[Jst1mr]

I have the following handguns (and would limit this discussion to handguns) available for home defense. I shoot each of these with relatively equal proficiency, and all have proven reliable. Your opinions on each, along with recommended load, would be appreciated. My opinion about home defense is to stop the threat, period (i.e if its time to use deadly force, it should be deadly). I am in a single family, one room occupied dwelling without immediate neighbors. Here's the selection: Beretta 92FS 9mm 15+1; S&W 66 4" .357 revolver; S&W M29 .44mag 6" revolver (w/ .44spec?), and Springfield XD 45 .45ACP 13+1. Again, your opinion and the associated load rec. appreciated....

[Ala Dan]

Springfield XD .45 ACP with 230 grain Federal Hydra-Shok's or Speer GD-JHP's~!

[rdrancher]

I carry a revolver daily but like full size high-cap guns for home defense.

I inherited a Taurus PT92 (pre decocker) and now use this for my bedtime gun. I like the high capacity and ergonomics of the Beretta copy. Reliable as all get-out too.

I do like the idea of a high cap .45 though...

Either the Beretta or the XD would play great backup to a 12 gauge!

rd

[BrianB]

Springfield XD .45 ACP with 230 grain Federal Hydra-Shok's

That oughta do you just fine.

[owlhoot]

I would be quite comfortable with any one of the four.

[Treo]

If you had to get rid of all but one of them which would you keep?

There's your answer.

[_N4Z_]

I will play by your set rules, but only part way.

I keep a .357 handy because I feel it holds an edge in use and reliability over an auto.

It is loaded with either .357mag 158gr sjhp's or .38spec+P 158gr lhp's. I feel well served with this arm, with these loads, day or night.

It is swift deployment first line defense to threat. It is also there to insure I get to Mr. 12ga.


This works for me in my location and percieved situation. Chances of home invasion by a dozen ninja's, or zombies currently seems pretty low. All above subject to revision if the wind changes direction.

[chieftain]

Bad premise. Any of your handguns would work.

Until you talk about long arms, you are not serious about Home Defense. If the only weapon you have is a handgun, fine, but with any choices, get a long arm.

The only 'special' property of my HD handgun is the ability to hang a white light on it, and is reliable with the light on it. Not all weapons are. Shoot it a bunch to make sure it is reliable and will stay lit. Many will shoot off the gun, cause the gun to jam, or simply have the bulb fail (not LEDs) from recoil. Know your fighting tools!

Over on www.10-8Forums.com you can read about the problems the 40 cal Glocks are having. Particularly with lights hung on them. This is professionals talking about various agencies having these problems. Anyway that is why I only use 9mm Glocks if I use a Glock at all. I do like the model 34.

My primary Night fighting/Home defense weapon is a Kimber Warrior with a Surefire X200B attached and a Tripp 10 round magazine. My HD grab bag has an additional 3 magazines for the Warrior. The bag also has 4 thirty round mags loaded with 28 rounds in each for the XCR, 12 rounds of 38spl for the 642 BUG, and 10 rounds of #00Buck for the shotguns, either the double barrel coach gun with hammers (primary), or the Mossy 590.

If things should happen before bed, I have one of my CCW Colt Gunsite Pistols, government, on my hip, even at home. First reaction would be to get to one of the long arms.

Go figure.

Fred

[XDJ]

I have to agree with Ala Dan,

"Springfield XD .45 ACP with 230 grain...Speer GD-JHP's~!

[ARTiger]

Of that menu, I would be ordering the XD with a side of 230 gr. +P Hornady XTP's

[DFW1911]

Springfield XD .45 ACP with 230 grain Federal Hydra-Shok's or Speer GD-JHP's~!

I'm with Dan on this one. As described the XD should be an excellent selection for a HD weapon.

Take care,
DFW1911

[CWL]

.45acp

[The Janitor]

I keep a S&W 686 .357 with 158gr, with the first chamber unloaded, along with a Surefire flashlight.

[TAB]

will anyone else in the house hold have to use this as a def weapon?

[possum]

i agree with the above posters for the sa d, for one it is a xd and 2 it is .45acp with high capacity. as far as load. i prefer 230gr defensive loads, but really that is what is best for you and that gun combo. i test my sd ammo for the followin in order of importance.
1) reliability
2) shootability/controlability
3) accuracy

get a few offerings and test them out.

[Sport45]

I am in a single family, one room occupied dwelling Sounds like they're all within reach. Why do you have to choose?

[MachIVshooter]

If it were me, I'd probably keep the XD as primary with the M66 close by.

[Jst1mr]

Just to clarify "single family, one room occupied"...by that, I meant it is a two level, 4 bedroom home but houses only my wife and I...kids are long gone. My wife does not have the will to be proficient, just "able" to shoot. She is very small-framed, so the 66 is about all she can get her hands wrapped around. Thanks - all your advice is appreciated!

