Revolver for Home Defense?

[montanaoffroader]

Rule #1: Have a gun

My personal HD gun is a Colt King Cobra. I certainly don't feel undergunned.

 

[easyg]

Beside my bed every night....

 

[Jonah71]

I sleep much better with my old Security Six loaded with .357 HP's within reach.

 

[Jim NE]

Since it's for home and not carry, I would go for something that holds six, like a Smith & Wesson K-frame. You can get security company trade-ins (Model 10 or Model 64) from J&G in the $200-$250 range.

That's exactly what I was thinking. If the scratched up blued finish of a surplus model 10 bothers her, those same scratches won't be nearly so visible on a stainless model 64. I have one of each (both are most likely surplus) and they perform basically like brand new guns.

 

[mgmorden]

I keep a S&W Model 64 as a home defense gun. It packs a good punch, is very reliable, and just plain works. I'm reasonably accurate with it in DA (my groups aren't great but I can keep them on a paper plate, which is good enough for this purpose) and in SA it's the most accurate handgun I own.

 

[sixgunner455]

sole means? no. but i usually carry one, and usually have a bigger one as the "house" tool.

 

[pezo]

I keep a 3" gp100 in a small safe loaded with .38+p's. Its just so happens I lucked out and got the smoothest trigger sturm ruger ever pulled out. No kidding, its freakishly smooth. The 3" gp100 is a great home defense revolver if you can find one or are willing to order sight unseen (like I did). I carry various snub-nosed 5 shot revolvers for ccw but will agree if your revolver is for her home defense then perhaps moving up to a medium frame revolver with a 3" to 4" barrel, for shot ability sakes. Here a 6 shot cylinder would be beneficial. I like the 5 shots for conceal and 6 shots for home. I have various rifles and shotguns but with kids a revolver in the small emergency get to safe nearby is the only option.

 

[harmon rabb]

I keep a 3" gp100 in a small safe loaded with .38+p's. Its just so happens I lucked out and got the smoothest trigger sturm ruger ever pulled out. No kidding, its freakishly smooth.

GP100's have pretty nice triggers. I know mine does. My k-frame has a better single action trigger than my GP100, but in double action, the GP100 is definitely lighter.

 

[moonpie]

I sleep much better with my old Security Six loaded with .357 HP's within reach.

i opted to place my "six" in a secondary roll . i live in a mobile home park and with neighbors literally all around me penetration played a major role in my decision to go with a pump full of birdshot. maybe we should start a thread on the special requirements of trailer trash

 

[lobo9er]

....

 

[Cosmoline]

There's nothing wrong with the platform, though a long gun is of course preferable. Like anything else though training is essential. It doesn't have to be super advanced training. Even some basic skill building, speed loader practice and monthly shooting will make a lot of difference.

 

[gmh1013]

Being a revolver type old guy....i have a Ruger LCR 38 right next to me when i sleep with Winchester silvertips...under the pillow
For second line of defense i keep the SP 101 loaded with Speer 135gr short barrel .357's
under the bed.....
For 3'rd line of defense i have a Rossi .38 on my wife's side with Winchester silvertips too
for 4th line i keep my prized Colt Diamonback loaded with BB SWC in the nightstand drawer

 

[roaddog28]

I use a rotation of revolvers for home defense.

1. S&W model 10 4 inch
2. S&W model 13 4 inch
3. S&W model 66 4 inch
4. Ruger Police Service Six 4 inch

My defense round is Buffalo Bores LSWCHP 158 gr 38 +P (FBI load).

I have no worries.
Howard

 

[Colt Smith]

The gun on my nightstand is a police trade-in 4" heavy barrel Model 10. Rubber finger groove Hogues and worn finish. It's loaded with Buffalo Bore LSWHP rounds with a speed loader ready to go. I practice with it regularly and I am confident it will do the job effectively. Those old security and police trade-in K-frames are some of the best values around.

God forbid I have to put down a stray "animal" that finds its way into my home in the middle of the night, the police will take the sacrificial model 10. My more expensive guns will stay in the safe.

 

[PabloJ]

Doesn't S&W make 8-shot revolver in .357mag with longer barrel? I would buy that and use .38 "low flash" loads in it.

