Posted: 2/15/2007 2:59:43 PM EDT
| This would be a home defense firearm. It would be used by my wife and I. Any suggestions? |
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Wife and daughter? Home defense? KISS (keep it simple stupid)- get a .38 special with a 4" barrel, load it with Speer Gold Dots and don't look back. You'll save a few bucks in the process as well. Revolvers have an easy learning curve and their manual of arms are easier to understand compared to a pistol. Unless your wife and daughter are prepared to take the time to practice and learn how a semi auto pistol operates then they're probably better off with a DAO revolver. IMHO. There's a good reason S&W is selling them like hot cakes.  Let us know what you decide and how the wife and daughter take to the new addition to the family. |
| Just wife. Athletic and more than capable of handling an auto. In fact she is the one that demonstrated interest in handguns - not me. I am somewhat partial to either the Glock or XD - but I have no experience shooting either. I am looking for suggestions now as to what to look at. |
Good advice to be found here, IMO. Rolling out of bed at oh-dark-thirty is NO time for a novice shooter (of either sex) to be fumbling for a safety and/or mag. A .357mag revolver can offer the best of both worlds of calibers too. My .o2 |
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I don't think a compact makes any sense for her unless the design happens to fit her hands better than the full size and she shoots it well. I use a 4" .45 exclusively for CCW and I can tell you that they aren't exactly a marshmellow in terms of recoil and managability (not unmanagable per se, but more difficult to shoot than a full size). If she doesn't train and keep up with practice it could even be a liability. Even if she is a good shot with a compact, she is likely to be that much better of a shot with a full size weapon. If a larger gun fits her hand as well then she should consider that for managability and capacity reasons, since this is only for home defense. If she was carrying CCW I'd have a different opinion alltogether. |
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When talking hallway distances and high stress moments, the longer, heavier double action trigger pull of a revolver can be a bit forgiving---while still keeping a high hit potential in DA. With that said, the simplicity of the Glock/XD design rivals revolvers, with the XD trigger being closer to the DA revolver of the 2, in my opinion. Having owned 30, 36's and now having the XD 45 Compact, I'll say they're all worthy--but i'm now sold on the XD Compact. My wifes piece is a 3" SP101. She will shoot auto's, but "HER" gun will always be a revolver. |
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For HD / CCW in .45, I'd want a top quality traditional SA/DA auto. (1) SIG 245 - around $550 (2) H&K USP 45c - around $700 Both are top quality firearms that will serve you well, and are fun at the range too! If DA only is OK - Glock 30 (around $500) is an amazing pistol. Also fun at the range. I have all three and love them all. Everyone needs at least ONE of these pistols. Pick one and practice. There is my $0.03. |
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For HOME defense ----Ah hell.....a Mossy or Remmington 12 or 20 gauge loaded with Federal Low Recoil 00 buck. (in a 12 - you have 9 .30 cal projectiles coming at you with every pull of the trigger) With only 3 pulls of the trigger your wife will have just unleashed 27 rounds of hot burning hell at her intended assailant. FWIW NOW sticking with a .45 ----What ever fits in HER hands and feels comfortable and shoots well. I say it's a husband/wife day at the range! Good Luck |