The right type of pistol?

Question

My step daughter was recently buglerized early in her home in saint louis friday. He took her car money and lap top and other things.She lived alone and the man came in the locked patio door on second floor and was stealing things when she came out of her bedroom, she got away when he tunred to grab her money, my question is what type of gun would be good for a young women to provide protection. Something she could keep in her bedstand that would def slow someone down... We know she has to get a permit before she can buy one but we were wondering which type before we do it.

Answer 1

The obvious answer is a 38 special revolver. But I think the whole movement in female pistol choices are moving to them wanting to carry the weapon with them a majority of the time, not just as a home defense gun.

Home defense without question, just a high quality 38 special 4" barrel loaded with +p ammo. Leave it alone forever and it is always ready to go.

For a carry/ concealed pistol than a semi-automatic...Double Action Only (DAO) or Double Action/ Single action (DA/SA). There are so many choices that I will not name something only that you do not need something big (size not caliber). Avoid little calibers as I am sure that women can handle a 9mm or 40SW just fine. So I would pick something like a SIG P-229 in 40SW just for example. Or a Walther PPS in 9mm for another example.

If you google those two guns you'll start to get a real understanding of what will be the best choice for your daughter.



So to recap....a 3.5" to 4.25" barreled 40SW or 9mm caliber alloy or composite framed 10round semi-automatic, name brand.

Answer 2

The 38 (AKA 9mm) has time and time again been proven not to be a good "stopper." First with the US Army in the Philippines, which is why they went back to a 45, and now in Iraq, which is why the special forces are going back to a 45 every chance they get.



I would recommend a 357 mag revolver. She does not have to load it with 357 mag rounds but it does prevent the problem of accidentally loading +P and +P+ in a small frame 38 and having the gun blow in your hand. The Smith and Wesson J-frame revolvers for example are NOT designed for the +P and +P+ ammo. Why run the risk of such a danger when you can simply avoid it with a slightly larger cylinder?



I would recommend a short barrel revolver. That way there is not much for the other person to get their hands on. And at the close range of assaults, a long barrel is not really needed. It is also easier to carry concealed.



I would recommend a laser sight on the gun. Crimson Trace makes one that turns on automatically the second you grab the grip. Often when someone sees a red dot appear on his chest, he will leave immediately and you will not have to fire.



Lastly I would recommend she gets some training from someone other than DAD!. She might be able to go to a gun range and actually shoot some guns before she buys one. Find an expert to teach her and if possible, have her get a concealed weapon permit.



In the meantime, get her a can of pepper spray. She can wear it around her neck on a chain so she has it 24/7.

Answer 3

A .38 Spl or .357 Magnum revolver.



Specifically:



Smith & Wesson Model 10

Smith & Wesson Model 15 Combat Masterpiece

Smith & Wesson Model 60

Smith & Wesson Model 49 or Model 649

Smith & Wesson Model 19

Smith & Wesson Model 66

Smith & Wesson Model 64

Smith & Wesson Model 686 or 586

Ruger GP-100

Ruger GP 101



A 3" or 4" barrel would offer her the best accuracy and lessen the possibility of having the gun deflected by an attacker. All of these guns may be found at reasonable prices on the used gun market, and I'd advise an older Smith & Wesson with hammer-mounted firing pin, forged parts, and no safety-lock mechanism over all the newer models.



Have her avoid as the plague all the ultra-light scandium and titanium frame models. These revolvers are simply too light and recoil too much for a beginner. Weight, as long as it is not too heavy for her to handle, is not a matter of great importance in a house gun. And the weight of a steel framed revolver will dampen recoil.



Also make sure that she takes a firearms safety course and that she practices on a regular basis.



Most important of all, make sure that SHE has the mindset to use lethal force. If she does not believe herself capable of taking a life to defend her own, she should not have a firearm, it would end up belonging to her attacker if she doesn't use it.