 

[antiquus]

Well no one is scratching my itch in this thread so I'll (ahem) HAVE to chime in.

What's a home defense gun do? It sits there loaded for years, and it has to work when needed even if neglected terribly. Why would ANYONE use an auto in this case? Springs baby, too damn many springs that the gun depends on to function. Leave a completely loaded hi-cap magazine sit for a few years with the springs slowly weakening and and you have a reliability issue. That DA revolver left uncocked sitting for years will work as advertised when needed.

The other thing is Sanow's data (yea I know but he HAS data not just opinions) shows civilian gun use very, very, very rarely goes beyond 4 shots. So that 5 shot snubbie is actually "right-sized".

 

[mgmorden]

Leave a completely loaded hi-cap magazine sit for a few years with the springs slowly weakening and and you have a reliability issue.

That's a misconception. Springs weaken through repeated compression and decompression. It doesn't weaken by the length of time it's compressed. You can pretty much leave a semi-auto magazine loaded for as long as you wish without any ill effects.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

So put me at ease ladies and gentlemen. How many of you use a revolver as your sole means of home defense?

Heavy

My home revolver is a 4" Model 10 loaded with the FBI Load and I don't have a reload handy.

 

[Seamore2001]

If you're concerned about time to reload, why not have a NY reload handy. I keep a Colt Official Police ready, and my CC Colt Cobra nearby too.

 

[sixgunner455]

More thinking to do on my part.

Chicharrones, it sounds to me like your wife needs to do some thinking and shopping. With all due respect, if SHE likes a gun, and is willing to make it work, that is what counts. I bought my wife two or three guns. She didn't like them, and eventually picked out the gun I was carrying as her favorite non-.22 pistol. That's the one that she's got.

What your wife thinks and feels is the opinion that matters. I would hesitate to get my wife an 8 shot revolver for several reasons. She has small hands - 8 shot revolvers are big guns. She doesn't really like revolvers, either, so... it kind of doesn't matter that I like them better for most purposes than automatics. What matters is what the woman thinks.

 

[wlewisiii]

I use a S&W Model 64, 4" barrel, Buffalo Bore FBI load. I have 2 speed loaders with it though I doubt they'd be much use in that type of situation.

If I had the money for one, I'd consider a 3" Model 60 instead. Fondled a new one today. Nice. Very nice.

 

[BrucefromWis]

Taurus Tracker, .44 mag

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

5" S&W 625 .45acp loaded with +P 185gr Golden Sabre is one I have handy in an easy-to-reach hidey hole. in case I need if my 0ther 3 hd weapons ain't enough. a Makarov in cheapo holster stapled to top bed rail, 12ga Mag Coach in corner by nite lite and Marlin Camp .45 hanging on wall hook.

 

[huntershooter]

Bedside gun at the ranch is this mod 58.
Like you, the idea is to get to the m37 Ithaca or m94 Winchester.

 

[Smaug]

Me too!

I've got an SP-101 with an action job and a CTC grip. I keep it loaded with 38+P hollow points and have a Streamlight 4AA LED flashlight and a speedloader right with it.

There are lots of good reasons for having a revolver for home defense. There's no need to check for reliability of ammo. Limp wristing is not an issue, so firing from compromised positions isn't a worry. Nor is running a failure drill with one hand. I think it was Stephen Camp who said something like: "even with a 5-shot revolver, I have more ammo than time." I agree. If I have to shoot someone, it is probably going to be because he is charging me, or because I've seen that he's also packing. If I have to reload, chances are he'll get to me before I can get it done.

My wife doesn't feel comfortable with calibers other than 22LR, so her bedside gun is a Buck Mark loaded with MiniMag solids. She likes to have it loaded, but with an empty chamber. I have a feeling that if it came right down to it, she would be much more dangerous with her 22, which she actually shoots occasionally, than she would with the trusty SP.

Edit: I would also add that the revolver is also the better choice for MOST people for a home defense situation. There is just less chance of failure under realistic conditions. For example, a wife who doesn't practice without enough strength to rack a slide or keep a locked wrist under recoil.