Author Topic: Good "light" caliber? (Read 1770 times)

Gdbyrd · « **on:** February 20, 2007, 06:59:46 PM »

My wife is starting to spend a lot of time at home alone...and even though we live in the city, there have been a number of shootings and robberies taking place in highly populated areas...so She's starting to get the feel for a home defense gun. She's about 5'2", 90 lbs. I own a ton of handguns..but all the revolvers are too long barrel wise and my auto's just don't seem like the best choice for home defense..so what caliber would be a good one to start at?

I'm taking a CWL class this summer, so I might carry it occassionally too..hell, might get to buy two pistols out of this, hehe. I was thinking a snubnose 357..that way she can shoot 38's in it and I can carry it when hunting..my dad recommends one of those Taurus titanium super light models for 38 spl only. His is VERY light, easy to manuever, but I'm not sure if it's more me.

What caliber would you guys reccommend? I feel like 357-38 spl is my only option..but I know there are a lot of others, none come to mind now : / Also, what can you suggest gun wise for less than 500$. I think my next purchase is going to be one of those .22's that are a couple inches long. They had one at my local shop that was about 2" long and shot shorts ONLY, lol..I'd buy it just so I could show people how "cute" the damn thing is, lol.

GregP42 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2007, 10:36:05 PM »

One highly overlooked weapon for small framed women is the Ruger SP101 in .32 H&R Mag. It is short, easy to shoot, and with a good HP round it can be a real stopper. Give it a thought, that is what a friend of mine got his wife, the first thing he got her was a Lady Smith, but she just didn't like the way it felt or shot. She loves the little Ruger.

Greg

Mikey · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2007, 01:22:25 AM »

Depending on your wife's preferences for grip style and weight (of gun), you have lots of options. If you don't reload you still have lots of options.

Greg recommended the 32 H&R Magnum - you can find those in a Ruger da/sa or in a sa Vaquero style with a birds head grip that a lot of ladies on the cass curcuit find favor with.

You can try the S&W revolvers - the j-frame 38s are +P rated if you feel you need it but the 357 snubbies with +Ps give more bark than bite, unless you reload and are a real turn-off for lots of folk.

Also, please don't forget that someone who knows how to use thier handgun is morer able to use it effectively than someone who just has it around for protection. With this in mind please do not forget the earlier style western revolvers like the 1873 Colt and clones and the Remingtons, too. These revolvers can be had in 38 (and maybe 357), 38-40, 44, 44-40 and 45 Colt and are light to carry and easy to shoot. In fact, they are a hoot to shoot. Give it a thought and HTH. Mikey.

Turk · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2007, 07:22:15 AM »

You stated

Quote

I own a ton of handguns..but all the revolvers are too long barrel wise and my auto's just don't seem like the best choice for home defense.

Relating to what your dad said about the Taurus. I'm not sure if it's more me.

Since you have a tons of gun buy one that fits your wife so she can become proficient with it for her protection.

Your options are many. Wheel gun or auto? From your description your wife is not a large lady. Don’t convience her to shoot something she’s not comfortable with. Take my wife she hates automatics but shoots a wheel gun and will practice with it. By the way my wife’s home gun is a Colt 4 inch Official Police loaded with Winchester 110 gr. Super-X® Silvertip® Hollow Point. There may be better guns and rounds but the Silvertip with change someone’s channel once it’s triggered.

You also need to consider if she’s going to CCW if so then the small and lighter the better as long as she can control it. From my experience most ladies like a revolver over an auto (please no flames). My wife can shoot a 1911 effectively but as she says she wants to see the rounds in the cylinder. Does that make any sense? Not really but that’s the way she feels all the data and talking in the world will not change her mind

The good thing about a 38 or 357 wheel gun is they are easy to learn to shoot and can be picked up at a lower price than most automatic’s on the used market. You can pick Model 10’s and Official Police in very good condition in the $200-250.00 range. If an auto were the choice I would recommend a 9 Para or 40 S&W in double action only.

