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[SHAFT MASTER]

Proper safe with a certain length PIN number. It has a lockout that disables entry every five incorrect attempts. I did the maths - it would take someone at full speed over a year to guess my combination and they'd need an external battery hooked up because the internal battery would run out pretty quickly. No way did I want any guest (or guest's kid) being able to casually open it.

It takes me five seconds to get in.

Speaking of safes, get a proper one. Not some shit $100 one from your local Walmart. Those one are a joke. Case in point: https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=odGsS1-NTjg

Yes, I own a good number of guns. Obviously I don't literally mean you don't need to aim like a shotgun is some real life aimbot. But, it is way easier to aim than a rifle or handgun.

Edit, oh, and at that range and with a target that big, fuck yes I can hip fire a shotgun and hit 100% of the time.

Yeah just making sure. The amount of misinformation around about shotguns is ridiculous.

Yeah out at the range in a stress free environment with all the time you want, I can believe that. But in the dark at your house during a very stressful situation and yoi gotta make a snap decision, I can't see that happening. Maybe invest in a laser/light combo or something.

 

[Javaman]

The answer to every "first gun" question is always a Glock 19.

Or G17, a little longer sight radius which is a plus but a bit more difficult to conceal if that's his eventual goal. For home defense it would be a little better than the g19. To each their own, but I would never use a shotgun for home defense if there's a chance you have to investigate a bump in the night. You can't realistically call the cops every time you get spooked by a noise, so you'll sometimes have to search the house, something that is much safer and easier to do with a pistol. A shotgun spread is minimal at ranges in a house and requires 2 hands. Worse yet, you're either going to lead around the corner with the barrel and can be disarmed if an intruder hears you coming or it's going to be muzzle down and you might not get a chance to bring it up. A pistol is faster to bear and easier to retain.

Now f I had to hole up in a room because I know there's someone there while waiting for the cops to show, a shotgun would be the best.

 

[DiscoJer]

I would suggest a .38 Special or .357 Double Action Revolver using the so called .38 Special FBI load

Revolvers are often overlooked today, but generally speaking they never jam (even if they are in a drawer or lockbox or whatever for years) and it's almost impossible to accidentally shoot someone with one, because you have to squeeze the trigger with some amount of force for it to fire.

Semi-automatics jam a lot if not cleaned regularly and if you don't practice perfect gun safety (which realistically, most people don't, especially new owners), are really easy to accidentally shoot because of the very slight trigger pull (especially Glocks).

 

[xDUMPWEEDx]

Or G17, a little longer sight radius which is a plus but a bit more difficult to conceal if that's his eventual goal. For home defense it would be a little better than the g19. To each their own, but I would never use a shotgun for home defense if there's a chance you have to investigate a bump in the night. You can't realistically call the cops every time you get spooked by a noise, so you'll sometimes have to search the house, something that is much safer and easier to do with a pistol. A shotgun spread is minimal at ranges in a house and requires 2 hands. Worse yet, you're either going to lead around the corner with the barrel and can be disarmed if an intruder hears you coming or it's going to be muzzle down and you might not get a chance to bring it up. A pistol is faster to bear and easier to retain.

Yep, this is basically all OP needs. Glock 17 or 19.

 

[Fury451]

Birdshot is unreliable.

I agree. I don't use it myself- and wouldn't want to get that close to begin with- but I'm also not in a situation in which others would be harmed by stray shots. If that's your concern you could use a lower yield round of another kind as well.

 

[inner-G]

.410 pistol

 

[SHAFT MASTER]

Also op no matter what you choose, make sure you get a fair amount of range time and keep going regularly. Biggest mistake you can make after buying a gun is going to the range, putting a few mags through it and leaving it in a safe until you need to use it. Shooting is a skill that requires regular practice.

 

[randome]

Damn, typically I'm reading the most extreme anti-gun opinion on this website and now everyone is just recommending guns?

Anyway, definitely a Peacemaker.

 

[rjinaz]

I would suggest a .38 Special or .357 Double Action Revolver using the so called .38 Special FBI load

Revolvers are often overlooked today, but generally speaking they never jam (even if they are in a drawer or lockbox or whatever for years) and it's almost impossible to accidentally shoot someone with one, because you have to squeeze the trigger with some amount of force for it to fire.

