New handGun

[JigMe]

Being in Maryland the shotgun if probably the best bet, the handgun laws don't favor the legal owner.

Also, hopefully it never is needed as protection but make sure its your last resort to shoot the intruder. You can still get charged if you could have done something else, like lock yourself in a different room or run.

x2

I am currently a Criminal Justice student and have read quite a few Criminal cases on this subject. In Massachusetts it is called the Castle Law. IMO it protects the criminal more than the victim. Do your research on the law, understand what you are expected to do before you pull the trigger. Someone busting in your door, isnt reasonable fear for your life, being at gunpoint is. Also check your law on where you can legally store your weapon, in some states it must be in a locked cabinet.

That being said, I have a 100lb Chocolate lab, then last resort is my Remington 870 Supermag, locked in my room in a safe. 3 1/2", 12 guage should be suffecient.

-matt-

wow...this is getting more than I can handle. I am good with numbers, but this is way out of my league. Maybe I should consulate with an attorney first before buying a gun. I can't believe protecting your family/house can be a nightmare.

[done]

Being in Maryland the shotgun if probably the best bet, the handgun laws don't favor the legal owner.

Also, hopefully it never is needed as protection but make sure its your last resort to shoot the intruder. You can still get charged if you could have done something else, like lock yourself in a different room or run.

x2

I am currently a Criminal Justice student and have read quite a few Criminal cases on this subject. In Massachusetts it is called the Castle Law. IMO it protects the criminal more than the victim. Do your research on the law, understand what you are expected to do before you pull the trigger. Someone busting in your door, isnt reasonable fear for your life, being at gunpoint is. Also check your law on where you can legally store your weapon, in some states it must be in a locked cabinet.

That being said, I have a 100lb Chocolate lab, then last resort is my Remington 870 Supermag, locked in my room in a safe. 3 1/2", 12 guage should be suffecient.

-matt-

wow...this is getting more than I can handle. I am good with numbers, but this is way out of my league. Maybe I should consulate with an attorney first before buying a gun. I can't believe protecting your family/house can be a nightmare.

I recently got a S&W M&P .40 for home protection. I definitely would say whatever you get, if you can practice with it first. Either way, learn to shoot it accurately. If you are protecting your home, you have to keep in mind, it will be over in 1-3 shots at most, you have neighbors and every miss risks their lives, and if you have family in the home, any miss risks theirs too.

In NC, our Castle Doctrine protects me if they are breaking in, once in, it is a different ballgame. That being said, I got 4 little girls in my home, someone endangers them, I worry about them first, what is legal second.

Also, be EXTRA, anal in deciding where and how to store it. Do not decide a an unsecure hiding place or telling a kid not to ever touch your gun will work. We had a 5 yr old killed this week in Charlotte after he found a handgun in a dresser drawer and managed to shoot himself in the face.

Personally, I found a reliable small biometric safe which I keep next to the bed. I can get into it in seconds in the dark. And before you ask, cutting my finger off won't get them into it. Apparently it can detect the heat of a "attached" finger. LOL. It was expensive but, IMO, worth it to keep the kids safe.

[Sfritr]

Do you have a dog?The reason I ask is cause you have a kid.I would get an attack dog before a gun with a child in the house that young.Way better deterrent.

Yes, I have a poodle.

so much for a "deterrent"   :

[Grey Wolf]

Being in Maryland the shotgun if probably the best bet, the handgun laws don't favor the legal owner.

Also, hopefully it never is needed as protection but make sure its your last resort to shoot the intruder. You can still get charged if you could have done something else, like lock yourself in a different room or run.

x2

I am currently a Criminal Justice student and have read quite a few Criminal cases on this subject. In Massachusetts it is called the Castle Law. IMO it protects the criminal more than the victim. Do your research on the law, understand what you are expected to do before you pull the trigger. Someone busting in your door, isnt reasonable fear for your life, being at gunpoint is. Also check your law on where you can legally store your weapon, in some states it must be in a locked cabinet.

That being said, I have a 100lb Chocolate lab, then last resort is my Remington 870 Supermag, locked in my room in a safe. 3 1/2", 12 guage should be suffecient.

-matt-

wow...this is getting more than I can handle. I am good with numbers, but this is way out of my league. Maybe I should consulate with an attorney first before buying a gun. I can't believe protecting your family/house can be a nightmare.

Don't worry about the law , just buy that shotgun to protect your family.

[done]

Do you have a dog?The reason I ask is cause you have a kid.I would get an attack dog before a gun with a child in the house that young.Way better deterrent.

Yes, I have a poodle.

so much for a "deterrent" :

Well...it is at least a fluffy little speed bump.

[Bantam1]

Go with the pump action shotgun with an 18" barrel. You could use #8 shot if you wanted to. With the range being so close in your house the light shot will still do a ton of damage. It is also reduced risk of overpenetration in your home. I run 3" #4 shot for my home defense. More pellets then OO buck and a slightly larger pattern.

You could keep the gun locked up during the day. Take it out at night before you go to bed and keep it close. Put it away in the morning before you go to work. This will prevent access by your child until she learns the dangers of firearms.