[Rexster]

Well, which weapon can you shoot the best? The first shot is the most important; if it hits a vital area, something positive has been accomplished; if it misses, well, you can't miss fast enough to catch up, and that miss can endanger others.

I would choose the .357 sixgun, because Beretta 92s and S&W N-frames are made for people with much larger hands than me. The XD is an unknown quantity for me, as I don't want a weapon that requires a grip safety to be depressed before I can manipulate the slide. That is such a glaring liability I have no idea how it has reached such a level of market acceptance. (I am referring to the ability to quickly clear malfunctions, under fire, when one hand may be disabled or unavailable.)

OK, that is out of the way. Ammo, geez, ever heard of reading what has already been typed before?

I would use 125-grain JHP in the .357, Federal, Speer Gold Dot, or Remington.

45 ACP? any good bonded 230-grain load.

9mm? Any good bonded load with bullets in the 115-to-135-grain range.

.44 mag? I don't personally know anyone who uses a .44 mag for SD/HD, and have not followed this cartridge in the books and magazines.

[sturgis]

This is my night time teddy bear:

Springfield XD .45 ACP with 230 grain Federal Hydra-Shok's

[Titan6]

1-Beretta 92FS 9mm 15+1
2-Springfield XD 45 .45ACP 13+1
3-S&W 66 4" .357 revolver
4-S&W M29 .44mag 6" revolver

Any reliably expanding hollowpoint should work well in any of these. I don't know what your physical condition is but if you are near 70 I would avoid the M29, it's weight and size makes it difficult to handle if you don't have solid body strength. All of these are proven stoppers.

[obiwan1]

House gun: M29 with .44 specials ;)

[Goblin]

Hi-cap .45!!! Yup,that's it!!

[Confederate]

Here's the selection: Beretta 92FS 9mm 15+1; S&W 66 4" .357 revolver; S&W M29 .44mag 6" revolver (w/.44spec?), and Springfield XD 45 .45ACP 13+1.
Any of them would be a fine home defense pistol, though my own last choice would be the .44 mag in a 6-inch revolver. Even with .44 Spc loads, it's too much of a horse pistol for a single dwelling home.

The Beretta/Springfield both are excellent and you'd be well served in using either or both. My first choice, however, is the S&W 66 stoked with some hot .38s. The pointability of the 66 is wonderful, plus, being a home defense gun, I don't want to have to worry about rotating magazines or a family member messing with it. In short, a revolver is an extraordinarily reliable home defense weapon. You can load it and keep it in a drawer for years, plus you can put magnum rounds in the last two chambers if you wish. But again, any of the guns would be fine. We're just nitpicking here.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh198/jriler/SW66.jpg

The S&W 66 is as close to perfection for a HD gun as one can get.

[Auburn1992]

The XD-45 is what I would go with.

[Fishman777]

Any of the guns that you mentioned would be excellent choices. If your wife shoots, then autoloaders would be a good choice, but if she doesn't, stick with a revolver. I don't mean to sounds sexist, but I really think that revolvers are the best choice for anyone that doesn't shoot much.

Regardless of whether the gun is a revolver or an autoloader, you should make sure that the grips aren't too big for your wife. Some of the guns that you mentioned might be a little big for her. Of the guns you mentioned, I'd go with the model 66 or a Beretta 92 vertec (or a 90two with the slim vertec-like grip).

[md7]

My wife does not have the will to be proficient, just "able" to shoot. She is very small-framed, so the 66 is about all she can get her hands wrapped around.

Revolver. Easier to use IMHO for a person that is not willing to learn how to use an auto.

[chieftain]

She is very small-framed

My youngest daughter stands 4'11" about 100 lbs. She shoots one of my Government model (full size) 1911's in 45acp.

I am setting up a Colt government just for her small hands.

Narrow grips, and short trigger. And some other neat stuff.

Now with the Springfield EMP pistols, you have an even shorter reach, in 9mm or 40 S&W. My youngest likes the 45acp caliber specifically. Just for the record, my oldest is 5'6" about 150 lbs, and prefers a Glock 30.

I would suggest an EMP Springfield in 9mm for your petite lady.

Good luck

Fred

[DevilDog0402]

Springfield XD .45 ACP with Tactical HST 230gr. +P HP Ammo.

That's my bedside gun w/ a taclight attached.

My 12 ga is closeby too.

[Cosmoline]

S&W M29 .44mag 6" revolver

This trumps the other choices. Load with lighter weight and easy expanding rounds (not hunting or hardcast rounds). These are much more devestating than the .45 ACP or 9x19 and stand a better chance of stopping the threat sooner rather than later. You will have "overpenetration" problems with any firearm in a modern building, but the higher velocity of a .44 Mag helps ensure maximum expansion and fragmentation if you select the appropriate load.

