Gun Question

T

Traffic

500+ Posts
My wife and I are considering purchasing a gun for home protection. Neither of us have ever owned a gun and we have limited knowledge of gun ownership.

Some questions:
1. What is the best type of gun to own for home protection? I've heard both revolver (e.g., .38 special) and shotgun as potential options.
2. What type of permits are required? I understand that I would not need a permit unless I'm taking the gun to a range or carrying it in my car.
3. Where would you recommend purchasing a gun? We went to Academy over the weekend just to take a look. I know pawn shops are an option, but haven't looked around yet.

A few things to note:
1. We had an incident over the weekend that is prompting this inquiry. Our house was not broken in to, but the police were called out to investigate a disturbance.
2. We have no kids and almost never have children over to the house. And, we never have unsupervised kids in our house.
3. This is not a decision we are taking lightly. We have heard we're more likely to be shot by our gun than an intruder, etc. But, I strongly believe we would be responsible gun owners if we do decide to proceed.
4. We live in Austin.

Please save anti-gun/pro-gun comments for Quack's. Thanks for any feedback!
 
1. A pump shotgun is the weapon of choice if you're not comfortable with guns in general. There's NOTHING more distinctive than the chambering of a round in pump shotgun.
2. Permits ARE NOT required to own either gun. You must REGISTER both if you buy them new. You don't need a "permit" to go to a gun range and you CAN carry them in your car provided you are TRAVELLING across County lines (there is a little gray area here so check local law enforcement).
3. In Austin, go to McBrides. Maybe not as inexpensive as Academy, but they are VERY knowledgable and would be able to answer most if not all your questions.
 
First off, I would take a gun safety course for both you and your wife. They help instill a respect for the weapon, and you'll get to shoot several different guns and get a feel for what you like.

After the safety course (available at most target ranges), go to a couple of gun shows. You'll probably get the best deal and there will be a large selection. Austin has a ton of them.

Security systems are a good idea, but don't count on them exclusively. I know of a friend who is currently suing Brinks because she was attacked in her home, gave an incorrect password to the Brinks operator (while a gun was held to her head) and the operator never called the police. She was raped. (Legally, Brinks is not responsible for NOT calling the police. It's in the fine print. So while they are somewhat useful, do not assume that you're protected simply because of an alarm system.)

Dogs are nice because A) you'll never have it used against you by an intruder, B) they give you ample warning (i.e. time to get your gun) and C) the bark will scare off intruders BEFORE they enter the house.

But back to guns. I prefer either a shotgun or a pistol. If you're going shotgun, get one with a shorter barrel. It'll allow you more freedom within tight spaces (hallways). The "click-clack" of chambering a shell is nice, and can strike fear into an intruder. Also, with a shotgun you don't have to be as accurate as with a pistol, another plus.

With a pistol, I'd go with 9mm or above caliber.
 
All of the above is good advice. You probably are best off with a shotgun. However, if you do get a psitol anyway, be sure to look into Glazer safety rounds. They will stop any intruder quite well, but misses won't go through three walls and hit your neighbor across the street. And take a safety course. They are cheap and fun and important and a new gun owner learns a lot.
 
The advice above is good. Please do take a gun safety course. You will feel much better about owning the gun you select and confident in its use.

The points above about a shotgun are good.

Lets talk revolvers for a second. They come in two styles: single action and double action.

A single action means that you have to manually cock the hammer and then pull the trigger. In a panicy, deperate moment when you are not familiar with the gun, that can be confusing.

A double action means that you can also treat it like a single action but you can also just pull the trigger and it cocks the hammer and fires the gun (double action). In a panicy, deperate moment that is much simpler to do and to remember.

A pistol is generally a semi-automatic weapon that has to first be cocked by pulling the top silde back to load the first bullet into the chamber. Then each time a bullet is fired the fired shell is kicked out and a new bullet is loaded automatically ready to fire.

I have found pistols to be a bit more touchy than revolvers to care for and to shoot. There is such a thing as "limp wrist" which causes the slide to not go all the way back and the next bullet to not get picked up and put into the chamber properly. That basically means that if you are not holding it correctly it may not function realiably. Again in a panic mode this is something to think about. If you practice with the gun and are comfortable shooting it then this will be a none issue.

I would pick a .38 caliber or 9 mm because they will not be so unpleasant to shoot. Yes, a .357 or .45 caliber might be more effective but if you don't like shooting the gun you will not practice with it. Also, the .357 is too powerful and will go through the villian and then through walls and then possibly into the neighbor's house. The .38 and 9mm are not likely to do that.

