Homey and other gun toters

[stoops the eternal pimp]

I have never owned a gun. Its pretty weird considering I grew up in the back woods of SE Ok and had an entire family of gun toters around me. It was just something I was never interested in. I did not fire my first gun til I was 28 years old and it was at a shooting range in OKC.

Lately though I have thinking that I need to get some type of small pistol/handgun to keep in the house to protect my family. Problem is that I don't have the slightest idea what to get and how much trouble it would be to get it...I would like to spend less than 200 and it should be something that my wife could learn to use as well. I m sure I could find some kind of class around here that would teach somebody how to shoot well.

[SoonerProphet]

Don't know what you'd find for under 200. I own a Colt Defender and a Smith and Wesson Sigma .40. The S&W is a cheaper sidearm, but not sure on the 40 cal cartridge.

[SCOUT]

If you are looking for something for the family, I would recommend a revolver. It is simple to operate and clean. The simplicity also adds to the safety of the gun.

I am in the market for a 38 revolver for the wife. I saw several at the gun show a couple of weeks ago that were in the $300 range.

I purchased myself a Kimber 1911. :D

[Okla-homey]

I'd recommend, based on your requirements and circumstances, any model of S&W J-frame.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/233/jimage002sr9.jpg
Here's one in blued finish. This is also a hammerless model, which some people like because it's easier to draw from concealment since there's no hammer to snag on stuff.

It's a five shot double-action revolver. IOW, you pull the rigger, it goes bang. Five times. Period. Chambered for .38. With jacketed hollowpoints propelled by +P loads, it'll bring a man down. Those jacketed hollowpoints are marketed as "personal defense ammunition" by a variety of makers. It's not my fav round, that's 45 ACP, but it'll do fine for your purposes and the wife unit will be able to handle it.

Cruise a gun show or two (Oklahoma is the capitol of the world for gun shows -- betwen OKC and Tulsa there is one every weekend) and you can pick a used J-frame up for under $400.00.

Also, keep a nice tactical flashlight handy with the gun and practice holding the light on a target and firing. Chances are, if you need to use it in a home intrusion context, it'll be at night. By not turning on any lights, if you have a tactical flashlight, you have the edge. Decent ones are about 90 bucks. They are powered by lithium batteries and the light is so intense, shining it in someone's face in a dark room will blind the bastage for a few seconds.

Finally, they make these grips called "Crimson Trace" (google it) you can retrofit your new pistola with. Whereever the laser dot is on the target, that's where the bullet goes. Very effective, especially in low light situations.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1452/jframe205ev0.jpg
J-frame in stainless with Crimson Trace laser grip.

Most importantly, get some training. There are professional outfits all over Oklahoma that will teach you how to be safe and to defend yourself safely. You and the wife can do it together. Otherwise, the bad guy just might take your new pistola from you and turn it into a metal suppository.

[yermom]

Homey pretty much covered it...

it may sound strange to pay that much for a flashlight (they still go up from there) but you'll use that way more than the gun :D

[stoops the eternal pimp]

Thanks guys..I m gonna see about locating a gun show to go check some out.

I guess the money really isnt an issue I just set it low so that nobody would be telling me to go buy a 1000 dollar gun

[SCOUT]

I shot one of these this weekend.
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/ga_handguns/GAgrab_071405A.jpg

After my 1 shot review, I wouldn't recommend it for home protection for you and your wife. It has a wee bit of kick ;)

[soonerscuba]

I shot one of these this weekend.
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/ga_handguns/GAgrab_071405A.jpg

After my 1 shot review, I wouldn't recommend it for home protection for you and your wife. It has a wee bit of kick ;)
What if your home is under siege by aircraft?

[Condescending Sooner]

In my opinion, the best gun for home protection would be a 12 gauge shotgun. It would be near impossible to miss a perp and little kids wouldn't be able to shoot each other in the head with it. Plus the sound of a 12 gauge pump being cocked will put the fear of God into any potential invader.

[Okla-homey]

In my opinion, the best gun for home protection would be a 12 gauge shotgun. It would be near impossible to miss a perp and little kids wouldn't be able to shoot each other in the head with it. Plus the sound of a 12 gauge pump being cocked will put the fear of God into any potential invader.