I'm sorry she got burglarized, but I'm glad she is alright. It is very dangerous to encounter an intruder, especially when you are unarmed.



Doc

Answer 4

first, remember material possessions are not worth killing anyone over.



Second, contrary to what TV and Movies would have you believe, handguns are not magic wands, not all badguys will stop from one bullet. If you really want to stop someone, use a shotgun or rifle. Unfortunately, shotguns and rifles don't fit well in a nightstand.



Shoot the most potent handgun your daughter can handle. Don't let anyone push a little .22 or .25 on you, or a light weight snubnose. Also remember, small light guns kick more than heavy ones. Yes, doesn't seem right at first but think about it. For beginning calibers i suggest 38 special in revolver, or 9mm in semiauto



Revolver

A great place to start is with a medium sized revolver with a 4 inch barrel. you can get a 357 revolver and shoot 38 specials out of it. Look for a Ruge GP100 or SP101 (even if they are snubnoses they are heavy and solid, the 3 inch barreled ones are great) from ruger, Smith and Wesson model 10, 19, 66, and 686, and Taurus.



Semiauto.

Something to consider with women and short men. Your hand needs to fit the gun. See, many 9mm semiautos are 15 shot models, the way they do this is to have two stacks of 7 side by side in the grip, with one on top. This makes the grip fat, often fat enough to cause problems. I would suggest getting a semiauto built around a 7 or 8 shot magazine (not 10, that is double wide as well, just shorter). Sometimes such thin guns are also made extralight for concealed carry, you don't want that as it will kick more. Look into the Kahr K9 stainless steel, the Smith and Wesson 1319, and it's economy brother the S&W 908, the Walther PPS (Not the PPK, it should not look like sean connory as james bond's gun) the Sig 239 and the Sig 225, all in 9mm. The sig 225 is one of the models the FBI allows people to carry in lue of their standard duty weapon, specifically with the idea of a woman or man with small hands making that selection. Some very large police department in Europe just sold a TON of slightly used 225s, you can get them four about $250-300, in very good shape.



If a medium sized 38 special and/or a medium sized 9mm recoils too much, you have two options, a revolver in 32 H&R magnum or a 380. Again I recommend the SP101 or the Smith and Wesson for the 32, and the Beretta Cheeta model 84 380, or the Sig 232 in 380, very solidly built guns with good heft. Unfortunately, these are harder to find. Especially with the 380, many many of them are desgined for back up carry, and they are small and light and have almost no sights. These light guns can actually recoil harder than a medium solid 9mm. Also, any gun that looks like a Sean Connory James Bond gun, that design (walther PPK and look-alikes) is notorius for biting the web of the hand, the one exception is the abovementioned sig 232. Stay away from Kel Tec, what they do they do great, but that is light small concealed carry, again, the opposite of what you want.



If you are totally set on getting a tiny little purse gun, then I would recommed the Beretta Tomcat in 32acp.



Take a NRA basic handgun class.



Remember the 4 rules of gun saftey

1.Treat all guns as if the are loaded, with absolute care and respect. (if anyone hands you an unloaded gun, check for yourself, or have htem show you how)

2. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to fire.

3. Never let the muzzle of the gun point at any person or anything you aren't willing to see destroyed. (this includes 'unloaded guns', be especially careful when picking up a gun, it is easy to forget and point it at people just as you pick it up)

4. Be sure of your target AND what is behind it before you shoot.



I would also suggest the website www.corneredcat.com

Answer 5

I strongly agree with the choice of a revolver, however I would get a 357 magnum. It will still fire 38 specials but will give her the option of using 357's for defense if and when she gets comfortable using them. Another very good option would be a shotgun. Kneeling behind the bed with a 12 or 20 guage pointed at the bedroom door would be a pretty formidable position. Whatever she chooses, a safety class and lots of practice will make all the difference.

