"We want a house (hand)gun."

[Adam Helmer]

My nice neighbors came by yesterday with the question posted above, "We want a house gun." We chatted a bit and I determined they had NO guns in their house at present! I live nearby and know we have bears, skunks, coons and burglars aplenty; even here in the remote country.

I suggested they get a 20 or 12 gauge pump shotgun to cover all the bases in the near term and then we would discuss handgun needs and proficiency over the Summer. They wanted a handgun as their primary arm and I suggested a retired couple with no kids are best served with a shotgun in the near term and they have a nice 20 gauge pump on establishment now.

Over the Summer we will shoot handguns on my backyard range and I think they will see it takes much practice to be proficient with a handgun. Many of us like handguns, but in many cases a shotgun is better.

Adam

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I must agree....for home defense, esp. with people who are unfamiliar with firearms, shotguns are probably the way to go......my grandfather never had a handgun (he never saw the 'need'), yet when the dogs started barking in the middle of the night, the shotgun was pulled out until it was determined o.k. to be put back.
In addition to requiring a great deal of practice, handgun ammo in all calibers is very difficult to come by now.....stopped at the local sporting goods store to get some fishing tackle and a new pair of cleats for my daughter.....the only handgun ammo on hand (limited to three boxes), was .44 magnum....NO .38, .357, .380, 9mm, 40 S&W, .25, or 45 on the shelves.....they were BARE!!! However, there was a decent supply of shotshell ammo.
However, were I to recommend a handgun for home defense for someone w/o firearm experience, I would suggest a revolver with a 4" barrel in .38 or .357 mag.

Revolvers.....the original "point and click" interface!;)

[Adam Helmer]

Mr. 16 gauge,

I agree; I will suggest a .38 Special so they can shoot wadcutters for practice and 125 grain JHP for serious stuff.

The folks were going to get a .380 semi-auto and a box of metal cased loads. I am sure they could not have popped a skunk or other varmit in their front yard with a .380, even if they hit it! Many novices have a verticle learning curve with a handgun which they will determine in the first range session with a .22 revolver. I am glad they have a 20 gauge for now.

Adam

[Catfish]

I think you gave them excellant advice. Point out to them at close range the shotgun will have alot more stopping power, plus it will not go through wall like a handgun bullet. They can buy 1 box of number 4 shot and be covered from coon in the yard to home invaders.

[jmarriott]

Don't forget the 410 pump and the 3 and 5 shot pellet loads in a shotgun. I have an old mossburg pistol grip 410 and find it near perfect for home defense. I can load #4's for garden work and the 41 caliber lead pellets are nice in groups of 3 or 5.

I still use it in the fall for early season tree rats with the #4's.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Forgot to add in my first post......38 or .357 4" revolver with adjustable sights.

[Adam Helmer]

Mr. 16 gauge,

Right you are- ADJUSTABLE sights because wadcutters and JHPs impact at different points. Back in the mid-1980s my agency went from 158 lead SWC hollowpoints to the then-fad 110 JHPs for our 2 and 4 inch fixed sights M-10 S&W revolvers. At our fist semi-annual qualifications with the 110s, 55 out of 94 agents failed to qualify. I know because I was the Firearms Coordinator (Instructor). I put my 2-inch M-10 in a Ransom Rest and showed the Regional Chief how the lead 158 were in the Bullseye at 25 yards and the 110s were 7 inches lower and 4 inches Left.

I wrote a Special Report describing the shift in point of impact from point of aim. My supervisor let my report go to National Headquarters with his endorsement: "I do not think this is a serious problem and it can be corrected through training at semi-annual qualification." When questioned, he said, "Tell the agents to aim high and right." Duh!

Adam

[Adam Helmer]

Catfish,

I agree with you. They also have a box of 5 slugs in case the bear comes, again, to their sliding patio glass door.

Actually, very few homes in my area have no guns on establishment. I don't know how folks sleep at night with no guns in the house. One time I called the nearby state police barracks to report a deer hunter tresspasser who threatened me. The dispatcher told me "he had no officer to respond" and that was at 11:00 a.m. on a Monday.

Adam

[Larryjk]

Shotguns will quite handily shoot through a wall. Take some 2x4 scraps and nail on dry wall so they are 16" apart like a real wall. Make another one and also place exterior siding on one side. Then back off 25 to 30 feet (large room size) and shoot the sections with a 12 gauge with a trap load. You will see a nice hole through all wall sections. the wall section without exterior siding will also have a nice 1' hole that was punched through one side by the plastic wad. I am sure the 20 gauge will do as well, so don't depend on a wall for protection from either shotgun or revolver.

[skeet]

Catfish,


Actually, very few homes in my area have no guns on establishment. I don't know how folks sleep at night with no guns in the house. One time I called the nearby state police barracks to report a deer hunter tresspasser who threatened me. The dispatcher told me "he had no officer to respond" and that was at 11:00 a.m. on a Monday.

Adam

Heck Adam...I called the PO-lice one night at 0 dark 30 to get em to come get some trespassers. Told me it would be 45 mins before we got a cop...I told the dispatcher I didn't think they could hold their hands up that long and if any of 'em moved I was gonna kill 'em all. They said WHAT??..I told 'em to just send me the coroner. Had a cop in 5 minutes! True story. Guy driving had a sawed off shotgun in the floor..loaded too