Believe me, if some loonatic is actually breaking into your house to kill you and yours, there is NO SUCH THING as "too much gun." The goal is not a fair fight, but to stop the threat immediately. If the mere sight of the magnum doesn't do that, the impact of the round will. It's a powerful enough round to generate a temporary cavity and hit with some measure of explosive force. It's not a rifle, but it's better than any standard handgun round.

I'm not getting into the question of long guns as the OP stated he didn't want that.

[Shawnee]

Springfield .45 first

S&W .44 Special second.

If Trouble does come - don't leave either behind.

:cool:

[19-3Ben]

Chances of home invasion by a dozen ninja's, or zombies currently seems pretty low.

See, that's where you're gonna get into trouble. You only think that the likelihood of a zombie attack is low because the media is so busy covering up their activity. But they are becoming more and more active.
Soon, it'll be like "I Am Legend."

(yes, I'm kidding. but a lot of you are going to be caught off guard during the zombie uprising.):neener:

[give]

agree with post #5,any hand gun would work,now remember ,its all about shot placement

[tenbears]

Well, let's look at this from another angle. If you live in an apartment or similar community, having neighbors that close, you may want to consider a shotgun for defense using a BB size shot or a little smaller to avoid over penetration by a large bore caliber handgun or rifle even that may hit someone else other than your intruder.
If you live outside city limits or on a larger lot of land then it's really just a matter of what you shoot well with. Just wanted to share that with ya.

[Spenser]

I'd agree with the .45. You might consider Powerball or EFMJ ammo if you're worried about a stray sailing through walls into the neighbor's house.

[Hook686]

I do not see the point in limiting your selection to one if you are proficient in all 4.

Personally I do not have a .45 ... I have a 9mm, a .357 magnum and a .44 magnum though. I practice with the following regularly:

9mm ..........147 grain PFP
.357 magnum ..158 grain PHP
.44 magnum ...200 grain JSP

[oneounceload]

All are good, as has been said, but IMO, the one you can grab, in the dark, with adrenaline pumping, and get it on target the fastest, should be your primary one, with another nearby if necessary....you need to be able to operate it without thinking abut anything except the threat - if you're fumbling for a safety, magazine, speedloader, etc., those could be precious seconds lost with terrible consequences......

[macadore]

Any of them would be a fine home defense pistol, though my own last choice would be the .44 mag in a 6-inch revolver. Even with .44 Spc loads, it's too much of a horse pistol for a single dwelling home.

I’m curious. What do you mean by, “It’s too much of a horse pistol for a single dwelling home”?

The only downside I see to the 629 with specials is the weight. If you don’t have to wear it all day, that’s not a problem. If you run out of ammo, it would be great for pistol whipping someone. IMO, it’s a matter of personal opinion. Any of the choices would work well.

[Jeff F]

My .357 will at least let me fight my way to one of the 870's here.

[Houston Tom]

I have a 357 rev and an XD 45. THe 357 is in the wifes night stand and I have the XD in mine with the hydra shocks.

[FLoppyTOE]

Springfield XD .45 ACP with 230 grain Federal Hydra-Shok's or Speer GD-JHP's

Pretty much ended the discusion in my opinion.

[sdj]

Another vote for the .45ACP XD.

[Defensory]

.45 ACP XD all the way!

[AWMP]

XD45 my choice as well

[machinisttx]

I keep a S&W 686 .357 with 158gr, with the first chamber unloaded, along with a Surefire flashlight

Why? Any S&W revolver made since WW2(actually might have been WW1, I can't remember right now) has a hammer block that makes it virtually impossible for one to fire without manipulating the action. Incidentally, this came about as a result of a S&W being dropped on the deck of a navy ship and killing a crewman.

The hammer block is outlined in red in the pic below. Unless the trigger is held to the rear, it won't allow the hammer to fall enough to set off a round.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/imakechips/gun%20stuff/100_0780-1.jpg


Anyway, as for the original question.. Whatever you feel most comfortable with using to supplement a long gun.

[MozambiqueTechnique]

My vote goes to the Beretta 92FS. I would load the aforementioned handgun with 124 grain +P Bonded Golden Sabers.

This is my current night-stand gun and if it means anything to you, Massad Ayoub also keeps the Beretta 92FS as his nightstand sidearm.

Keep safe...

[WVMountainBoy]

You've stated that you're equally proficient with all the weapons so this is more an exercise in gun placement and such. The .44 Magnum is the powerhouse of the bunch, but its got its issues, such as recoil (!) and the amount of flash its going to put out. I would recommend the bedside gun be the XD45, loaded with one of Hornady's TAP selections. Place the .44 somewhere accessible to you near an entrance to the home, as it may be needed more outside than in. The .357 is a great choice, but again the muzzle flash is very harsh at night. The Beretta will have no issues serving as a primary weapon, but I trust .45 over 9mm as a man stopper. Load the .44 with some Win SilverTips...that way if you have to work outside and oh say a car door is in your way there is no question.