Revolvers for home defense (good, light, oil, ammunition)
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I have a few shotguns for home defense. Does anyone have any input on revolvers for home defense? Would like something small I could keep in the family room.
Small and best are not always an ideal combination, however there are a number of small frame .38 caliber revolvers, usually 5 shot, that would be suitable. I wouldn't recommend anything smaller. Small .357 caliber revolvers tend to be very tough on your arms and hands. Some say that using anything less would not have sufficient stopping power, but I would disagree. Stopping power is more about shot placement.
My advice would be to go to your local gun range where you can rent a variety of revolvers to practice with, and find one that you are comfortable using. Stay away from ultra cheap stuff. There is some good info in the CCW thread in the hobbies forum here as well. Good luck.
Ruger SP101 may be a good choice. Fairly small and will shoot .357 mag or .38 Special. I find .357 a bit overkill for my tastes (and fairly small build), but it shoots great with .38 as well. As far as "stopping power" (which boils down to how much of the hit area turns to hamburger and how much hydrostatic jolt it gives), even a well-placed .22 slug is going to put someone down and do the job. And a well-placed .38 slug will more than do the job. You don't need a M61 Vulcan to take someone out.
I have a few shotguns for home defense. Does anyone have any input on revolvers for home defense? Would like something small I could keep in the family room.
Consider your walls and what is beyond with any home defense weapon. Will the bullet from a handgun likely pass through? If so, you might want to stick with the shottie. If penetration is not as much of a concern, and you want to get away from a long gun, then, whichever handgun you can shoot the best with consistency.
You need to be able to keep any loaded weapon out of the possible reach/access of unauthorized persons, be they children or adults.
My primary home defense weapon is an older .357 Smith & Wesson Model 19 with a Hogue finger-groove grip. I keep it loaded with .38 +P ammunition. I find that its 4-inch barrel and overall size are quite acceptable. For many years the Model 19 was THE duty firearm for law enforcement agencies all over the country.
I own a number of handguns, so I have several choices. I chose this one because its known to me as a good firearm, the frame/grip combo fits my hand perfectly, I can hit a human-sized target without seeing the sights, there are no buttons, levers or switches to fumble with, and my wife can shoot it just as well as I can (possibly better, but don't tell her I said so).
This is what it looks like, though the grips in the pic appear to be Bianchi:
I won't go much smaller than this, due to the recoil and accuracy problems of light-framed 5-shot snub-nose revolvers.
My primary home defense weapon is an older .357 Smith & Wesson Model 19 with a Hogue finger-groove grip. I keep it loaded with .38 +P ammunition. I find that its 4-inch barrel and overall size are quite acceptable. For many years the Model 19 was THE duty firearm for law enforcement agencies all over the country.
I own a number of handguns, so I have several choices. I chose this one because its known to me as a good firearm, the frame/grip combo fits my hand perfectly, I can hit a human-sized target without seeing the sights, there are no buttons, levers or switches to fumble with, and my wife can shoot it just as well as I can (possibly better, but don't tell her I said so).
This is what it looks like, though the grips in the pic appear to be Bianchi:
I won't go much smaller than this, due to the recoil and accuracy problems of light-framed 5-shot snub-nose revolvers.
Good choice. Most people don't think about the plunger on the 2.5" snubbies and how they have to be hit at least twice to extract the casings. Such is not the case with the larger revolvers with longer plungers. I always thought the S&W model 19 (pre-lock) had very nice balance to it.
If the OP has other handguns he might consider sticking with the same caliber in a revolver.
Ruger SP101 may be a good choice. Fairly small and will shoot .357 mag or .38 Special. I find .357 a bit overkill for my tastes (and fairly small build), but it shoots great with .38 as well. As far as "stopping power" (which boils down to how much of the hit area turns to hamburger and how much hydrostatic jolt it gives), even a well-placed .22 slug is going to put someone down and do the job. And a well-placed .38 slug will more than do the job. You don't need a M61 Vulcan to take someone out.
I concur that the SP-101 is an excellent small frame revolver and a great choice for home defense (as a back up for the shotty).
Keep it loaded with Golden Sabres or Hydro-Shoks and a .38 Special will put a whole lotta hurt on a bad guy......
I have a few wheel guns, but none are fitting for SD really. With that in mind, one day I bought a semi auto more fitting, and another and another. At this point I am thinking of a wheel gun fit for that service, but any time I get looking it ends with a S&W Model 29 or something else more fitting to meat on the table.
Same deal with shot guns. I can't seem to just buy a shotgun made for SD, and end up with long side by sides, with nice real walnut and nice fitting blue steel barrels.
Right now in time I am in that dilemma myself. I want a pump riot gun, or maybe a short side by side, and waltzing down the gun shop isles I end up looking at the wrong hunting type guns.
I just can't seem to get into black plastic stocks and stainless barrels.
That Ruger Sp 101 is a good solid choice though, as is any S&W in .38/ .357. For just at home a longer barrel makes a lot more sence, but keep it well under 12 inches.
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