Semi-automatics jam a lot if not cleaned regularly and if you don't practice perfect gun safety (which realistically, most people don't, especially new owners), are really easy to accidentally shoot because of the very slight trigger pull (especially Glocks).

It's what I have, a .38 special revolver, a Rossi. Nice gun, very simple to use.

 

[highrider]

I wouldn't really presume to tell you what would be the ideal small arms for home defense, they all have advantages and disadvantages. It's better to use something you have a level of comfort/familiarity with as others have said.

I would also add that in my younger days I spent a lot of time with criminals, I was incarcerated for two years myself. Most breaking and entering guys are going to come during the day when you are at work, they're not trying to risk their lives entering a home with people inside. They'll usually knock first and be dressed in some sort of work attire with a story in case someone is there. And why hit an apartment when private homes are much more logistically sound for the crime. Smash and grab types are usually kids or addicts, there are always exceptions but I'm more saying this to give you a sense of their thinking.

Personally I have an AR15, I haven't taken it out of the case in 10 years but I was in the army and I'm pretty much a master of the weapon lol. I have an aluminum baseball bat that would be my first choice for home defense. I live in an apartment, decent, nothing fancy. DC area. Anyway, I hope nobody fucks with you, but I also wouldn't worry too much, just be observant.

 

[eLGee]

As a person living in Sweden, getting a gun for home protection seems overkill as fuck. That said, if you're dead set on getting a gun, LEARN TO USE IT PROPERLY. Spend A LOT of time at the range, learn all the basics ten times over and get a proper safe for that shit. Unless you're willing to spend time learning everything properly, you shouldn't get a gun at all. You need to learn to be surgical with that shit. Otherwise you'll be more likely to hurt yourself instead of a potential burglar.

 

[sturmdogg]

If you're deciding to get a gun, make sure you try it out at a range before buying it. Being comfortable with the gun you're holding is as important, if not more so, than what kind of gun it is.

Also, you might want to reinforce your home if you're concerned about break-ins.

1. Plant thorny bushes outside your window
2. Harden your doors with things like security hinges, security striker plates, door jams
3. Harden your windows with security film.

Establish a safe room and stay there if there's a break-in occurring in your home. Go there and stay there until help arrives.

 

[Briarios]

Damn, typically I'm reading the most extreme anti-gun opinion on this website and now everyone is just recommending guns?

Anyway, definitely a Peacemaker.

I'm totally for gun control and for people to legally own firearms - the two aren't mutually exclusive, but NRA types try to sell that con. Most the people I've seen on here that are for gun control fall near that spectrum -- and then it gets spun as being "extreme anti-gun"

 

[jstripes]

I have a canoe paddle close to my bed.

I've never had to use it.

 

[Agent_ShortBus]

Shotgun and beanbag rounds??

Edit: I have an AK and singleshot rifle but I would never use them for home defence. Always have them locked up and just keep the rifles bayonet near my bed. I'd be afraid of shooting a round through a wall and hurting someone. I'd like to get a shotgun and beanbag rounds in the future though.

 

[7DollarHagane]

Proper safe with a certain length PIN number. It has a lockout that disables entry every five incorrect attempts. I did the maths - it would take someone at full speed over a year to guess my combination and they'd need an external battery hooked up because the internal battery would run out pretty quickly. No way did I want any guest (or guest's kid) being able to casually open it.

It takes me five seconds to get in.

Do you also keep it unloaded?

 

[Strangelove77]

And then watch a ton of anime so you know how to properly use it.

You'll be cutting through bullets in no time.

 

[Herr Schwarz]

Fill the clip with blanks and terrify those mofos. Fuck it get two and a trench coat, then can pretend you're neo on the weekends

and don't forget to get yaself some armor too, so when the theives come round you can be all like

"CAN I HELP U BITCHES"

 

[Dex815]

Stuff like this sounds so bizarre to me (and 90% of Europeans probably).

People is stealing/breaking into cars in the neighborhood and you decide to buy a gun to defend yourself in case that they break into your place? Not buy an alarm, locks for doors, etc, a gun, a short one that you can use quicker than the rifle that you already own...

