I live in New Orleans and was looted after I evacuated with my family during Hurricane Katrina. Now, I want a gun for home defense. Any suggestions as to caliber, specific models, etc. will be much appreciated.
An obvious initial consideration is revolver or semiauto. I am a former Marine who was familiar with the Berretta 9 mm but have not shot anything in the 13 years since my discharge. I think I could refamiliarize myself with a semiauto without too much trouble but know that revolvers (which I've never shot) are simpler and work better when not cared for. I anticipate shooting perhaps twice a year or so (moreso initially to familiarize myself with the new gun). Much of the advice I see is for absolute beginners who will not shoot often or is for people who will shoot much more frequently than me. I'm more in the middle.
I am not concerned about compact size for CCW purposes.
I live in a townhouse that connects to neighboring units and have a wife and small baby, with another baby or two perhaps in the future - how concerned should I really be about overpenetration (I know hitting and stopping the target is the main priority and will slow down the projectile a lot more than sheetrock, but misses do happen)?
I am used to having a manual safety on the Berretta but can live without one in a home defense gun. I will want to secure the gun in some way until my children are older - an integrated lock seems like an added bonus but is not essential; I can use a safe and/or a cable lock instead in addition to education and not making it forebidden so as to arouse curiosity. (I know that many who are more involved with guns than I seem to be opposed to manual safeties, integrated locks and the like - don't want to start anything there - I'm against government imposition of any such features - I know don't pull the trigger if I don't want it to go off, etc. - I just envision a situation where perhaps there is a noise in the yard and I go out to investigate and stick the gun in my coat pocket but might not feel comfortable doing that with a round in the chamber and no safety on, for example - again, concealed carry is not my focus but some limited application of it may happen as in that example).
I'm a 6'1" and 175 lb. male with what I guess are normal size hands, perhaps slightly small hands - way too much information I'm sure, but sometimes I see people talking about a person's features as a consideration for weapon size and caliber.
Thanks for your advice. I need to get out to the range and rent some different models and see what feels best for me but wanted to ask for some guidance from those of you with far more experience than me. Sorry if I sound a bit clueless. Thanks again.
An obvious initial consideration is revolver or semiauto. I am a former Marine who was familiar with the Berretta 9 mm but have not shot anything in the 13 years since my discharge. I think I could refamiliarize myself with a semiauto without too much trouble but know that revolvers (which I've never shot) are simpler and work better when not cared for. I anticipate shooting perhaps twice a year or so (moreso initially to familiarize myself with the new gun). Much of the advice I see is for absolute beginners who will not shoot often or is for people who will shoot much more frequently than me. I'm more in the middle.
I am not concerned about compact size for CCW purposes.
I live in a townhouse that connects to neighboring units and have a wife and small baby, with another baby or two perhaps in the future - how concerned should I really be about overpenetration (I know hitting and stopping the target is the main priority and will slow down the projectile a lot more than sheetrock, but misses do happen)?
I am used to having a manual safety on the Berretta but can live without one in a home defense gun. I will want to secure the gun in some way until my children are older - an integrated lock seems like an added bonus but is not essential; I can use a safe and/or a cable lock instead in addition to education and not making it forebidden so as to arouse curiosity. (I know that many who are more involved with guns than I seem to be opposed to manual safeties, integrated locks and the like - don't want to start anything there - I'm against government imposition of any such features - I know don't pull the trigger if I don't want it to go off, etc. - I just envision a situation where perhaps there is a noise in the yard and I go out to investigate and stick the gun in my coat pocket but might not feel comfortable doing that with a round in the chamber and no safety on, for example - again, concealed carry is not my focus but some limited application of it may happen as in that example).
I'm a 6'1" and 175 lb. male with what I guess are normal size hands, perhaps slightly small hands - way too much information I'm sure, but sometimes I see people talking about a person's features as a consideration for weapon size and caliber.
Thanks for your advice. I need to get out to the range and rent some different models and see what feels best for me but wanted to ask for some guidance from those of you with far more experience than me. Sorry if I sound a bit clueless. Thanks again.