Need some suggestions for a home defense pistol please....

[Kanewpadle]

I was thinking you might find a used M&P 9 that would be in the $400 range.The full size mag is 17 rounds (If I remember correctly)Don't know anything about the prices in your area though...

+1. My thoughts exactly. This gun will work for you or your wife.

A home defense gun must fit both of you. Even if she doesn't care for guns. I have an M&P 9 on my nightstand. I would rather have a high cap 40 or 45 but I want something my wife can handle in case she beats me to the gun or I'm incapacitated.

I would NOT buy any newly designed gun from S&W or any other gunmaker. Smith has a history of problems with new designs. You've seen proof of this on this very forum.

The M&P as well as the XD series of guns have proven to be equal to or better than any other polymer gun.

At home, you have nowhere to run to except maybe a bedroom or a saferoom if your fortunate to have one. In this situation I want what I believe is the best choice for me and my family.

Choose wisely buddy.

Oh, and we won't bash you for another karma!

 

[bitstream]

I've got a Sigma; it's basically a 100% workhorse. Not much on frills, but guaranteed to work every time. Some of the guys on the Sigma forum on this board have over 10,000 rnds with zero FTF, or FTE. And the trigger isn't a big deal. My Wife shoots it and says the trigger doesn't bother her at all. If my little wife is fine with it, then all the sissy men complaining about it need to man up. It's just fine, about 10lbs. Is it a competition trigger? No. Is it good for a home defense? YES. You don't want a hair trigger that you'll shoot yourself in the foot when grabbing it to investigate a sound in the night.

You can get one for about $300 brand new if you shop around a bit; add the rebate that is still going on ($50 or 2 mags), and you can't beat it.

 

[rimfired]

Amigo, for home self defense I do not like weapon mounted lights. I have a Surefire to blind an intruder but not mounted. They make you a target. If the bad guys have a light they are the target. If they can't see you, you have the advantage of concealment/cover in your environment.
Instinctive shooting/pointing when the adrenaline is flowing will benefit you more than a light. Just my humble opinion.
Keep a gun that points naturally for you close. It's an extension of your hand/arm. Try this, look at a target @ 10' away, close your eyes then point at it with your bare hand pointer/trigger finger. Open your eyes and see how close you were. Amazing!

 

[zercool]

We keep a S&W 5946 on the bedside table. MrsZ is comfortable with it, and pre-ban mags are available.

 

[cmort666]

I'm no fan of rails or lights on handguns, but if that's what you want, let me second a police trade-in Glock from Summit Gun Broker.

I bought my 2nd Gen. Glock 19 from them and was very happy. They're honest and easy to do business with.

 

[GJH77]

M & P 45

Shoo,
I have had an M&P 9 for about a year and a half, and really liked it. So much that after getting a 4566, I had gotten the urge to get an M&P 45. I too was worried about the cost, and in expanding my shooters, have become a real bottom feeder on prices for used guns. But I found that on Gunbroker and even thru a couple of dealers that new M&P's are going for under $500, shipped, and in many cases under $400. So I finally got one last week, delivered today, and with the rebate (which ends tomorrow), it will come to $415 delivered. Had to go thru 3 auctions, and then I was bid up about $30 more than the recent bids, but with the rebate ending I could not resist. To top it off, it came with Nightsights.
AS luck would have it, just after I win one, several used M&P 45's popped up and sold this week for $350+/-, and one, almost new in the box, even went for $250.
In comparison, I paid $600 for the 9mm.
Good luck on your search.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I've got a Sigma; it's basically a 100% workhorse. Not much on frills, but guaranteed to work every time. Some of the guys on the Sigma forum on this board have over 10,000 rnds with zero FTF, or FTE. And the trigger isn't a big deal. My Wife shoots it and says the trigger doesn't bother her at all. If my little wife is fine with it, then all the sissy men complaining about it need to man up. It's just fine, about 10lbs. Is it a competition trigger? No. Is it good for a home defense? YES. You don't want a hair trigger that you'll shoot yourself in the foot when grabbing it to investigate a sound in the night.

