| Author | Message | |||
     Loki |
Opinions on guns are like oil everybody swears by a different brand. If you fire a few of them one will just fit, for me it is a Glock 30. In my case it is the Stoeger(Beretta) Cougar .40 cal | |||
| Old_man |
If you just want a handgun for home defense and don't intend to do much other shooting, I would recommend a good full size revolver. They're not at all complicated to use and are fairly fool proof in function. The best one I've used is the Colt Python .357 magnum. | |||
| Pushrodpete |
"I don't believe in handguns. I mean, I believe they EXIST -- I've seen 'em -- it's just that I don't think you gain any tactical advantage hunting with a concealed weapon. It's not like if you drop your shotgun, the ducks will suddenly think 'I THINK WE CAN TAKE HIM NOW ! ! !' " - Jake Johanssen | |||
| Howler1203 |
Ruger GP100 revolver,or if you want an auto look at a glock.Its the AK47 of the hand gun world.the good thing about the Ruger is you can switch to .38spl if you dont like the kick of the .357 witch will also go straight through the wall and probably the next house.For home def. with the moss. id use birdshot,a buckshot will also go through walls.If you know what your doing an intruder woudnt stand a chance even if you had a .22 | |||
| Howler1203 |
GOT TO PROTECT OUR OWN! | |||
| Igneroid |
You lucky Yankee bastages...get to play with hand guns. | |||
| Cityxslicker |
hell put a different hand gun in every room to fit your whim, and keep the shot gun in the bedroom. practice with what you get, and make sure the others in the house know about the functions of said guns or how not to touch them. I was given the gun safety talk when I was 6, try telling it to a kid now and you may find yourself in a bit of law trouble.  | |||
| Diablobrian |
H&K, Sig, or glock in 40s&W would be my call (in that order) the H&K usp is a really nice design, easy to use, and service. The Sig has a well earned reputation as a top notch weapon, and while the trigger feel on the glock is not to my taste it's hard to argue with such a servicable design. 40 s&w is IMHO the best balance between stopping power and felt recoil. It also leaves the option of a 357 sig conversion barrel at a later date if you choose. | |||
| Corporatemonkey |
All this gun talk has gotten me interested. I have never fired a gun, but it is something I would like to try. Another experience to cross off the list. Any suggestion on how to accomplish this? | |||
| Boney95 |
Go to a gun range. Many have an arsenal that you can choose from to fire. | |||
| Loki |
and to think I have my CCW class on the 7th. | |||
| Rainman |
I have only a few guns and, like guitars and motorcycles (at one time I had a Sportster, Gold Wing and CB 350), they have some sort of attachment for me. My dad and brother always carried a S&W Bodyguard .38 off-duty so I grew up with the dang thing. I wanted a gun for conceal/protect and it had sentimental value....so..... My Ruger 10/22 I bought when I graduated high school in the 200th year of American freedom (stenciled on the barrel) and my Winchester 94 .30-30 is just cool. A shot gun is next. They'll work in a pinch. Get what you like and shoot it a lot. | |||
| Tramp |
what th...? a shotgun "will work in a pinch"? a shotgun is the most foolproof and logical choice for home protection. You don't need to conceal in your own home. (I, too, love the mod. 94 esp. as my brush gun for whitetail, wish it was a pre-'64, though) | |||
| Tramp |
Anyone decides to try to get by the flash-bangs, they'll chat w/Grossburger...  Only time I'd bring a handgun on a hunt is when I go for pig. Russian boars don't always drop so easily | |||
| Gentleman_jon |
Guns are sort of like motorcycles. A lot of first timers buy a more powerful one than they need, and get hurt. The requirements of a first time owner are rather different than those of trained police or military personnel. The weapon needs to be as simple and reliable as possible, with reasonable recoil, and of course it must be accessible and ready to shoot when needed. For these reasons, I would recommend a stainless S&W 38 special with a 2" barrel, loaded with wad cutters. | |||
| Aldaytona |
Great advise, one can never go wrong with a good quality short barrel revolver. Especially novice users in high stress situations. | |||
| Hexangler |
Corporatemonkey, If you come to Sacramento, I'll take you to the range. Let me know when you are ready. Hex | |||
| Tramp |
negative: one can absolutely go wrong with a snub, and they often do- snubs tend to be inaccurate as hell, which is not a desirable quality for the first-timer. handguns, in general, make less sense (than long guns) to those who won't actually be carrying outside the house. for reasons both forensic and practical, a hunting shotgun is usually the wisest choice for home (or vehicle) defense. | |||
| Limitedx1 |
guns are just like an other market like automobiles, dirt bikes, street bike. they all work, they all perform different functions, but you get what you pay for. for me its, kimber, taurus, browning, remington, ruger, walther, beretta....i try to stick to the more common brand names. i was nevr fond of tarus until i fired a few and heard good reports from more than one un bias source | |||
| Spdkls |
if money isn't an object, then try the baby eagle. i really like it. just for me right now, money is an object, so i bought a single shot survivor 12 gauge from new england firearms. its easy, its light, its small, and it can shoot 3in rounds. | |||
| Zane |