I guess that your assumption is that they will achieve to break in and they will try to hurt or kill you in case that you are there.

It really doesn't fit in my mind. Would you put a hole onto someone because is stealing from you? Or is to use it as a deterrent?

 

[sturmdogg]

If you're going to go with a shotgun for home defense, you may want to look at these:

Home Defense: Buckshot vs. Birdshot

Home Defense: Interior wall penetration test with 12 gauge shotgun

 

[Invert]

As of late, my neighborhood has been experiencing a high rate of vehicle break ins and at the right time. Meaning, people are obviously scoping out the neighborhood. My neighbors car has been broken into twice, not including his gf's car. Every other week the office is sending out emails saying a dozen or so cars have been broken into. Police have nothing solid and everyone is getting on edge. Especially my neighbor. I'm starting to have a bubbling concern that these people may start to break into actual apartments since they are casing the neighborhood so frequently and that makes me really uncomfortable.

I do own a firearm, but its a Marlin .22LR, so I'd need to hope a squirrel is doing all of this. My question is, what firearm can I purchase for home defense that is easy to maintain and has great safety features? I understand this isn't the best forum for this type of advice, but there has to be more gun owners around here that know a thing or two.

Quick background; I was born in 1984 so I had to take a gun safety/hunters course to purchase a firearm when I was younger. My rifle is always empty with a action lock on it, so safety is a major concern of mine. So safety features are extremely important to me. Any advice?

For a handgun I would greatly encourage you to take a course whether it be a familiarization course, or concealed carry course to make sure you know how to use the firearm competently. The worst thing you can do is end up shooting yourself or whatever isn't your intended target. Concealed carry will give you more options, and in many cases you get more legal protection if god forbid you have to defend your home.

As for handguns, Glocks are super reliable and not too pricy. They're also very simple, easy to take down for cleaning. springfield XDMs are very nice aswell. I just bought a Sig P320 today, but have yet to fire it so I'm not gonna offer anything on that.. just look to spend in the $500 range for something decent, don't go cheap and wind up with a firearm that you can't trust to defend yourself and family.

 

[SpartanN92]

Im not from the USA, is 'killing anything that moves' the desired outcome for someone breaking into your home?

How many home invasions occur with the invader having a gun?

Yes that is the desired goal.
If someone enters my home without my permission I'm shooting to kill. I might be more willing to wound or scare if it was only me in the house but if my family is home then I am taking zero chances.

 

[Alchemy]

Unless you keep the weapon on you at all times there is no such thing as a good gun for home defense. You're going to be shitting/eating/sleeping if someone breaks in and never have time to get a weapon out of a gun safe. Lock doors, call the police. Thats about as good as it's going to get.

 

[shira]

I would set up Home Alone style traps before I used a gun.

 

[AntraxSuicide]

Why the fuck is this fallacy still around? Aim for the leg right?

People think movies are accurate. It's why you see the "why not shoot the tires" comments sometimes.

 

[sturmdogg]

Unless you keep the weapon on you at all times there is no such thing as a good gun for home defense.You're going to be shitting/eating/sleeping if someone breaks in and never have time to get a weapon out of a gun safe. Lock doors, call the police. Thats about as good as it's going to get.

You make it sound like that's a bad thing.

 

[Quixzlizx]

I would set up Home Alone style traps before I used a gun.

That's because a Home Alone trap is more likely to kill someone than the average person trying to aim a gun in the dark.

 

[Herr Schwarz]

Why not get a gas mask, then a bunch of teargas or knockout gas.

You hear Intruder... Mask on... Grab the grenades and start lobbing em around.

Genius.

 

[SpartanN92]

I keep a .380 Walther PPK/S in my Nightstand, A Remington 870 20GA in my Closet, An AR-15 .223 in the closet, and a Walther P99 9mm in the Car.

Looking into getting a 12GA over under.

 

[AntraxSuicide]

I'd recommend a shotgun. Easy to use, and requires less accuracy. Just make sure you get a decent gun safe, not a shitty one.

