My father wants a gun

It does not get any easier than the revolver I posted a picture of, the Ruger SP101. Brand new you can buy them for A tad less than $400 so a nice used one should be in your range. It is a simple gun to field strip and clean, and it will take a lot of abuse and still work even if not maintained properly. If he will go on up to a 4" barrel revolver there are many others to choose from that are also stainless, but I would recommend an older Smith & Wesson, or a new Ruger double action because they do not have the little internal locks that could fail and render the gun useless. When you are out looking at revolvers, especially new one, ask if they have an internal lock. It is a little lock that you put a key in and turn to make the gun "Safe" so that if a kid gets a hold of it they can't hurt themselves. In reality it is an answer to a non existant problem. Those little internal locks are a feature you do not want or need. They are just something else to worry about failing especially on a gun that might not be taken good care of. The new Rugers do not have them, and are great guns at an excellent price. Look at the Ruger GP100, and the Ruger SP101. Both of these revolvers are exactly what you are looking for. If you come across a good deal on an old Smith & Wesson Model 65, 66 or no lock model 581, 586, 681, 686 .357mag jump on it as they are the sweetest of the double action revolvers. Remember the .357mag is most versitile because you can shoot both .38 special ammo and .357mag ammo out of it. There would also be nothing wrong with buying one of the above mentioned Rugers in .38 special or a Stainless Smith & Wesson .38 special like a Model 64, 67, 68. There are others out there as well like some of the Colts and what not, but the ones mentioned are the ones you are most likely to find in your price range. I would highly recmommend that you buy a New revolver given your unique sutuation so that you are starting out with something that has no wear, and the Rugers are just damn hard to beat in that category. You can look at them here http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/21_49_76
 
Retirement age does not qualify someone to handle a gun in the home safely. You need training/experience or you become a hazard. I wouldn't help someone get a gun at that age unless I made sure they were trained. I would also consider the personalities and the drinking habits of the parties involved. Hot tempers and/or alcohol don't mix safely with loaded guns in the house. You also want to be concerned for people who may be depressed/suicidal. You feel real bad when someone you love is hurt by a gun you helped to buy.

Training should include some unarmed dramas in the house. Act out what it might look like if an intruder comes and also what it would be like if cousin Benny wanders in for a drunk visit at 2:00 AM. You want to consider how to buy time to know your target before you shoot. You also want to consider what is a good place to store a gun in their place. If grandchildren show up you don't want any accidents.

I would go for a stainless .38. It is comfortable to practice with a .38 and I think practice may be more important than muzzle energy in this case. You could buy a .357 and practice with .38 ammo, but it starts getting pretty heavy. I would favor about a 4 inch barrel. It allows for some instinctive pointing, but is short enough not to get caught up in things.
 
I personally think a 18" stainless 12 gauge loaded with low recoil buckshot is a no brainer in this case. IMHO. Think Benelli Nova, Mossberg 500 etc... Inexpensive, reliable, easy to handle, require less dedicated practice than a handgun.

Edit: Oops, just read your response that a shotgun doesn't meet all his requirements. I second the .357 then. I have a SP101 and like it.
But I would still suggest a Shotgun, in addition to the wheelgun...
 
Listen to these people. If you father is not experienced with firearms, that is the first step regardless of what he plans to keep around the house.

Once experienced, a shotgun or D.A. revolver is probably best.
 
Glocks are simple. Insert mag, rack slide, and pull trigger.With a double action revolver you have to open the cylinder, remove empties, load cylinder, close cylinder, pull trigger. If you can not understand or figure out how to use a Glock after spending a day at the range with someone who can teach you how to use it then I dont feel that you have any business owning a gun. This is how accidents happen. I own revolvers and autos. I can get a Glock online and fireing faster than my S&W 686 or my Ruger SP101.
 
Having a pump action shotgun around the house is a great psychological tool. There ain't noth'n more discouraging to a burglar than the words "I've got a shotgun" combined with the sound of it being racked. I favor smaller shot than 00 buck. At this close range you won't need the heavy stuff and there is less chance of penetrating one too many walls. I would say that BB is about right.
 
