advice?

[drywallguy]

Hi everyone. Let me start by saying that I am new to this site and firearms in general. I was hoping to get some good advice from people who know a thing or two about handguns and after reading other threads, I think I found the right place. Basically what I would like to know is what kind of gun I should buy? I already have an idea of what I want but I have no clue as to the differences in brands and caliburs and all the other specifics. The gun that I am looking for will be used for home defense and some target shooting (I have to learn how to use it, right?). It needs to be small enough that my wife won't be scared away from having to learn how to use it, but big enough to have good stopping power in the event that it ever needs to be used. My budget is roughly 300-$400 and I have no problem with purchasing something used. Thank you for reading and any input!

[neophyte]

drywallguy: Sir; without question a 'shotgun' for around the house work. My preference a Pump shot gun. The 'Miss'ss" will be able to handle this piece of equipment.
I'll not go on with that.
Next; Revolver, preferable .357 caliber. You can and should practice with .38's which will work in your .357.
Sir; I'll wait and jump back in. Many will "jump to" with good advice.

The more information that you can provide; maybe we want lead you astray.

[mym1a]

I have to agree with neophyte a 357/38 caliber revolver is a good way to go.A good 12 gauge pump shot gun for minus 100 yards or less hard to beat, good for hunting and self defense.If I could only have one firearm? it would be a shot gun!

[nathangdad]

If a range exists near you where you can rent various firearms I suggest you try out a wide variety before you make a purchase. I this is not possible perhaps you can at least shoot some guns belonging to friends. In the meantime read up on various calibers and firearms. Take your time and make a purchase you will take to practice and become proficient.

[texnmidwest]

+1 with the pump shotgun. Reliable, inexpensive to shoot and practice at the trap range. Plus, in home self defense you can not beat a shotgun.

[ArkansasHunter]

You didn't mention that your going to get a concealed carry permit ? If so then that will help determine the size pistol because smaller is easier to conceal.

In the price range you specified you have a pretty wide open choice of pistols you can buy to meet your needs.

The posters above me mentioned a 357 magnum that can also shoot 38 special that would be an excellent choice if you are interested in a revolver only.

Next up and theres quiet a few semi-auto calibers. 9mm. 40 Smith & Wesson and the ole reliable 45 Colt. Theres even more calibers but findind the ammo for them may be difficult.

You say your wife will learn to shoot it ? Then I'm going to recommend the 9mm in a semi-auto and if you and your wife end up enjoying shooting you might want to move up to a more potent caliber later.

I can't recommend any certain brand of handgun because you need to get out and go to the gun stores yourself and look at all of them.

If you do find a brand and caliber you like you can come back here and I promise theres folks here that will give you an earfull about everything about it.

Good Luck to you and your gonna have a lot of fun and haggle the prices for the best deal you can get.

I might mention my only pistol is a CZ 82 Mil Surp thats in excellent condition you can check them out at AIM Surplus there the best deal going right now for a hand gun.
A.H

[Full MeTal Jack]

My take on first time purchases is start small. Like a 22 auto pistol. Ruger #518 I believe or a "Woodsman". A 22 will kill an intruder too. Most crimes thwarted by an armed law abiding citizens merely produced a gun. Criminals dont want to get shot either. The .22 is a great way to learn to use a firearm safely and have a lot of inexpensive fun doing it.

I agree the short shotgun is the way to go for the home. If needed the kur-chink of the action is louder than a barking dog. My son #1 stopped the house from being burglarized, (it wouldn't have been burglared anyway because both sons and the dog where home, sleeping), he cocked the Remi 870 next to window they were about to break. The punks ran like their feet where on fire.

Get yourself the 22 first, then at a later date buy something nice, 1911 45 ACP or Glock 40 cal.

[FutureMarine9]

another take on what fmj said about the .22 is if you get a ruger single six it shoots .22 mag and that might be better for a self defense gun if you do go with a .22

[texnmidwest]

If you really want to intimidate an intruder get a side by side 10 gauge with a 36 inch barrel! One look at those coke bottle sized barrels and any intruder will run for the hills with out the need to fire!

I really need to stop drinking.

[Windwalker]

For home defense I also recommend the shotgun. However you might want to consider a 20 ga.pump as the recoil will be much less which the wife will appreciate. The .22 is a fun and inexpensive way to learn to shoot a pistol. You can always move up to a larger caliber later.

[drywallguy]

Wow, thanks for all of the great input. A shotgun sounds like a wonderfull idea however I was looking forward to getting out to the range for some target shooting. I just picked up the newest "shooting times/gun guide 2008" and I'm pretty overwhelmed with everything that everyone offers but I'm still looking forward to going to the next nearby gun show to check out some of the deals. As far as the carry permit... I really can't say, I think it is safe to say yes, eventually. Thanks again everyone!