 

[CarpeDeezNutz]

I just got a bat for home defense, someone actually tried to break into the garage apt I lived in when i was younger, I grabbed one of my cymbal stands and was like "WHO THE FUCK IS TRYING TO BREAK INTO MY PLACE?!" Dude was bigger than me but he got spooked, I was about to chase him but common sense prevailed and I called the cops.


Personally I would want a Desert Eagle though, not for home protection just to own.

 

[Subpar Scrub]

a wounding shot

A what? Why do people still think this is a thing to do? Far out...

But before a firearm, get yourself some security certified doors/windows and a good alarm system. Better to try and alleviate the possibility of an encounter than to get something used in reacting to one.

Make sure the bedroom door is solid and has a good lock. Maybe have a camera system throughout the house that feeds into the main bedroom. If you decide that you NEED a firearm, please use a safe and try not to leave your room during an encounter. Nobody needs to die over a TV.

If someone breaks in, sit in the corner with your loved one, point the barrel at the door, and let them take your stuff.

Good advice here.

 

[Mulberry]

Don't get wrapped up in caliber wars or stopping power comparisons, you're not going to war or going hunting. I'm going to assume your apartment isn't that big so none of that shit matters beyond penetrating the walls and killing your neighbors kids. Remington 870 with birdshot will do and if you need to feel better, load 2 birdshot then the rest buck. If you have to pull the trigger more than twice to defend your apartment you're in real deep shit. Don't be a hero. If someone breaks in, sit in the corner with your loved one, point the barrel at the door, and let them take your stuff.

 

[Herr Schwarz]

You make take my life, but you'll never take MY XBOX!! Kablaaah

 

[katsubento]

=Zen Aku;231893749 Usually a wounding shot is all you need to scare someone off.

That's a TV/movie myth. It does not work like that in real life. Your advice will get the OP either dead or in a serious lawsuit.

 

[J.EM1]

Remington 870 Police models. The Express models have had some QC problems.

Also, DO NOT fire a warning shot. You only fire your weapon when you're in immediate danger. Depending on where you live, you can get into some serious trouble with negligent discharge of your firearm (warning shots, blanks or otherwise).

And to respond to an earlier post, simply racking the pump on a shotgun within ear shot won't deter an intruder. That's probably the biggest myth about the pump action shotgun.

 

[kontonChaos]

A modern compact service pistol(Glock 19, Sig P320c,HK VP9,Walther PPQ) would be the most practical. Buy whatever fits your price on this list.
https://www.slickguns.com/category/hand-guns?caliber=1&view=list

 

[dejay]

Do you also keep it unloaded?

Yes, because I don't use it for self/home defence - it's purely for shooting comps/range toy. Also, it's the law in this country (Australia).

Hypothetically, if I were to own a firearm for home defence, I'd probably still keep it unloaded. As I stated before, you should be able to slow down intruders enough by security measures to buy you the time retrieve and load a firearm.

 

[soldat7]

 

[Ultryx]

I would recommend a Glock or Smith & Wesson M&P line, in 9mm or higher (depending on what you're comfortable shooting and controlling). Although you likely don't need more than a 9mm.

Another great choice would be a 12 gauge shotgun. I would recommend Remington or a Mossberg. I have a Mossberg 500 Persuader, I believe.

 

[Staccat0]

Shotgun is loud, visible, intimidating and honestly seems more likely to make someone back the fuck off even if you are shooting nervously in a hallway or a living room.

I mean, it's not gonna be a shootout, right? And your gonna have to take a class and get used to the thing either way.

 

[gohepcat]

May I ask why people are recommending handguns?

Why would you want to bring another one of those into the world? It seems like it would be much more desirable for theft.

Why not a shotgun?

This is coming from someone who knows little about guns. I live in a part of the country with very very little crime and very low gun ownership.

Do gun owners ever think about the support of that industry? Do any of you have a gun for home protection and think "God this really sucks that I have to own this?" Does anybody ever buy a shotgun because they don't want to add another handgun to the pile that we already have?

I'm just trying desperately to understand this mindset. It truly is completely foreign to me.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

I would recommend a Glock or Smith & Wesson M&P line, in 9mm or higher (depending on what you're comfortable shooting and controlling). Although you likely don't need more than a 9mm.