Wow -- made it to 25 posts before the "sound of it being racked" came in. Not a record, but much longer than usual.... :rolleyes:
 
I own over a dozen firearms. I would go the revolver route. I have a couple 1911s(45acp), a Hi-Power(9mm) and others, but the guns in my nightstand are either a Taurus M85UL in 38spcl or a Taurus 66, 357. While I find the semi-autos fun. The 66 has a great trigger and I shoot it very well. I mostly shoot 38's out of it.

As for semi's, I'd recommend the Bersa Thunder 380. I owned one and it was a great shooter at a good price. I should have never sold it. I would not but a Glock 23. Maybe for a shooter yes. My brother has one and it is a great gun, but the 9mm Glock 17 would work well with a much less snappy recoil. I had the 19(too big) and traded it for a S&W 629.

Another alternative is a 22 or 22mag revolver. This is what my father had.

In summary, I'd pick:
1. a 4" revolver in in 38/357, loaded with 357 (snubbies are shooter's guns)
2. a Bersa 380
3. a 22mag revolver
4. a H&R 410 shotgun

Remember this isn't a do battle in the hood gun, but a piece of mind. Something to scare away a punk in the middle of the night.
 
A Stainless Revolver is the way to go. I would recommend the S&W 642. Airweight 38 Special +P, disappears in the pocket, Very stain resistant. Hammerless design and shape makes it perfect for pocket carry, doesn't snag. Simply squeeze the trigger.
Even a mini glock is hard to carry in comparison. Harder to draw, and heavier. The handle is too thick on the Glock for many people as well.

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pinetree said:
I own over a dozen firearms. I would go the revolver route. I have a couple 1911s(45acp), a Hi-Power(9mm) and others, but the guns in my nightstand are either a Taurus M85UL in 38spcl or a Taurus 66, 357. While I find the semi-autos fun. The 66 has a great trigger and I shoot it very well. I mostly shoot 38's out of it.

As for semi's, I'd recommend the Bersa Thunder 380. I owned one and it was a great shooter at a good price. I should have never sold it. I would not but a Glock 23. Maybe for a shooter yes. My brother has one and it is a great gun, but the 9mm Glock 17 would work well with a much less snappy recoil. I had the 19(too big) and traded it for a S&W 629.

Another alternative is a 22 or 22mag revolver. This is what my father had.

In summary, I'd pick:
1. a 4" revolver in in 38/357, loaded with 357 (snubbies are shooter's guns)
2. a Bersa 380
3. a 22mag revolver
4. a H&R 410 shotgun

Remember this isn't a do battle in the hood gun, but a piece of mind. Something to scare away a punk in the middle of the night.
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I will have to say the Bersa Thunder 380 is a good little gun. I have been carrying one as a backup to my primary carry weapon a Sig 229 357 Sig.
 
ashtxsniper said:
If you can not understand or figure out how to use a Glock after spending a day at the range with someone who can teach you how to use it then I dont feel that you have any business owning a gun.
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You're assuming his father is not disabled and is not afflicted with, say, arthritis.
 
That was never mentioned. Don't get me wrong a revolvers probably the best choice I was just stating that Glocks are extremely simple. If he does have said condition a bigger Glock in 9mm is going to be way less painful for him to shoot than a small lightweight revolver in 38 special or especially 357 mag.
 
If you dad is set on a gun that he can also carry, I suggest a revolver that will shoot .38 Special. You could purchase a .38 Special or a .38 Special +P or a .357 Magnum. They will all safely shoot .38 Special. (If you shoot .357, clean the chambers before shooting .38).

Get him the longest barrel he is comfortable carrying. 3" is better than 2", 4" is better than 3", but only if he can carry the extra length.

A laser grip like Crimson Trace is terrific as an add-on for older eyes, especially in low-light situations. The grips could be purchased anytime in the future.

As mentioned, S&W, Ruger and Taurus are reliable brands.

