What's a good home protection Gun

I need to buy a gun living out hear in the sticks.

I need it to be a revolver because I cant risk a gun jamming when and if the time comes.

I need my wife to be able to shoot it too so I can't be a 357 or 44 mag.

I was think more like a .38? What say you.

I prefer a long barrel over the snub.


I know the shot gun is the ultimate home protector but I'll get that later. I need something for now that me and my 5"3 tall wife can shoot.

Please feel free to unload your opinions.

Ronnie

 

Well, you're thinking along the right lines. Most modern, name brand semi autos are as close to 100% reliable as you can get with a few hundred rounds through them but, if you have your mind set on a revolver, the .38 is about the best bet under the .357 magnum. A .357 with a 4 inch barrel would be my choice. It will shoot .38 specials and you could shoot .38 +p ammo to get the most knockdown power possible without going to a magnum. Then, if you decide to try .357 magnums later on, you'll already have the gun.

If you or your wife have small hands, you could pick up a custom grip that helps with recoil. Remember to practice, practice, practice until you are very familiar with your gun and can shoot it accurately. Good luck.

 

Ruger GP100 4" .357 magnum. Dead nuts reliable, accurate, can be had for around $300 used, and you can beat the guy to death with it if you run out of bullets. As stated can also shoot .38s, so she can get her aim down using them, but you can put .357s in when it's at the house. I've got much more expensive pieces, but its my favorite handgun I own by far.

 

Like you said...shotgun...and they’re cheap. The sound of a shotgun racking alone is enough to deter a home intruder. I think I’d go for either my 12 gauge or my Judge. Judge shoots both .410 shotgun shells and .45 long colts....may be a bit large for a female’s grip though.

My wife carries a Bersa .380 and is very comfortable with it.

Of the thousands of times I’ve shot a semi-auto pistol I’ve never had one jam on me. Only gun to ever have a mis-feed is my AK-47.

 

I've seen guns jam.

I've shot the 357, it's nice kick in the hands. But that was a magnum with a long barrel.

What do you think is easier to shoot and has less kick , a pistal grip or a traditional shot gun.

 

Never knew a shotgun can shoot handgun amo. Are their others or just the judge.

 

The Judge is a revolver.

 

This has some good info: https://www.pewpewtactical.com/5-best-home-defense-tactical-shotguns/

 

This would be my choice if I was legally allowed to purchase and posses a firearm.

 

I'm no gun expert, but I believe there a few .22 revolvers out there. They by no mears are are going to have the knock down of mag or .38. But the gun isn't going to jump out of her hands either. If we're are talking about being able to be used in close range like inside your home if needed I'm sure it would still hurt like he'll to be hit by what comes from it. Especially if there are 5 more rounds right behind it quickly.

I know both my sister in laws carry no revolver. 22 because they can handle it and feel better having multiple shots not just one big one.

Best to have her shoot a few pieces and see what she us comfy with b4 picking

 

Whatever you get, practice practice practice.
I prefer semi auto for the mag capacity and safety features.
And as mentioned by others practice.
Even practice action taken in case of home intruder. Who goes where and how to react quickly in a terrorizing situation. Go to training classes together for safety and use.

 

A judge is a 6 shot revolver that can shoot .410 rounds and 45 LC. It's an excellent choice as well, they have home defense rounds in .410 that basically came about because of that gun. It's not very accurate with .45 in it out to more than a few yards away, but you're not buying it to shoot those really. If you were there's much better guns out there.
As far as a pistol grip or regular stock 12 gauge, the pistol grip hurts most people's hands as you're taking the kick with just the palm of your hand and not your whole body like one held tight to your shoulder.
There are many .22 revolvers out there. I have one that also can switch the cylinder to .22 mag. Its nice and fun to shoot, and could get the job done, but i wouldnt feel safe with it as my home defense firearm. Id want more power.
I have my .357 in a droor on my headboard, and an 870 super mag 12 gauge next to my bed. The 12 gauge is tough to beat, but for a revolver I'm still going with the .357 as I posted earlier. And yes: practice makes perfect. Try to take a training course if you can. Remember, you're going to be handling a precision machine that can change or end 6 lives (not to mention their families) every time you have it in your hand. A firearm demands and should be treated as such. No spinning the cylinder and slamming it shut like on tv, for example. Whatever you get, treat it like it's capable of doing what it is capable of.