[ArkansasHunter]

Do they have Rugers new SR9 pistol pictured in the Shooting Times magazine ?
That one and some other Rugers would be some semi-auto's you should consider.
The SR9 has a slimmer grip that might be easy for your wife to hold has well as men

[The_Patriot]

Originally Posted by drywallguy

Hi everyone. Let me start by saying that I am new to this site and firearms in general. I was hoping to get some good advice from people who know a thing or two about handguns and after reading other threads, I think I found the right place. Basically what I would like to know is what kind of gun I should buy? I already have an idea of what I want but I have no clue as to the differences in brands and caliburs and all the other specifics. The gun that I am looking for will be used for home defense and some target shooting (I have to learn how to use it, right?). It needs to be small enough that my wife won't be scared away from having to learn how to use it, but big enough to have good stopping power in the event that it ever needs to be used. My budget is roughly 300-$400 and I have no problem with purchasing something used. Thank you for reading and any input!

Howdy.

First, you have to realize that nobody here can answer a question like that for you. It's like asking, "what kind of car should I buy?" Or "What is the best pair of jeans?"

It comes down to what you need it for, your proficiency and intentions to learn and several other factors.

I saw that someone already mentioned renting guns. YES, YES, YES. This is a fine way for a newbie to firearms to learn about different handguns. Talk to a knowledgable dealer and don't be afraid to ask questions. Take your wife along and have her hold different firearms. Find something that is comfortable and something she can fire safely, with confidence.

It is also beneficial (maybe before doing what I suggested above) to take a firearms safety and orientation course. There are many kinds of these courses available just about anywhere. A local dealer may have more information on it. Try a Google search if you can't find much--they are definitely available. One MUST gain confidence with a firearm to use it successfully under stress, and a part of that is safety. Safety is PARAMOUNT for any new gunner. It cannot be stressed enough.

Once you get the basics and have chosen a firearm, find yourself a range and practice. Have your wife practice, too. There is NO substitute for this step. If you ever want the ability to use a gun effectively under stress, you must become highly proficient with it. Practice, practice and more practice.

Do you have little kids in the house? This may be a factor in choosing a weapon. I keep all my long guns locked up and keep two pistols nearby in gunvault gun safes. I do this because I have a quite inmature 7-year-old. I've taken him shooting and try to teach him safety, but I'm not quite ready yet to trust him fully. If you have kids, teach them about firearms now, and factor it into your plans.

I think I could go on and on, but I'll just leave you with a couple other thoughts...

Be sure to learn about the laws in your state. It's imperative that anyone owning a gun, and one thinking of using it for defense, to understand the law. They vary greatly and you must have a good grasp of your responsibilities where you live.

Last thought...hmmm... Be sure to think about ALL the other factors that affect your safety and play into the defense of your family. By asking about a firearm for you and your wife, I'm guessing you're making a step towards protecting you and yours. If that's the case, be sure to think about so many other things... Do you have a house? Do you trim bushes away to reduce hiding areas for criminals? Do you have good outdoor lighting? Do you have a dog? Do you have a security system? Or motion detectors (which I LOVE)? Do you always lock your doors? Do you ever answer your door without looking? Do you have a phone near the bed? Do you have a plan on what to do if you hear an intruder at night? Do you have stairs? Are you going to defend the stairs? Or go looking around your home? Do you park under lit areas at night? Do you always look around before you get out of your car? Again, this is something that can go on forever. In short, there are a ton of aspects that a lot of people don't consider (and a lot do). Protecting yourselves goes way beyond buying a gun and putting it in the nightstand...it's educating yourselves, practicing sound procedures, reducing risk and plannning (physically and mentally) for contingencies.

By asking your question, hopefully you're off to a good start. Read forums, get a few books on personal or home defense? THINK about the risks in your lives. Condition White is where the oblivious live (they live in a world where bad things don't happen)...avoid that thinking; learn to see risks and take steps to avoid them. This doesn't mean be paranoid; it means be cognizant of your environment.

I'm rambling. I need to hit the sack.

Okay, one last thought. Remember this--caliber is not nearly as important as bullet placement. Repeat that in your head. You will hear a lot of talk about calibers and stopping power, but what is really important if things turn into a gunfight is that you or your wife have confidence with your chosen weapon and have the ability to fire it effectively and efficiently under stress. You must have a weapon you guys are comfortable with. A .45 is completely worthless if you or your wife can't control (or won't practice with because of the recoil/weight) it and the round ends up in a wall. Think about that before you make a purchase. I'd rather have a single, well-placed .22 in my assailant over 10 missed .45s any day of the week. Make sense?

To recap:

1) Find a gun that is YOUR gun, not based off others' recommendations.

