best calibur handgun ammo-home defense

[guest89]

This thread is full of bull**** from people who knows very little about guns. I suggest you go to a local range and try to rent some guns, and maybe take a class or two if possible.

After that spend a few hours on a GUN forum and get info from people who know what they are talking about. (ar15.com is a good place to start).

Learn about guns before you rush off and buy one.

[Mises]

desert eagle

[Travis71902]

If you are shooting for the head of an intruder, you probably don't know wtf you are doing in the first place. Center of mass shots have the highest probability of incapacitating the intruder because the target area is much larger and easier to hit.

Thats not the point. I was simply commenting on your stupid ass pebble comment. The probability of me aiming for the intruders head is probably the same as him having a vest.

And again, I won't be reaching for my 9mm if I have a break-in. See post #75

[rourkerox]

I dropped a 200+lb deer with a .45. That was from 40yds. I don't see why you can't drop a 200lb man from 40ft.

[rourkerox]

This is by far the best and silent no mess weapon

serious

Keep one of those by my bed every night man. Martin SAVANNAH!

[governator45]

I like the .45 acp, but in all reality i say the .40

[TheJuicedchase]

www.thunder5.com

I have one of the first generation ones made. You don't even need to turn on the lights if someone breaks in.

[bamagirl]

Anything 9mm and above will work fine once you learn the most important aspect - shot placement is far more important than caliber. That said, I use a .357 sig with a high capacity magazine for carry purposes (glock 33). I feel just as comfortable with my glock 26 in 9mm.

For home defense I use either a 12 ga shotgun or an ar-15 (I have both handy in a holder under my bed). A shotgun or rifle is FAR more powerful and will put them down faster than any handgun. Buckshot is especially deadly and doesn't overpenetrate walls too badly.

Geno, logged in at home

[DRK]

Thats not the point. I was simply commenting on your stupid ass pebble comment. The probability of me aiming for the intruders head is probably the same as him having a vest.

And again, I won't be reaching for my 9mm if I have a break-in. See post #75

The 9mm is a completely inferior round when body armor is in use. Remember the LA shootout? Ya, the cops and their little 9mm's got completely owned. I mean, it's pretty unlikely that some intruder into your house will have body armor, but it's a crazy world out there, who knows?

Anyways, what kinda shotgun was it that you posted? I like the looks of that gun!

[ilurk]

The 9mm is a completely inferior round when body armor is in use. Remember the LA shootout? Ya, the cops and their little 9mm's got completely owned. I mean, it's pretty unlikely that some intruder into your house will have body armor, but it's a crazy world out there, who knows?

almost all handgun rounds are inferior against NIJ level II and above vests

[plcsp]

...i heard 9mm is weak ****, and that it will be just like an ice pick on an intruder. And people say 45acp is the best, but the magazines don't have the highest capacities for 45acp, and i hear it's not the easiest gun to shoot

I got a Springfield XD45 with a 4" barrel. It holds 13 in the clip +1 in the chamber. If you can't hit someone with 14 rounds then you probably shouldn't have a gun. For home defense a shotgun is best just because it spreads, for a carry gun I would get .45 for defense. One of the main issues is what kind of ammo you will be using, there is self defense ammo that will mess a person up no matter what the size. Here's a pic of mine from when I first bought it:

[DRK]

almost all handgun rounds are inferior against NIJ level II and above vests

FN FiveSeven? Not a cheap gun or cheap ammo though

[Travis71902]

The 9mm is a completely inferior round when body armor is in use. Remember the LA shootout? Ya, the cops and their little 9mm's got completely owned. I mean, it's pretty unlikely that some intruder into your house will have body armor, but it's a crazy world out there, who knows?

Anyways, what kinda shotgun was it that you posted? I like the looks of that gun!

Spas 12.....I wish I had one, but until then my 870 express will do.

[DRK]

Spas 12.....I wish I had one, but until then my 870 express will do.

Hmm thought that at first, but the lack of the folding stock I see on every SPAS 12 ever confused me.

[JMD]

This will do the trick... (serious)

[House72]

If your looking for a good gun to stop an intruder, a .40 caliber is good. I have a .40 glock with hollow points they would work just fine. I would stay away from the 9mm. It's a good gun, but it's not as strong as a .40 or 45. That is why police got away from them.
As you stated knock down power, for a gun to have knock down power it would have to have enough power to knock the shooter down as well, so that would be pointless in a defense situtaion. Plus as stated before, shot placement is key. Center body mass..

