Hi all

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Billy the Kid

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Names Billy, new here. I was referred by someone on another forum. Im new to the world of firearms... well sorta. Ive been shooting a bunch of times but i never owned one. Im in the process of getting my town permit then state permit so i can buy and go to the range on my own.

Im interested in a handgun for defense of my home. Ive always been partial to a short barrel chunky .357, but it might be too much gun for a newbie like me. Anyone have any suggestions for me? on a nice startup home protection weapon i can get into? I would like ot get something strong but not a wussy 9mm, but something i can handle well...

Also anyone know any decent distance shooting rifles i can look into? i absolutely LOOOOVE distance sharpshooting.
 
Uh oh, you called the 9mm wussy hehe. Would you like to be shot with one if it's so wussy? I find myself in the shot placement over shot power group. A smaller caliber gun with less recoil would be better for a new shooter because it's easier to learn the skills when you don't have to worry about flinching and muzzle flip. Recommending one specific gun is nearly impossible, you need to go out and rent/beg/borrow different ones and see what works for you.

Welcome to the board.:)
 
Welcome to THR! :)

Ive always been partial to a short barrel chunky .357, but it might be too much gun for a newbie like me.
Click to expand...

You could always start out shooting .38's in it until you were ready to step up to the magnums. :cool:
 
Welcome.

9mm is not a "powerful" handgun round, but it is certainly a viable choice for self defense, espeically with 15rd mags. It is a very good "first defensive round" for lots of reasons.

Visit all the area gun shops in order to handle as many models as possible. When you go shooting, look at what the other people at the range have. Before long you will develop a sense of what you like and don't like.

As far as the rifles go, there are so many options there that you would have to come up with a more specific use before anyone could really make any viable recommendations.
 
stay away from the 357 for home defense, anyone whos ever fired one indoors without earplugs will vouch for that. a 44 special might be what your after, taurus made a good one with the 431 and 441.

everybody starts with a 45 and then they grow up and learn to shoot
 
Welcome to the board, kinda new here myself! One thing I have learned tho. Don't call out a specific caliber, it will start a caliber war quick! :D

I would suggest thinking about the following when deciding on a handgun for home defense:

Do you have childern in rooms close to where you might be engaging a potential target?

How close are your neighbors?

What construction materials were used in your home?

What distances are you likely to be shooting in your home?

I know some of those seem odd but if you are in a neighborhood like mine, my .45 potentially could go through a wall and in to a neighbors house.

My house lay out is small and poor, the Master Bedroom is wedged between the kids rooms and less than 20' from the front door. Odds are if someone enters the house I will be engaging them from in between the kids doors, but if I am caught in the MB then I have a narrow angle for a clear target or I have to go with something that will not over penetrate and possibly go in to my kids room.

Keep rule number 2 in mind when selecting a caliber and you should be fine.

Myself, I keep a .38 and a .45 ready in the house. The .38 is the primary in the house with the .45 as a bug. Not likely though as I am a good enough shot to trust the .38 to drop the most drug addled BG there is.

:D
 
Billy-

I thought Pat Garrett killed you back in 1881...I guess the rumors that you survived are true! :D

Seriously, the most versatile handgun is probably a stainless steel .357 Magnum built on a medium frame, or medium-heavy if you don't ever need concealed carry, and will shoot a lot of magnum ammo.

I'd recommend the Smith & Wesson Models 66 or 686, or Ruger's GP-100. The four-inch barrel is a better all-round choice than a snub, which is a speciality item for concealed carry. (With the right holster, you can carry a four-inch barrelled revolver concealed. The FBI used to do it routinely.)

For home defense, I use lead SWC hollowpoint Plus P .38 Special ammo. It has enough power for defense at close to average ranges, and is much less noisy to shoot indoors than .357 ammo, and is far less likely to penetrate too much.

Opinions as to the perfect handgun are like noses: everyone has one! The most common opinion among experts for many years is the one I gave, and the example I'd follow, if I was buying a first, only, gun. The last one I'd sell is my S&W M66...

Lone Star
 
Yep, like several others have said, the .357 would be a good starter gun. Use .38 Special rounds for practice, and either .38 +P or .357 rounds for home defense. Then, if you ever want the power of the .357, it's there. Also, I think you'll like a longer barrel more than the stubby. A 4" barrel would be about perfect. My .38 stubby is actually pretty accurate, but it's hard to hit a barn with it shooting defensively. The longer barrel is easier to 'point shoot' at very close ranges, and the sights are farther apart, which is a Very Good Thing. They almost always have better sights than snubbies.
 
what?? no caliber wars, what is this? I wanna play.

so here's my facts
for billy the 357 mag may be too much gun so we are deciding to load with 38 special. thats funny because here are some reloading stats

38 special
125 grain projectile
bullet diameter, .357 inches
6 inch barrel
don't have the charge but the velocity varies from 840-980 fps
in a 7.7 inch barrel
again no charge info but the velocity is from 1010-1228 fps
pressure somewhere between 15,500-19800 cup

now the "wussy" 9mm
125 grain projectile
bullet diameter, .356 inches
velocities from 1056-1159 from only a 4 inch barrel, I don't have data from a longer barrel
pressure is higher but that is to be expected, from 27,900-33,400

38 special
150 grain projectile
6 inch barrel
velocity from 755-800 fps

9mm
147 grain projectile
4 inch barrel
velocity from 869-1000 fps

so your choices seem to be a 357 loaded with 5 or 6 38 special or a semi-auto loaded with up tp 17 rounds of "wussy" 9mm. you decide.


ps. I am also really into long range precision shooting. savage seems to be the best value on the market. many people here and at other forums refuse to believe that a sub $600 gun can outshoot the custom benchrest actions or whatever their beloved all-time favorite brand. but it is documented and it happens.
 
Wow, thank you everyone for the great info and all the friendliness!!!

Good news, i joined the NRA this morning. :) im probably going to get my 18 year old brother to join up too. lol.
 
Glad to have you here, Billy. Take your time deciding on your first purchase, everyone has their favorite, and you need to choose the one that's the best fit for you and your situation. The .357 revolver will allow you to start with .38 Special wadcutters, for very low recoil and easy control. Learn to shoot the revolver double action, and you will gain a lot of experience in trigger control, which will serve your well down the road.
 
Welcome Billy. Don't disparage the 9mm. Shot placement, not caliber or bullet design, is the key.
 
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