Posted on Feb 5, 2016
Which handgun would you recommend to someone with little or no firearms training or experience, for home protection?
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Let's eliminate the obvious. He has already been presented with the pros and cons of firearm ownership and the various arguments over the 2nd Amendment, and made his informed choice to purchase and keep a firearm for home defense. Of course I recommended that he obtain professional training in the proper maintenance and safe handling of whatever he purchases.
http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=199&category=revolver
I had recommended the Taurus .45 cal/.410 shotgun. Actually, I'm considering one for myself. It seems to me that having a virtually nonlethal round in the first chamber would be desirable for someone who might be hesitant to pull the trigger, even when he, his family and home are threatened. The .45 Long would then provide effective stopping force for anyone who didn't take the hint. Also, I feel that revolvers are inherently more reliable, especially in the hands of a novice.
Wouldn't you know it, California has banned the sale of this weapon because it fires a shotgun shell. Oh the horror! A .410!
I advised him to go to another state and get one if he really wanted it. (That's what I'm likely to do)
However, what other options would you recommend?
http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=199&category=revolver
I had recommended the Taurus .45 cal/.410 shotgun. Actually, I'm considering one for myself. It seems to me that having a virtually nonlethal round in the first chamber would be desirable for someone who might be hesitant to pull the trigger, even when he, his family and home are threatened. The .45 Long would then provide effective stopping force for anyone who didn't take the hint. Also, I feel that revolvers are inherently more reliable, especially in the hands of a novice.
Wouldn't you know it, California has banned the sale of this weapon because it fires a shotgun shell. Oh the horror! A .410!
I advised him to go to another state and get one if he really wanted it. (That's what I'm likely to do)
However, what other options would you recommend?
Firearms and Guns
Firearms Sales
Home Defense
Concealed Carry
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 160
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I advise all gun owners to obtain insurance from USCCA, and I’m not advertising for them, but here’s why, not only it is inexpensive, the training they offer is Outstanding!!! Know your states laws, when and when not to brandish, they make you think like an attorney so you make informed decisions, then consider purchasing a decent American made S&W M&P Shield or Springfield XD or equivalent dependable inexpensive firearm
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S&W Governor with the laser. Takes .410 shotgun shells, .45 Colt and .45 ACP rounds. They make a home defense round in the .410 that has disks, and bird shot in it.
Hand cannon, just point and shoot with the Home Def rounds if the 3" cylinder doesn't scare 'em getting a laser dot on their chest from a gun that will knock tea cup sized exit wounds through them should.
Hand cannon, just point and shoot with the Home Def rounds if the 3" cylinder doesn't scare 'em getting a laser dot on their chest from a gun that will knock tea cup sized exit wounds through them should.
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1) Start small. Get something in 22. It's a very underrated round, and can do the job. It's also cheap compared to most other calibers, but it's one con is availability. It usually isn't available in retail stores, and is still sold at stupid prices from private folks online and in person. Also check laws, and past trials in local/state court on firearms being used. Attorneys have a funny way of ruining your life even though you were presumably right to take out the bad guy. That's another point: get acquainted with a good defense lawyer, and have his/her number on speed dial. That's right up there with having liability insurance. This may seem like much, but I've lived most of my life in a state that looks down big time on gun ownership.
2) Get training from good instructors; especially someone who's been in a gunfight or has had to deal with bad guys up close and personal. Competent instructors are practically a dime a dozen depending on your location.
3) Train not just with how to shoot said handgun, but how to keep it on you and out of the hands of the bad guy. There's nothing wrong with some hand to hand combat knowledge.
TL;DR get training before picking a gun, and it's ok to not get something chambered in the biggest and baddest caliber.
2) Get training from good instructors; especially someone who's been in a gunfight or has had to deal with bad guys up close and personal. Competent instructors are practically a dime a dozen depending on your location.
3) Train not just with how to shoot said handgun, but how to keep it on you and out of the hands of the bad guy. There's nothing wrong with some hand to hand combat knowledge.
TL;DR get training before picking a gun, and it's ok to not get something chambered in the biggest and baddest caliber.
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Col. I agree with your assessment of a revolver over a semi auto for beginners but I believe that a LCR By Ruger would be a good choice for him especially if he is going to concealed carry. It comes chambered in .38 special and .357 mag. The .357 mag will also take the .38 special loads and after he masters the .38 he may want to move up to the .357. The magnum might be a little hard on the hands in a light wave revolver but depending on the shooter it may be able to be mastered.
That being said I also like the Taurus Judge and you can make the .410 basically as lethal as you want it. Hornady offers a critical defense round that shuts a FTX .41 cal slug followed by two .35 cal round balls that would likely dissuade most attacker and the usual strategy of slug/ .45 long colt alternating would certainly be a good defensive posture IMHO.
That being said I also like the Taurus Judge and you can make the .410 basically as lethal as you want it. Hornady offers a critical defense round that shuts a FTX .41 cal slug followed by two .35 cal round balls that would likely dissuade most attacker and the usual strategy of slug/ .45 long colt alternating would certainly be a good defensive posture IMHO.
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357 revolver with hidden hammer, not a Taurus Judge because the 410 doesn't have penetration and the 45lc doesn't have expansion
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