Some will recommend a larger caliber I orginally was a hardcore 1911 fan but when push came to shove I grabed my wifes 5904 over my 1911. After this my 1911 went into the safe and a Hi-Power is my house gun now. I orginally had the 5904 for my wife (which she never liked) and when the 1911 was put up the Official Police replaced the 5904.

Turk

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2007, 07:53:29 AM »

I do reload so that's a plus. She has not shot much at all, only rifles too. For her to shoot a little and see what she likes I'll borrow my old mans 9mm and then his 357..let her try both of them out and then go on from there. Or, would it be better for her to try some .22's so she can see what it's like with no recoil?

I always lean towards auto's for the extra capacity, but I can see the advantages to a revolver...

Turk · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2007, 08:52:16 AM »

Gdbyrd,

I’d start her on 22 and use some kind of reactive target to make the shooting fun. Then to the 9 Para. Also instead of the 357 Mag. use 38 Special first get her to enjoy the shooting experience not dread it.

Quote

I always lean towards autos for the extra capacity, but I can see the advantages to a revolver.

I also prefer an auto over a revolver but in reality if you need more than six rounds you should of brought a rifle to the gunfight.

You may also consider seeing if your wife wants to attend a firearms training class.

Have a good day.

Turk

totallycustom · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2007, 09:18:21 AM »

I know many peoples first thought may be to grab a handgun but they are hard to shoot accurately with short barrels, especially understress.

A better option might be a youth size 20bore shotgun with a shorter barrel, it would be a better stopper and easier to shoot.

Just my 2 cents, but thats what I did for my wife.

-TC-

Lone Star · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2007, 07:12:33 AM »

Quote

I always lean towards auto's for the extra capacity, but I can see the advantages to a revolver...

Remember that this is a home defense weapon, your wife will not be getting into a drawn-out gunfight. If her weapon is not effective in its intended goal - stopping the attack - within 6 shots, would more shots make any difference? Perhaps it would on 24, but not in the real world.

A lightweight three-shot scattergun wouldn't be a bad choice either. She only needs one shot but the threat of two more means she is not "disarmed" in the eyes of an attacker after the first.

.

PaulS · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2007, 06:00:32 PM »

If this is a gun that she won't have to carry - a true "home defense" weapon then make it a pump shotgun. A short barreled, big magazine pump shotgun. As big as she can handle well. In a home pistols are just too much and too little at the same time. A 20, 16, or 20 ga. shotgun loaded with buck shot or #4 bird shot will be far more effective in the confines of a house against an intruder and far less dangerous to what is beyond the walls than any of the pistols that available for the same job.

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2007, 06:26:07 PM »

I had never even considered a shotgun. It just seems so large and cumbersome...but maybe I'm wrong. I have a 12ga Winchester Defender, but I don't think that'd be a good one to keep for her. In my mind a home defense weapon is something that's small, easily maneuvered and good for about 6-8 feet...also something easy to keep somewhat hidden...a pump scatter stick seems so big, but I'll give it some thinking.

LoneStar, is 24 any good? Just thought I'd ask since you mentioned it. My wife is a big fan of series type shows and I've seen a lot of hype about that show, just wondering if it's worth watching. Being in the medical field I find myself watching shows more oriented to that..ER and Grey's Anatomy are the kinda shows I look to for entertainment.

PaulS · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2007, 06:47:52 PM »

What will she do if she hears an intruder? If she is like most people she will get to the back bedroom away from the door and wait. A light weight pump shotgun will be easy to point in the right direction and easy to keep from pointing in the wrong direction. She will need to be trained with it and practice as much as she can so it becomes an extension of herself.

35Rem · « **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2007, 03:26:00 AM »

What about a pistol round carbine? Hi-Point, Kel-Tec, Beretta, and a few others make short carbines that shoot pistol rounds that would have very little recoil.

