Which pistol for home protection?

[annielulu]

I keep a Maverick 88 shotgun loaded with 00 buck and the Taurus "Judge" loaded with Corbon 200g JHP'S between my bed and nightstand.

I sleep on the 2nd floor so my 4 dogs will provide ample warning if my house is breached at night.

I carry a Khar PM9 loaded with GD 124+p whenever I am up and about .... ALWAYS.

I carry whenever I am dressed. I'm so used to it that I feel funny when I do not have my carry piece on me.

It's a good feeling.

 

[weregunner]

What we all can't know is the dad's ability to manipulate a weapon. Is he handicapped,are health concerns or problems going to escalate from where they are now if any,and does all that not matter? We have no way to know unless told so.

Advice as to why the revolver may be the way to go would take care of most of that.

For example, there have been a number of threads at various gun forums and this has been published in books and magazine articles that a .32H&R magnum caliber revolver be used for defense. Granted it is not normaly a great defense round,but it may be all the user can shoot realistically or not at all. It would be better than the .32ACP. It's close enough to the .380ACP and some of the .38 Special loads.

There are 12 loads in .32 magnum and 12 in .32 S&W Long that are shown in a 2008 gun buyers catalog.
Then again, if health factors creep in a .22lrf pistol or revolver may be all one can shoot.

Have relatives who can only shoot .22lrf and .32 caliber guns.
We'll see if any other details are forth coming

 

[Phil DeGraves]

The one you shoot the best with.

 

[Dallas Jack]

I would suggest a 12 gauge but if it has to be a pistol I like the CZ75 or EAA Witness in 9mm.
Dallas Jack

 

[stormspotter]

Pistol for home protection

There is nothing wrong with a single action for home defense. They are simple to use, rugged, reliable and point naturally.

Find a Ruger that feels good in hand, either the regular Blackhawks or Vaqueros or the New Vaquero's that have come out and give them a try.

 

[Autolycus]

I would recommend a shotgun myself. In handguns I prefer a DAO or DA/SA so that there are no safeties or anything to remember.

 

[NorCalAl]

A lot of good ideas have been expressed here. Not sure if you said, but I didn't see how old nor how strong your pops is. I did see he wasn't terribly experienced.
I'd have to go with a 1911. You can pick up a decent example for the money you suggest. A 45 is really hard to beat. There's good arguments for revolvers (no safeties to worry about in the heat of battle, easy to use, etc), but there are, in my opinion, better arguments for automatics. The fact it has a safety is one. More shots is another.
I would hope that more than simply arming himself, that he'd spend the time to get to know his new gun and feel real comfortable with it. It's not like a lot of things in life where you can just buy a simple example and use it. I mean, you see some older folks getting simplified computers and cell phones and such. But those things aren't for self-defense and won't do damage if the folks don't REALLY learn how to use them.
I'm not suggesting that's the case here. But it does seem like some suggestions border on that. Like many have said, I'd certainly get down to a range for a while. Do some shooting at a place (if one's nearby) where you could rent a few guns and get a feel for what makes him feel comfortable. Depending on your dad, you might end up with a taser or pepper spray weapon. It's got to be more than just what will do the job - just about any handgun or tac shotgun will do that. It has to also be about the person using it.
Of course - I could be all wet.

 

[gallo]

I would suggest a 4" revolver such as Taurus, roughly $250; one Mossberg shotgun, approximately $170; and lastly, a .223 rifle, roughly another $250 - $300.

Definitely, take a gun handling class.