I need a shop pistol...

Some guys can project menace and danger to a bad guy no matter what they are holding, but that is rare. The twelve gauge pump serves that purpose for everybody else, it has an incredible presence, that gives you powerful authority in any situation, which means you probably won't have to actually kill an intruder, but if you did have to pull the trigger it beats any pistol.
 
I have a fair bit of experience with handguns and I stick with a .357 Smith model 66 for the house.
I always know what condition it's in (ie no mag/safety/round chambered issues) and I trust myself with it.
Would go with a revolver. Of course, that's only if it's what you are comfortable with it. For me it is.
The .357 is a proven stopper of people.

If you have a lot of time with a semi then by all means go with it.

Go with what works for you!
 
Mellow, given that you have little experience with guns, a small revolver would be best.

Calibre is the next choice. If yo uget a .357, you could use 38 or 357 in it. If you go with Danbo's suggestion of a 44 spl or 45 LC, you'd get a bit more punch and, as he mentioned, provides a cavernous hole for someone on the other end to look down.

I would stay away from autos until you become more proficient. In a panic situation, failure to remove the safety could cost you your life.

While I like the pump gun as a home protection device, again, given your level of experience, not getting the safety off or failing to have chambered a round could be disasterous.

There are 6-shot revolvers in the 38/357 size as well as larger calibres.

Since there are no mechanical safeties, a high stress situation need not turn disasterous for you.

It may also help to discuss this with any law enforcement friends yo umay have.
 
My Springfield XD9 is a great gun that you don't have to worry about forgetting to release the safety on. The safety is whats called a "grip" safety. The moment you palm the gun you have automaticaly released it. Then it has a triger safety. Unless both are engaged the gun won't fire. That way if you bump the triger or jostle the gun in your purse and a tube of lipstick gets stuck pushing the triger you won't fire your gun. :D However there is no way that if you pick the thing up and intend to fire it, that it wont fire because of a safety being on.

Don't get me wrong I love revolvers (I own a few) but there is one draw back to an inexperienced person carrying one for SD. You have fewer chances and if your scared out of your mind, and the person is moving around a bunch, or there are a bunch of people coming at you....odds are good your going to miss and won't have time to reload. With an auto you have 11 chances (if you load your chamber and then add the additional bullet back into the cartridge) plus you can just slip another cartridge into the gun quickly should you need it. Personally for me, the more chances the better if it comes down to life and death.

Most no-gooders will balk at any gun that you deploy on them unless of course they too have a gun and they were expecting you to be prepared. NEVER draw your gun unless you are prepared to kill or be killed. (at least thats my thinking) Once you have laid your cards out on the table so to speak you have crossed a line that can not be taken back and the police are sure to be called and you will have a lot of explaining to do and possibly jail time for "threatening" someone with your gun.

There are a lot of rules and laws that pertain to carrying a concealed weapon. Please consider taking a "concealed" weapons class as well as a gun safety/handling class. So that you are aware of the challenges and rules behind carrying and deploying a gun. This will also help you decide what style of gun you want to use for your SD. You don't have to own a gun prior to taking these classes.
 
Larry S. said:
I'd suggest a 4" S&W revolver...probably a model 10 (used police gun).
These are plentiful, inexpensive, have a low learning-curve, and will do the job as long as you do yours (read shot placement)!!


Larry S.:cool:
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Amen. Forget $500 "space guns." If you aren't into guns and don't want/need/can't afford to practice, stick with simplicity.

.38 Special revolvers were "doing the job" long before 27-shot, laser-equipped scandium and unobtainium ray guns in 9 x 23mm became fashionable.

My only suggestion would be to buy a stainless revolver. If you don't want to get into a maintenance routine, stainless is an extra margin against corrosion.

Fit high-vis sights (preferably a tritium "Big Dot" front sight), practice smooth presentations and centre mass hits. Use factory 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter hollowpoints.

Learn safety!

1. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.

This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.

2. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.

3. Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.

maximus otter
 
.38/.357 revolver in stainless. Load it with some Magsafes or Glasers(so the bullet doesn't pass through and hit someone) and your good to go. Take it out every 2 months and shoot a box of 50.
Good luck, and I hope you never have to use it.



Blades
 
You forgot #s 4 and 5, Maximus.

#4. Never point the gun at something you do not intend to shoot.

#5. Never shoot at something you do not intend to kill.
 
S&W has two suitable .357s in stainless - the Model 19, and the Model 686.

The 686 can be found with 7-shot capacity nowadays. The Model 19 is a bit lighter, due to a trimmer barrel, but the extra weight on the 686 can help keep things steady.

Both perfect for your job. Low maintenance, versitile ammo (.38 or .357), ultimate in simplicity, high visibility sights, smooth triggers. Plus just plain fun to shoot! Everyone should have one!

If you must go shotgun - which I would reconsider if you work behind a counter or in a small shop - any name brand pump 12 will do. A 12-gauge can use light loads - so no need to get a 20-gauge. Remington 870, Winchester, or Mossberg 500 are all fine.

Best,

Jeremy O'Kelly
 
What about the light? Surefire or some thing else that is super bright, reliable, lithium batteries (10 yr shelflife).
 
i would get a shotgun, maybe a remington 870 12 or 20 gauge (at across the room they will never know the diff imho), recently got my wife a savage pump .20 w/a 18" bbl from a pawnshop for about $130, lots of bang for the $$ imho. use 00 buck in the 12 and 20, or slugs.

in pistols, would get a S&W 66 or 65 .357 mag(any good 145gr or so ammo), shoot .38spl (speer gold dot 135gr GDHP)if ya want, or the mags, would get a 3" or 4" bbl on it too, in autos would get a glock 17 9MM, w/hicap mag (17 rounds +1) and shoot winchester-ranger 147gr JHP ammo, if ya wanna conceal the thing get either a glock 26 or a kahr P9 or PM9, all in 9MM.

lights are a must too, go with surefire imho.
 
