Handgun recommendations

[Darmstadter]

Might not be the right forum here...feel free to move it.

I've noticed an uptick in crime lately in our area. Normally it is further in the city, but seems to be creeping out our way now. The other night some thugs broke into one of our neighbor's house while they were home. We have rifles at home, but they all have gunlocks and are in a safe (we've got little kids in the house). Other than the baseball bat next to the bed, any suggestions on home safety?

 

[inkasnana]

A big, loud dog? An alarm system? Plexi-glass windows? Big thorny rose bushes planted under the windows? Dead-bolts? I'm just throwing out ideas.

I certainly hope that no one in your neighbor's family was hurt. It's just awful when the sanctity and "safe" feeling of one's own home is violated.

 

[Darmstadter]

We should get a dog and she always locks up at night---I know for the most part it's common sense stuff. It's just unnerving to have it happen so close. Nobody was hurt next door---they didn't even wake up until they heard the burglar (s) close the door on their way out! They made off with all of their jewelry (family heirloom stuff). Scary part is that the burglar was in the room while they were sleeping and made it out without waking anyone up.

 

[greg334]

Depending on where you are at in the metro area, a double barreled shotgun loaded with number 9 shot.

I make it a habit to check locks, windows and have cameras all over the place (they were cheap so why not). An alarm also helps but one that has a chime feature when a window or door is open.

Speaking about alarms, if you are in a bad area, like Hazel Park you can order screens that can be hooked up as part of the alarm system, they do work. They ain't cheap but hey what isn't today.

it also sounds like those were actually pros or knew a lot about the people. The thing to remember is that if it is someone who is h*ll bent on getting something you have, they will get it. Pros don't usually bother with people who have little stuff, so I am wondering who knows them well enough?

Oh speaking about a dog, knew a family who had a doberman who never went outside. He actually did his thing in the toilet. One day the family left to go to dinner and they came back home to find someone screaming for help. Someone was watching the house and timing the activity but never saw a dog, thinking it was an easy score. Well when the cops and paramedics got there and the paramedics started to patch the guy up, the guy said he never seen no dog ever outside of the house, it was like he appeared out of no where and tore him up.

 

[inkasnana]

I agree with greg.. sounds like someone who knew the house and knew the family. I'm glad no one was injured and hopefully they can recover their peace of mind quickly.

 

[Dakota]

Just get a basic .38 revolver. Very easy to use won't jam up like the autos do sometimes. Tried and tested. I have a Smith & Wesson long barrel myself. It's an old police pistol
snub nose are nice but, I find my aim is better with the longer barrel
most importantly find something the fits your hand I tried a few out before buying mine and some of the grips were too short for my large hands
Could always get the big .357 dirty harry gun to scare the intruders hehe

 

[LDB]

If you are not already very familiar and proficient with handguns look only at a revolver. If you plan to practice several hours a month in perpetuity then consider a pistol. Do not get a 2" barrel revolver. You want at least a 4" barrel. That will improve accuracy and reduce muzzle flash. You want to practice with plain 38 special ammo. You want 38 +P ammo available for home protection. That gives a boost in power and you won't notice the added recoil if forced to use it. You need to get a minimum of two speedloaders for your revolver. That's based on the theory it will be kept unloaded but readily available. If you need it you will need it ready quickly. I'd suggest getting a small gun safe that used a 4 or 5 digit unlocking code and keeping it loaded and ready to go rather than unloaded.

 

[greg334]

That's all good and well and there is a reason why I asked him where he is at, some places here will not take too kindly to a person defending their home with a handgun, some places like Troy and Sterling Heights have come down hard on home owners who used a handgun to protect their homes, Southfield for one where there was a bunch of shootings by people protecting their stereo's in their escalades really frown on it.

 

[chefdennis]

Handguns are great tools and i own a "few". Leo gave you great advice, especially if you aren't well versed in using a handgun regularly or if you don't plan on practicing often.

Personally for home defense i have a Mossberg 500 Mariner...legal short 18.5 barrel...easy to move around in the house and with no choke puts out a nice wide pattern..and isn't going to penetrate through an outside wall...miss with a p+38 and it is going outside...that can be a issue...

one other thing to think about for a home defense weapon is a VERY high power light...either something attached to your weapon or a good tactical light that will allw you to both use the light and still handle your weapon..Surefire makes soe of the best on the market....then learn when to use both, the light and the weapon.....while most states have "castle doctrine" laws, using a firearm in defense isn't just cut and dry self defense....beaware of the laws in your area...but don't let anyone tell you that you don't have the right to protect you and yours with whatever weapon you choose.....

