Guns! - I promised (yes it's rural related..)

[r0GuE]

Guns! - I promised (yes it\'s rural related..)

Several years ago I had a pretty nice little setup for firearms. A good deer rifle, A nice over and under for shooting clays, and a few pistols for sport and home defense.

Then... I had my son.

I was so overwelmed with the little one, that when we moved to the new house and the gun safe stayed at the old house, I was compelled to sell them all in hopes of a safer household free from potential disaster.

Flash forward a few years and enter stage left, a huge heoin epidemic in my area. Crime (albiet usually non violent) has skyrocketed. Breaking and entering is very common now. Armed robberys of convienience stores are also.

While I thought that moving to a RURAL (see told ya) area would aleviate my fears, a few nights ago, a house two down from mine was broken into. I am often awakened in the night and forced to do a walk through for fear of the worst. This I have done for years. I usually take a Spyderco knife with me, but I am not a really large person and I just hate to imagine me with a knife against one big or perhaps multiple herion junkies. I realize that this is all VERY hypothetical, but none the less, I want my handgun back.

So the question... I have narrowed my focus to .45 only. If I were to go 9mm it would be the HK P7e, but recent events have me looking at the domestic products (no I don't want to go there with this thread /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif). I also know that some prefer shotguns, but I don't like that idea for close quarters. S I thought it would be fun to see what the TBN'ers think with respect to .45's. Gotta be alot of gun enthusiasts on the board. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Who'd a thunk... Guns,.. less controversial than discount stores /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Thanks all!

 

[Tractors4u]

Re: Guns! - I promised (yes it\'s rural related..)

Glock 21 .45

 

[Dozernut]

Re: Guns! - I promised (yes it\'s rural related..)

Unless you are a very good shot and can shoot under combat situations, I would not recommend a handgun. There is the distinct possibility of over penetration and harming your family or a neighbor. If you want home protection get a pump shotgun and load it with birdshot. This will not over penetrate, you do not have to be precise in your aim and lastly in a quiet house, when you jack a round into the chamber that sound is very distinctive and will deter any sane person from continuing on.

 

[MF1455v]

Re: Guns! - I promised (yes it\'s rural related..)

I personally like the Colt 1911 style .45 due to the fact that you have multiple safety's on the gun (hammer, safety switch, and a grip safety). If buying a Colt you will pay a premium price, but there are several other manufactures that but the same style gun. I have had experence with Springfield Armory and there V10 is and good gun and priced right.

 

[Junkman]

Re: Guns! - I promised (yes it\'s rural related..)

I have or had (don't know which, because I don't know were it is and haven't been able to find it in two years) a 12 gauge shotgun. I had it loaded with varying degrees of pellets from bird shot to a wad cutter as the last round. I had it around for many years since it was first issued to me in the riots of the summer of 1966. After a while, I decided that I no longer needed to have it handy because I don't think that I could bring myself to shoot another human being again. Just a personal preference that comes with old age. If you feel the need for a gun, then I would suggest the shotgun, because it is the least likely to kill, but it will stop all but the most determined of burglers.... that is where the wad cutter came into play....

 

[DocHeb]

Re: Guns! - I promised (yes it\'s rural related..)

For in-home safety, consider Glaser Safety Slug - compressed #12 shot that decreases downrange danger. No personal experience with these, just something I remember from my travels from there to here.

 

[rdam]

Re: Guns! - I promised (yes it\'s rural related..)

Any quality, name brand 12ga shotgun is probably best for numerous reasons.

If you insist on a handgun and want a quality, reliable, simple, reliable, idiot proof, reliable .45...Glock 21. I carry one on duty. It has thousands of rounds through it with only 4 failures to feed. A check of these cheap practice rounds showed four bulged cases. In other words, 100% reliable (so far) provided you drop test your cartridges.

Unless you are Intimate with and practice often with the 1911 style...I'd stay away. They are finicky in the hands of an inexperienced shooter. They are deadly fast and accurate with those that practice.

And of course you can't beat the simplicity and reliability of any big name .357.

 

[RanchMan]

Re: Guns! - I promised (yes it\'s rural related..)

Hmm. In regards to selecting a .45 - several alternatives I like.

The old standby 1911 is a real winner - reliable, rugged, accurate and proven in true combat situations. Lots of upgrades available too. Downsides? Yea - until you're a familiar with it, it can be a little disconcerting to carry it around "cocked and locked." Really it's just a mind thing as it is how one should carry the 1911.

As far as other reliable alternatives, I also like the Ruger P90 (the double/single action that does NOT have the safety - i.e. it handles a lot like a double action revolver). A lot less "thinking" is required since it is double action and no safety to mess with. It’s just as safe as any existing double action revolver and also has the benefit of simply having to pull the trigger double action on the first round - just like a DA revolver. (SA after the first shot.)

There are other good alternatives out there - just a couple of them that rank toward the top of my short list.

 

[YanmarFever]

Re: Guns! - I promised (yes it\'s rural related..)

My 2 cents

*Glock g21= .45 cal.
*glazer safety slugs
*an M3 flashlight clipped to the bottom of it.
*a just in case plan with your family
*a permit to carry it concealed

and LOTS OF PRACTICE at the range,it builds confidence!

 

[RoyJackson]

Re: Guns! - I promised (yes it\'s rural related..)

I prefer a Glock, but you said domestic (Glock is made in Austria).

So, the Colt 1911 is probably your best bet. Nice guns, I just prefer Glocks.

However, the house gun is a .357 Magnum Taurus (Brazilian made,BTW) Tracker in stainless using a frangible ammo (Triton in my case) to prevent over penetration.

Of course, I think you should consider that 12 gage shotgun. In a real life home invasion situation, you've got to aim that handgun. With the shotgun, just point... And, with the right shotgun (Mossberg Persuader inmy case), you can have 8 rounds on the ready.

And, as another TBNer mentioned, get that carry permit. Colt 1911 is rather big to carry though, IMHO.