Shotguns are great, but there are tough to clear rooms with because there's its tough to sneak around with one. Note: clearing rooms is something you prolly don't want to try unless you have kids elsewhere in the house you're worried about. Better to bail to your "alamo" point and call 911. Make sure you tell the 911 operator precisely where you are in the house and how many are in there with you.

Plus, if you do have to clear rooms, you have that barrel sticking out there the perp can grab and wrestle away...whereuopn the potential for suppository insertion again rears its ugly head. With a pistola, you can hold it in tight to your chest as you round the door frame or can even crawl around with it.

That said, great to stash a shotgun in your designated home "alamo" point (the walk-in closet in the master suite is generally a good "alamo" room), then hope the MF does come tip-toeing up to the closet door. Racking that slide is enough to scare the bejeebers out of the bad guy. If he decides he's coming in anyway, then you can introduce him to your "leetle friend."

Oh yeah, make sure you put your cellie in your pocket before bailing to the alamo spot. That way, someone can be 911-ing while the other defends.

[Condescending Sooner]

I wasn't planning on clearing any rooms. I'm not a freaking SWAT team. If he shows his face, I blast him, if not, I wait until he leaves. Also, I don't remember hearing of a young child shooting another with a shotgun, but I have heard plenty about them shooting another with a handgun. I guess hand guns are more fascinating to them. You can hold a shotgun to your chest as well, and if you do, it is very hard to wrestle it away.

[achiro]

Buy a dog. Seriously, I own several guns, all are kept in the safe, away from the kids. I do not worry about intruders though, my dogs would eat them.;)

[StoopTroup]

If I ever catch anyone in my house...they will beg me to call 911.

[r5TPsooner]

I echo Homey's sentiments but if you decide to go with a semi-automatice nothing beats a Glock.

[yermom]

here it comes....

:D

while we're at it... 9mm or .45 ACP? ;)

[StoopTroup]

Glock, S&W, Kimber, H&K...you can't go wrong with any of those IMO.

[OklahomaRed]

S&W 357. Shoots a nice blue flame out the barrel when shot in the dark! :D If the bullet don't kill em, they will be deaf for a week.

[soonermix]

hand grenades. hard to miss with a hand grenade

[Turd_Ferguson]

YWIA
http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/images/KucerColt25.jpg

[BigRedJed]

I present The Judge (http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=199&category=Revolver), beeyotches.

http://www.taurususa.com/images/imagesMain/44-410L1side.jpg

[C&CDean]

If you're serious about a handgun, peem me. I've got a Ruger dealer who lives on my street. He sells all kinds of used guns too. Very fair, and he won't sell you a POS.

And pretty much what Homester said. Double-action revolver, .38 caliber or larger. Very safe, very reliable, and cheaper than an auto.

[yermom]

I present The Judge (http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=199&category=Revolver), beeyotches.

http://www.taurususa.com/images/imagesMain/44-410L1side.jpg

those things are crazy

[BigRedJed]

Crazy dead-robber-making.

[SoonerInKCMO]

Why is the sight pink?

[C&CDean]

Why is the sight pink?

It's the Vespa model.

[Harry Beanbag]

I present The Judge (http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=199&category=Revolver), beeyotches.

http://www.taurususa.com/images/imagesMain/44-410L1side.jpg



Those things are awesome, perfect home defense weapon.

[GottaHavePride]

For a tactical flashlight, I highly recommend Surefire.

[Harry Beanbag]

For a tactical flashlight, I highly recommend Surefire.

Yeah, those are somewhat bright. :)

[Tulsa_Fireman]

Start with this, obtainable just about anywhere for roughly $100.00. Sometimes cheaper. I picked mine up at Wal-Mart for just under 80 bones in 12 gauge.

http://members.cox.net/firemanat25s/shotgun.jpg

Get some 00 buck and put it in that gun. It comes bored full choke, and it slings it tight, even with #8. Because the gun is light, it kicks like a mule, though. I'll shoot trap with this gun when I'm feelin' saucy because it FORCES me to center on the bird and make a good shot, but doesn't drift at the barrel like others will with bad form. It's single action, amazingly simple, and easy to operate and clean. Essentially a steel tube with a wooden handle. Idiot-proof, which as far as I'm concerned, is exactly what you want if you gotta get dangerous in a hurry with a head full of sleep. Load, close, click, boom.

