New handgun time

a reply to: charlyv

Beautiful pieces of firearm history but I would go with something modern, rated to handle +P ammo (if you are using a .38spl, 9mm, etc) and stick with the standard calibers to make life easier and practice cheaper

.380 acp, 9mm, .38 spl, .357 mag, .40 S&W, .45 ACP..plenty of other ones but these are widespread. Their effects on a human attacker is well understood. With today's ammo, the question of caliber matters far less than your own comfort/effectiveness with it which of course comes down to training, practice and actually carrying. Modern defensive ammo (no FMJs, only shoot JHPs) will all do the job if you do your job of getting the shots on target in a vital area

As far as long guns go...that's another story. Shotguns, rifles, carbines, automatics (you'll pay big for these). 5.56MM, 7.62NATO and 7.62x39mm are all common. 12ga, 20ga, so on

a reply to: JBurns

3 to the chest will put most people down be it a 9 or 45


no mercy for people in my house

originally posted by: penroc3
a reply to: JBurns

3 to the chest will put most people down be it a 9 or 45


no mercy for people in my house

Well put

If you are looking for a weapon exclusively for home defense purposes, and you never intend to carry it for any period of time, you could consider something along the lines of a pump action shotgun.

Doesn't much matter whether its 12ga or 20ga, shotguns are unmatched when it comes to face to face ranges. Could look into a low recoil #4 buck load or specialty designed frangible slugs to protect your neighbors/others living in your home from the over penetration that comes with virtually all handgun and especially long gun rounds including shotguns unless specifically designed to minimize the risk of over penetration

A big thing often overlooked is a good light source! Ideally you should be able to keep both hands on the weapon and operate your torch. This would probably mean mounting it to the weapon itself, and it is highly recommended.

There is nothing more dangerous than going room to room looking for bad guys, so you could even consider picking up a used Level IIIA vest off Ebay (you can get a good one for less than $100) and maybe keep it beside your bed to throw on quickly in an emergency

Just get plenty of practice in your home (with the weapon made safe of course). Know how it feels to wield your weapon of choice when you take corners, move to dominant positions in the room and realize that most tactical doctrine is designed for a team not an individual. Not saying to throw out the rule book, but when it comes to individually clearing a premises focus less on the footwork and more on the overall goal of what you are doing (searching for bad guys and leaving a safe zone behind you at all times when possible)

Good luck penroc3!!!

a reply to: JBurns

i have a 20 gauge on my shelf with copper buck shot ready to go

but sometimes the more tools the better

i had EXTENCIVE small arms training in the AF, i did pararescue so i made sure i was proficient with all my tools down to my hands.

also you can get a good sight picture faster with a handgun but the 20GA in a one shoot kill, it would put a hole in your chest you could put your fist in(well the exit wounds).

i also played paintball professionally in high school and real close quarters training and real life experience

if i had a million buck i would own ALOT of cool guns.

originally posted by: penroc3
a reply to: JBurns

i have a 20 gauge on my shelf with copper buck shot ready to go

but sometimes the more tools the better

i had EXTENCIVE small arms training in the AF, i did pararescue so i made sure i was proficient with all my tools down to my hands.

also you can get a good sight picture faster with a handgun but the 20GA in a one shoot kill, it would put a hole in your chest you could put your fist in(well the exit wounds).

i also played paintball professionally in high school and real close quarters training and real life experience

if i had a million buck i would own ALOT of cool guns.

Impressive! My apologies, I did not realize you already had training and plenty of experience shooting

Probably know more than I do!

a reply to: JBurns

Its allot different when you know where people are coming from(paintball and some training and even in real life)/

that being said

when it is you alone in a dark house with an unknow amount of people and your family there is a whole different ball game.


At my gun club the swat guys shoot there and i have picked up alot of good pointers from them. I am that's their jobs.


If someone was in my house and i was alone i would try to leave instead of confronting people, i would rather the police stack up and deal with the person/s and i sit nice and safe in a cop car.


in the middle of the night no matter what the intruders already have the drop on you, you don't know how long they have been there what they have gotten into or how many there are.

sometimes its smart to run to fight another day than to throw yourself on a sword over material stuff in my house.

i don't have 5-6 guys behind me ready to go and proficient at clearing houses.

so in that respect i give cops and SWAT a lot of credit

shooting at people shooting back at you is also a different moral thing(in my book). killing someone in a house when you can escape isn't okay in my book.

