The absolutely best handgun for home defense

[MikeJ]

I was talking with a gun buddy of mine the other day and the conversation turned into what is the absolutely, postively, best, without a doubt handgun for home defense so I thought I would post this thread. A couple of things before we get started; I hope this doesn't turn into a bashing others opinions thread but rather have some fun and maybe learn a thing or two along the way. I'll start by listing my reasons and why I think so and then welcome you to do the same. My choice is the Beretta 9mm Centurion DAO for these reasons:
1. It is a natural pointer for me and I shoot it well.
2. I like the simplicity of revolvers and the DAO trigger provides that without being too light. By the way, it is buttery smooth.
3. I like having the hi-cap 15 round mags. I don't subscribe to the spray and pray method but I do believe that in an adrenaline fueled hectic scenario the chance of missing is much greater and I like the idea of having more rounds available, particularly if there are multiple adversaries.
4. I am very comfortable with the 9mm round as one that I can handle quite well for follow up shots.

Now please, don't tell me why I am all wrong in my choice, just give the reasons for your choice. Thanks and best regards, Mike

 

[Bobarino]

if this gun were to just stay at home for home only defense and would not be carried, i'd have to go with the H&K USP Tactical with the UTL and night sights. and if i lived in a state that allowed it, i might put a supressor on it too, just to preserve my hearing should i ever have to use it. my reasons are: 12+1 rounds of .45, it looks big and mean to the bad guys which can be a great deterent in itself, way more accurate than i am, tough as nails, feeds anything. i would probably load it with a +P load of some sort in the 165-185 grain range. i'm a fan of lighter, faster bullets, just a personal preference.

Bobby

 

[telewinz]

The Best? A .44 Magnum (Special) loaded with shotshells. They will inflict extreme pain upon the felon, generate an intense desire in the felon to depart the scene rapidly, and it gets more lethal the closer the felon comes. Minimal penetration through the walls.

But if the 9mm works for you, go for it.

 

[gumshoe4]

Also, then you get to tell the judge that you didn't use lethal force, because you only meant to shoot the bad guy a little bit.




Anyway, depends upon the situation. I like short-barrelled K or J frame revolvers with oversized grips in some applications, because the grips give you something to hang onto and the short barrel makes attempts to take your gun away problematic.

Large revolvers and automatics also have their place in this scenario, because you're not concerned about concealment and because larger size means greater weight which translates to greater recoil recovery and shorter shot-to-shot times. I like my Ruger P95DC for that application, but other brands work just as well.

If you're concerned about overpenetration, as you should be, you can use Magsafe or Glaser Safety Slugs. These are intended to transmit stopping power into the target, but have the added advantage of dissipating in sheetrock or construction materials. Primary disadvantages are that they are expensive, may not provide enough energy to adequately cycle an autoloader and do not necessarily penetrate real deeply on target.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

For me, my permit restricts the type of gun I can buy. I did have a revolver but got rid of it. My Beretta compact Ms are actually more comfortable to use, more accurate with very gentle recoil. Unlike the L (but not that I felt a huge difference...) the M has a slender grip that fits very nicely in the hands. The revolver didn't leave pleasant memories so I'm happy with the single/double action choice although I shoot double action very well with my M too.

 

[gbelleh]

I'm in the process of building my ultimate home defense pistol. H&K USP 45 Compact with night sights and Hogue grip (current home defense pistol), soon to have an M6 laser/illuminator added with the GG&G rail adapter. Next, a suppressor (Impuls II-A from CCF Swiss Inc.) will be added along with a threaded barrel. I might also have to install some USP Tactical night sights on it in order to use the sights.

I also have a Surefire M3 as an option if I don't want to use the pistol light. That should work well for most any home defense situation I can imagine. But it will also be fun to put all that together! The ultimate Tactical Poser gun!

 

[Al Thompson]

Having a light helps bunches too.

My criteria:

Accessable
Reliable
Accurate
Powerful

And in that order (IMHO).

YMMV -

 

[HSMITH]

Al, no laser radar rangefinding heatseaking triple barrel automatic self loading super dooper bad guy annihiliator??

For me it would be a good 357 but I want to be able to hear after the bad guy goes to the other side, so I use 38 specials and 45acps. Reliable and easy to shoot, that is all I need.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Glock 18.

 

[Topgun]

Any DA revolver.

.38 spl, 357 mag, 44 spl, 45 ACP, or 45 Colt.

357 is only magnum I would recommend. Likely to stay in target more so than larger magnums.

Autos are fine but revolvers are easier to use in an emergency and especially if there is a chance that someone in your family who is not a shooter may have to use it.

One single reco? S&W M66.

 

[Jim March]

S&W did a short run of the 8-shot 357 N-frame in a 2.5" barrel.

That has some merit...

 

[10-Ring]

For the last couple of years, I've been rotating between my USP 45 & USPc 9 because I feel comfortable with both and shoot both well.

 

[Ala Dan]

Well, best handgun for home defense is very
subjective; alive and well in most peoples mind's.
I would have to say that your choice of the Beretta
Centurion in 9m/m is an excellent choice.