When it comes to handguns everyone has their own opinion. I personally would not know how to keep house without some sort of 1911 type semi-auto. Not sure that is the best for house defense for the average person though. First on my list is a shot gun loaded with bird shot, then a revolver and last would be a 1911 type pistol. Here's why: For a close range of say 15 or 20 feet, a shot gun is going to throw out a pattern of pellets about 1 to 2 feet in diameter depending on the barrel choke. In the middle of the night without your glasses on, a shot gun still makes it likely you'll get a piece of the bad guy. With a pump action or semi-auto shotgun you can do that 4 or 5 times damn fast. This pretty my guarantees to get the bad guy?s attention and convince him he?s not welcome. Revolvers are simple to use and that is a virtue. Load your revolver and put in it lock box next to your bed. Pick it up 5 years later, pull the trigger and it will go bang. While it?s sitting there, all the springs in the revolver are at rest. A semi-auto sitting in the same lock box, for the same about of time will have all the springs in a compressed state. In five years it is possible the auto?s springs will take a set and loose some of their tension. Without correct spring tension, it?s possible after an extended period of time there won?t be enough tension in the springs to operation the gun correctly. Think how embarrassed you?d be to pull the trigger and have nothing happen. If you properly maintain it, a semi-auto has the virtue of a higher rate of fire, more rounds before reload and a faster reload time. In a home protection scenario I?m not sure this really matters, as a home robbery isn?t likely to turn into an extended gun battle. The best way to ensure you come out on top in any disagreement involving a gun is practice with it. This is important enough to repeat. What ever you get, practice, practice, practice with it. When the adrenaline starts pumping training is all you have to go on. You?ll sort of go on auto pilot and fall back on your training. You want to have more to fall back on that the bad guy does. One last point: If you do get a hand gun, caliber doesn?t matter and neither does the brand. Any of the know brands will service you well. Please don?t get Dirty Harry Syndrome and feel you have to get some monster gun. Is there anyone out there that say to themselves, ?It?s only a .22, I don?t mind getting shot with that?. Better you should get a smaller caliber that you shoot well than some monster gun you can?t hit anything with. If you?re a beginner, then a .38 is plenty. It?s also less likely to over penetrate and hit something you won?t want to hit. These are only my opinions so take it with a grain of salt. | |||
| Tramp |
The assertion " I personally would not know how to keep house without some sort of 1911 type semi-auto." is troubling- How many times have you used this (my favourite, incidentally, by a long shot) weapon in defense of your home? | |||
| Slaughter |
Elmer Keith (Father of the .357):
Go shoot a bunch of different guns with different loads, see what you think. For fun/paper punching anything will work. For home defense with likely engagement ranges typically within 10 feet and with adrenaline/panic, I still think a shorter barrelled shotgun - no choke (Slug barrel) can really improve your odds. But by all means, take the chance to go to a range with a buddy and try a few different guns. In my experience at shooting ranges, danged near EVERYBODY out there shooting is an enthusiast and many feel honored to let you pop a couple rounds off with their gun if they find that you haven't shot one before. | |||
| Nautique4life |
 Opinions are like assh*les, we all have one. This is mine. ..Opinion, not a-hole..geez | |||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
Another lesson learned... When you see a guy on a Buell, there is a good chance he's pack'n  | |||
| Zane |
Tramp, In home defense never. But for 3 of the 9 years I was a police officer (full time and reserves), my duty weapon was a Colt 1911A1. The rest of the time I carried a department issued Glock. I liked the Glock a lot too. I had 1 instance of an on duty shooting with my Colt. It was ruled a good shoot but I would rather not to talk about it. (Message edited by Zane on May 23, 2008) | |||
| Nautique4life |
I do sleep with my .40 in reaching distance, but really, when I have 2 of these... } 
Who needs a gun? Look at the way they tag team that evil stick! A tip for you all: Don't ever enter my house with a stick, you WILL go down! or at least your stick will be taken away... | |||
| Road_thing |
Trampster: Once more, just for you, buddy!  870's are great self-defense tools, whether it's in your home or in the field, against foes human or reptilian. rt | |||
| Tramp |
Zane- Sounds like mil-leo work may (possibly) have introduced you to firearms- folks from hunting families tend toward scatterguns for home "def". I was fortunate to have carried an '11 all over half the goddam world, and wouldn't have traded it for another sideiron. note I asked how many times you'd used it in defense of your home, though- For carry, sidearms are where it's at- for home, though, try a scattergun- for shits and grins: have a friend hang a bunch of spackle buckets in an abandoned barn, in spots you're not exactly aware of. run through the barn, firing at them with your '11. now do the same with a pump 12. ...you may see my point after you inspect the Ks  | |||
| Tramp |
RT- Why's that autoscat painted in "bandidos m/c" colours?  |