I suggest adding a flashlight to make sure you see what you are aiming at. Then you have time to decide if you need to pull the trigger or just detain him/her. It also can help temporarily blind the scumbag while dialing 911. Last but not least teach your wife how to use it. She may need to protect herself if you are not around, hurt, etc;

[JigMe]

I have googled the gun law for Maryland, and found if someone is under danger I can stand my ground, repel the attack. Also, may kill the attacker...

http://house.state.md.us/2007RS/fnotes/bil_0001/sb0761.pdf

So, time to shop for a shotgun and a pistol. Then find someone to teach me how to use it.... ;D

[zacksdad]

Your choice of a 12gauge is perfect. I would also agree with Bantam about using #6 or #8 shot to avoid over penetration inside your house. Check out some of the high lumen count tactical flashlights to mount to your weapon.Many of these lights are so bright that they will  temp. blind your unwelcome visitor and give you the split seconds you need.Good luck and God bless

[Stasher1]

alright, so you want a hd gun, you should go to a gun range that rents out weapons. find on that you ;\like and that fits you. so if you have a family you might want a 9mm hollow point so it wont go through walls and hurt other people. my personal fav is either a glock or a springfield XD. but what ever you get, get a flashlight and a laser for accuracy and safety.

Drywall can/will plug a hollowpoint round, basically turning it into ball ammo. If you're worried about over-penetration, stick with frangible ammo or shotgun shells with lots of tiny pellets. 

[Hammer 4]

X 2.....btw, the laws in cali suk... :

Go with the pump action shotgun with an 18" barrel. You could use #8 shot if you wanted to. With the range being so close in your house the light shot will still do a ton of damage. It is also reduced risk of overpenetration in your home. I run 3" #4 shot for my home defense. More pellets then OO buck and a slightly larger pattern.

You could keep the gun locked up during the day. Take it out at night before you go to bed and keep it close. Put it away in the morning before you go to work. This will prevent access by your child until she learns the dangers of firearms.

I suggest adding a flashlight to make sure you see what you are aiming at. Then you have time to decide if you need to pull the trigger or just detain him/her. It also can help temporarily blind the scumbag while dialing 911. Last but not least teach your wife how to use it. She may need to protect herself if you are not around, hurt, etc;

[K_Mac]

This is a very timely discussion for me. I'm in the process of making the same decision about a hand gun.

As was mentioned earlier, the sound of a shell being chambered in a shotgun is more than enough deterrent for a rational man. The effect of a shotgun blast will bring a non-rational one into compliance...

[JigMe]

This is a very timely discussion for me. I'm in the process of making the same decision about a hand gun.

As was mentioned earlier, the sound of a shell being chambered in a shotgun is more than enough deterrent for a rational man. The effect of a shotgun blast will bring a non-rational one into compliance...

Are you buying a handgun for target practice, or home defense? Those salesmen said, people want a good handgun, but you need a shotgun if it is for home defense.

[K_Mac]

I want a handgun that I can easily take with me when fishing (esp. at night), camping, traveling, etc. My wife often is with me, and that increases my concern/need for protection.

I agree with all that say a pump shotgun is the best for your home protection.

[zero limit]

I got a 410 shotgun and big loud dog.

[done]

This is a very timely discussion for me. I'm in the process of making the same decision about a hand gun.

As was mentioned earlier, the sound of a shell being chambered in a shotgun is more than enough deterrent for a rational man. The effect of a shotgun blast will bring a non-rational one into compliance...

So will the sound of pulling back the slide and chambering a round in a .45

[done]

I want a handgun that I can easily take with me when fishing (esp. at night), camping, traveling, etc. My wife often is with me, and that increases my concern/need for protection.

I agree with all that say a pump shotgun is the best for your home protection.

K_Mac as has been said earlier, find a place that will allow you to rent them and fire them. Stopping power and penetration mean nothing if you can't even hit the target.

I tried a few of them out. Went with the S&W M&P 40. The 40 has good penetration and great stopping power and more importantly ammo is easy to find. I narrowed it down to a Glock and a S&W. I went S&W M&P thanks to my sister. She is a cop in WNY, for the last 10 years they have been carrying either Glocks or S&W's. The Glocks caused issue for the women on the force and men with weaker grips as their lighter weight allowed the recoil to increase and increased jams. As I wanted a gun my wife could use, and after firing the S&W's I decided that's what I wanted.

There are a lot of Glock guys on here who can tell you the good sides of those guns. I have run about 500 rounds through my S&W M&P so far without any jams. It has some kick, compared to my buds 9mm. it is a good weapon though, easy to break down and clean, comes with 3 grips so you can find the one best suited to you.

BTW, the police went with the .40 round because Buffalo cops in NY kept running into issues with a 9mm not stopping suspects. A 40 will put 'em down. If you do buy one, I will be hoping the same for you that I do for mine, that the only thing it ever needs to stop is a paper target.