If you're feeling ESPECIALLY rowdy and want to sweep a hallway in one shot, you can do this easily with this firearm. And you're not gonna have to choke down the regret that you just butchered that brand new Wingmaster you got 500 plus bucks in.

http://members.cox.net/firemanat25s/sawedshotgun.jpg

Might have to do some asking around to find someone to help you out in this regard. But it's effective. The same principles apply as far as ease of use, and if you think this thing bucks and spits with a full barrel, it'll detonate your arm gripped and sawed. I'd highly recommend going 20 gauge if you go this route.

The best thing about it is the safety factor and the entire lack of doubt and concern. Double-ought is low velocity. There's no question as to whether the firearm is ready to fire. It requires a positive action from you to fire. It's easily left broken and it easily loads. And given the shot is dang near the size of .38 (I've heard it IS the equivalent of .38, and I've heard it's just shy of, you gun guys can straighten me out here) and with lower velocities, you've got yourself a rootin' tootin' knockdown machine.

I love mine. Arguably the most simple, yet most fun firearm I've ever owned. And the most comfortable firearm I am in firing, which is exactly what you want when the proverbial poo hits the proverbial fan.

[yermom]

For a tactical flashlight, I highly recommend Surefire.

if i was buying one now, i'd be getting one of these:

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/24459/sesent/00

i have an incandescent 6P, it's not as bright and the batteries don't last near as long.

[12]

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/684436/2/istockphoto_684436_homemade_slingshot_on_the_groun d_request.jpg

[yermom]

after Lost last night, i'm thinking i need a collapsible baton...

[BigRedJed]

...If you're feeling ESPECIALLY rowdy and want to sweep a hallway in one shot, you can do this easily with this firearm. And you're not gonna have to choke down the regret that you just butchered that brand new Wingmaster you got 500 plus bucks in.

http://members.cox.net/firemanat25s/sawedshotgun.jpg

Might have to do some asking around to find someone to help you out in this regard. But it's effective. The same principles apply as far as ease of use, and if you think this thing bucks and spits with a full barrel, it'll detonate your arm gripped and sawed. I'd highly recommend going 20 gauge if you go this route...
Or you can take my suggestion and load IT with .410 shells instead of the .45 long Colt ammunition. It will happily fire either. The barrel is rifled instead of smooth bore, so it spirals the shot away from the muzzle and shoots a wide pattern in close quarters. Plus, it holds five rounds.

Watch this video (http://www.taurususa.com/video/taurus-theJudge-video.cfm) and check out the damage inflicted on the target with only two rounds. Game over.

http://www.taurususa.com/video/images/thumbnail_judge.jpg (http://www.taurususa.com/video/taurus-theJudge-video.cfm)

[Tulsa_Fireman]

I can't argue that it's a gut-shreddin' handful of death. Impressive.

But wasn't overall cost an issue? As in, $200 or less?

[SoonerInKCMO]

Dang, y'all must be doin' a lot more killin' than I am.

;)

[olevetonahill]

What Dean said a 38 , Will prolly be all you need .
Plus you can always come to the Hill and shoot .
If all you are wanting is Home protection then you Dont need to Be practicing more than 5 to 7 yard shots .
I keep a 357 By me . If I have to I can shoot thru the walls and Get my badguy .
Interior walls dont Offer Much protection .

[BigRedJed]

I can't argue that it's a gut-shreddin' handful of death. Impressive.

But wasn't overall cost an issue? As in, $200 or less?
Yeah, I forgot about the price restriction request. That gun is about $600 worth of "you're going to wish you never came into my house, mother****er... ...but only for a second or two."

[SoonerBorn68]

$325'll get you an AK-47--Preferred weapon of terrorists everywhere. ;)

Actually I agree with the .38 revolver and/or 12 gauge suggestions. Both will do the job of home protection nicely & affordably. I found a Hi Point 9mm (cheap cheap) pistol at the OKC gun show last year for $125.

[StoopTroup]

http://www.dreadgazebo.com/gunporn/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/uspmatch_lg.jpg

[olevetonahill]

You folks keep fergettin HES NEVAR owned a weapon
STEP Ya want a 38 or 357 REVOLVER .

[Okla-homey]

here it comes....

:D

while we're at it... 9mm or .45 ACP? ;)

No one survives a 45 ACP jacketed hollowpoint to the center of mass. No one. The round cavitates and turns vital organs to bloody goo.