But I agree with the shotgun, unless the bad guy is deaf, if he hears you racking the pump on a Remington 870 12 guage just one time and he still keeps coming, then you know you are in a life and death situation. Everybody knows that sound!

Good luck in your choice and make it fun not something ominous.
 
Go to McBrides on Lamar and ask them all your questions - they'll do you right. You'll probably pay more, but you'll get much better advice than you will at a sporting goods shop.
 
I'd get a .357 revolver. Its more fun to take to the range than some street sweeper shotgun. And more fun means more practice, which means more confidence. You can load .38 in a .357 revolver and it will work out fine. Get a 3 to 5 inch barrell, don't need a shorty J frame. Academy sells a basic gun safe that requires a digital combo and then automatically enters. You can screw to the floor or a closet shelf, and make it very difficult to steal.
 
Traffic, all these threads have useful information, and I say this as a guy that has at least 15 guns in the house right now. Look into shotguns, and as one poster above mentioned, look at short barrel shotguns. You don't need a 28" barrel for home protection. I have several models of shotguns that are actually designed specifically for home and personal defense. They are pistol grip, pump action shotguns that have 18-19" barrels. Since they are not for hunting purposes, I take the plugs out and can fit six 3" shells. The guns are very manuverable and are designed to fire from the hip. You don't bring these up to aim, because it will kick back and hit you in the face. If pistol grip shotguns are not for you, look into purchasing an all purpose Remington 870 for $200 - $230. If that is too high, and it shouldn't be, look for a Mossberg 500 or similar. Good gun, and less than $200.

Handguns are a whole different animal. As a novice, again think shorter barrel, and look for a revolver. I love semi-automatics, but they can be complicated for people who aren't familiar with them. You don't need a 6" .357 magnum to defend your home. Think .38 with a 2" - 4" barrel. If you're feeling like a larger caliber, go with a .357 in the same length. Revolvers aren't as "sexy" as semi's, but they will get the job done.

What ever you decide, become very familiar with your gun. Take it out and put a couple of boxes through it regularly. This goes for your wife as well. Learn how to clean it, field strip it, and put it back together. I repeat, learn everything about your gun! Without being too dramatic, you are making a huge decision that effects you and your wife in every way. This could very well mean life or death, so don't be afraid to ask questions. Oh yeah, understand, there is no shooting someone in the leg to wound them. God forbid you ever have to use your gun, you shoot center mass to kill that individual. Never pull your gun out unless you are prepared to take another person's life. I hope the only thing you ever shoot are paper targets and soda cans.
 
Good comments and suggestions. McBride's is great.
Whatever you decide to purchase... practice, practice, practice. Practice enough to become proficient.
Store it in a safe place, preferably with a lock that you can remove or in a lockbox where you can access it quickly and quietly - in the dark.
The alarm system tied into a dispatch company is a must. It will alert you to an intruder and hopefully scare them off before there is a possible confrontation.
A revolver will be easiest for you both to learn and use. A pistol, while sleek and preferred by many, it may be difficult for your wife to operate. A .38 caliber revolver is a lighter frame than a .357. It really depends on your preference and possible use aside from personal protection. Good luck.
 
kinda jumping onto the thread with another question. i live in houston, and i am somewhat concerned with car jackings. would a shotgun be the weapon of choice or more of a handgun??? also, do the same rules apply, or are you required permits, concealed permits, laws, have a factor in carrying something with you in a car???? i have a convertible and to be quite honest, just want to have something at hand if somebody walks up to me , in a threatening fashion, when i have the top down. i hate being so paranoid, but would love some feedback.
hookem.gif
 
Evil,
You're exactly right, you DON'T actually "register" a new gun when you buy it and I chose my words poorly.
However, the background check, at least in my mind, is about the same thing. I'm quite confident that the information given to the authorities SOMEHOW stays with you.
frown.gif
 
ghost horn..
for what it is worth, I'm not sure you'd have much time to react in a situation in your car... with all the bums and such that approach you in this city at street corners and gas stations you'd have to have your hand on the weapon at all times..

my wife carries a 9mm in her glove box which I think is pretty useless... unless she is going somewhere and feels uncomfortable, in which case she can put it in her purse and take it with her.... at home we've got a .38 revolver in the night stand on her side of the bed...

in my opinion you should take the course to get your concealed weapon license whether you plan to carry your gun or not... at least that way you learn a lot about safety and state regulations etc... in the event that anything were to happen, the authorities would know that you were properly trained....

quick question for you guys... does anyone know of a shooting range near the inner loop area in Houston? my wife has had her 2 guns since before she met me and I've never fired them.. I need to get out there and practice with them also..
 
ghost,

like ldogg said, having a shotgun in a car for protection against carjackings is useless. thieves panick when the victim makes sudden movements. reaching for a shotgun would be pretty obvious, and you'd have a cap in your *** before you even touch it.

as someone who has been through an attempted carjacking (overseas) best protection is to keep a .45 in the map pocket of the driver's seat door.
 
