Are you considering getting a gun for home defense? You've come to the right place! A gun can be an excellent tool for defending yourself and your loved ones. According to studies, guns are used by citizens to defend themselves as many as 2.5 million times per year.
Of course, before you buy a gun, you need to pick one! There are a number of issues to consider when making your choice, which we will go into in depth in this article.
Note: Before you make your purchase, we would like to remind you that the number one priority is safety. If you're a beginner, you will want to take a firearms training course. You must make sure to also check the laws in your state regarding firearm possession and transport.
Choosing a Gun
Before you rush out and spend some of your hard earned money on a new gun, there are a number of things you need to take into account. You need a gun powerful enough to stop an attacker, but most importantly, you need a gun that you can handle with enough proficiency for use in a potentially dangerous situation.
Remember, there is no perfect gun - only the perfect gun for you.
Factors to Consider
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Comfort
To achieve the best results, you need a gun that you are comfortable with physically. If purchasing online, make sure to go to a gun store and get a feel for your chosen gun before you order. Better yet, see if you can rent one at a shooting range and do some test firing. -
Stopping Power
Presumably, should you find the need to defend yourself, you will want to stop your attacker, right? Stopping power is quite simply the power that each shot packs.
You'll need something with stopping power, but you also have to balance that with size and recoil. After all, one of these would have the ultimate stopping power, but that's not quite the ideal weapon for home defense. -
Caliber
To put it simply, the caliber is the size of the bullets your gun is made to fire. A larger caliber indicates more stopping power. Some common handgun calibers are .22, .38, 9MM, and .45.
We recommend at least a .38 for home defense, but skill is #1. A well placed shot with a .22 is probably better than a miss with a .45, don't ya think? -
Penetration
Penetration is the ability of a projectile to go through walls and other obstacles. This is a very important issue in an in-home altercation. For obvious reasons, you want low penetration in your home.
The first thing you're probably wondering is what kind of gun you need. You're probably familiar with the three basic types of firearms: shotguns, handguns, and rifles. Rifles are usually not a good choice for home defense. They are long and unwieldy and intended for distance shooting, which means they tend to have high penetration.
A shotgun or a handgun if usually your best bet when it comes to defending yourself in your home, so let's compare the two!
Shotguns
For stopping power, shotguns are the ultimate tool for self defense. Ask any criminal, just the sound of the pump action is enough to make them turn and run.
A standard 12 gauge is ideal for home defense as far as shotguns go. A 16 or 20 gauge will also be effective (remember with shotguns, a higher gauge indicates a smaller cartridge size), but smaller sizes such as the 28 and .410 bore should be avoided, they simply do not pack the power necessary to reliably stop an intruder.
The con to using a shotgun for home defense is mostly the size. It is unwieldy and the long barrel can potentially be grabbed by an intruder. Shotguns are most effective for crowd control from medium distances, not short range altercations.
Should you choose a shotgun, here are our suggestions for models.
Remington 870
Originally designed in 1951 with over ten million produced, the Remington 870 is one of the most popular shotguns of all time. It is used by law enforcement and civilians alike, for purposes including sport shooting, hunting, and self defense.
The Remington 870 is available in a number of variants, some of the most popular being the Express, Express Magnum, Police, and WingMaster. Most of these models are very affordable with MSRPs starting in the mid $300s.
Click here to browse some models for sale.
Mossberg 500
High security is fine; high maintenance isn't. Enter the Mossberg® 500® and 590® Persuader® shotguns -- the pump-action shotguns you can count on for your security needs. They have the credentials and track record to prove it. In their commercial form, the Persuaders are virtual duplicates of the proven Mossberg® military 500® and 590® models -- the only pump-action shotguns ever to pass all stringent U. S. Military Mil-Spec 3443 standards. Use the 500® Persuader® at home and the Mariner® on the water – these guns are dependable and economical. Especially when you don't have to cover the added expense of chew toys.
Handguns
For home defense, we recommend a handgun. Handguns are easy to conceal and store in the home for immediate use, they are ideal for close range combat, and with the right caliber you can find a handgun that packs quite a punch. They are also very affordable.
There are two primary categories of handgun: the revolver and the semi automatic. A semi automatic is a more advanced piece of machinery. It uses recoil from the previous shot to load the next cartridge into the chamber. While this simplifies things for the user, more moving parts means more points of failure. Revolvers are generally more reliable, although this is usually not a major issue provided you purchase a quality firearm. Also, semi automatics tends to have a larger capacity of 10-17 rounds, whereas most revolvers hold only 6 rounds.
For some more information on revolvers vs semi automatics, this is a good article to read.
Choosing between a revolver and a semi automatic can be a tough choice to make. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. We recommend a semi automatic, but it's a very close call. Remember, there is no perfect gun, only the perfect gun for you. Try them out and see which one suits you best.
So let's review some models!
Glock
No, Glock is not a model, it is a manufacturer, but Glock produces a variety of very similar semi automatic handguns, most of which are excellent choices for home defense use. Glocks are very popular in the United States, accounting for a whopping 65% of the market share for law enforcement handgun purchases.
There are a large number of Glock models of different calibers, most notably 9MM, .40, .45, and .357. Some of the more popular models are the Glock 17 (9MM), Glock 19 (9MM), Glock 23 (.40 caliber), Glock 26 (compact 9MM), Glock 27 (compact .40 caliber), and Glock 30 (.45 caliber).
Smith & Wesson Sigma
The Sigma series by Smith & Wesson is a popular line of semi automatic pistols. It was originally introduced in 1994 and is available in a number of variants, the most popular being the 9MM SW9VE and the .40 caliber SW40VE.
The Sigma SW9VE and SW40VE are two very good choices for an affordable and reliable handgun. They have an MSRP of $349.00, and deals can be easily found for $300 or even less!
The Sigma SW9VE and SW40VE both hold 17 rounds, and there are 10 round models available for those residing in states with laws restricting magazine size. Remember to check with your state for any and all laws regarding firearms before you try to make a purchase!
Conclusion
Remember, the number one thing you need, more important than the gun you choose, is skill! A firearm is useless without the skill and discipline to handle it, and in a worst case scenario, it can be a liability. Practice regularly, become comfortable with your gun, and always put safety first.
If you're a beginner, we recommend taking an NRA course. NRAInstructors.org is a good website for finding a local instructor. Some NRA courses can also be used to get a concealed carry permit in certain states.
Resources
Following are some helpful resources for gun owners.
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Bud's Gun Shop
This is a favorite of ours. Low prices and great service. Don't worry about location, Bud's will ship to a licensed FFL dealer anywhere in the country! -
Gun Critic
Before you buy a gun, you'll want to read some reviews on your chosen model. Gun Critic has reviews on a very large selection of firearms. -
AR15 Forums
One of the largest gun forums on the web, AR15.com has over 50 million posts and hundreds of thousands of active members. Forums are one of the best resources for a beginner to ask questions and get help from knowledgeable gun owners.