You can get one for about $300 brand new if you shop around a bit; add the rebate that is still going on ($50 or 2 mags), and you can't beat it.

In YOUR opinion the Sigma trigger is just fine.

GOOD FOR YOU!!

A 10 pound trigger on a self defense gun is redicules!

Some folks need to "man up" and fork up the bucks for a better gun.

Oh, let me guess. By a Sigma and THEN get a trigger job.

 

[Steave]

I'd contact Summit Gun Broker, Firearms, Guns, Rifles. Grain Valley, Missouri. and pick up a used 3rd Gen Glock 17, or if you'd consider a .40, a G22. You should be able to get the gun with an extra mag or two shipped to your dealer for under $400. Not much needs to be said about the Glocks, they're ugly, relatively cheap and go bang every time. That'll leave you $100, give or take, to pick up a light to mount and should serve you well.

As much as I like the utilitarian aspect of Glocks, I really prefer the 2nd gen guns to the 3rd gen, I just don't care for the finger grooves. That said, there is a 3rd gen G22 with an Insight Technologies light in my nightstand.

 

[DeathGrip]

Oh, let me guess. By a Sigma and THEN get a trigger job.

Your point about adding to the cost or sending it home to S&W is why I got rid of my .40.
I couldn't with the Broad side of a zip code with it at 50'.
It felt good in my hand and pointed straight but I just couldn't get trigger control.
I fired plenty of various rounds through it without a hickup though.But it never was easy to be consistent with it.

 

[DeadAye]

I keep a 38, a 357 and a 45 Commander around for daylight in and around the house, but at night it's 12 gauge all the way. I keep the shotgun in such a position that I HAVE to get out of bed and at least kind of wake up before I start shooting at ANYTHING. Better safe than sorry!

Speaking of Better Safe Than Sorry - A light on a gun is what's known as a target... Your house should already be lit to your tactical advantage.

 

[truckemup97]

Shoo, have you considered the Walther P-99/ S&W 990? I picked up a used 990L in .40 S&W under $350 last spring. It's been carried, but is far from worn out, has night sights and three 12 round mags. If you prefer 9mm, they are likely more easily found and maybe a little cheaper. IDK if they all have a rail, but the 990L does....

If you want pre-ban hi-cap mags, most of the Ruger P series guns can be found around three bills in my neck of the woods. Plus, if you run out of ammo, it makes a great club.

 

[shooboy]

Thanks again to all you guys, all great suggestions. I'm giving them all consideration. I'd love to go with a 12-gauge, but the wife won't go for having a loaded gun out in the open. I may also go for just getting a flame-throwing flashlight that would blind someone and not give away my location so much. Yet, I don't know if I want more than one item on my hands and am still considering the gun mounted light/laser idea. I'll probably stay away from a Sigma or any other gun with a hefty trigger pull since my trigger finger has limited movement from an old injury and surgery. If I had some extra money lying around I might go for a M&P45 with laser grips and a hand-held flashlight.... So many choices. As far as Glocks go, I just can't see myself owning a Glock. I really don't know why I don't like them, I've held them and they don't feel that great in my hand. I've never shot one so I don't know if I'd be any good with one. The only gun I've actually totally sucked with was my H&K USP40, I couldn't hit anything with that gun. Anyway, the search goes on, maybe I'll stumble on a great deal somewhere. Thanks again, Shoo

 

[bitstream]

Thanks again to all you guys, all great suggestions. I'm giving them all consideration. I'd love to go with a 12-gauge, but the wife won't go for having a loaded gun out in the open. I may also go for just getting a flame-throwing flashlight that would blind someone and not give away my location so much. Yet, I don't know if I want more than one item on my hands and am still considering the gun mounted light/laser idea. I'll probably stay away from a Sigma or any other gun with a hefty trigger pull since my trigger finger has limited movement from an old injury and surgery. If I had some extra money lying around I might go for a M&P45 with laser grips and a hand-held flashlight.... So many choices. As far as Glocks go, I just can't see myself owning a Glock. I really don't know why I don't like them, I've held them and they don't feel that great in my hand. I've never shot one so I don't know if I'd be any good with one. The only gun I've actually totally sucked with was my H&K USP40, I couldn't hit anything with that gun. Anyway, the search goes on, maybe I'll stumble on a great deal somewhere. Thanks again, Shoo

