help choosing a firearm

[PhylumofDoom]

My step-dad is finally realizing he needs a weapon for self-defense. He has fired one the past but its been many years. He asked for my opinion and i'm asking for all of yours. The only criteria he has given me is something dependable for less than $500 dollars. We plan on going out on saturday and taking a look at a few shops. So any suggestions would be helpful.

[RangeLog]

PhylumofDoom,

I would HIGHLY recommend a Glock 17 (new or used). They are nearly indestructible, un-jammable and very easy to learn to use. You can find great deals for any Glock at a gun show as well, with cheap parts and gear. Safe Shooting!

[tfltackdriver]

Is this something he plans on carrying? Concealed? Or is it something he wants for home defense only?

These are just my humble opinions after shooting, owning and carrying a lot of stuff. My best advice to you is to tell him to do the shopping. Man... isn't that most of the fun of it?

For concealed carry:
My pick is a small-frame revolver rated for .38 +p in steel frame. Sure, you're limiting yourself to 5 rounds (or 6 if you get a detective special, the newer 6-shot Taurus or a Rossi), but I have found nothing bigger than.380 that carries better in the waistband, doesn't print like a "gun" and doesn't make your hand numb when you shoot. All the stats I've seen tell me that if I can't get it done in five shots in an on-the-street self-defense situation, I'd best be relying more on my feets and my brains.
People who can carry something bigger might be better served by a Glock 19 or Springfield xD (I'd take it over the Glock). My choice for upsizing is a 1911 platform. You might find one used for under $500, but probably not one I'd consider carrying. YMMV.

For home defense:
I don't understand why someone would have a pistol for home defense. Ballistics are pitiful compared to a long gun's. I suggest either a Mossberg or Remington pump, which can both be had for well under $500, a used mini-14 or an SKS or AK clone.

In all cases, I am increasingly mindful of the ammunition supply problem. I think anything in 9mm is your best bet in a pistol. .223/5.56 and 7.62 rounds have been very easy to find around here at a decent price. Everything else, not so much.

[Username]

Sig P329 in .357

[graybeard321]

my home defense gun is a smith & wesson model 642 with crimsontrace laser grips , if I am half a sleepi middle of the night and someone breaks in all I have to do is point the laser and pull the trigger.
My two carry guns or a springfield xd i mm and glock model 35 in S&W 40 Cal. I would recommend either the xd or glock in any caliber or model. both this guns are super reliable.

[OakRidgeStars]

A Ruger LCR (.38 Special +P) makes an excellent lightweight carry weapon. It can be concealed in an IWB holster, an ankle holster, or even a pocket holster.

Average Price: $425
Shown with an HKS 36-A Speedloader: $9
Browning Alpha Max: $32

[gfost1]

Is this something he plans on carrying? Concealed? Or is it something he wants for home defense only?

These are just my humble opinions after shooting, owning and carrying a lot of stuff. My best advice to you is to tell him to do the shopping. Man... isn't that most of the fun of it?

For concealed carry:
My pick is a small-frame revolver rated for .38 +p in steel frame. Sure, you're limiting yourself to 5 rounds (or 6 if you get a detective special, the newer 6-shot Taurus or a Rossi), but I have found nothing bigger than.380 that carries better in the waistband, doesn't print like a "gun" and doesn't make your hand numb when you shoot. All the stats I've seen tell me that if I can't get it done in five shots in an on-the-street self-defense situation, I'd best be relying more on my feets and my brains.
People who can carry something bigger might be better served by a Glock 19 or Springfield xD (I'd take it over the Glock). My choice for upsizing is a 1911 platform. You might find one used for under $500, but probably not one I'd consider carrying. YMMV.

For home defense:
I don't understand why someone would have a pistol for home defense. Ballistics are pitiful compared to a long gun's. I suggest either a Mossberg or Remington pump, which can both be had for well under $500, a used mini-14 or an SKS or AK clone.

In all cases, I am increasingly mindful of the ammunition supply problem. I think anything in 9mm is your best bet in a pistol. .223/5.56 and 7.62 rounds have been very easy to find around here at a decent price. Everything else, not so much.

+1

Regards,

George

[zephyp]

Hmm. I'm split on the pistol scatter gun for home defense so...I keep a Beretta 92 on the night stand with a flashlight, a .45 (10 round mag) in an undisclosed location, and a 12ga pump (6 rounds) with 00 buck also in an undisclosed location.