That leads me to my next point. You need to kill the bastage. Otherwise, he's a witness in his lawsuit when he sues you. Dead thugs tell no tales. Sure, his mama might sue, but its your first-hand account as a homeowner defending your castle against conjecture and circumstantial evidence.

I'm still a rookie on the legal side of things, but I srsly doubt a jury of Oklahomans would award moolah to the estate of a thugola who broke into the home of a decent, God fearin' citizen and got drilled.

OTOH, if he lives, he might cook up some tale of woe that might be persuasive. He might assert he was confused because he was high and thought he was at his Aunt Margaret's house and he was just stumbling around looking for a cookie when you shot him. Especially if he's on the stand all-jacked up with permanent injuries you inflicted as a few of his baby mamas look on silently weeping.

IMHO, 9mm is barely acceptable for personal defense. Qualified by the statement you better double tap him. Triple tap is better. Two to the chest and one to the head.

To recap, if some dumb bastage breaks into Casa de Homey, it'll be the last two minutes of his MF life. He will eat the finest personal defense round ever created by a stone cold genius: Mr. John Moses Browning (peace be upon his immortal memory).

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/267/400pxcartridgecomparisobm1.jpg

[soonerbrat]

definitely take the class..and the wife too. I took the class thru the police department, but i'm not sure if that is open to the public or just for family of police officers.

[olevetonahill]

Why so Violent Homey .
You should offer em a beer and discuss Politics or religion . Offer em some Money and then give em a ride wherever they need to go . :D

[12]

http://www.panhandleplains.org/collections/images/pistol3.jpg

[Taxman71]

For you experts:
I am looking at a Ruger GP100 357mag in 4 inch and 6 inch barrell for home defense and carrying at the farm on weekend adventures. I also like the SW 686, but it is a bit more expensive for essentially the same gun.

I was thinking 357 ammo at the farm and 38 hollowpoint at home for self-defense (minimize exit holes/ricochets b/c I have kids). I will have kids sleeping upstairs with the wife and I downstairs. If I get an intruder, I will want to beat him to the stairs before anything happens while the wife can camp out in the master closet with a LED light and 38 special.

Your thoughts? (safety classes on the horizon obviously).

[Harry Beanbag]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/surreal-pistol-2-1.jpg

[Rogue]

Ugh. This hysteria is just driving prices up. I'll wait until the mood and prices settle down before I buy again.

[StoopTroup]

STEP...buy a shotgun.

[stoops the eternal pimp]

Crap...I was gonna talk to Dean at the tailgate about the gun thing and forgot...I still have to get something

[Okla-homey]

guns are cool.

They are like blue steel weenuses that can be made to go off on command and can be fired repeatedly over and over in a single shooting session. They can be used to bring down prey and can immobilize said prey with a single shot. In fact, if you shoot your prey well, no one else will ever shoot it when you aren't looking.

That's ultimately what's going on with us gun-nuts. I have searched my inner self and have admitted it. And I'm ok with it. Just sayin';)

[Rogue]

Heckuv an analogy Homester

[Kels]

G19 with Crimson Trace if I want to be surgical (Homey's triple tap method) . . .

SxS 12 ga cut down to the legal limit if I'm in a hurry.

Go .38/.357 revolver for your first gun, and practice. A lot.

[KingBarry]

Lot's of more advanced shooters coming on this thread.

If you've never owned, and barely fired, a firearm, you need a .38 Special double-action revolver.

.38 caliber refers to the diameter of the guns barrel. .38 is a middle sized round. .38 Special refers to a specific type of ammunition firing a .38-inch diameter projectile. .38 Special is basically a light- to medium-powered round.

That's plenty for you to handle if you are a beginner depending on this firearm to get out of trouble in one piece.

That goes double for a firearm also intended for your wife.

A typical adult-woman with no firearms experience is not going to heft up a gigantic .12 guage shotgun and start laying down covering fire. She wants something that is small enough to be comfortable in her hand, light enough that she can handle it comfortably.

One advantage for the shotgun is its lack of penetration. Loading a shot-gun, especially a .410, with birdshot means that it won't even penetrate most cheap sheetrock walls in third rate apartment buildings.

Lack of penetration is extremely important in a home defense situation as you do not want rounds traveling from your master bedroom into the nearby bedrooms of the kids, dog, or to the next door neighbors.

Again, as a light- to medium-powered round, the .38 Special is relatively limited as a penetrator, so will be much safer than the larger rounds mentioned above.

