Best home defense weapon

I would say it depends on your wife and her level of experience. To a novice shooter, the manual of arms for a semi-automatic can be difficult to understand and learn. The 1911 is a professional's weapon, and as such may not be the best choice for a beginner. If both spouses have similar experience and training, then both should be fine with a 1911. Otherwise, a revolver might be a better choice.

I think a solid 3- or 4-inch .357 Magnum revolver, loaded with .38 Specials for home use, is as versatile and useful a tool as exists today, with a simple manual of arms even a novice shooter can learn quickly with practice.

 

Sound advice. Thanks. I love revolvers. They're like a good framing hammer. Been wanting a Ruger GP100 since they first came out thirty years ago.

 

The GP100 is a tank; practically indestructible and definitely a good choice. A 3 inch would make a great house gun.

 

Yeah we got my mom an sp101. Need to have a little work done on the hammer (bob it) and the trigger (lighter trigger pull in single action needed. Not much but a bit. ) to make it right for her though. She has trouble getting the hammer back and her fingers aren't really long enough to not jerk on the single action with the standard trigger

 

I have a soft spot for the 870, as cycling the action is a very intimidating sound that could end the threat itself.

But for SHTF, definitely a handgun. For home defense probably a handgun loaded with 45ACP JHP. Reduced chance of overpenetration into family, more shots, higher rate of fire, less blinding muzzle blast, etc.

Good points on both sides.

An SBR AR-15 would also do very nicely. Something in the region of 11.5".

 

For the home in a wtf situation i think a revolver is best for 90% of us, myself included.

 

Or get you killed.

 

Has other benefits. 12 gauge is great for low penetration shot.

 

This has actually been proven as being factually incorrect. Numerous times.

 

Why?

 

Its a general response to the effect that 90% aren't prepared in an emergency to react properly with a semi-auto. <and I own a few

mainly due to training, or lack of it, especially in something completely unexpected like a home invasion type scenario where you have maybe 5-10 seconds to get your chit together and defend yourself, IMO a revolver is just a tad easier in a panic situation.

IF you are a range regular and had the proper training then obviously the higher capacity of a Semi is probably best but most of those situations are likely 1 shot deals, not a firefight so for first shot simplicity I go revolver. Duly noted: either is better than a frying pan or throwing your phone at the bad guys

My of my firearms (handguns) are pretty accessible, but the revolver is the one that is the most accessible in my home.

 

Not really. Buckshot will penetrate drywall at least as well as a 9mm with hollow points. Birdshot will be more easily blocked, but it's not as effective. Not saying a 12-gauge is a bad choice, but it isn't stopped by common interior walls.

 

Doesn’t get much easier than inserting a mag and racking the slide.
I tend not to make sweeping generalizations. A person making a choice for a primary home defense weapon can carry a lot of considerations ranging from competence with a specific weapon, ammo choice (penetration, recoil recovery, sound and flash - in a confined place), weapon hide and access, home size, fields of likely fire, clutter and obstacles, pre-planning and default strategy selection - clear vs bunker and conceal, number of and age and location of children, and many other considerations. What might work for one might not be optimum for another.
Simply deciding on a weapon without thinking through all the considerations, in my opinion, is near the same level of denial, ‘not likely to happen to me’, as those that don’t want to be armed for that contingency... and doesn’t provide the other important elements that should be part of a successful strategy for home defense.
The points you mentioned regarding simplicity, at the core, have much to do with competency and training. In regard to revolvers, Aside from many people not training, I have seen many that train, using SA/DA actions, in SA ONLY, but the tendency under the stress of adrenaline flooding, often fire away in DA toward a threat in DA, relying more on luck than skill (same with SA/DA semi autos). Just as important as weapon selection is training as close to what is likely as a scenario as may happen in real life whether, in CC or home defense.
Someone having top cometency skill with a semi auto .22 with 10 or more shot capacity and a laser might be better suited for success than someone with a .357 short barrel DA revolver who rarely trains. Starting with the weapon choice over examining as many considerations as possible and using them as a guide to weapon selection is going about the process in reverse. But, as noted, if you only have the weapons or weapon you have, plan through potential scenarios and train against that and know your advantages, liabilities and limitations.

 

Yeah that's great and all but 90% of the people are just saying " I want a gun at home for self-defense" minimal thought process, minimal training.

 

I addressed that with my opinion, it being a form of denial. A gun is a tool and like any tool, it’s selection is based on the job for which it will be used....I do recognize there are those that are challenged and don’t know the difference between nails, bolts, and screws, their uses and the appropriate corresponding tools and those that don’t check the oil level in their car or know how to change a tire. Part of what I do is provide knowledge and training to those willing to learn, the first piece of advice being, if you don’t know, seek someone that will educate you not simply tell you what to do.

 

Sure, no arguments.

Everyone has different levels if competency and preferences. I'm not john wick and i know it so in an emergency the revolver is my default option.

 

Given that home encounters is hardly ever beyond a few feet the razor sharp Japanese swords collection of my girlfriend we had mounted on the wall is likely to be as useful as my collections of handguns.

 

A LAW 79.

 

Uma Thurman proved that.

 

I hope John Wick is in Expendables IV.

 

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to easily learn about guns and how to handle them.

You don't need to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

 

Nobody uses framing hammers anymore, They all use framing guns. Some of them don't need a compressor but they smell like farts when you shoot them.

Just saying.

 

Confirmed by the crazy 88's. RIP

 

Quite honestly if I was smart I'd grab my damn 10/22 I have thousands of rounds through it could reload it blindfolded and i wouldnt need a hearing aid if i fired off a few indoors.

The centerfires? Not so much.

 

Love that movie but if I was any one of those sword men I would had thrown my sword away an used a 1911a 45 on her from at least 15 yards.