[KFX]

.40 is the best round IMO. I own a G23 13+1. With a .45 your losing capacity. Unless your sporting a UZI the 9mm is just weak, will hardly go threw a car door.

[wakeboardone]

i'd definitely go with a shotgun, ANY 12 gauge (old new, pump, double)

if you're buying something solely for home defense, get one modified for it (shorten the barrel, pistol grip) so you can swing it inside (obviously wouldn't want to do that with one you were going to be hunting with on the weekend)

you don't have to have good aim, if you point and shoot with a shotgun inside, the odds of you missing are pretty damn low

[RockyIV]

No, but it will most likely break a few ribs and knock the wind outta the intruder. A 9mm is like throwing pebbles at a bulletproof vest, they wont even fell it.

Then go for a headshot, it's more sincere. Chances are if they have a vest they are well funded and are professional. They probably have the element of surprise so realistically go with a 9mm for more accuracy compared to a 45, IMHO.

However for the average idiot that breaks in to fund his crack habit, a pump action shotgun FTW. Every police officer I've talked to said the sound of a shotgun for a criminal is the scariest sound in the world because you hardly have to aim it to inflict damage on the perp.


If you have the cash go for a 9mm somewhere and a 45 in the nightstand. You never know where you'll be when someone decides to break in, better have access to protection no matter where.

[Procta]

pistol grip shotty FTW

[tron_85]

pistol grip shotty FTW

are they legal

[Procta]

are they legal

sure are, I have one.
I think sawed off ones are not. ??

[ilurk]

sure are, I have one.
I think sawed off ones are not. ??

shotguns with less than 18" barrel are illegal. When you start cutting barrels, youre getting into the ATF's jurisdiction and Federal Pound-me-in-the-ass Prison.

In most states you can register short barreled rifles (less than 16" barrels) with ATF along with a federal tax stamp.. but i dont think shotguns fall into that category.

[Mundungus]

I voted .40 cal. It's a good defensive round and you can carry more than 8+1. Although, any gun will work if you are proficient with it. Accuracy is key. A 9mm with hollow points would work well.

However, a pistol grip shotty is an excellent choice as well. Like other said, it can be used as a gun or blunt object.

My personal defense weapon of choice is my 1911 style .45:

[PickItUp]

but i heard 9mm is weak ****, and that it will be just like an ice pick on an intruder.

This statement is full of ignorance. I know that you have "heard" that the 9mm round is weak...similar to an ice pick...

Whatever. It is a bullet. It goes fast, and hits hard. It make a nice sized hole in the scumbag.

Have you ever fired a 9mm? I recommend that you go to the range and find the best caliber for yourself.

The question you just asked about caliber is a common question within the gun world. In fact, you are currently beating a dead horse. Time after time, shot placement has trumped caliber size...in every test.

Get the caliber that suits you the best...oh, and if your primary concern is home defense...then forget about bullets...go with buckshot. Get a shotgun.

[Felix007]

9mm doesnt have a stopping power that you are thinkig about, as far as ive heard, you'll need something bigger. a .45 is a lot harder to shoot than a .38, but you get almost the same stopping power as a .45. you can find .38 pretty much anywhere and its a smoothe shot. id go with that, but if you really want to scare whoever might be intruding in ur home, the whole shotgun thing works really well. lol

[jsewell0203]

I strongly urge people to go to a range and rent several popular handguns before choosing one to buy for personal protection. I have many friends who bought what others told them they would love.

They ended up selling or giving that gun away only to buy something else, that they preferred because of the action of the weapon, how it handles, the kick, the grips, etc.

If someone is telling you this is the perfect weapon or round, remember it probably is,

For them!!!

[the next arnold]

how do you take the magazine out of the gun ?

[Inox]

Depends on if you live alone or not, and have an apartment or a house.

If he lives alone in a house, he doesn't really need to care as much.

But ya, you're right. That's the exact reason I recommended a .38 revolver loaded with wadcutters or semi-wadcutters. Devastating on flesh, won't penetrate walls.

There's also Glaser Safety Slugs.

[Inox]

I strongly urge people to go to a range and rent several popular handguns before choosing one to buy for personal protection. I have many friends who bought what others told them they would love.

They ended up selling or giving that gun away only to buy something else, that they preferred because of the action of the weapon, how it handles, the kick, the grips, etc.

If someone is telling you this is the perfect weapon or round, remember it probably is,

For them!!!

This is some really solid advice. Additionally, the size of your hands and your mass/strength overall may make some selections significantly less appealing. Only holding and/or shooting them will make the best choices clear.