Ah yes, the old yellow sheet. Form 4473. I remember a few years back when they changed one of the questions. It just used to be an exercise in writing the word "no" until they decided to throw in a "yes". Almost got me. Almost.

All advice above is good. I'd get a shotgun and learn how to use it before putting it into service.
 
Thanks very much to everybody for your thoughtful replies. We are leaning towards the short barrel pump action shotgun as it sounds like the best combination of effectiveness and ease of use.

We will look at McBride's and definitely take a safety course. As some of you alluded to, this is a very big choice for non-gun owners, and we appreciate all the information we get to help us be fully informed.
 
Ghost Horn, I think you should take the Concealed Carry course. A shotgun will do you no good because by the time you reach for it you are dead. If you plan on fighting for your car (I don't think you should by the way) you need to have an easy to reach revolver that you can instantly get to and bring into action. But even doing that you are likely to get shot. If they already have a gun on you, then it is too late to draw on them. Just give them the car.

Take the course and learn what your rights are and what to watch for in such situations.
 
i agree , a handgun is the best type of defense. since i do drive a convertible, at every stop sign or red light i am always looking around (paranoid) to see what is going on around me, hell i do that at drive thru atm's. but what type of hand gun is the best defense????

i am more that willing to wear a shoulder holster, not resist, and return fire after giving up the auto.

i think being aware of ones situation and scenario is half the battle. houston is rough. i get guys approaching me all the time = beggin because their car just broke down, or they need bus fare, etc, i don't want to be paranoid, and i do want to carry a concealed weapon, but i just don't know what the best weapon to carry is. one problem is carrying something that only puts a little bitty pinhole bullet into the aggresor and doesn't stop this person. i want something, that if i HAVE TO PULL IT, stops them dead in their tracks. hopefully when i shoot, they have already drawn their weapon, and when the police arrive, they KNOW it was self defense.
hookem.gif
 
Lots of good advise above. I have had roberies alll around me, but my home has never been robbed (thank God). I have a Brinks alarm. I post signs and stickers so that any potential burgler can see that the house is monitored. I also have a big dog. I read somewhere that those are 2 of the best things that you can do for crime prevention. Burglers tend to go for the easier targets and will often pass if they know that they will have to hassle with a dog or an alarm.

My citys police department offers security audits. They can identify problem areas and make suggestions to lessen your exposure to robberies and home invasions. You may want to check with your local police department to see if they do this too.

As far as guns my first choice is a shotgun. Like someone else said you dont have to be that good of a shot and it is so powerful. If you decide on a revolver consider getting one that is nickel plated and flashy. If you ever have to pull it out, hopefully that will do more to scare them off avoiding a confrontation. Lastly and most importantly as others mentioned if you decide to get a gun be sure that you have the proper training to use it safely.
 
Ghost Horn, chosing a personal gun for carry protection is so hard to recommend for someone else because so many factors go into the decision.

For me, I keep a 9mm Glock in my car. In a recent dicussion here many chose other pistols over the Glock. If you want to stop the bad guy the 9mm, I think, would be the minimum to stake you life on. If you are willing to practice and don't mind carrying the extra weight, then a .45 would be the choice. But then the size of the gun becomes an issue for carrying.

I am sure many will disagree with me but if I was going to carry on my person all the time and I was going to take into account cost, firepower, weight and size, I would select a Kel-Tec 9mm.

Their customer service is excellent and their products are inexpensive. They have a very strong following of believers.

If you take the conceal carry course and a gun safety course you will get many more good opinons. Try to figure out what you want to do and then look for the gun, not look for the gun and then figure out how to carry it.

Good luck.
 
a .40 caliber gives me a good balance between concealability and stopping power. glock 23 is that pistol I mostly carry here and overseas. 9mm was designed to pass right through a body, but you can find that bullet everywhere and it is rather cheap.

I know of four people that have been shot after putting 9mm in the bad guys. none after shooting a .45. you do the math.
 
Go to McBride's. They will probably be able to answer your questions. Find what you like there. You might be able to go to Red's and find the gun you like for rent. Then for the best price go to a gun show or to www.gunbroker.com to buy the gun.
 
a 9mm is big enough, just use hollow point ammo for protection and use the cheap target rounds for practice. whatever you do, take a safety class first. Handguns can be very dangerous due to the fact that it is very easy to point them in the wrong direction by accident due to their size.
 
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