Having said that, I dont particularly favor a shotgun as a primary weapon indoors, especially for the uninitiated. Too much gun (length wise) when trying to maneuver in the dark around corners, etc. Also, IMO a pistol comes up faster if you drop it to avoid sweeping a family member or another reason...

[Username]

Hmm. I'm split on the pistol scatter gun for home defense so...I keep a Beretta 92 on the night stand with a flashlight, a .45 (10 round mag) in an undisclosed location, and a 12ga pump (6 rounds) with 00 buck also in an undisclosed location.

Having said that, I dont particularly favor a shotgun as a primary weapon indoors, especially for the uninitiated. Too much gun (length wise) when trying to maneuver in the dark around corners, etc. Also, IMO a pistol comes up faster if you drop it to avoid sweeping a family member or another reason...

I don't know, It'd be a tough call between my 870 Tactical and a Pistol for home defense, but I live on a second floor of a duplex, so I have a long stairway to "shape" my shots

[MrPeanut]

When I served in the Navy, I had the good fortune of working with a USMC Colonel who was on the Marine Corps Pistol Team. I used to ask him questions about home defense weapons all the time. My preferred piece at that time was a good ole .45 just because, well, I like them. Who doesn't? That's what I qualified with. I digress. Anyhow, the Colonel suggested a pump action shotgun with a short barrel and maybe even a pistol grip to shorten it up even further, suggesting that the distinctive sound of chambering a shell would probably obviate the need for even firing a shot. And if you do need to fire, they say that getting hit with a shell full of 00 buck is like taking all of a 9 round burst from an M4 at once. Should be enough to dissuade a bad guy. That being said, 00 buck is powerful stuff, and if you live in a townhouse like I do, or an apartment or a condo, you might want to consider the over penetration risk. Truth be told, I'd rather get shot than shoot my neighbor's kid so I've got my Mossberg loaded with 2 rounds of birdshot first, followed by the 00 buck. Even though it's literally meant for birds, I'm pretty sure that a shell or two full of #8 at 10-20 feet will cause most to think twice. And if it doesn't, then it should at least allow me the time to arrange a meeting with Uncle Buck. So, I chose a Mossberg 500A 18" barrel for my primary, under the bed, home defense gun.

I had also asked the Colonel about laser sights, and he took me into his office, turned out all the lights, and started waving a laser pointer around the room. It hit the wall, then immediately switched to the bookcase, then the computer on his desk, then reflected off a picture of his wife. At the end of this demonstration, I was a bit disoriented and that was the point he was trying to make. So, I installed a replacement fore end on my Mossberg, with a picatinny rail underneath, and two short ones on either side. On that rail, I have a weapon-mounted flashlight. Illumination is your friend. OBTW, just for good measure I have a cheap little laser mounted on one of the side rails too. Try this exercise. Point your UNLOADED shotgun at a mirror and switch on the flashlight. To a bad guy, you look like a target with a flashlight. Now try the same thing, but this time switch on the flashlight AND the laser. To that same bad guy, you now look like the Terminator. In case you are wondering, both light and laser are activated by pressure pads that are attached to a vertical fore grip, which is also mounted to the underside rail. Total cost: around $500.

My home defense items consist of: 1) the aforementioned Mossberg; 2) a cordless telephone; and 3) a spare set of keys. My plan: 1) grab loved ones, Mossie, phone and keys; 2) hide in bathroom and lock door (bedroom door is already locked); 3) call police; 4) wait. If this knucklehead is lucky, he'll stay downstairs and take my electronics. You're welcome, that's what insurance is for. I'm certainly not going to go looking for trouble since the most important things in the world, i.e. loved ones, are right here with me. If he is not so lucky, he'll try and come upstairs, break through two locked doors, and meet the Terminator. See above. Hopefully, at this point he will poop himself and run. If he decides to push his luck even further and place me and/or my loved ones in fear of imminent, grievous bodily injury, well pooping his pants will be the last thing he does. In case you are wondering, the spare keys are for the cops to retrieve when they get there, and I throw the keys out the back window.

So, a few things to think about here, over penetration risks, self defense, Castle doctrines, doing the right thing by being a coward, etc. I'll leave the discussion of carry pieces to those more experience in that area, as I just got my CHP. Sorry for rambling, but I'm just trying to relay some of the advice I have received.

[guitarpicva]

Hit a reputable local gun shop and ask for help. The good ones are going to steer you right. I rely on Dance's Sporting Goods in Col. Heights and Green Top near Richmond. There are others, but these two I know first hand.