Training is even more important than the gun type itself. Make sure he is safe and has practice running through "shoot" "no shoot" scenerios!!
 
ashtxsniper said:
That was never mentioned.
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I know, it's just that it might be a factor for a retired shooter, and it's good to find that out before the purchase. I agree an auto is softer shooting and for that reason might be easier, depending upon the person's health capabilities, and I agree that Glocks are one of the the simplest semi-autos for beginners to shoot (no thumb safeties, bevertails, DA-SA triggers, etc.).
 
A shot gun does require practice! It's NOT magic! You have to aim. As with any firearm, you must do your homework before you make a purchase. It's important to know what size shot you should use in your specific dwelling. A projectile or oversized shot can penetrate walls and kill a neighbor.

I would favor a revolver in Dad's case, chambered in .38 Special, .357 Magnum (loaded with .38's, in most cases), .44 Special, or .45. You don't want the projectile to overpenetrate the bad guy, either. I like a heavy, slow-moving bullet that will not exit the bad guy's body.

DAD should decide what's best for HIM. Suggest that he take a class in which he can try different makes, models, barrel lengths, etc.
Stainless steel is a MUST for the climate in which your dad lives.

Shotguns are great, if you have firearms experience. If not, steer clear.

As several others have said, mental preparedness is as important as the weapon itself.
Run through scenarios, be consistant in condition (loaded or unloaded) and location of the firearm when it's not on Dad's person. It's human nature to forget things in a panic situation, that we usually take for granted. Finding the weapon and being prepared to use it should come automatically, even when one is half asleep or highly stressed.

Do your homework, try different guns, and practice. Also, have a plan for any emergency situation, and go over it often in your head.

Safety, safety, safety, when practicing or otherwise handling the gun. :)
 
So back in the late 60's there were these hippie girls living in a farm house. The neighbors didn't like them and they had a problem with prowlers. One girl had brought grandpa's 16 gauge with her, but had no idea what to do with it. The heaviest girl there probably weighed all of 110 pounds. So I came by on my way north. I heard the problem and took this girl out to learn how to use the shotgun. It was too long to use easily from the shoulder in the house and it had too much kick for her. I took her out and taught her to hip shoot using my .22 rifle. We practiced against an embankment where you could see where your shots were going. When she could stay on a mansized target from 10 yards we switched to the shotgun. She got so she could grab it, index it to her hip, and blast a paper plate at 10 yards. That was plenty good enough for the house.

Now I didn't really think she would pull the trigger on a human being. I didn't think that an intruder would really think that she would either. What I told her to do was to shout out a warning, rack the gun, and blow out the top pane of the nearest window. I taught her to rerack the gun and aim for the guys foot next. At that point it was anybody's guess if she would blow his leg off. The other girls thought that I was a monster. I thought it was a pretty workable solution, given I had all of one afternoon to think of it and implement it.
 
Shotgun...No, as it generally takes two hands to shoot it and is too easily taken-away by "the bad guy".

Revolver...Not bad, but follow-up shots are generally slower, and can be less accurate than that from a Glock pistol if fired double-action.

Glock pistol...With just a LITTLE bit of training, is very simple to use, and goes bang everytime.
 
Jeff Clark said:
Having a pump action shotgun around the house is a great psychological tool. There ain't noth'n more discouraging to a burglar than the words "I've got a shotgun" combined with the sound of it being racked. I favor smaller shot than 00 buck. At this close range you won't need the heavy stuff and there is less chance of penetrating one too many walls. I would say that BB is about right.
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I used to favor magnum BB shot as well -- but the boxotruth has some interesting commentary regarding penetration in shot smaller than 00...
 
I would suggest a stainless Taurus .357. Decent quality for the price. A 4' barrel is easy to carry and easy to control - someone unused to firearms will be extremely surprised by the SP101's noise and kick I think!
 
just depends on what he wants, nothing wrong w/a glock 26 and good ammo. i would as soon have a 9MM as a .40 or .357SIG. i would go with an auto over a revolver myself. if revovers are so great why is every single police dept in the world either switched to autos, wanna switch to autos or wish they could switch to autos? ya should know WTF if ya carry any gun and if ya know WTF an auto is a better choice than any revolver imho.

a shotgun is a great home defense weapon but a pistol is really more practical ie ya can carry it outside the home.
 
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