Just a thought

Lone Star · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2007, 06:34:42 AM »

Quote

LoneStar, is 24 any good? Just thought I'd ask since you mentioned it...

I'm not a good one to ask. I have watched it a few times and really enjoyed it - but I wouldn't call myself a fan. I just don't watch all that much TV, but if I did 24 is a show I'd watch.

.

canon6 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2007, 11:35:37 AM »

As strange as it sounds those really small 22 mini's are very hard to shoot.They are IMHO are not very good self defense weapons.My wife has a SP101 in 357.She shoots mostly 38spc and is very happy with it.Also the short barreled shotgun is a viable option Doug

Gdbyrd · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2007, 06:15:47 PM »

Canon6, I want to buy one of those little .22's to be one more gun to plink with. I'd be more comfortable taking a knife to a gunfight than one of those. I have a Derenger in .22 and to save my life I doubt I could hit the broad side of a barn past a few yards.

cetme · « **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2007, 10:30:39 PM »

first thing is DO NOT go looking around the house for badguys to shoot up. Bunker down in a "safe room" and wait for the boys in blue to clear the house. Pro's clear houses in teams not as individuals doing so with hostiles present is to envite disaster. If you want to know more pick up gabe suarez's books on gunfighting.

On to the shooting irons. A shotgun that fits your wife for length of pull and is an action type she can use is a great choice. Some people have a problem with pumps so maybe you should go with a remington 1100 in 20 ga loaded with buckshot. A home defence handgun is the infantry component to the plan as the longgun is the artillery. The pistol must fit her hand and she must learn proper shooting technique to control recoil. My wife didn't understand isometric pressure for a long time and thought she needed a light and small handgun then one day the light came on and now she has a sig 225. Light wight handguns recoil more and short sight radius hanguns are more difficult to shoot accuratly. Be careful lots of new shooters are turned off by poor instruction and too much recoil or a low quality firearm that makes shooting more difficult than nessisary. Also be mindful of non locking breach handguns. There is no locking mechanism so the recoil go's into the shooters hand.

williamlayton · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2007, 01:00:20 AM »

I have been reading this with interest.
No one has suggested a .410 shotgun.
There are a number of these shotguns available.
they are efficent.
They are dependable.
They are what many used to learn on.
They are not intimidating to the user.
In the range and situation described they would dispatch an intruder.
Blessings

slim · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2007, 11:52:37 AM »

Since your question centered around a HOME DEFENSE GUN , my choice would be a REMINGTON model 1100 in 20 ga.

Coalminer7 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 03, 2007, 07:16:54 AM »

This is a good post. I have to agree with the others here in the shotgun area. A friend of mine is a trooper and this converstion came up with him and some others in law enforcement. They all agree to hunker down in a safe room, keep a cell phone handy and all agreed on a small shotgun for most women, noticed I said most, not all. We live in a very rural area of PA. and our BAD GUYS are critters that bite back in our barn. If my wife can flush them out, a 20 gauge single shot HR does them in right now. For the home wife I would say a small double barrel 20 gauge with the shortest barrels avail. would do the best. Like cetme said, call for help and hide, police react to these situations like a pack of hunger coyotes, numbers mean a big thing.

Cookiemann · « **Reply #19 on:** March 03, 2007, 04:09:09 PM »

If after reading all the good points about shotguns you are still leaning toward a handgun, then here is one to check out.

http://www.charterfirearms.com/index.html

They, too, offer a 32H&R Mag. I have never owned one, but have done some reading and they are said to be well made and reliable. Also, less money than a Ruger and still MADE IN AMERICA.

Awf Hand · « **Reply #20 on:** March 07, 2007, 07:31:32 AM »

There's just something about that ssshuck-shuck that a pump-gun makes that would scare anyone with a will to survive...

Seems to me that there is a pretty fair amount of scare that can be had from a red dot appearing on one's personage.