a reply to: penroc3
You don't run that can be dangerous as well since you don't know how many there are and where they are at. As I told the wife to find a secure room lock the door and shoot anyone that tries to come through the door. Then call the police and tell them your location

a reply to: dragonridr

if possible yes


but removing yourself from the situation is still safer than locking yourself in a room because you will 100% have a interaction with whoever is in your house


if you know your exit is safe than i would take that over confronting someone in my house.

that's what the cops are for.


the only reason i have home defense guns is incase i get backed into a room i cant exit from safely.

most robbers just want stuff not a fight and i have home owners so i would be more than happy to let them take the stuff and than get arrested later and no one gets hurt

over shooting someone or getting shot.




shooting people isn't like the movies, sometimes it takes a so called mag dump to put someone down and even than they still might get a shot off and in close quarters that one shot is all it takes to kill you or someone in your family



i have been in a good number of shoot outs if you want to call them that and with out back up iit is super dangerous to confront an unknown number of people with unknown weaponry.

also in my area its mostly younger kids and i dont want anymore young adults life on my conscience i already have enough to answer to god for

I definitely prefer the Chiappa Rhino in 357 for carry.
For defense the Remington 870 TAC-14

Make sure whatever you get, if you plan to carry, that you can draw it out of your holster. I can draw the 1911 with ease out of the Summer Comfort in appendix or kidney over the Walther PPK in the IWB generic holster or belly band. I need a better holster for the PPK to be able to carry effectively.

a reply to: Flipper35

Very good point!!

Too many don't realize that a good holster is almost as important as the weapon it holds.

If you can't draw the weapon quickly, and safely, it could become dangerous to the user, too. Comfort is a big concern, as well...if it's uncomfortable to carry, many will stop carrying it. Which defeats the purpose of the holster entirely.

originally posted by: argentus
I admit that I'm old school. For concealed carry, I would opt for a Smith and Wesson 442 revolver Lightweight -- only 15 ounces loaded. Sleek design, double action only. Ramped sights less likely to hang up on you Bianchi pancake. Easy profile to carry. Take it golfing.

That said, I've been well out of touch for two decades or so, but I read a lot. When I used to carry, I would have always counted on an old-faithful revolver and perhaps a speed loader or two.

Love the 442/642. I have a 642.

I'm old fashion besides my 9mm in the dash. These cost more then guns lol

a reply to: Ravenwatcher

Beautiful instruments. Not very good for distance, but superlative for close work.

P.S. I have no favor for butterfly blades. The reason is that the extra time require for deploying them doesn't -- imo -- support the cost. I can deploy any blade I own in miliseconds. Now, if somebody pulled a knife on me, I would not pull my own; I have carried a pocket knife for nearly sixty years; it is a tool that I use every day. However, I am not a knife fighter. If someone pulled a knife on me, I would be better defensively (AND! offensively) without a knife in my hands.

a reply to: seagull

I found a pretty sweet IWB holster. The gun is held securely, but it's very easy to draw, even with it at the small of my back. I carry a Springfield XDM Elite. That's a nice gun to shoot, but a little heavy to carry. But I like the weight, especially when shooting.

a reply to: argentus

Well butterfly's are greatly misunderstood the blade is not necessarily what you need to be afraid of and frankly using the blade is a last resort kinda like mini nun chucks and nice blunt object in your hands. If I need the blade I can get it out faster then a switch blade in both hands its not all fancy show they are a very formidable weapon for those who really know how to use them .

i have a 1911 that i have modified by putting in a 7-inch barrel and ported the barrel, that now sticks out about two inches.
Since i use 165 gr hydra shoks deep.
www.youtube.com...
www.youtube.com...
i now have a low recoil 1911 that will fire faster than most and get good penetration

a reply to: penroc3

I just got finally a S&W Bodyguard, in .380 ACP. Been wanting one for a while.

I didn't have a solid pocket pistol in sufficient power.

a reply to: Ravenwatcher

Okeydoke. thanks for the clarification. If I understand you right, you value the weight in your palm, as I perhaps I would a roll of quarters. I can also see how the hinge could be used to propel the arm forward with great force; as you said, like nunchaku/nunchucks.

I prefer thumpy things. I have an axe handle by my side of the bed. My wife is a cutter. She has a short Burmese sword. There is an old-fashioned wooden baseball bat by our front door. Y'don't see them much anymore. I never could tolerate an aluminum bat.

a reply to: Ravenwatcher

Beautiful I have a Marfione Custom I always take out, and very few realize it costs around 3x what their shiny new AR-10/15 cost 😊

Balisong…what a mesmerizing display. A mix of art and prowess with edged weapons