 

.38 special with +p loads are really good for women..ive put them in every womans hands ive ever had a relationship with..took them to the range and put 4 boxes thru with them, and tell them to go more or we wnet together..its a gun thats tried and true..many options and barrel lengths and most women arent intimidated..get a brand name..they are great guns..and for decades and decades, before meth and angel dust..cops carried them..when sh!t got sideways with hopped up druggies, cops wanted more power and better shot stop power..so large calibers and higher mag volume where put into service

big caliber and high volume rounds are not necessary for home defense..i promise you pop someone with a .38 and a +p in the chest, they are going down..especially at 10 feet or less

for a woman, or small hands, you can get grips to fit..they are midsized, light..and so brain dead simple, they can be legacy guns..you can pass then on, if you buy a quality gun.

.38 Special +P

Before the advent of the .38 +P, there was the .38 Special High Speed (.38/44), intended for use only in large frame revolvers originally designed for .44 caliber cartridges, principally the Colt New Service and S&W "N" frame models. This left plenty of steel in the cylinder to contain the increased pressure. In 1974, the SAAMI established standards for today's .38 Special +P loads, which replaced the .38 High Speed and are suitable for use in most medium frame revolvers, including the Colt Diamondback and S&W "K" frame models of that time. .38 Special +P loads have a MAP limit of 20,000 psi. This allows a significant, but not huge, increase in performance over the standard .38 Special.

Recoil in full size revolvers, although noticeably greater than standard pressure loads, is moderate and easy for reasonably experienced handgunners to control. Effectiveness is good. Muzzle blast is louder than standard pressure .38 loads, but far less than .357 Magnum loads. For many years the standard FBI service load was the .38 Special +P cartridge using a 158 grain lead SWC-HP bullet at a MV of 890 fps. This remains a popular service load and is available from both Remington and Winchester.

For civilian concealed carry and home defense, the Remington and Winchester +P factory loads using 125 grain JHP bullets at 945 fps / 248 ft. lbs. at the muzzle (Winchester figures) are popular choices. Similar is Federal's 129 grain Hydra-Shok JHP at a MV of 950 fps and ME of 260 ft. lbs. These are good personal protection loads for revolvers strong enough to handle them. According to the survey of police shootings conducted by Marshall and Sanow and published in their seminal book Handgun Stopping Power, the various 125 grain JHP +P loads from the major manufacturers achieved "one shot stop" percentages of about 63%-69% from 4" barrels. Their lower recoil and muzzle blast make them faster for repeat shots than full power .357 Magnum loads. They are also less blinding and deafening when fired indoors at night. Reloaders can duplicate such loads by using 5.7-6.0 grains of Unique behind a 125 grain JHP bullet. (Source: Speer Reloading Manual #14.)

Cor-Bon offers two high velocity loads for .38 +P snub-nosed revolvers. These use a 110 JHP at 1050 fps / 269 ft. lbs. and a 125 grain JHP at 950 fps / 251 ft. lbs. For apartment dwellers and others concerned with over penetration in densely populated areas, Cor-Bon / Glaser offers a Glaser Blue +P load with a pre-fragmented 80 grain bullet at 1250 fps and 278 ft. lbs. from a 4" barrel.

 

Nailhead nailed it! 410 lead pumpkin balls . Revolvers never leave evidence. On the ground

 

The Judge Taurus

 

I second (third? more?) a .357 revolver loaded with .38 hollow points. Buy a good one (I like Smith $ Wesson) and practice a lot. (You may find a new hobby!).
Patrick

 

I know most people don't think like this but a good fire extinguisher makes an excellent weapon. Aside from putting a fire out, you can spray someone in the face with it, then take the extinguisher and hit them up along side the head good, and immediately followed with a blow to the knees with that heavy steel they will be dropping like a lead balloon. Sometimes you need to think outside the box!


Keith

 

I am not going to recommend any firearm here, but I would recommend the following:

Safety course for both of you, training & practice in a controlled shooting establishment which is a great place to determine what your wife will be comfortable with and can handle safely. I hope your not thinking about just going out and purchasing a firearm then putting into the hands of an inexperienced shooter and think it to be a wise self defense tool. It may let you sleep better at night knowing you have one in the house but, if you don't know how to use it properly. Well then.......

Do you have any warning systems in place? If not I would consider this to be an additional must have.

Also having a dog is a great option, certain breeds make great guards and lots of them will always let you know one way or another (before you would know) if there is something wrong with "their" house.

That all being said, join a gun club, be safe, practice and have some fun. Then report back which first firearm she will be beginning with. But be cautious, it can be addictive and before you know it you'll have a small collection going and subscribing to magazines.