Which Firearm for Home Defense?

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reaxn

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Hey everyone,

1st time gun owner here, and I'm looking for my first home defense firearm. Unfortunately my LGS owner is unable to get ahold of the SIG P226 that I so dearly want, so I have to start researching all over again. I'm looking for a 9mm.

I've been to multiple gun shows looking for firearms, and have held many Berettas, Springfield Armory, Para Ordnance, etc. I also prefer a metal frame moreso than polymer pistols.

What would your recommendations be for a 1st time pistol owner?
 
Shotgun is your best choice. Big stopping power without the fear of missing the BG and accidentally hitting a loved one or neighbor from penetrating a wall
 
Mainly interested in buying a pistol. I should have mentioned that I own a 20 gauge
 
Hi, reaxn. Welcome to THR!

The Sig is a great option if you want a 9mm pistol for HD. Have you considered buying online? You can buy the gun at a good online store and let your LGS handle the transfer for you. budsgunshop.com or gunbroker.com are good places to start for your online purchasing.

If you're not interested in buying online then let us know what your looking for in a gun and what your LGS carries and we'll try and steer you in the right direction.
 
I teach pistol and have a fair number of handguns to choose from. The one sitting on my nightstand is a S&W Model 625 (.45 ACP revolver).

If you are looking at semi-autos, consider the CZ 75 line.

If you search the threads here and other gun boards you will find them highly regarded.

Here's my CZ 75 SP-01:

SP01-left2.jpg
 
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Find a different LGS and get what you want.

Sometimes the guy at the LGS can get a little lazy and will steer you toward something he can readily get or has in stock.
In the metal frame 9mm's, the Beretta would be my second choice behind Sig.
Fore home defense I would stay away from 9mm 1911's. That platform was designed for 45acp and the 9mm version can be finicky.
 
I was shopping for a used 1911, when I found my first center fire pistol. I still have it - a CZ75b. It's been ten years and it's still my favorite 9mm. CZ makes good stuff and they have several flavors of 9mm to choose from. You owe it to yourself to hold one to appreciate how nicely made they are. Not to mention a lot of bang for the buck. Here's one sight that specializes in factory and custom CZ's...

http://czcustom.com/

The other suggestion I have is a 9mm 1911 if you thing you like the 1911 platform. RIA makes one, here is the least expensive place that I have found...
http://centerfiresystems.com/AC-RI1911TACA9MM.aspx
 
If you really want a Sig you could order one online and have it shipped to your local gun store. There are many stores that stock them. For what it's worth my first home defense gun was a Smith & Wesson 686 (Revolver). I still own one for HD but it's a + model (holds 7 rounds), has a Gold Bead Front Sight, and a fantastic trigger job. Why? 1. Straight up reliability 2. Incredible Accuracy 3. Ammo Choices (light shooting .38s to full power .357s) 4. Manageable Recoil.

My other 'go to' for HD is a Glock 17 with Night Sights, and a rail mounted light. Why? 1. Straight up reliability 2. Cheap to practice with 3. Capacity 4. Price - I picked mine up for about 350 on the used market.

CZ is a good option if plastic is off the table.
 
hanno, the CZ-75 is a great suggestion for somebody looking for a 9mm HD pistol. The original pistol in that family, the Browning Hi-Power would also be a good choice.
 
reaxn said:
Mainly interested in buying a pistol. I should have mentioned that I own a 20 gauge
Click to expand...

You're original question was "best gun for home defense". My opinion is that PISTOL is not the best choice. You seem to have made a decision before you asked your question. :eek:
Since you already decided that a pistol is the best choice... any will do
 
Glock or 1911.

What kind of house are you in? Suburb? City?
A shotgun with an Aimpoint T1 is handy, especially the new Keltec KSG.
An AR15 carbine with an Aimpoint would be even better.
 