 

[Darmstadter]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have never owned, fired, or thought about firing a hand gun. I've hunted a little and have rifles, but no handguns. I like the idea of the bedside gunsafe as well as the flashlight.

Greg--to your point, we live in what I think is probably considered one of the safer suburbs along the 275 corridor. It's not a ritzy neighborhood, but there are subdivisions with high end homes nearby. The neighbors are not rich--the jewelry that was taken was all family stuff that was passed down. Could have been someone that knew them. I'd feel a little better if that were the case.

 

[chefdennis]

Remember i siad to LEARN to use that Flashlight....it is NOT to light your way down the hall, that makes you a better target if the intruder also ha a gun....

Training is the most important thing you can get when you decide to use a gun to defend yourself....and as i said and since you mention you live in th burbs, think about how close the homes are together...will the lead from a hand gun that misses its target go through your wall and into your neighbors home!?!? That is the major consideration for me having a small easy to handle shotgun for home defense...along with a easy to get to hand gun, well more then one and in more then one location within the house.....not in very room, but in "key" locations..a hand gun in the bedroom, does you no good when its 11:30 at night and you are in the family room at the other end of the house.....more then one weapon, in key locations.....and TRAINING...no matter what you decide to use.

 

[greg334]

Chef,
The recommendation of #9 shot is exactly for that reason, it doesn't go through the walls easily (even if they are paper thin) and won't go outside. We had a couple cases of shootings where it went through a wall and hit a kid near by.

Darmstadter, it is more likely than not someone who knew the stuff was there and knew the house. Maybe even kids who had a chance to case the house while they were visiting.

 

[Slo-Ride]

No doubt my opinion,,The shotgun is best home defense..
If ya really gotta go this way (and ya should) I would look into what some call safe ammo,I dont have and never looked for any but I have heard that there is some ammo out there that will lose ts punch after it hits a wall???

Another good option,,still get the home defense but get your family out of metro Detroit as soon as ya can.

 

[layoutshooter]

A PUMP shotgun, just the SOUND of the slide being racked will often be enough to get rid of invading scum. I prefere #4 shot to the #9 bet either would most likely work at close range.

 

[greg334]

#4 shot still tears up the walls a bit more, #9 seems to work the best and if it is lead, it helps if he/she gets away.

Also you just need a 20 gauge, not a 12 or as some use around here a 10 gauge.

 

[layoutshooter]

Yep, a 20 would do just fine. I am NOT concerned with wall damage, just a corpse. I can always sue the scuzes family or the parole board that released the bum. I highly doubt that I would EVER run into a "First Timer" inside my home. The scum that robbed my home a few years back had been at it for quite a while. I went to the sentencing phase to speak. He was NOT given enough, 3-5 years. It is a REAL shame that the judge did NOT just give him to me. It would have saved the State a LOT of money!!

 

[greg334]

3 to 5 out in 2 and fell down a flight of stair.

 

[Dakota]

I'm not a gun expert, but still think a .38 revolver would be the best for home defense get the longer barrell for more accuracy and then use hollow point bullets they cost more, but will stop at walls etc. One reason Police use them. The other reason is that they do more damage to tissue when they hit. They are designed to expand when they hit something. If you do go to the range to practice buy the cheaper bullets and save the hollow point for home.

 

[layoutshooter]

I have handguns and carry from time to time. At home it is a BARELY legal sawed off 12ga. Shotguns are now and have been for a very long time the very best for home defense. At least in my opinion. Loaded with the proper load they are lethal, will NOT harm anyone OUTSIDE the walls and are very "Scary" when properly used. That can SAVE lives!! NO ONE who has ever seen TV or watched many movies in the U.S. can miss that "Sound" of a shotgun slide being racked. Most leave when the hear it.

 

[60MPH]

Training is the most important thing you can get when you decide to use a gun to defend yourself.....

Chef is dead on!!

This is step #1 and the most important. if the training is done correctly then you will have a good idea of what weapon is ideal for you. I personally use a Benelli M1 Super 90 with a 14" barrel "yes I have the green stamp" with Hornady TAP 00 buck home defense load. My back-up is my Glock g36 45ACP. loaded with cor-bon 185 gr. JHP which also happens to be my favorite carry gun. I use to have a picture of it on here but it offended some of the libs so I replaced it with a picture of there messiah. This is what my S90 "photo not of my actual gun" looks like, just add a Streamlight TRL-1 Tactical light to the mag tube Purty ain't it!