Don't get a shotgun. Reasons?

1. Can't be carried on your person. What if the robber strikes when you're in front of the counter, dealing with a customer? The best shotgun in the world won't help if it has to be stored in the back room/ in its rack behind the till.

2. Can't be stored safely yet ready to fire, unlike a revolver. Imagine a pump shotgun like a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870: You either have to store it with a round in the breech and the safety on; or with the safety off and the breech empty. You've then to remember either to:

a) Release the safety, or;
b) Rack the slide.

Will you - as a "non-enthusiast" - remember that when adrenalin is turning your fingers into frozen sausages and your brain to porridge?

As to the famously motivating "shackshack" of the pump being cocked, it doesn't compete with the "bangbangbang" of the robber's .25 pistol being fired into your chest. Don't forget: He's alert, motivated and has his weapon ready in his hand...

3. Long and awkward to manipulate and aim.

4. Firing OO buckshot? Fire one round of OO and you've launched nine .32 bullets at Mach 1.1. Is your shop in a mall? A suburb? A crowded street? You can bet that - even if you fire one shot and only one pellet misses its mark - it'll fly straight and true into the nearest pram or orphanage...

5. The lawsuit: "My client was shot nine times...with a riot gun! Jury, he was seventeen years old..."

6. Intimidating recoil and muzzle blast. You won't practice, which means you will miss. Don't forget that a shotgun's pattern only spreads roughly 1" per yard. At "inside the shop" range, the pattern will be only 4" to 5" max.

Buy a 4", stainless, .38 Special revolver.

maximus otter
 
A nice compact tactical 12 gauge with a stainless finish (although you should never depend on a gun's intimidation potential, if you're willing to back it up, stainless finished guns look much more impressive in the dark) coupled with a SureFire would be your best bet IMO.

If you really want a pistol, you can't go wrong with a Glock 21 (.45), it's a good beginner handgun (easy to manipulate) with a cartridge that packs quite a punch. Personally, I wouldn't go with a 9 mm. If all you can pack is a handgun, you want the ammo to be as powerful as possible.
 
QS do you have Glock 21 in .45?
.45ACP packs a punch but also a lotta recoil so I´m not sure about the beginners gun aspect. I have shot a .45 1911 and found it too hard for me to handle as a beginner. Beeing in Germany I don´t get to shoot much. So I can´t speak from a huge amount of experience. But from my limited insight I would say if you are a novice to shooting, learn your skills under the tutelage of an instructor with a .22.
This not being a defence caliber, you still can move up once mastered the skills to larger caliber handguns.

Matt Seling
 
No, I haven't shot a Glock 21, but I'm aware of the fact that polymer .45s come with a serious "kick". But he's willing to train with it - not sure if he wants to start with a small caliber not suited for self-defense and work his way up. That's why I think it's mandatory for him to get an appropriate caliber and a gun that's relatively easy to use.

He will have to learn to get used to the .45's recoil and I know that it's less than ideal to learn marksmanship skills with such a caliber - but if he wants to buy one handgun only, a Glock 21 seems like the way to go for him IMO. He's looking for a home defense handgun and as I mentioned above a 12 gauge shotgun would be preferable, but excellent accuracy is not necessarily the no. 1 concern when it comes to CQB - stopping power is much more important when someone who's only a couple of yards away from you attacks you.
 
I would suggest a Glock 17 or 19; depending on the size of your hand. Get a CCW permit and a nice holster and you're ready to go.
 
Lots of excelent suggestions, I recommend that whatever you get, shotgun, handgun,or big stick, get competent training,and practice,practice,practice,practice,pratice!!!!!!!!! Must remember at all times, you are dealing with a deadly weapon!The more you practice,the more comfortable you will become in a high stress situation,and therfore your odds are greatly increased to accomplish your original mission. Hope the need never comes, good luck, Marty
 
1. Can't be carried on your person. What if the robber strikes when you're in front of the counter, dealing with a customer? The best shotgun in the world won't help if it has to be stored in the back room/ in its rack behind the till.
Click to expand...
I was under the impression the gun was for when he was sleeping at the shop. In a closed business at night dealing with a break in, I think the twelve gauge fits the bill, not only for it's offensive capabilities, but also defensive, including being able to intimidate and capture the intruder with less chance of a desperate response from him.
 
If you are partial to semi-auto pistols, a Glock is nice, any Glock really. I like the G23, which is medium sized. A pistol is good because you can carry it concealed even in your shop. The G23 can fit into your pocket if you have a large pocket and a decent pocket holster.

If you like the simplicity of revolvers, a 4 inch .357 magnum revolver can't be beat. They can be had in various sizes, pocket size or larger, but the pocket size is a bit hard to handle with .357 magnum cartridges. You can fire +P .38spl in it if you want. But a good "service revolver" full size .357 magnum can't be beat in a revolver.

A shotgun is problematic. It isn't concealable. Many times you sense trouble but you don't want to tip your hand by appearing armed, and the shotgun doesn't easily allow this.

Or, a handgun and a shotgun -- you can get both!
 
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