Home Defense Wheelguns

[osteodoc08]

I'm actually bringing my mother my 586 and loading it with 38's tomorrow. She didn't/couldn't feel comfortable with my fathers 41mag that he kept by the bed stand for years until his recent passing. Luckily he never had to use it but did draw it a few times throughout the years.

 

[CajunBass]

Pretty hard to beat a midsized, 4", 38 revolver. It's been the standard for years for a reason. Cops & crooks, homeowners and shopkeepers, hikers and hunters have carried them for 100 years. Smith & Wesson, Colt, Ruger, even Taurus all make/made good ones. Nothing wrong with the same sized gun in 357 either. You can shoot the magnums as needed/wanted.

Personally I'm quite happy with a 4", 38 M&P Smith & Wesson.

 

[Bellevance]

Yes, another vote for the Model 10. And wadcutters. With practice, anyone can place three rounds inside a dinner plate at six feet. A snub is light, sure, dependable--and it's hard to grab away.

 

[Stress_Test]

I would always go bigger rather than smaller for a home defense pistol. Bigger pistol means easier to manipulate, steadier, less recoil.

I'm sure there are some beginners out there who can shoot well with a snub nose revolver, but all indications say that's the exception to the rule. Harder trigger pull on the small J-frames too (unless you go LCR)

I'd consider the 6" barrel too and not just the 4". I've got a 6" GP100 that gets back on target pretty well in fast firing even with full-power 158gr loads.

I've never shot any .38s out of it but I bet they'd feel like a .22 mag, and the longer barrel would give a little more oomph to the .38 round.

 

[B!ngo]

There's a lot of good advice here:
Revolver
Mid-size S&W
3"-4" barrel
Lots of opportunity to try before she buys
Lots of time to practice
The only item I would take strong exception to are to those who are recommending .357 magnums in the chamber. Overkill, ear-splitting, legal-risking, eye-flash blinding, follow-up shot negating round for HD. Just say no. Practice and keep the weapon stored with .38's.
But the idea of relying on a DA revolver for home defense is a sound one. Far fewer failure modes, less risk of an NA (when used in DA mode), heavy steel to mitigate muzzle flip and recoil, just as easy to point in the dark as anything else.
Oh, and though I don't believe that the sound of racking a shotgun should be depended on (at all!) to be a deterrent, a grip laser on the gun (is she right handed?, they don't make 'em for lefty's) is excellent since while it is likely not a deterrent, it is a great aiming aid in the dark. And in that regard, if you are willing to pay for a S&W M&P revolver that allows a grip laser and a barrel-mounted light, that would be best.
GL,
B

 

[Steve CT]

Here's an actual "Nightstand" photo



Dan Wesson 14-2, 24 rounds of .357 hollowpoints, SureFire flashlight, S&W Auto Knife.

Not in the picture-a very alert and loud dog!

 

[ZVP]

I have to go with the .38 Special as the best cartrige for this application Moreso the choice of revolver would pose the largest question to come to mind. Perhaps a 2 1/2 inch Snubbie in 357 Mag (shooting .38 Specials) would be the best choice for small hands? Yes recoil is somewhar brisk but the potential grip that's available night be the best.
Second choice would be a "K" frame 4" revolver with eubber grips. A good purchase is available with the square frame and rubber absourbs recoil. Again, .38 Special ammo is probablly best.
.357 ammo gives a high recoil, large muzzle flash. and loud report!
Too much for inside a dark roon and small, weak, hands.
+P ammo has very similar reactions and is therefore not highly recommended. Recoil is near the .357, as is flash and muzzle report.
JMHO and I hope it helped.
BPDave

 

[Ash]

Have a care that the revolver is not too big. Bigger with longer barrels can become unwieldy for a woman. This isn't a hunting revolver, but a Scarlet O'Hara home-defense gun.

 

[fxstchewy]

4" gp100.

 

[Kahr33556]

I would get a sp101 in 357 or a Smith ultra lite 38.
I have a gp100 but its heavy

 

[mk70ss]

S&WModel 64 4 inch. Loaded with Remington +P 125 grain JHP

 

[brutus51]

I think a .357 is a poor choice for home defense, to much blinding muzzle blast, heavy recoil and way to loud. Better choice would be +P .38 specials.
Personally prefer big bores for that purpose any 4" N frame smith in .44 special or .45 colt produce less muzzle flash and a bigger bullet.

 

[nathan]

SW 686 4 inch , bec that s the only revolver i have. I would like to have a Model 19 in 6 inch someday.

 

[DAdams]

I guess IF I were to make a wheel gun my nightstand go to pistola (a big if) I would want a 7 or 8 rounder.

Based on what I own today it would be this.


Model 66 with Crimson Trace grips.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I'm beyound ticked off. I originally want a Tikka T3 laminated gun and my dealer couldn't find one available. Then I had my heart set on a 586 4" - I have the 686 4" and love the gun, but the blued finish isn't allowed in my state. Is Massachusetts the pitts or what? Now I'm looking at maybe getting a model ten, which I'm still on the fence about. I wish there was a list by picture of what the guns look like. Is the model 10-4 a pencil barrel?

Laura

 

[StrawHat]

...Is the model 10-4 a pencil barrel?... Laura

Not an easy question to answer, as there are many iterations of that model. Some of them had the pencil barrel but others did not. You would need to see the particualr revolver you are buying to determine the style. If blued revovlers are not allowed, how will the Model 10 qualify? It is also a bled revolver.

 

[tomrkba]

She wants to get a revolver for home defense, and won't consider an auto. It will likely never be carried out of the house, except to the range.

TRAIN FIRST, BUY LATER!