Regarding the loaded shotgun and your wife... The owner of my LGS showed my wife and I a new product that might be the answer. It's a wall mount that holds a loaded shotgun with the action area very well locked under a hinged metal panel. There was a keypad with a 3 number combo to punch, then the panel swings open for the shotgun to be accessed. Even if somebody ripped the whole thing off the wall (difficult if you mount it into the studs), they'd only get a shotgun still secured in the vault. Neat product; I'm sure I'll get one soon (would have bought it that day, but had already spent enough that day)

 

[slowburninsteve]

Hey Shoo! Well, my opinion, for what it is worth, is to get a K-frame 4 inch S&W as your bedside gun, preferably a .38 Special loaded with 158 grain LSWCHP +P's and a 12 gauge pump (Remington 870). The only reason I picked .38 over something bigger is concern for overpenetration! I have neighbors next door! Get a bright flashlight you can hold and practice holding it and one of the guns. I used to have a Sig P228 at bedside until one of the mags jammed up. Also, if you get woken up in the middle of the night, a revolver is a lot more simple and safer to get into action. That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it.

 

[GatorFarmer]

You don't need a rail to mount a light. Look for the old style Surefire mounting kits designed and sold for pre rail pistols and put on a set of CT grips on your 1911. Problem solved.

http://www.surefire.com/MR07-Mounting-Rail shows the part that you'll need direct from Surefire.

Alternate to CT grips, you can use a light/laser combo. You're looking at about 620 retail for the mount, and light/laser if you go that route http://www.surefire.com/X400product

 

[Onomea]

Re shotgun, you can also get a wall mounted picture frame shotgun safe. Looks like a picture hanging on the wall, but pop it open and there's your shotgun... Gotta cut a hole in your wall, of course...

 

[11B Lifer]

I'm with slowburninsteve

Hey Shoo! Well, my opinion, for what it is worth, is to get a K-frame 4 inch S&W as your bedside gun, preferably a .38 Special loaded with 158 grain LSWCHP +P's and a 12 gauge pump (Remington 870). The only reason I picked .38 over something bigger is concern for overpenetration! I have neighbors next door! Get a bright flashlight you can hold and practice holding it and one of the guns. I used to have a Sig P228 at bedside until one of the mags jammed up. Also, if you get woken up in the middle of the night, a revolver is a lot more simple and safer to get into action. That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it.

M36, K38, wadcutters. We have a couple of double .410s also-at 20 feet they chew everything up.

 

[novalty]

I like my 5906 with Crimson Trace lasergrips. The laser does make a huge difference in night time illumination. The thing I like about the laser is at night I know where I am shooting without having to sight align oor try to find front sight, grant I don't have night-sites, but being able to just grab the gun and point and have an instant indicator of shot direction, is additional piece of mine with family in house.

 

[bitstream]

I wanted to thank the couple of people that suggested the Surefire flashlight. I looked into them and got one a couple of days ago. I had always thought my old trusty mag-light was pretty bright; oh how I was wrong. This little Surefire is amazing. I live out in the county without any street lights, etc. (very dark at night) Last night I lit up my old flashlight (3 D cells, LED lamp) in the dark yard. Then I tapped the button on my little Surefire G2Z Combatlight and the entire yard lit up; I could see all the way into the treeline 50 yards away clearly. I'm debating if I should get the upgrade P61 lamp to go from the 65 lumens/60 min runtime to 120 lumens/20 min runtime.

Anyways, thanks for the tip on the light; I had no idea that a light could actually be a tactical weapon; I blinded myself with a quick flash of it and can see that any intruder will definitely have no choice but to protect their eyes if hit with the beam.

 

[Pilgrim]

If all you want it for is home defense:

http://www.taurususa.com/video-theJudge.cfm

Taurus International Manufacturing Inc - The Judge