However, I'm a member of "the bigger is better crowd";
so with that said, my choice for best would have to
be the .45 caliber SIG-Sauer P220A without
a doubt!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Standing Wolf]

Mine's a .44 magnum revolver. No one else shares my mail box, or I might have to think about a twelve-bore shotgun.

 

[CWL]

Absolutely the best handgun?

The .45 I have access to, or the 9mm backup, or the .32ACP or any of the guns I can get out of the safe.

I'd really prefer a shotgun.

I won't knock anyone's choice of firearm but I think that the approach is wrong.

Training, not equiptment makes encounters survivable. The one time I needed a handgun, it was borrowed.

 

[Zundfolge]

The absolute best "handgun" for home defense is a Heckler & Koch MP5-40SD ... 30 rounds of .40S&W at full auto and a suppressor to keep your ears from bleeding


seriously, if the gun is home defense only then a shotgun is probably the best choice. But you said handgun so lets be reasonable.

I'd say a .357mag revolver (pick your favorite brand). It's reliable and can sit in a drawer for years and still go bang when you pull the trigger ... plus pretty much anyone can use it (you, the wife, junior). You can load it up with .38 special and get everyone to shoot it, then stuff it full of high velocity .357mag rounds for if you need it.

If you prefer a semi auto, then I'd say go with a full size 10mm (Colt Delta Elite or Glock). It has the same advantages as the .357mag (there's real weak "FBI" loads for 10mm and extremely powerful self defense rounds that are almost as hot as a .44mag).

 

[Captain Bligh]

One more vote for a snubby of one variety or another. In addition to the short barrel that could aide weapon retention and a trigger pull good for the task, it's unlikey to jam and it's small enough to slip in the bathrobe pocket if you have to answer the door at 2:00 AM.

RJ

 

[gryphon]

I hate having to list a specific brand of firearm in these kind of threads because the firearm that is "best" for me is not necessarily the best for someone else.

My criteria for "best" in the generic sense would be:
1. It is reliable - fires every time the trigger is pulled
2. You can fire the firearm with enough accuracy to do the job you need it to do.

 

[New_comer]

A revolver in 357 mag would be the better choice for non-active shooters. Just leave it holstered in the night drawer and just forget about it. It'll still go bang years after.

A GP100/SP101/SW65-66 are all fine choices.

For autos, I love my USP9. But your choice of a Beretta is most excellent.

But my ultimate HD gun is most defintely my Rem 870P. The racking sound would definitely send chills down any perps' spine!

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Lots of great choices on here. For me it will be my H&K USPc .45 and it will soon sport a laser or tactical light, I haven't decided which. Maybe both. Right now it's my Kimber Ultra CDP.

 

[chaim]

TC Contender in something .223 or larger. Just kidding

You want simplicity. Who wants to wake up to their front door being broken down or a window broken at 4am and have to deal with safeties while trying to wake up or try to remember if they have a round chambered or not?

You want reasonable stopping power. You don't want to shoot someone and have them keep on coming so no .22s.

Conversely, you don't want too much power because you don't want your rounds going through the intruder and hitting whatever may be behind him as well.

You don't want a too high pressure round. You are shooting inside your home and possibly in a hallway so the noise of even a .22lr could be nearly deafening.

You don't need hi-capacity (debatable for carry, but for home defense it really is unneeded). First, even while on the streets most encounters are only one or two bad guys, a home intruder is almost always alone. Second, you are at your home, you can very easily have more guns around so you only need enough rounds in the bedside gun to get to your backup/second gun (hopefully a long-gun, either a .223, pistol caliber carbine or shotgun).

You need a gun that can be kept loaded for a long time period. Many people want to be able to "load and forget" their home defense gun. You don't want to worry about springs weakening lessening your reliability. This is all the more important if your HD gun and carry gun (if in a CCW state) are one and the same since the mags will never get a rest.

All this together point to a revolver, loaded with .38spls (or +Ps) or .44spl with a good modern HP bullet. My choice for home defense is a K-frame or L-frame (or equivelent) .357mag loaded with .38spl or +Ps (one of my favorites is a .38spl load, the other is +P), though nothing wrong with a K-frame .38 either.

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

What's the best handgun for home defense? Keep It Simple- The one that you have in your hand when you need it.......

 

[sm]

I use my CCW (s)

They fit me, I shoot them well, I shoot low and no light drills, and they are "an extension of me". If an situation occurs I want what I'm used to. Enough ambient light around my place, and my eclectic decor, is replete with shooting lanes. I don't use nightsights (none of my guns do, or will have). One caliber is bigger than the other...shot placement is the key.

 

[V-fib]

My first choice for a HD handgun would be my Moss 500 12ga 18" bbl.
Well, it is in my hand

If I couldn't have the SG, it would be my Ruger Sp101 in .357.

 

[arinvolvo]

The best one is the one you have in your hand 2 seconds after you hear the unexplained thump in the night....Just make sure you know how to shoot it...