2) Get educated quickly on SAFETY, laws, risks and risk-reducing behaviors.

3) Learn your gun and get (and stay) proficient with it.

4) Understand that security for your family is serious, and it is much wider than any single firearm. There are a ton of factors to consider, both at home, on the road and where you go away from home. Do your best to recognize and reduce risks.

Best of luck...hope to hear things went well. Update us.

[neophyte]

drywallguy: Sir; the "The_Patriot" has said it well.
Filter through all purported thinking; revise your question.
Give more info. about your situation i.e. comfort with having a weapon about
Give consideration to having 'children' about

Give a great deal of consideration to Practice and Practicing wisely.

Follow up; many more will jump in. YOUR concern is VERY VERY responsible.
Filtering is expected. {ask about what you want] not us.

[Wingwiper]

Shotguns are great defense if you have the room to move around with it and you are familiar enough to grab it, pump it, shoulder it and fire.

For quick response, I would tend to agree on an Hand gun. You can keep them in the bedside table or any place of conveince and if it is a DOUBLE ACTION, it can be resting on an empty chamber, but one pull of the trigger and the message of lead is on its way.

Ladies usually don't like kick in their hand guns to start off with, so I would lean towards a 22 mag. If you want to hurt the intruder, you want to be able to place a good round in his direction, once pain is felt, the brain usually changes to a different mode and that usually means putting the left foot in front of the right foot in the opposite direction at a least a 240 beat. If you want noise than any larger caliber will work, but intruders are tuned to the fact that noise isn't always associated with pain.
I guess over all, take the advice from above and try what works for you BOTH and what you BOTH can handle comfortably and accurately, after all it is BOTH of your lives at stake.

[drywallguy]

O.K. I'm still undecided and I am going to make sure that I can handle a few weapons before I buy anything. I have been thinking that maybe a shotgun would be the way to go. Mostly because I'm already a bow hunter and I could hunt after archery season is over.
To answer a few questions... I do have a one and a half year old daughter and I know the importance of teaching her about gun safety. I have an overprotective german shepard mix who barks at everyone who walks past the house and especially anyone who knocks on the door. I'm not much of an electrician so I haven't installed any kind of sensor lights, however I do have an alarm on our side garage door. I don't want people to think that I'm buying a gun so that I can shoot people who break into my home as I do take other steps to insure the safety of my family. I want a gun as a last resort and the added peace of mind.
I think I'm still going to look at pistols though, if not now then definatly in the future. My brother-in-law regurlary goes to the gun range, I think maybe next time I'll tag along and try his gun (a .45 Ruger I think).
Thanks again everone.

[drywallguy]

Let's see to give you guys some more feedback... I'm really considering a shotgun, I'm already a bowhunter and I could still hunt after archery season is over. The thing is I was kind of looking forward to getting a pistol. I'm supposed to be going with my brother-in-law after work tommorow to the gun range. I'm going to try out his .45 and see if the range rents guns. Also, after reading a bit more on these forums I think that I might go with a revolver. Maybe a .357 Mag. (I can also shoot .38's with these right?). If I decide to get a carry permit maybe I will get a smaller semi auto. I'll post some more info after I come closer to a decision.

[neophyte]

drywallguy: Sir; good adventure with your brotherinlaw. Try as many as you can. Nothing wrong with having a handgun and shotgun.
Responsibly you we need to experience many different models.
I like the idea that you are investigating. Even now after many years; before I 'purchase' I investigate and explore.
Read my deal about wanting a .410 shotgun

Sir; we never get to old to learn and experience. Post your 'brotherinlaw' experiences

[KP90DC]

This is my personal recommendation and its what I tell all people new to firearms. To get yourself and wife used to handling and shooting firearms, theres nothing as good as the .22. I'd get a .22 revolver and shoot the heck out of it, until I got familiar with handling and shooting it, and then I would rent or borrow what I thought I might want as a defense gun. An awful lot can be learned from the .22 and I still use them more that anything else for practice.

[drywallguy]

First off, sorry about the double post (I thought the first one got deleted). Anyway, I got to try out a few guns tonight. I rented a Ruger 9mm and a 40. Witness. I also tried my brother-in-law's .32 Tomcat and his Ruger .45, there was also a guy we met at the range who let us try his Springfield 1911 .45. The Tomcat was the only one that I feel my wife could easily shoot, but it seemed inacurate and I couldn't get a comfortable grip without pinching the top of my hand when I shot. The 9 mm felt comfortable but it kept on jamming and I didn't even use all the ammo I bought. I liked both .45's (especially the springfield which just felt better) even though I think that would be a bit to much for my wife to be comfortable with. I really liked shooting the witness and it only jammed a few times within a box of ammo. I'm still going to wait for the gun show to buy anything and I'm going to try some other guns before then too.