Just a question I thought I might ask here because you guys seem to know more about guns quite a bit. If I were to get a handgun for home/self defense, what should I get? Some parameters:
-Not really a person into high-powered Magnum guns (Desert Eagles, .44 magnum revolvers)
-I like to stay away from revolvers
-I'm looking to pistols that are semi-automatic and lightweight
-The main guns I'm looking at are the HK USP, Mk. 23, Beretta M9, US M1911A1 and the Sig Sauer p226.

But if you want to recommend a different kind of pistol outside the parameter, I'd like to hear.

For home defense, nothing beats a 12ga shotgun with 00 buckshot. It doesn't overpenetrate walls (won't kill your neighbor's kids when you fire from your kitchen like a 9mm or .45 will), and you can get a 12ga for like $150. The sheer sound of a pump shotty is enough to make any intruder shit their pants.

If you seriously want a firearm for home defense, don't waste $500-1000 on a handgun. Spend $200 and get yourself a halfway decent shotgun and a box of 00 buckshot.

If you're using "home defense" as an excuse to buy one because your wife/girlfriend/etc doesn't want you to get one and you've managed to talk her into it under the grounds of "self defense," you should seriously look at CZ. The CZ75 is one of the best 9mm handguns on the planet.

http://cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-75-sp-01/

Per their website, it's "used by more Governments, Militaries, Police and Security agencies than any other pistol in the world." It, quite literally, is the AK47 of handguns. It's extremely reliable and idiot-proof. I have the Springfield version of the CZ75, the P9, and I love it.

And let me tell you about my experiences with the handguns you mentioned:

HK USP: Decent handgun. Comes in 9mm and .45. I personally don't like it because it feels cheap in my hands. I don't like the spiney-style handgrips, either. It's extremely uncomfortable, but that could easily be remedied by putting on some slip-on grips.

MK23: Never fired one, personally, but the same discomfort issue applies. Really, with any HK gun, you're paying for a name brand. They overprice their handguns like a motherfucker. You could get something comparable for half the price of some of HK's handguns.

M9: There's a huge difference between the M9 and the 92FS. If you can actually find a REAL M9, then you're going to pay a pretty penny for it. The 92FS is a halfway decent handgun in my book, but there are too many plastic parts in them. This stems from my belief that any high-stress part in a handgun should be metal, not plastic.

1911: Tried and true. Very nice handgun, except I'm not a fan of single-stack magazines. Die-hard 1911 fans will tell you, "IF YOU CAN'T KILL YOUR TARGET WITH 7+1 ROUNDS OF .45 ACP, THEN YOU'RE A HOMOSEXUAL!" That's bullshit. What if there are 9 bad guys? A seven-round magazine was an improvement over the 6-shot colt revolvers in the early 1900s, but is entirely unacceptable by todays standards. Also, the grip on them is very slender... it's more like a 0 than an O -- they're a bit awkward in my big-ass hands, and I'm not a huge fan of the grip safety, either. It's just too awkward.

P226: Very popular, up-and-coming handgun. My main problem with it: the trigger-pull is a F*CKING mile-and-a-half-long. You have to pull so F*CKING far back on the trigger on this damned thing, that sometimes (while shooting one), I've decocked it and checked to make sure it was loaded. That sort of uncertainty is just.... unsettling with regard to home defense.

from teh two on your list IVe fired.. the following applies..

HK USP: This was a very nice weapon, fairly accurate, light ... Id take .45 anyday over 9. ITs a worthwhile weapon IMO and out of the two the only with a true safety on it, so as to avoid any mishaps at home.

1911: TAke into consideration I fired a stainless Kimber verison of this , not a true springfield 1911a. However, this guns a bit heavier than the USP which can be a boner if you're not used to it. It has a double action safety... the part in the grip and the trigger, Lots of safety right? This gun by the feel I got when firing it more powerful, atleast in the kick. THe problem as gman has stated is the size of the mag, however TBH how often do you hear about 9 people rushing in a house, Go ahead and rebutt that if you want gman ;p

a M9 Is my dream weapon, but the real M9 as stated..good luck getting it, its standard issue for military and the most common civilian form of it you're going to find is either the 92FS or the 90two.

if I had to pick between hte two I know, 1911 all the way

Some interesting penetration testing:

.22LR, 9mm, .45ACP: http://theboxotruth.com/docs/bot1.htm

Shotguns: http://theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm

The site is pretty bad ass if you're interested in ballistics at all.

i agree with the gman, pump action 12 gauge shotgun is best for home defense, intimidation is a huge part of the defensive game, the click clack of the pump will be enough to cause intruders to flee. (if they don't you have stopping power) 9mm handguns tend not to have the stopping power you want for the home.

Always go to Gman for gun help.

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1911: Tried and true. Very nice handgun, except I'm not a fan of single-stack magazines. Die-hard 1911 fans will tell you, "IF YOU CAN'T KILL YOUR TARGET WITH 7+1 ROUNDS OF .45 ACP, THEN YOU'RE A HOMOSEXUAL!" That's bullshit. What if there are 9 bad guys? A seven-round magazine was an improvement over the 6-shot colt revolvers in the early 1900s, but is entirely unacceptable by todays standards. Also, the grip on them is very slender... it's more like a 0 than an O -- they're a bit awkward in my big-ass hands, and I'm not a huge fan of the grip safety, either. It's just too awkward.

on top of that early mods of the 1911 have shitty accurcy. you can shoot at somthing 2 feet in front of you and miss so somthig to consider but for home defence i would just go with shot gun like Gman said.