It sounds like she has no idea what she is doing, much less how to shoot, think tactically, handle the law and so on.

Discounting a semiauto is a mistake, but it is her choice. She needs to attend NRA Basic Pistol ASAP to get a proper introduction to gun safety and handguns. Very soon after, she should take a one or two day basic defensive handgun course. The problem will be finding an instructor that knows revolvers. DO NOT ATTEND TRAINING WITH A REVOLVER FROM A SEMIAUTO ONLY INSTRUCTOR! A good revolver instructor will make a huge difference in her shooting and loading technique. A semiauto instructor will not have the necessary knowledge and will treat her gun like a low capacity semiauto (I learned the hard way). Once she completes that course, she will have a good idea what she NEEDS in a handgun. Buying a handgun with only gun store commando input will result in a gun that likly does not fit her needs.

Known revolver instructors:

Grant Cunningham
Sand Burr Gun Ranch
Mas Ayoob (MAG 20 or 40...one stop shop with law and shooting)
Thunder Ranch
Gunsite

The NRA instructors and local ranges may know of competent revolver instructors.

*** Consider your mother's age and physical fitness. She may not be able to take two 10 hour days of training.

Keep in mind that the revolver needs four modifications:

1) Good sights. A plain black ramp is inadequate. Make sure the front sight has a pinned or may otherwise be easily changed. Get at least a front night sight.

2) Properly fitting grips. Grant Cunningham reviews the topic of fit in The Gun Digest Book of the Revolver.

3) Chamferred charge holes to facilitate reloading. Stainless cylinders do not require refinishing.

4) A smooth trigger. Stacking and a gritty feel will make learning to shoot difficult.

Safariland Comp speedloaders are the best reloading solution I have found. Moon clips need protection, but are also good. HKS style loaders are inadequate, but better than nothing. Speed strips are good for a quick two round reload.



NOTE: The L Frame grip has the same dimensions as that of the K Frame. The difference is in the frame forward of the grip.

 

[targetshooter22]

+1 for handling as many as you can. Personally, we like the Ruger 357 DA revolvers in our house, but that's us. At least go to a shop or two and handle (and DEFINITELY dry fire) before you buy. Fit to her hand is absolutely critical. Best case, you have some friends/family that will let her shoot their guns. Also, if you can, some professional training will definitely help her. Stay away from the snubbies; of all the handguns in existence, these have the reputation of being hardest to master.

 

[GaryP]

Happiness is a CA Bulldog .44 SPL for HD

My choice for a Home defense Revolver has been a first edition (Stratford, Conn) Charter Arms 3" Bulldog .44 SPL for the last 34 years. It is light weight, fits my hand and has been 100% reliable. It works for me!

 

[toivo]

If you look at some of the big wholesalers (CDNN, J&G Sales especially) you can often find 4" S&W Model 64s for less than $300. These are security company trade-in guns. Carried a lot, shot very little. Most are double-action only (which is GOOD!) and they're a fantastic value. A 4" stainless .38 Spc. K frame is a formidable weapon in anyone's hands and if she likes revolvers, she'll LOVE these. About the most all around "shootable" wheelgun at any price. Good size, good weight, good balance. And she can choose from regular .38 Spc. or some of the hotter .38 Spc. "+P" loads if she's comfortable with them. Enough gun to tame them, to be sure.

I agree 100% with everything he says. Here's mine, with a Hogue nylon monogrip:



Same gun, pimped out with faux-ivory:



(I recommend the monogrip for shootability.)

 

[hueytaxi]

My granddaughter @ 105# loves my Judge firing 3" 000. Also liked the M15 4"

 

[bullseyebob47]

"Even a .22 discharged inside a house is freaking ear splitting loud. It's also blinding in the dark. I mean totally blind for seconds after the first shot."

have you tried this or just repeating what you read on a gun board? well i tried it and its not bad. sitting at the camp cooking supper i shot many 9mm and .45acp out the front door with lights off. even a 12 ga. once. i could hear everyone laughing over the ringing in my ears and i could see everything over the flash burn that i can remember. i didn't take notes though so i won't say you are 100% wrong until after i try it again. but i can tell you my sight and hearing where not disabled.

i'll do it again with a 12 ga buckshot and .44 mag revolver with my headlight and without. btw the front door opens to a high bank not far away.

 

[shafter]

Agreed Bullseyebob.

I've fired guns at night with no hearing protection and I was neither blinded nor deafened. My ears did ring for a few days though.

 

[gym]

My advice, get mom a Glock 19 or a S&W fullsize . Put it in a good holster where the trigger can't be mistakenly actuated. Tell her and show her how to remove the gun, and point it at the target and pull trigger till all is clear.

 

[Stress_Test]

"Even a .22 discharged inside a house is freaking ear splitting loud. It's also blinding in the dark. I mean totally blind for seconds after the first shot."

have you tried this or just repeating what you read on a gun board? well i tried it and its not bad. sitting at the camp cooking supper i shot many 9mm and .45acp out the front door with lights off. even a 12 ga. once. i could hear everyone laughing over the ringing in my ears and i could see everything over the flash burn that i can remember. i didn't take notes though so i won't say you are 100% wrong until after i try it again. but i can tell you my sight and hearing where not disabled.

i'll do it again with a 12 ga buckshot and .44 mag revolver with my headlight and without. btw the front door opens to a high bank not far away.

Another one of those "internet wisdom" things that's been repeated and exaggerated beyond all reason.

People talk about the .357 like firing one at night without ear protection will leave the shooter curled on the ground in the fetal position, twitching and drooling on himself. I mean yeah, it'll be loud and your ears will hurt, but come on!