Attributes of a home defense handgun?

[S&Wfan]

I know a fella who still has nightmares about the fight-to-the-death he endured. It has relevance in this thread.

He awoke from a deep sleep to discover an intruder in his bedroom. Barely having time to grab his S&W .357, the thug pounced on him and for about 15 bloody minutes, it was truly a fight to the death to gain control of the revolver.

During that brutal fight, the wood stocks were even broken off the revolver as the men fought . . . knowing that the loser would die. In the end, the homeowner DID manage to get the gun turned on the intruder and kill him . . . but needless to say it screwed up the homeowner's head pretty good . . . but he survived!!!

MY REQUIREMENTS:

1. Nightsights? Yep, I've got 'em on a 1911. It is in the safe usually. Nightsights glow like "lightning bugs" at night . . . and can draw the eyes of an intruder to find your gun in the pitch black house. No, I want a gun that I can point and hit the spot I'm aiming at WITHOUT needing sights at a reasonable distance. For me, this is the grip angle of a S&W revolver! I can reliably knock bowling pins off the table at the standard 10 yards without aiming with sights. Lots of competitions honed that skill.

2. Barrel length? SHORT! You don't want a BG to have much to grab onto, or you may lose that gun in a fight!!!

3. Front sight? Patridge design . . . squared off back, polished VERY SHARP via a file, then spot blued. If someone tries to grab the barrel, you rip it out of his hands and cut his fingers to the bone! (Photo below)

4. Grips? Elk Stag . . . hard and tough. If the gun turns into a hammer they can help you win.

5. Caliber? .45ACP hollowpoints. I prefer 200 gn. or 185 gn. to reduce penetration in case a round misses and keeps going through the house . . . hard hitting too.

6. Revolver? N frame . . . heavy, sturdy, super-reliable . . . and simply point and shoot.

Here she is . . . a custom, short barreled (3 1/2") Model 25-2 in .45ACP . . . usually stoked with Speer "Flying Ashtrays" . . . and yep . . . that front sight is SHARP!!! No rounded edges there. The gun is a "fighting revolver" from front to back . . . big, heavy, stout, short-barreled . . . and packing quite a punch!

Formidable looking from the front side also . . .

 

[duhast]

I am very opinionated about home defense handguns. After going to a tactical school and having one of the first lessons be learning how much I don't know, my choice is even more solidified.

Revolver. Period. There are orders of magnitude in the difference between the tactical drill for revolver and auto. Someone mentioned K.I.S.S. and I think it is very applicable. Pull trigger, gun go boom. End of story.

Caliber, .38SPL and up, your choice. Barrel no longer than 4", longer gives a leverage advantage to someone grabbing it away from you. I have a nice smooooth action S&W 19, the wife bought herself a stainless Pro Series 627 (8 shot).

 

[Boats]

I just want to chime in that the "long gun" is not always the answer in every situation and I don't think that such should be proffered as one size fits all advice.

Anyone who "has to" be on the move for the bump in the night is going to be better served by a modern service sized semiautomatic pistol, especially if it can hang a light.

It has become obvious to me that I didn't pick my current house in a tactical frame of mind. The master suite is all of the way across the house from the bedrooms of my children. Theirs are closer to the garage, which while not a soft point, is the likeliest point of the house to attract a break in attempt.

Therefore, if the dog goes off or I hear something amiss, I have to check it out before calling 911.

I have a good amount of experience clearing ships with a shotgun as my primary from my days serving aboard a destroyer in the Persian Gulf. I know how to get around in tight spots at low ready with a long arm. However, I have elected to use instead a Beretta PX-4 9mm pistol though I can handle combat shotguns and .45 ACP autos just fine.

Cell phones changed my reasoning. The Beretta hangs a Streamlight and is equipped with yellow/green Trijicon night sights. I also have it stoked with the factory +3 magazine extension. It frees up my off hand for work.

Now I can roam about one handed with my cell phone in the other in case my investigation uncovers that I have to call the cavalry. It is a much simpler proposition with a handgun to open doors, flick light switches, etcetera, than with any long gun. I just free up my off hand by biting the cell phone in my mouth. It might look silly when I do that, but no one is watching and I can still talk around it because it is thin. The other thing is, that if something is actually happening, my toddler doesn't have a grasp of the family defense plan and might have to be "footballed" back to the master suite, where my wife will be holding sway with a shotgun herself. Carrying another person along with a long arm is a major pain, especially if one requires effective return fire while doing so.

Sorry about the length, but not everyone faces the same home defense problems that make the extra lethality of the long gun a "no brainer."

I have a high confidence level that 20+1 147 gr Gold Dots can get an evacuation of the far side of the house going if necessary.

 

[the-ghost]

I really wanted my G23 to be my HD handgun. But, it is a jam-o-matic with a Streamlight TLR-1 light on it. I'm thinking of getting a G17 or G21SF. Currently either use my 1911 Commander with night sights or my G19 with light attached.

when i was a kid, like most of us we used to play cops and robbers. my next door neighbors grandpa was a retired NYC cop. he was getting a beer out of the basement one day and caught us in mid "battle" in the dark basement. he told me never to have my light in front of my body or face. the idea being the light is a target and gives away your position. makes sense too when you think about where your gun is in perspective to your body while aiming. not to mention most people, untrained, tend to one hand the gun during gunfights. this is also true against charging animals. added bulk of a weapon light could make you less accurate when and if you're force to fight it out.

home defense isn't about going around the house room to room, even thunder ranch will tell you that. unless you absolutely have too you should stay put. call the cops and defend your position.

 

[the-ghost]

4. Grips? Elk Stag . . . hard and tough. If the gun turns into a hammer they can help you win.

if anything they look great!

 

[duns]

My choice for home defense was the Beretta 92FS (9mm).

It's a big heavy pistol but that makes it easy to shoot, and weight and size is not a drawback for a gun used only for home defense.

I have read about the caliber controversy but my personal assessment is that 9mm is just fine even with standard JHP and as good as any other caliber with certain Cor Bon rounds. I don't want to reignite the caliber controversy, just to say that I think there is no definitive answer on that, and I feel comfortable with the 9mm round.

As far as I can make out, the 92FS is also the most reliable and durable semi-automatic ever made -- hence I understand it's the most widely used semi-auto worldwide -- but I'm a newbie so if anyone knows different I won't be offended if you correct me on this or on any other points. (Your advice will contribute to my rapidly expanding collection! I bought my first gun only about a month ago but already I've got three -- excited but apprehensive financially about how many I might have in a year's time!)

 

[MICHAEL T]

My Colt defender since I caryy that one most. Or my Charter arms 44 spl if a revolver 200gr gold dot blazer loaded Was surprised wife likes shooting that and hates a 45 auto.
I don't want a rail light or laser . I want basic pistol and relieabilty. I light my home with night lights cheap and remove darkness . You also don't fall over things going to library in middle of night . You can always be Ninja tac cool and toss those light sticks into room before entering

 

[jdorian]

I'm totally into the small Glocks, 26, 27, and 36. They hide extremely well for CCW purposes, and they have never been a problem based on experience and general opinion. Good enough for the street, good enough for the house.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

S&Wfan - Looks serious in that photo........


I droped my mouse and nearly lost my lap top throwing my hands in the air.