Answer 6

The sound of a 12 gauge pump shotgun loading a shell into the chamber is unmistakable and loud enough to be heard around the house. Just that act could send a perp running. Light loads of 7 or 8 shot are lethal at close range and do not have the penetration or ricoche to be as damaging to a distant bystander or neighboring property. Some are short enough that you could turn around in a hallway while holding the gun level(horizontal).

Answer 7

I use the Glock 22 .40 S&W. It is up to the department to determine what weapon you require your offcers to carry. Some departments require you to carry a specific weapon, like department 'x' requires you to carry a beretta M92 9mm, while department 'y' may say that you have to carry a Glock, but it can be a 9mm, .40S&W or .45ACP. And some still department z may just ask that you qualify with the weapon before you carry it. The majorty of departments are switching to Glock 22 or 23 .40S&W cartirage. A detective might carry a smaller version of the same caliber weapon such as the glock 23 which has a shorter barrel and slide, or even a 27 which is a compact .40S&W

Answer 8

A snub nose .38 for a woman is both a good and a bad idea. The size is perfect for a woman to HOLD, but not for a woman to SHOOT. Since guns are not toys, I would get a larger gun, something with about a 4 inch barrel. Revolvers require far less care and are much much much more easy to operate, especially under stress. Do not get a semi-auto pistol, regardless of what the guy at the store may tell you. Smith and Wesson make the best affordable .38 revolvers. If they have them in stock, maybe look for one that has a laser sight. You will NEED to get what they call "night sights" or else you will not be able to aim in the dark. The laser sight is mostly to make the guy pee his pants and run away before you even have to shoot him, so I suppose it is not a must-have (they are expensive). If she insists on a small pistol, go to a range that rents out guns before you buy. I am a man and I shoot very big hunting rifles and large caliber pistols and the most kick I have every had out of a pistol was on my .38 snub nose and my small automatic .32, they actually made me physically hurt after shooting a box of ammo.

She will need to shoot to become comfortable, don't just think you can buy a gun and magically know how to shoot, it requires more skill than you might think. As I said before, those snub noses are REALLY hard to shoot, especially more than once. My mom shot one bullet and put it down (this was after she put down the larger revolver because it was "too heavy") GUNS ARE NOT TO HOLD, THEY ARE TO SHOOT. It may be heavy in your hand, but it will be true and reliable when you do what it is meant to do: shoot. This is especially true for home defense; size is more of a non-point. If she wants to carry it around as well, you might actually get two guns, one to practice and store at home for defense, and one to carry. For carrying, you really cannot beat the snub nose smith and wesson .38 special.

Answer 9

First, have her take the gun safety course. A .38/.357 Magnum revolver would probably suit her best. The .357 will also shoot .38 Sprecial ammo. Smith & Wesson, Ruger or Taurus are all good choices.



H

Answer 10

A .38 revolver. Easy to load, easy to use: point it and pull the trigger; and the >38 Special has plenty of punch to put anyone on the ground if need be. I carry a a 2" bbl .38 Spl daily and will stake my life on it. I keep a 4" bbl .38 Spl in the bedroom and feel confident it will protect my wife when I'm not around.

Answer 11

The best choice is a 2o gauge shotgun using number 4 shot size with a improved cylinder choke or skeet choke. Mossberg Maverick brand new at Walmart for $160.00... Best weapon or home defense for a man or woman.* Forget about the handgun.* Get a 20 gauge Shotgun asap.*

Answer 12

I agree with a double-action 38 Special revolver AND a good safety course on how to use it. If you want new, there are several good choices for under $400.00.



Remember, LIGHTER is not necessarily better when it comes to shooting it.

Answer 13

For a small woman, a .32 or a .38 caliber handgun... a revolver, because they don't jam like a semi-auto and spend some money on GUN SAFETY LESSONS... and she should get along OK

Answer 14

I say snub nose .38.

She should take saftey, and shooting classes first.

Remember you can get shot with your own gun if they take it away from you.

I think a dog is good, I have had both a dog & a handgun.

Be safe.