My house got broken into this morning while I was at work. I came home to a pried open window, broken blinds, nightstand drawers ripped out and medicine cabinet nearly torn off the wall. None of my high priced electronics (which we literally have 3 50"+ flat panels, playstation(s), xbox, multiple laptops, etc) were taken or even touched. In the end, they got away with about 3500 in cash. Instantly I am in the market for a personal defense handgun. Not owning any guns and only have fired a handgun a few times, I am at a loss. Suggestions? Nothing to expensive and it doesn't even really need to be that great of a gun. I'm not trying to win a marksmanship award or really even shoot it on a regular basis.

Best suggestion I can give you.

Go to a range that rents handguns.

Rent said handguns.

Find a style you like.

Do research on certain ones.

Purchase the right one for you.

We can drop mad knowledge on yo ass, but when it comes down to it, it's what you're comfortable with.

Pretty much this ^

My house has been broken into as well, so I know how you feel.

My recommendation, is if you want cheap, but still good, buy a Glock 19 or 17. However, much has to do with "what you're comfortable with" like Strange said, in case you actually have to use the thing. (Let's hope not.)

May I ask how you got so much cash stolen?

If you get a gun, you should probably by a safe (one that they can't walk away with) because if you didn't hide your cash very well, then you probably won't hide a gun very well either and that will get stolen too.

That way, you'll have a place for your guns AND cash. Plus, it's just the responsible thing to do and it won't be so easy to steal from you.

Also, a pistol isn't always the best choice for home defense (it's small and is easier to be wrestled away from you if your surprised/it's dark, etc.). Long guns are usually better for home defense, so don't rule out a good 12 gauge pump (Remington 870 or Mossberg 500), or an AR-15. An AR-15 is the more expensive route however and you need to make sure you shoot defense rounds out of an AR-15 otherwise it will go through the walls pretty easily.

I'm none too bright when it comes to guns (took a hunting class but even then that is limited info)
but to my questions
Defense Rounds?
plz elaborate

I keep a decent amount of cash on hand as an emergency fund. It was well hidden enough that looking into the nightstand would not have found it. It was taped under the top panel of the nightstand. He/she had to have an idea it was there to find it. Ripped the drawer out, then reach in and under. I am fairly certain it was one of the few shady mother F*CKERS I used to know. Cops were literally zero help. "There will be a report on file. If we find out anything, we will let you know." What a joke. I was thinking of the shotgun route. Not being an experienced marksmen and the like, I figured if I put a shell of birdshot or two into some idiot trying to break into my house, it will stop them and not kill them at the same time. Because to be honest, I don't really want to kill someone, even if they are some dumb F*CK trying to break in.

Yeah, I would just get a back account seems safer then a gun.

I have a bank account. With significant funding.

And a empty night stand.

Sorry, but I have to say..LOL!

Do you have an alarm system? No matter how many guns you have they have no effect when your house is empty.

Get a dog

^This is good advice. I dont have an alarm system at my house, but I did manage to get a bunch of ADT stickers and put on my doors and windows. At least now it looks like I have an alarm system


When looking into defense weapons, think about the walls in your house. An AR-15 round, and some handguns will go through walls and could hit whatever is on the other side of them. Shotguns dont have this problem as much. Might be something to keep in mind if you have small children...

there are plenty of personal defense rounds that you can put in almost any gun to make over penitration a non issue(going through walls).if you not going to shoot much to obtain the skill level realy needed to use a hand gun or eve a rifle just buy a 12 guage pump mossberg shot gun with the shortest barrel alowed by law in your state but i musty warn you if your not ready to kill some one even in defense you should not own a gun for protection get a alarm system that has an audible siren because it is likely you will hesitate and have the gun taken from you in the unlikely event the intrudered doesnt run .to be honest 99% of the time once they know your armed they run but not 100%.oh yeah and get a large breed dog ie pit rottie sheperd.

I had a friend suggest to me a ruger sr9 cause of the comfort in his hands, I went out held one and he was spot on it was so comfy I bought one. I got a mossberg 835 with pistol grip and choke in the barrel and its a bad mother F*CKER. Slayer is right though if you couldnt find yourself pullin the trigger on someone you might be better off with an alarm and a doberman pincher or some sort of security dog. It sucks to hear that your shit was broken into but those pussies were probly scopin your shit out and waitin for no one to be home.

On the Alarm System:
The house next door to ours was broken into, we decided that was enough to get an alarm system.
We actually installed our own system. We bought the pieces off the web and put them in. Was a little pricey but wasn't that bad.
It's a neat little system. Has the motion sensors and door and window alarms. As well as control from your cell phone.
It gets monitored by the company that sold us the stuff for far less than ADT.
It's also nice to install your own shit because if something happens you know what it is.

We also did what falcon said, got our hands on an ADT yard sign and Stickers.

Well a few things to point out. Even something like a sawed off shotgun has a VERY small spread, even over some distance. so the whole "just shoot in their general direction and they die" kind of belief is VERY untrue. Owning any kind of gun means learning to shoot it, and doing so on a relatively regular basis. Add too that the "home defense" rounds are either A have no penetrating power(penetrating power is stopping power) or B still go through walls like mad still anyway. In other words you NEED to know where your shooting and that if you miss you wont hit a family member 4 walls away, and yes even home defense rounds STILL penetrate that much. Anyway to give you at least some idea of what im talking about and to back my shit check this site out:http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/theboxotruth.htm

Also just pointing out if your willing to spend thousands on guns you should be willing to drop a couple hundred on a security system or a CCTV system. you can get good high res cameras that are easy to install and a pc box to record it all too rather easily/cheaply. crooks dont like alarm systems OR cameras. Hell you could just buy some broken/used cameras and make it LOOK like they are installed for very cheap that would bring your level of safety up. Also i do suggest getting/making a dear camera box and a cheap motion sensitive camera to put into it placed in a inconspicuous spot(s) on likely approaches to your property. No joke a few months back my buddys house was broken into and his dear camera setup caught the perp.

anyway final thoughts on the gun(s) themselves: as stated above make sure it is something you and any other adults are comfortable with. If you dont trust yourself with the gun and are comfortable firing it, it is nothing more than a paper weight.

Check your state's laws on owning one, I remember reading something in our local paper about the length needing to be atleast some number of inches or whatever..

I have an SR9 as well. Not a bad pistol.

i dont know of anywhere u can saw it off and it be legal but you can buy short barreled shotguns generaly its 18 inches well in va any way.

This is good advice. Get an alarm system. Preferably one that makes noise.


Also good advice.



The federal requirement for a Title I shotgun is 18" from the breech face to the muzzle. A shotgun with a shorter barrel has to be classified as an AOW or Short-barreled shotgun and is a Title II firearm, which are heavily regulated by the BATFE.


If you're going to get a gun, get somewhere secure to keep it. There are companies that make wall-mounted biometric lockboxes that will make it harder for someone to pick up your own gun and use it against you. It won't make it impossible for them to get your gun while you aren't home, but it'll reduce the chances of some dickbag picking up your gun while you aren't looking.

I would also recommend having some friends who shoot regularly take you shooting. If you don't have any friends who shoot, take an NRA basic pistol course before you buy a gun. http://www.nrainstructors.org/searchcourse.aspx