handguns tend to be more of a hazard to small children than longuns. (This is my opinion, I can't give you statistical data)

If the gun is for you and your wife then the 20ga in the home is more than enough firepower. It will afford quicker follow up shots than the 12ga.

I also think that what ever weapon you chose that a laser sight like crimson trace is without a doubt "money well spent"

Another option is a 9mm carbine like Hi-Point. they look ugly, but they shoot where you point them.

I am basing my opinion on the fact that you did not say "I want to jump into the shooting sports and learn how to be a great marksman" What I heard was" My wife and I want a gun to protect our family"

That is my take on it, hope it helps.

Paul
 
There is nothing better for learning to shoot a pistol that a 22. However for home defense it is on the other end of the scale. Yes it will kill almost anything in the end but it won't provide the sudden end to the fight that will save your family. You don't want a gun fight at the OK coral in your house. There is nothing better than a shotgun unless anyone who uses it is really proficient with a handgun and that takes a lot of practice. Also shotgun pellets are lethal at close range but not likely to shoot through walls and hit a bystander. Slugs are great for outdoor use on big animal but not very good where over penetration is a problem. Lastly, the last thing people need is a spray and pray semi auto that takes tons of practice to become proficient with. A 20 Ga or 12 Ga either one will work very well for what you want. Put the safety on and leave the chamber empty with kids around until they learn to not touch the gun when mom or dad is not there.

My wife is a hunter/farm girl raised with guns and hunting. She doesn't like the shotgun but is very proficient with the 45.
 
My wife and I just went through this process and settled on a Glock 19 (9mm) and Sig Sauer P232 (.380) for my wife. We went to our local range and did what one poster here suggested, we shot everything on their wall. We went through just about every 9mm they had (S&W, Springfield Arms, Glock, Sig Sauer, Beretta, Ruger, etc...) as well as a couple .38s and .45s, and a few .380s. I was torn between a Springfield XD9 and the Glock 9mm. Our choice ultimately came down to what felt better, but since our primary purpose was home defense, it had to be something that my wife could shoot as well. She really enjoys the G19, but she fell in love with the Sig .380. I would say that if you are looking for a single firearm for home defense, that a 9mm is probably a good way to go, although depending on what your wife can handle, .40 or a .357 might work as well for you. I actually have my sights set on a good .357 wheel gun next as they are easy to use and can be loaded with .38s. It all comes down to what feels comfortable to shoot for you and your wife.

As far as storage goes, I have an 8-year old and a 5-year old, so I share your storage concerns. A loaded gun in the bedside drawer ain't going to work and neither will a gun in a traditional safe since it would take way too long to get to it. I suggest you look into gun safes that are specifically made for quick access. I know Winchester makes a line of them, but I know there are other manufactureres as well. Basically, the safe has an imprent of a hand on top and each finger has a button. You just put your hand on top of the safe and punch in a pre-set code and the door below your hand pops open to reveal your weapon, all ready to go. Different models have key-entry, AC power back-up, small LED lights to illuminate the interior, etc. For us, this was a good compromise between security and accessability.

As far as classes go, we are doing the same thing you are planning to do. I looked into the NRA Basic Pistol course, but the guy who sold me my Glock is pushing me toward the CCW class which covers all of the basics that the Basic Pistol course covers, plus will also qualify you for your Concealed Carry permit if you choose to get one. I'm not set on getting my CCW just yet, but it makes a lot of sense to my wallet to only have to pay for one course than for two. Beyond that, I'd recommend finding a good gun range and putting lots of time in getting comfortable with whatever gun you choose. My wife and I probably went through 700 - 800 9mm rounds before we decided what gun to get.

Hope that helps.
 
Another vote for a 12ga. Great all around tool. In time, back it up with a decent handgun and then a rifle and your set.
 
I would also have to go with the shot gun they are alot more versatile ,they are cheap, ammo is cheap ,you can hunt just about anything with them ,a small child could not manipulate the action near as easy as a pistol,pistols can be diiicult to shoot accurately,not a problem with a shotgun,go with a pump action remington or mossberg in 12 ga.,women can shoot these things easily,i would suggest something along the lines of poly-shok ammo for home defense 100% energy dump into the target nothing coming out and lets not forget you hear a bump in the night ,they hear that slide rack one time there will most likely be no confrontation as said intruder will be looking to get out faster than intruder came in I promise you. If you want a pistol get a revolver .38 or bigger
 
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=638&category=Revolver

Take a look at this little dandy. I love a nice scattergun as much as anyone, but to me, moving through the house, opening doors, corralling kids, and making corners lends itself to a smaller tool. Train with a variety of guns to get both of your comfort levels way up. Also, have a designated set of jobs for each of you in an "uh-oh" scenario. Teamwork ROCKS!!

For beginners nothing beats a .22 to break the ice and get basic mechanics down pat, before moving up to full bore boomsticks.

Beckerhead

(Don't let that dissuade you from adopting a nice 20 or 12 gauge, no arsenal is complete without a solid shotgun IMHO)
 
If you decide to try the 12 gauge, Remington makes a low-recoil buckshot load that may be easier for your wife to shoot. I also recomend a 4" .357 loaded with +P .38s.
 
First and foremost get some training for both you and your wife. Second, decide if you want a firearm just for the home or will you be wanting to get a CCW permit. If it is just for the home then you have to understand your role in the home defense scenario. You job is to protect your family, not to catch the bad guys. If you are unfamiliar with firearms and don't want to carry a handgun and understand your role then a shot gun is a good idea. Home invasions are violent noisy actions. First thing you need to do is arm yourself, the locks that don't require keys do well here. Second you want you wife to be calling 911 while you get the shotgun. Next you want to get everyone into one room, get one the far side of the bed, flash light lighting up the door. Turn on all the lights you can while moving to get everyone in a single room. Wait for the police. Sneak thieves tend to run at the first sign of trouble so the lights coming on and yelling you are armed should clear them out. Home invaders seem to enjoy violence and seldom operate alone. All you want to do is keep them out of the room your wife and child are in. If there are several and you go looking for then who knows who might get behind you and grab your child and use them for a hostage. Stay in the defensive position.

If you do decide to go with a handgun I would recommend even more training...lol. They are harder to use well than a shotgun. Go to a range that rents and try the handguns that interest you, find one that you like, not the most popular that people on a forum say you should have. Do stick with quality tho...no Hi-Points. Practice frequently. For a handgun the lockbox with buttons as talked about above works great, similar type locks are available to mount a shotgun in a closet.
 
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