Home gun, what should I get.

Hi all. Noob here. I spend a lot of time with a M&P9c while instructing, shooting combat with some other trainers and LEOs and just for my own, honing skills. So, is this the one I keep closest at hand for home protection? Nope. I agree completely with those that suggest against a semi-auto, but I'll take it a step further....I wouldn't suggest a conventional handgun at all.

At arms length at home is a Taurus Judge.
Chamber 1 .410 #4 shot
Chamber 2 .410 000 Buck
Chamber 3 .410 #4 shot
Chamber 4 .410 000 Buck
Chamber 5 .410 000 Buck

Lather, rinse, repeat.

It doesn't matter whether it's me, my wife or my daughter.....whoever pulls the trigger is gonna hit something. No chance of it penetrating a common wall in the condo.

A very small percentage of people would be able to place more than one shot from a handgun (revolver or pistol) in a critical area on an assailant in a high stress, low light situation.

Here come da Judge.

Enjoying reading and learning on the boards. Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts.

bj

If I was really nuts I would look at a Taurus Judge, it being the halfway point between handgun and shotgun. Revolver loaded with .410 shotshells.

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As was mentioned already, this is NOT "1/2 way between a handgun and shotgun." It's not even close.

Velocity suffers, as do patterns and penetration. It will NOT do what it shows in the movies. (whatever the one was with hypocritical anti-gun Mark Wahlberg shooting steel bathroom stall doors off their hinges)

The Judge is a toy. A very fun toy, but still a toy. It MIGHT work satisfactorily for defensive purposes, but I sure wouldn't want to rely on it to do the job.

Given similar barrel length, would a semi-auto with a fixed barrel (ex CZ-75 series) be any less accurate than a revolver?

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It's a moot point.
The auto barrel does not move until after the bullet has exited the barrel.

BTW, the CZ-75 series does not have a fixed barrel.
It operates on the ever popular Browning tilt barrel design.

The Judge is a toy. A very fun toy, but still a toy. It MIGHT work satisfactorily for defensive purposes, but I sure wouldn't want to rely on it to do the job.

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I agree with DAVID E.
I would never rely upon a weapon like the Taurus Judge as a self-defense handgun.

manco: Whose bobelk99? Give credit where its due.

If you go with the revolver for your primary home protection handgun, I predict that you will be replacing it with an auto within the year.

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I have a revolver, semi auto, and shotgun within reach at night.
I reach for the 12 ga Coach Gun when I think I hear something... loaded with Buck n Ball.
The wife reaches for the benelli 121 M1.
The handguns are last ditch weaponry.


Jim

wilkersk said:

manco: Whose bobelk99? Give credit where its due.

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Oops, sorry! Somebody messed up when they quoted your post, and somewhat amazingly I didn't notice so it was left as being attributed to them. I've fixed my post now.

Get an XD45 and be happy!

vnmous1 said:

At arms length at home is a Taurus Judge.
Chamber 1 .410 #4 shot
Chamber 2 .410 000 Buck
Chamber 3 .410 #4 shot
Chamber 4 .410 000 Buck
Chamber 5 .410 000 Buck

Lather, rinse, repeat.

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Why not decide which is the most effective load and use it in every chamber for the greatest total effectiveness?

vnmous1 said:

It doesn't matter whether it's me, my wife or my daughter.....whoever pulls the trigger is gonna hit something. No chance of it penetrating a common wall in the condo.

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On the contrary, buckshot has no trouble penetrating several interior walls, even when shot out of a short handgun barrel. In fact, birdshot might penetrate a wall or two--I've seen it in tests.

easyg said:

The auto barrel does not move until after the bullet has exited the barrel.

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If that were true, then how would the barrel "know" how long to wait for the bullet to exit, and what would prevent it from moving backward (still locked to the breech and the rest of the slide) at the very instant the bullet starts moving forward? Granted, the bullet will exit quickly and the far more massive barrel-slide assembly will only move a tiny bit (i.e. short recoil) during that interval (not far enough to unlock and tilt the barrel upward yet), but I think that it would have to move, as there is no apparent mechanism to prevent it and this movement is where the slide gets its momentum to operate the action.

Personally, I am not a fan of Judge 45lc/410 combination. Ballistically, it doesn't make any sense unless you were going to try shooting quail or another small bird and you didn't want to destroy them. A solid 45lc bullet; lead, hp, etc... is going to be more effective than the pellets in a shot shell. "Thus, why a 12 gauge slug is about the most powerful thing to hit you". Even if you had a 410 shell with 00 buck in it, the 45lc would be more powerful. The only argument I've ever seen for this gun is that indoors, for home defense, the 410 will make it so you don't go through walls and have friendly fire. I just don't think the judge is good for home at all. A shotgun is great. If you want a pistol, then go with a 357/38spl or a 45acp. The 410 doesn't seem practical. Spread isn't an issue at such close range and short barrel. Especially if it's only a couple of 00 pellets. I'd stick personally with a S&W or Ruger revolver in 357/38spl.