I recently made the same decision. "Home Defense" simply means you do not need a small gun as for Concealed Carry. You don't want to coddle an intruder with a light touch. You want to disable him quickly. Caliber should be .40 or .45. I chose .40 and chose S&W because I read many good accounts of servicing. When I priced new guns in .40 cal, the S&W M&P stood out at ~$500. I bought one. I also bought a .22 pistol that has a very similar feel for low-cost practice (S&W 22A). Now I alternate 100 rounds .22 for $20 and 50 rounds .40 for $30 at my local indoor range.

Before getting these guns, I had not fired and gun for 45 years. But at that time I did fire the .45 and the .357. I could handle some recoil. It was like starting from scratch. I'm not the best shot yet but I can get the job done.
 
Be cautious about shooting anything indoors, including that 20ga. Go visit The Box O' Truth (http://www.theboxotruth.com/) to see that penetration is a serious concern from all kinds of ammo and through some surprising barriers.

Just sayin' :)

If you're looking for a 9mm, I would vote for a) whatever your favorite is after shooting several ;) and b) as a suggestion, make one of those several a Cz-75 or other gun in that family and see how you like it.

timothy
 
Metal= Beretta 92FS

Polymer=Glock 17/19

Both excellent guns IMHO that are very easy to maintain,clean and reliable shooters.
 
I love my Beretta's but theyre not the best choice for everyone. A good option is the S&W 3rd gens. You can one and then build a bit of cash to buy your SIG when you find one. CDNN has S&W 5906's for $299.
 
I can see settling for something else if the gun you wanted was something unusual but this is a P226 we're talking about, probably one of the top 5 selling 9mm's. Buy online (Top Gun Supply is my preferred source for SIGs) or find another store.
 
Ala Tom said:
I recently made the same decision. "Home Defense" simply means you do not need a small gun as for Concealed Carry. You don't want to coddle an intruder with a light touch. You want to disable him quickly. Caliber should be .40 or .45. I chose .40 and chose S&W because I read many good accounts of servicing. When I priced new guns in .40 cal, the S&W M&P stood out at ~$500. I bought one. I also bought a .22 pistol that has a very similar feel for low-cost practice (S&W 22A). Now I alternate 100 rounds .22 for $20 and 50 rounds .40 for $30 at my local indoor range.

Before getting these guns, I had not fired and gun for 45 years. But at that time I did fire the .45 and the .357. I could handle some recoil. It was like starting from scratch. I'm not the best shot yet but I can get the job done.
Click to expand...
Bad advice on so many levels.
 
Mainly interested in buying a pistol.
Click to expand...
If you already had a gun you were entirely familliar with and wanted to use it for HD, that would make sense (example, carry pistol doing double duty) ... but you can't buy those skills or that muscle memory, so if you don't intend to practice regularly for carry, a pistol for HD only doesn't make a lot of sense.
 
Layer your home defense options. That means using a shoulder-mounted firearm like a shotgun or medium caliber rifle for your primary defense tool. You back up that rifle or shotgun with a big bore pistol just in case. Both of the firearms you back up with a good fighting knife, bayonet or sheath knife just in case things get really nasty. Home defense is something you really want to think over hard and long. A good defense is one where you can expect to engage two or three doped up scumbags at one time. Trouble seldom comes alone and when possible it brings a pal with it. With that thought in mind, I'd say use a good pump tactical shotgun for your primary defense tool, a good Glock 21SF for your back up pistol and a Kabar fighting knife for "last ditch conflict resolution."
 
Use a full size 45 to get to your shotgun. Nothing like a shotgun in my personal opinion. I can blow an invader and any wall down, no close neighbors and my wife would be behind me.
 
Go to buds.

DO NOT buy some second choice. Go to Buds online just like I did and buy your Sig. Trust me never settle for some other gun unless you want to be selling it down the road. Twenty rounds of 9mm will do the job, especially in a hallway or stairway.
 
Whichever you are comfortable with and can operate accurately in the dark of night or in a stressful situation.
 
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