Another great choice would be a 12 gauge shotgun. I would recommend Remington or a Mossberg. I have a Mossberg 500 Persuader, I believe.

A 9mm is a seriously bad choice for home defense. Here's a video of a 9mm going through 10 sheets of drywall (so 5 walls) and penetrating the ballistic gel 9 inches. In my house that means any way I shot, if I don't hit a stud, that bullet could realistically exit my house and kill someone, as there aren't five walls between me and the outside world.

 

[Schlorgan]

Just go full Ocelot:

 

[jerry113]

Stuff like this sounds so bizarre to me (and 90% of Europeans probably).

People is stealing/breaking into cars in the neighborhood and you decide to buy a gun to defend yourself in case that they break into your place? Not buy an alarm, locks for doors, etc, a gun, a short one that you can use quicker than the rifle that you already own...

I guess that your assumption is that they will achieve to break in and they will try to hurt or kill you in case that you are there.

It really doesn't fit in my mind. Would you put a hole onto someone because is stealing from you? Or is to use it as a deterrent?

In the USA, if someone is breaking into your house then you absolutely 100% need to assume that they are armed with a gun and they intend to do you harm. So maybe they're just out to steal. But are you willing to risk your life to find out?

Since the thieves can have guns, you too have the right to buy a gun to defend yourself. It's very much still the Wild West.

The ultimate consequence you can pay for assuming they're not out to do you harm is to have harm done to yourself.

 

[saizo]

A 9mm is a seriously bad choice for home defense. Here's a video of a 9mm going through 10 sheets of drywall (so 5 walls) and penetrating the ballistic gel 9 inches. In my house that means any way I shot, if I don't hit a stud, that bullet could realistically exit my house and kill someone, as there aren't five walls between me and the outside world.

Frangible ammunition. Problem solved.

 

[pigeon]

I would much rather have this scenario. I'm hesitant as it is to purchase a firearm for home defense as is. I do not want to harm anyone, but neighborhood is becoming greasy and I'm not feeling so comfortable anymore.

I'm not critiquing your right to own a firearm here, or the recommendations you've received, but if you aren't comfortable with potentially shooting and killing somebody probably don't get a gun. That's what they're for. That also means that if you introduce one into a situation and you're not actually willing to use it then you've just made that situation way more dangerous to you.

If you just want to be able to threaten or hurt somebody, but not kill them, the self defense weapon you want is a baseball bat.

Edit: note that of course you can still kill a dude with a baseball bat, even by accident, but it's safer for obvious reasons

 

[Used-ID]

My personal home protection gun is my 12 gauge Kel-tec KSG shotgun. Why?
It's a bullpup. That's means if I ever have to manuver down the hallway I can keep it tight against my shoulder without having to point the barrel at either the floor or ceiling.
It's a pump action. The sound of putting a shell in the chamber might be enough to scare an intruder away keeping me from having to use the weapon in the first place.
It has 2 tubes for ammunition. The right tube has 7 shot shells while the left the has Winchester PDX shells (3 00-Buck shot balls that sit in front of a 12 gauge slug). The 7shot sized shells shouldn't go through 2 layers of drywall, but should make a god awful mess of whoever I hit with it. The PDX shells are for if I think I need to shoot to kill someone through the front door. Each tube will hold 6 3in or 7 2-2/3in or 12 1-1/2in shells.
I feel that the KSG is rather safe at it has a "regular" safety, the pump action to load it, and an "extra" safety in that you must manually toggle a switch to choose a tube to feed the shells from, and that same switch can be set in the center so that it blocks shells from either tube being loaded no matter how often you pump it.
I keep it at the door to the bedroom closet next to my PS90 with 3 loaded 50 round magazines.
While away from home I either have a 9mm or 5.7mm pistol. (You never know if you're going to get home with someone already on the house stealing stuff)

 

[Rest]

Im not from the USA, is 'killing anything that moves' the desired outcome for someone breaking into your home?

How many home invasions occur with the invader having a gun?

If you're shooting something with a gun killing it is the desired outcome. That's the function of guns.

 

[SiteSeer]