I +1 on the DOA revolvers

I also think Glock in preferred caliber. And have some spare mags you can never have enough.

Any shotgun. The sound of you chambering a round aught to be enough warning to tell anyone to get the heck out.

Glocks are fantastic guns for the money. That being said, there are a couple other choices out there that are more reliable, better built, and are more reliable against limp wristing, which is a real possibility if you're injured or shooting from your hip.

I +1 on the DOA revolvers

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I don't know if that's a typo or not................

I think one of the things people need to consider is how will they store their firearms. By this I mean: Cocked & Locked, Unchambered, or chambered with hammer down?

I prefer Cocked & Locked (Condition 1). So I choose to carry a 1911 Kimber Ultra Raptor with 7+1. If you are unskilled, unpracticed, or not sure, choose a revolver or a double action semi where you can safely lower the hammer (decocker). This will allow you draw the weapon quickly while not have to rack the slide or remove a weapon from safety before firing.

I chose a Ruger SP101 2-1/4" .357 magnum 5-round revolver with Crimson Trace Grips for my wife. I sighted the Laser in at 15ft and showed her how to use it. Put the red dot on the target and pull the trigger. That's all she has to remember. All 357 Magnum revolvers can also shoot .38 Special if you want something less aggressive. My next pistol will be a Ruger Alaskan Super Redhawk 44 Magnum; I need a firearm that is small and capable of stopping bears.

Just remember, whatever you choose, keep it simple and you will always use it.

Well a lot of opinions here but I will add my thoughts.Get a snubby .357 mag, you can always load it with +P ammo and with a short bbl you can bring the revolver close to your body with in tighter area's makes sense.Semi auto pistols make this a bit harder due to slide movement.

As a federal officer I carry a .40 S&W 4003 TSW off duty or my trusty .44 on duty I carry my Sig 229 .40S&W

Many things to consider here as well..Children in the home?If so understand bed placement (nobody wants to shoot through a wall and well you know)

I am a big fan of large bores I have a 3 inch Smith & Wesson 629 that I keep handy and have .44 special that I keep chambered at night.Its gonna come down to what you are most comfortable with.Become proficient with what you decide on.Really its a personal choice and you know the layout of your home (twists and turns) and so on..

Another thing many are making a mistake on when choosing a defensive firearm is tactical lights.Yes they light up the way in a house you already know better than the intruder.But they give you away as well.

Remember the intruder is wide awake and has most likely staked out your home and knows some of your habits and as long as you think this way you will be better prepared..Even if it is just a break in for a crack addict looking for a quick smash and grab ..

Now for semi auto's since thats what you seem to like.Glocks are a good weapon and are reliable , the .40 with the right load is a great choice.I personally just prefer revolvers.I have read and studied that in most home invasions people panic and fumble a lot.If a auto jams you have a problem.Not many revolvers fail..

Ok LOL I have said way to much..I will breath now and move on..Good luck!! And best wishes..

bigalexe, Ive read through this entire thread. I do not have a dog in this fight. Listen to Christcorp, he is steering you in the RIGHT direction. The only thing I would add is that you should get a .22 first & shoot the crap out of it. It will teach you how to handle/ control a firearm. Then get a 357 REVOLVER (that will handle .38's as well) for your home defense handgun.

It doesn't matter whether it's me, my wife or my daughter.....whoever pulls the trigger is gonna hit something. No chance of it penetrating a common wall in the condo.

A very small percentage of people would be able to place more than one shot from a handgun (revolver or pistol) in a critical area on an assailant in a high stress, low light situation.

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It might hit someone with a very small number of extremely slow moving, poorly shaped, tiny projectiles, oh and they tend to fly in a donut-shaped pattern out of that rifled barrel, so if your placement isn't very good, like the wife or daughter who don't seem to be shooters based on your post, you will probably only connect with maybe a third of the donut, wing-shooting them. Not my idea of a good defense gun.

(whatever the one was with hypocritical anti-gun Mark Wahlberg shooting steel bathroom stall doors off their hinges)

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That would be Max Payne, a superb third person shooter from the year 1999 or 2000, which was turned into a pretty mediocre at best action movie.

Go to a shooting range and shoot as many types of handguns. Handguns vary in size, shape, form, function and price. A lot like 1911's which includes me. A lot like Glocks which i like as well. Smith and Wesson M&P are very popular while smith and wesson revolvers are gold standard. For 1911, Colt and Dan Wesson are good value while les Baer, wilson, ed brown, nighthawk are high end semi-custom 1911's.