The m9 is a piece o shit well the ones we have in the navy are. Also Gman is right on the P226 the trigger pull is hellacious its a pretty good gun thoe I shot alright with it thats the new gun they use in the navy now instead of the m11. But the p226 is double action I think that is what its called were the first pull is alot stiffer than the rest so it kinda threw me off untill I got use to shooting the gun.

i have a few sigs, the trigger pull is designed like that because it doesnt have a safety. when you C*CK the gun the trigger pull is minimal. to be honest, i would get a revolver. reliable and cheap, and if you get good enough with it, just as fast on reload as any semi-auto.

Hey thanks for the tips guys, especially you GMan. I've never fired a shotgun before but might give it a try for home defense. I might give a look at the 1911 handgun. As for the Beretta M9/92Fs thing, I must've been more stoned than High at the time of writing and mistaken them for each other but yeah I really mean the 92FS. Again thanks

Best thing to do is go to a local gun range that rents guns and tell them what you're trying to accomplish. A lot of them have several guns for rent and you can try them out to see which one is the best fit for you.

The perfect gun for one person could be totally uncomfortable for another. Try them out first before you go spending your hard earned cash on one.

here is my pistol. sig sauer sp2022 .40 cal: 12-round clip, lightweight, tactical.

http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCa ... ductid=121

and gman is right, shotty is good for home defense. at some point i will be getting a pistol grip shotty as well, to go with my ak and my .22 rifle, so i can annoy someone to death.

Speaking of pistol-grip shotties, what would you guys say are the downsides to that? I found one over at Gander Mountain on sale one time (couldn't remember the price for the love of my memory) but thought maybe it might be easier to lug around. IDK, never used a shotgun. Maybe a rifle butt is better but wanted to know more about the upsides and downsides of a pistol grip shotgun

You just lit a fire into my anus. Accuracy generally has very little to do with the pistol as much as the shooter. A good shooter can take dam near any undamaged pistol and drive tacks. As far as the 1911 being inaccurate, take a look at what most professional shooters use. They use a variety of 1911's chambered in 9mm and .22 and for good reason. As far as early versions, out of the box they are accurate. After thousand upon thousands of rounds the barrels become shit. Oh no! My relic 1940 WW2 1911 is not accurate! Me no understand!




Aggreed, even with the 1911 statement. I spent $1,000+ for mine and couldn't be happier but it does lack the capacity. In return I am forced to lug around 2 extra mags in hopes I would have time to reload. The grips fits me perfectly but that is key for anyone purchasing a new pistol. My father in-law has the 92FS and it is a great pistol. I highly recommend it for the price as apposed to the M9. Sure its a Taures, but unless you are planning on putting 100,000 rounds through her a year don't worry about it.

P226, trigger pull does suck sacks.



Spend a couple hundred on a used mossberg 500, its perfect for home defense.








GG On the box o truth, I have been a long time fan of this site.

Hey Gman,

my aunt has her concealed weapon license in Colorado and is looking into a glock (we told her she needs a shotgun for home defense and she should carry a revolver but she wants a glock)

the instructor is helping her pick a handgun but do you have any suggestions? Money is no object.

You are most likely talking about the JIC (just in case) mossberg. This one comes in its own carry case tube.

Pistol grip? its great unless you are looking for longer range accuracy. Home defense scenarios its perfect, faster reload and bad ass for turning corners when clearing rooms. The downfall is the recoil that is put into your hand as opposed to your shoulder. Throw in some "T" steel shot and let her fly!

I've heard that steel shot (generally used by us waterfowl hunters as required by the lovely government) will penetrate kevlar. I think the box o truth site had something on that a while back. T shot is what we use for geese in Sept.

Vision: It's hard for me to suggest a conceal-carry weapon for a woman, since I have such huge ass hands... but have her look at the Bersa Thunder 380. It's a small, inexpensive gun (I know you said money is no object) that women love to carry. 380 is basically 9mm lite. I know of a few older ladies who carry one, and they love 'em.

A note about revolvers: Yes, revolvers are extremely reliable... but there's one HUGE downfall to revolvers. If you don't have the thing C*CK, if someone comes up to you and puts a little bit of pressure on the cylinder, they can keep you from C*CK/firing it very easily. For home defense, I would stay away from revolvers.

People who tell you that revolvers are 100x better than semi-automatic handguns are living in the past.

I AM A HOMOSEXUAL


I met a firearms instructor last year that pushed all his students to buy revolvers instead of semi-autos. When I mentioned the grabbing of the cylinder he said that nobody in their right mind would do that when looking down the barrel. This guy was a fag.

Yes the recoil goes into your hand instead of your shoulder, which is why I plan on getting a nice strap for mine. If this might be an issue, they have 20 gage versions as well. And really for home defense/close-range 20 gage should do just fine. And they are pretty inexpensive, only a couple hundred (or at least they were a couple years ago). There really isn't much of a downside, if any.