[MikeJ]

Hello all,
I was out at the range this morning shooting my Sig 229 and Glock 23, both 40's, and while I was cleaning my guns a thought occurred to me regarding choosing my home defense weapon and I was wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing. I have been fortunate over the years to be able to acquire a modest assortment of handguns, most of which are quite suitable to one degree or the other as a home defense gun. For a number of years I chose to use my S&W 66 2 1/2" in that role because I like it and felt it was adequate. This past year I switched to my Beretta 92D Centurion because once again I like it and shoot it relatively well. What prompted this post was the thought that, what if 2 or 3 guys were kicking down my front door and initiating a home invasion, would I be saying to myself "gee Mike don't you wish you had your Glock, Sig or whatever in your hand rather than what you are currently holding?" I do feel fairly well armed with my Beretta, but I've got to admit that should that unlikely home invasion happen and I was holding my S&W 66 I'm sure that I would have regretted not having one of my other guns with more ammo, better follow up shots etc. in my hand. I found today as I was shooting that although I prefer the Sig over the Glock for recreational shooting, which gun would I take if I were going to be in a gunfight, the Glock, simply because I can shoot it better in rapid fire.

This thread is not intended to start a which gun is best for home defense debate but rather do you use the gun that YOU feel is best for home defense from your available options or the one that you are just currently enamored with? Mike

[treeprof]

Well, my primary defense gun(s) is/are long guns, but I'm pretty comfortable w/my home defense handgun choices. I concede to having changed a coupla times, but I've stuck w/the same for abt 2 yrs now.

[P95Carry]

Although I switch to M85 snub for summer ... in home I'll still choose my winter carry .. P95 ..... or that might soon be the P97 in fact ..... once i have excercised it to my satisfaction.

So .... my answer would be..... no ...... not the gun I am currently enamored with ..... it'll be the one I consider always best for the job.:)

[Penforhire]

Reasonable question. Among similarly good choices, I'm using the gun I feel most comfortable with. Meaning, easiest for me to operate when I'm still asleep and I "point" well with it with my eyes closed.

[Soap]

IMO, once you pick your defensive pistol, marry it. If you pick a 1911/Glock/Sig/etc. don't play with other guns. If you pick a DA revolver your options open up since you can get a multitude of guns that have a similar feel and identical manual of arms. As for me, I'm married to the 1911.

[Deuce]

This is something I've thought about recently ... although, not in exactly the same way.

I was wondering about why most people's "nightstand" gun isn't a 12ga.

As for the handgun, I'm currently going with an Eclipse Pro. I've got a Glock 35 that I got a laser (LaserMax) for, but, after a few trips to the range, I'm just not comfortable with it ... particularly with the head-shot while the BG's got a knife to the wife's throat scenario.

I've been meaning to send the 35 to Trijicon and get a light for it ... I feel that would be a better setup for me. All the while, aside from the raging debate, I'm still not sure that .45acp isn't signifcantly more effective than .40sw.

I would agree that anyone very serious about home defense should have a 12ga handy somewhere and that any handguns available should be considered merely for cover fire until the 12ga is in-hand.

All the while, I feel pretty comfortable with just the Eclipse in the drawer.

If I let myself, I could one day end up setting trip-wires with flares and alarms and have a 12ga every 6ft throughout the house.

In the end, I figure the best rule of thumb is, whatever you've got, it won't be enough.

[Dobe]

The 1911 A1 lays next to my bed every night.

[Tamara]

Well, my Beretta 96D is my "bed gun" but there's a Remington 870 with a long mag tube within reach.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

Mike, I do use the gun that I feel is best suited for HD;
and its the same as its always been a .45 caliber SIG-Sauer P220A! :) :rolleyes: :uhoh:

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Soap]

I was wondering about why most people's "nightstand" gun isn't a 12ga.

You must have a helluva nightstand! Mine won't fit. It doesn't ride on the nightstand but the Benelli is close by...

[Newton]

Any reliable automatic bigger than a .380 stuffed with as many bullets as you can fit in it.

If there's a secret to a defensive handgun for any application, I believe this to be it.

[goon]

Arsenal SA-M7.
Two 30 round magazines full of Wolf FMJ.
After the first few "bursts" I doubt anyone will hang around long enough to see the second magazine.

[22luvr]

Mossberg model 88 with 18" riot barrel and pistol grip under the bed. Six round mag with 00 buck. 15 of those little .32-sized projectiles going out at well over 1,000 FPS has gotta hurt.

[keithernTN]

I use what I feel most comfortable with, and that seems to have a hi-cap mag in it. Shotgun close at hand of course.

[cslinger]

My bed side gun is more often than not a SIG 220ST. This is my basic bump in the night gun. Should I see or hear multiple threats I am retreating and grabbing either the shotgun or semi-auto 30 rounders.

Basically most bumps in the night get the SIG 220, if I am very sure there is a threat then I am going for the 870 with 6 rounds of 00 buck plus reloads, if all heck is breaking loose then it is the Semi-Automatic Rifles.

Chris