[JigMe]

I went to the range today after work, and rented a berretta 92, Springfield 1911, Glock 21, and a kimber. Interestingly enough, my accuracy is much better on a berretta. I am constantly hitting 6 and 7 on the target, but still no where close to a 10. But when I started to use a .45 acp pistol, my aim dropped and were hitting 4 and 5 on the target. Anyone know why? Or I should just stop testing guns ,and get a berretta?

[Micro]

I've owned a Beretta 92FS (3 actually) and a Springfield Armory 1911A1 (2 actually). 

If this is your first handgun, I'd recommend the Beretta.

First, Beretta makes a quality firearm.  The 92 is a well established design that is robust and ultra reliable.  The gun is really overbuilt for the 9mm round.  With care, a 92 will last forever. 

Second, the 92 is a little safer, IMO, for a newer user.  The decocker feature is nice.  It rolls the firing pin up so it cannot be hit as the hammer decocks.  Leaving it on after decocking and it acts as a safety.  Flipping it off and the pistol will fire in double action.  (Trying to lower the hammer on a loaded 1911A1 is more dangerous.) 

Both are great weapons.  Springfield makes a great pistol.  The slides and frames are forged in Brazil by Imel, an old and well established company that makes Brazilian military rifles.  The 92 is either made by Beretta in Accokeek, Maryland or in Italy.   I've only owned the Italian made pistol.  I think the fit and finish is a bit better than the Maryland built gun - which is the military version (the M9). 

[K_Mac]

I know little about handgun shooting, but I have played around enough with them over the years to know that how a gun feels in your hand makes a real difference in accuracy. I once shot a .357 mag. that just seemed right. I am going to a least consider a revolver for that reason. I am also considering a 9mm and a 40 cal. I have shot several different 45s and don't feel comfortable shooting them.

[JigMe]

I've owned a Beretta 92FS (3 actually) and a Springfield Armory 1911A1 (2 actually).

If this is your first handgun, I'd recommend the Beretta.

First, Beretta makes a quality firearm. The 92 is a well established design that is robust and ultra reliable. The gun is really overbuilt for the 9mm round. With care, a 92 will last forever.

Second, the 92 is a little safer, IMO, for a newer user. The decocker feature is nice. It rolls the firing pin up so it cannot be hit as the hammer decocks. Leaving it on after decocking and it acts as a safety. Flipping it off and the pistol will fire in double action. (Trying to lower the hammer on a loaded 1911A1 is more dangerous.)

Both are great weapons. Springfield makes a great pistol. The slides and frames are forged in Brazil by Imel, an old and well established company that makes Brazilian military rifles. The 92 is either made by Beretta in Accokeek, Maryland or in Italy. I've only owned the Italian made pistol. I think the fit and finish is a bit better than the Maryland built gun - which is the military version (the M9).

The salesman did told me about Italian made berretta, but it will cost 80-100 bucks more than the one made in Maryland. Do you see a big difference from the one made in U.S. and the one made in Italy? Also, there is a stainless verison, is that any better?

[K_Mac]

M Star thanks for the info. I have a friend that shoots a 9mm who says that with the proper loads you can achieve excellent stopping power. I can get a great price on a Ruger 9mm, but want to make sure it is up to the job. I Pray that I am never in a situation where I have to use deadly force, but if I do I want the bad guy to stay shot.

[Micro]

$100 more?  Hmmm.  I'd shop around.  AFAIK, there is no difference in prices. 

Even so, there is really no practical difference between the US-made guns and Italian made guns.  they are both Berettas.  The US-made gun is a civilian version of the military's M9, and the Italian-made gun is the 92FS.  Same gun, but I think the finish is nicer on the 92FS. 

There is a stainless version.  Of the three 92s I've owned, one was stainless.  The frame is still aluminum-alloy - just with a silver "Inox" finish.  The stainless gun is no better worse than the black gun.  In fact, I like the looks of the black gun better.  The stainless gun costs a bit more.  On the front end, just under the barrel, the word "Stainless" is roll-marked.   It's just a matter of preference. 

[JigMe]

Micro,

Do you like the Beretta .45acp apx4 storm F or G? Saleman highly recommended to me over the 92fs, but it is more expensive. Any thoughts on this?

[Micro]

I've never owned nor fired a Storm. Something about them didn't appeal to me. They were comfortable but felt very plasticy to me - if that makes sense. I do like the hammer on the PX4. I think its an advantage over stiker-fired guns like the Glock and Springfield XD. Because it allows you to pull the trigger again on a round that misfires. If you shoot some hard-primered european brands of ammo, like Prvi Partizan, that comes in handy.

I've recently checked out the sort-of-new Sig Sauer 2022. It's a double action, polymer framed gun. The decocker and slide lock are right there in easy reach. The trigger pull is ultra-smooth. It seems to be extremely well made. If I were to buy a polymer framed gun, I'd look really hard at the Sig Sauer 2022. The price is lower than the PX4.

http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=33&productid=121

[JigMe]

Thank you so much for the help Micro. I think I will go back to the range tomorrow, and play with the beretta a bit more.

I kind of like the springfield, the looks is very appealing to me. Probably not a gun I should buy right now, since I can't even aim it right.