J-frame home defense?

[ISCS Yoda]

Might not be my first choice, but that J-frame is absolutely enough gun for home defense. Just train regularly with it and consider ammo that fits with your wall construction.

That is exactly what I was fixing to say. I prefer revolvers for home defense and since I carry a J frame constantly it's never too far away from me when I'm home.

It is not my bedside gun, that's a 3" M686+, and I have an assortment of other guns available when I'm home, but that M649 would be easy to get to at all times and would do the job in all likelihood.

 

[hyena]

Is a J-frame with 5 shot capacity of .38 special with maybe a speedloader at ready enough gun for bedside use in the home? In your own words please share your opinions if you will. Thank you.

Yes. And to meet the ten character minimum...yes again.

 

[1sailor]

Some of you guys must live in Beirut? Or maybe L.A.

 

[Bald1]

Glenn, I'm truly sorry for the loss of your wife. I carried a model 36 J frame daily with 158 gr Federal FBI rounds. I never felt under gunned. It will be fine as a HD gun. As others have said practice is the key. In a home defense scenario you're just pointing with front sight. I don't think length of barrel matters. Creating a harden target is also important.

 

[Inusuit]

Some of you guys must live in Beirut? Or maybe L.A.

Home invasions happen everywhere, even in "good" neighborhoods because that's where the money and expensive stuff is.

I doubt anyone who experienced such an incident wished for a smaller gun and less ammunition.

 

[CJH]

I feel like it's a fine choice. I personally have a larger frame at my bedside just because I shoot them slightly better so I feel more confident in it. But if it's what you prefer that's obviously what matters!

 

[smoothshooter]

Glenn you do not mention if you have the money/resources to buy or get another gun.

Personally as I have posted many times previously I consider the J-Frame .38 Special Snubbie a poor choice for self-defense. The very features that make the snubbie easy to carry (small frame, small grips, small front sight, short sight radius) makes it difficult to shoot accurately.

My biggest complaint about the .38 snubbie is ammunition performance. Jacketed Hollow Point bullets need speed to expand. The 2" barrel just isn't long enough to give enough velocity for Hollow Points to expand. I use my snubbie as a fishing gun loaded with two shotshells and three 158 gr. LSW bullets.

If you want to stay with a revolver for home defense IMO the medium frame, fixed sight with 4" barrel is a ideal choice. I am referring to the Model 1O as my first choice but Ruger, Colt and Taurus all have models.

I am not convinced that the type handgun ammunition to be used for in-house defense is of any importance at all, as long as it is not bird shot, and it goes bang every time. As gun nuts we like to obsess over this or that bullet style, caliber, etc., and often forget that nobody wants to get shot with anything, and poking holes in people tends to change their immediate priorities for the day (or night).

 

[smoothshooter]

Might not have to go there but it never hurts to have a plan B as a backup. A lot of police agencies have switched from shotguns to patrol rifles. Former police pump action shotguns are fairly cheap especially those that have cosmetic wear. In the home a shotgun loaded with #4 buckshot you have a very formidable weapon that is unlikely to penetrate the exterior walls of your house but can do serious damage to an armed intruder at close range. A S&W M-3000 police 18" barrel 12ga pump shotgun would be my recommendation. Two shell magazine extensions are an option bringing the shell count to six in the tube and one in the chamber,
more than enough to deal with multiple assailants.

A 20 gauge using #3 buckshot is a serious weapon at close range and much more enjoyable for practice. Especially for the wife. Most of them, at least.
She is not going to want to shoot something that beats the **** out of her with every trigger pull.

 

[rwsmith]

It's ok for HD...

...but not my first choice. My model 10, Sig 250, Shield, 9mm carbine are my first choices. I have a couple of J frames, but I don't use them for HD.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Living in a condo, my bedside gun is my 3" Model 65, loaded with .38+P 125-grain SJHP...

But I would feel well-protected with any of my J-frames as well.

 

[Doug M.]

Some of you guys must live in Beirut? Or maybe L.A.

*
Or Portland (either one), or Seattle, or ...

Target hardening is always a good investment.

 

[Old cop]

The only thing I can add is to make sure you get range time in w/that J Frame, especially the light weight models.

 

[BSA1]

I am not convinced that the type handgun ammunition to be used for in-house defense is of any importance at all, as long as it is not bird shot, and it goes bang every time. As gun nuts we like to obsess over this or that bullet style, caliber, etc., and often forget that nobody wants to get shot with anything, and poking holes in people tends to change their immediate priorities for the day (or night).

Shooting critters with .38 Special can be a eye opener. I once had a 148 gr. Target Wadcutter bounce harmlessly off of the head of a opossum. So we do need to consider the gun and ammo it is loaded with.

As I often post;

Do not confuse being lethal with stopping power. It may be of small comfort to your spouse, family and loved one if your attacker dies 1/2 hour after you do.

 

[BSA1]

Is a J-frame with 5 shot capacity of .38 special with maybe a speedloader at ready enough gun for bedside use in the home? In your own words please share your opinions if you will. Thank you.

Here is a simple test for you. Measure the longest clear distance in your home or apartment. Next go to a shooting range and set up a large man size silhouette target or large target at the same longest distance you measured in your home or apartment. Now rapidly fire five rounds in your handgun double action loaded with your self-defense ammo of choice.

Finally look for where the holes are in target and where they are. Let the results be your guide as how many shots you put in the boiler room with that particular gun. Keep in mind this simple test is being done in good lighting and no stress. This is a brutally honest test with no excuses.

 

[Xfuzz]

99.9 % of the time your J frame will serve you well.

My concern these days is that these mopes
now commit crimes in packs (2 or more) bad guys.
However, for the average folks, home invasions are remote at best.

 

[1sailor]

I have dispatched possums with a .22. That must have been one tough critter if a 38 Special just bounced of harmlessly.

 

[haywood]

I decided to pack 2 J-Frames today. Few speed strips in the pocket. I think I'll service.

 

[BSA1]

I have dispatched possums with a .22. That must have been one tough critter if a 38 Special just bounced of harmlessly.

It sure got mad at me. I put my second shot between it's shoulders going through it's spine and it was still trashing around while dying.

 

[alwslate]

Living out in a rural area for more than 30 years I have dispatched numerous possums, skunks and raccoons with a single well placed .22 short 29 grain solid bullet.

 

[ruger 22]

As I stated previously, I feel the J frame with any 38 Spl ammo is fine. There have been mentions about the difficulty shooting a snubby accurately which is valid but in the home we are not talking yards, we are talking feet so this is not a major issue. Home defense needs a point and shoot gun and the J fits the bill just fine.