[Tulsa_Fireman]

A typical adult-woman with no firearms experience is not going to heft up a gigantic .12 guage shotgun and start laying down covering fire. She wants something that is small enough to be comfortable in her hand, light enough that she can handle it comfortably.

Bull.

Not all 12 gauge shotguns are Remington 1100s with 28" barrels.

I purchased a simple New England Firearms single shot 12 gauge with full choke in the barrel in my earlier years, about six months before I bought the ring I slid on her finger (for the express purpose of being able to defend the family I was starting). It is amazingly light, amazingly short, and amazingly easy to use. Literally click, click, boom. My then wife went with me that very first time taking it out as I was adamant that she shoot it, be familiar with it, and be able to use it in a hurry should she need to. Next to zero experience with firearms and none with shotguns.

As I coached her through the operation of, the stance she'd need to take, the recoil she should expect, and the proper way to mount the gun, she mentioned more than once about just how simple it was. And again after she gave that mule a ride. Looked at me, broke the breech, and said, "That's a lot easier than I thought it'd be."

We went through 4 boxes of #8 and a small box of 00 before we called calfrope. She saw firsthand the doom at the end of that double-ought.

And it was easy. So easy it's my weapon of choice to cover a hallway at 3 o'clock in the morning with a head full of sleep that has pure safety inherent in its design. Clearheaded, that 00 is going in my bird gun. If the window shatters in the middle of the night, I'm reaching for my mule.

[Rogue]

First gun I reach for...one of the 500's.
A "bird gun," as TF calls it, upstairs. And the more compact "Persuader" downstairs.


Here's some cat in NC showing off his Persuader.
5mojcYUrNd8

[Taxman71]

Lack of penetration is extremely important in a home defense situation as you do not want rounds traveling from your master bedroom into the nearby bedrooms of the kids, dog, or to the next door neighbors.

Again, as a light- to medium-powered round, the .38 Special is relatively limited as a penetrator, so will be much safer than the larger rounds mentioned above.

That is one reason I like the 357 magnum, it can shoot .38 hollowpoint for home defense to minimize collateral damage, yet I can carry 357 mag on my hip during blackpowder season and deep woods trailing/camping. Will probably get a smaller .38 special just for the wife...a little lighter and easier to handle.

[Curly Bill]

No one survives a 45 ACP jacketed hollowpoint to the center of mass. No one. The round cavitates and turns vital organs to bloody goo.


Homey, homey, homey...I can tell you're an ol' military guy showing love for the .45, but the above is a gross exageration. The .45 is a fine personal defense round, but is arguably no more effective the the 9mm, and likely less so then a .40.

[olevetonahill]

Crap...I was gonna talk to Dean at the tailgate about the gun thing and forgot...I still have to get something

STEP bring the Mrs and Come Over some weekend , You can shoot any weapon I have, then we can go to the Gun store and Pick Ya out something .

[olevetonahill]

First gun I reach for...one of the 500's.
A "bird gun," as TF calls it, upstairs. And the more compact "Persuader" downstairs.


Here's some cat in NC showing off his Persuader.
5mojcYUrNd8

Correction some Idiot shooting withOUT Ear protection .

[Curly Bill]

My recommendation would echo those talkin up the .38 or .357 revolver angle for someone who's not really a "gun person," and I'd recommend at least a 3" if not a 4" barrel as they are easier to shoot well then a snub nose.

[Whet]

.38 with a couple rounds of these:
http://www.exportlawblog.com/images/black_talon.jpg

[salth2o]

I present The Judge (http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=199&category=Revolver), beeyotches.

http://www.taurususa.com/images/imagesMain/44-410L1side.jpg


I held one of the Judges yesterday and it is as advertised! I am going to the Houston gun show this weekend and will own one or both of these.

http://www.mouseguns.com/p3at/im003000.jpg
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo130/pwdrburnr/P9060020.jpg

[Whet]

how about a Glock for the wife?
http://www.jimsgunsupply.com/DuraCoat/dc/DuraCoat_Glock_PinkLady.jpg

[olevetonahill]

No Glocks for Inexperienced shooters :eek:

[Whet]

but, it's a pretty color!

[olevetonahill]

but, it's a pretty color!

If he comes here fer some Help we can Put some Pink Nail paint On anything he gets her .;)