Some advice for beginners on choosing a home defense gun

[sqlbullet]

Oddly enough, i think the tide has turned on what is hard for a novice to operate.  When I was a kid every cop carried a wheelgun, and on TV cops and bad guys were always swinging out the cylinder on their revolver to check if it was loaded.  It was a familiar operation that everyone understood.

People I have taught lately are completely flummoxed by revolvers.  They have no idea the cylinder even swings out, let alone how to release it.  But they intuitively know a magazine goes in the bottom of an auto, and that the slide has to be cycled to make it "ready to run".  Cause that is what they see on TV these days.

Handguns are not for the novice to use for any practical purpose.  The anemic cartridges for which they can be chambered require multiple accurate hits to be effective, while the short sight radius and pronounced recoil make accurate hits, especially under stress, difficult.

The novice should start with a 22lr.  I prefer a single shot bolt action with a single plane type sight with no magnification.  With this set up, the student doesn't rush shots, doesn't have to focus on sight alignment, and can therefore focus on trigger pull.  Once they have good trigger discipline, I like to step them over to either iron sights on the same/similar gun, or to a 22 handgun with a single plane sight.  Next stop is whichever they didn't take after step one.  After becoming proficient on these three steps, they have trigger control, familiarity with should and hand guns and an understanding of iron sights and single plane optics.

Now that they are no longer a novice, for home defense, I suggest a Glock 19 for your person and a AR-15/Remington 870/Mossberg 500 that your handgun helps you fight your way to.

[Raggedyman]

Handguns are not for the novice to use for any practical purpose.  The anemic cartridges for which they can be chambered require multiple accurate hits to be effective, while the short sight radius and pronounced recoil make accurate hits, especially under stress, difficult.

This is the best, most concise way I've ever heard the problem stated. Well done.


I agree about the steps for training but many new people are not coming to the shooting sports but rather are looking for a gun for defense. They really ought to seek out a qualified instructor but often simply buy a gun and then learn how to shoot it. They are uninterested in mucking around with what they view as a toy and instead simply want to get to work with the tool they bought to defend themselves. Worse, many just buy the gun, fire a few rounds, and if there are some holes near the middle of the target, they consider it good enough and put it out of their heads. I'd really like it if there were some sort of new shooter program aimed at establishing the fundamentals for people interested in defensive firearm use. They would teach people on Appleseed style 10/22s and provide ammunition at no cost to the shooter. They would be funded entirely by donations and taught by volunteer instructors. To encourage instructor participation, they could recommend further training in their paid courses.

[sqlbullet]

I agree.

Perhaps we should turn the question around on those sorts.  Let them know the real question is "What gun do you want to get shot with?"

[445 supermag]

Hell, I don't want to be shot even by a 22 short.  I'll  pass thank you very much.  It's got to just suck..

[DeltaSteve]

I would say, take a few gun safety courses and study the subject closely before the gun purchase.

[Buckeye 50]

Steve; agreed.  The more tactical courses I take the more I realize how little I know.  I also realize how critical ongoing repetitive training and situational awareness are.


Almost every Youtube video I see of police shootings sees one or more officers reacting (as they were no doubt trained) and to a degree just pointing and shooting (not meant to be negative).  Points out how important follow up shots become.


Pat

[Ramjet]

Training or should I say ongoing scenario training are foremost to competent effective defense home or away.

A that said the individuals situation or environment usually will dictate the firearm for the task That said the task will also aid in helping them make the choice. The individuals competency and training also has great impact on the choice.

Let's consider for example the short pistol semiauto carbine as the Kel-Tec or Barretta. Heck how about a short carbine pistol caliber in a lever action setup with a nice optical or laser and light? Short double barreled shotgun like the Maverick defensive Ou or side by side with a picatinny rail.

Handguns are the ultimate weapon for close quarters and can be easily accessed and from a good defensive position within a home are very effective including even the paltry 380. A ever more effective the the 9mm and up to the venerable 45 ACP with strobe light and laser. Handguns are easy to place strategically around the house and can be easily accessed by adults with the right secure devices or if you have no children then just assessable.

But anyway the answers are not exactly easy to come by or Universal they have to fit the individual and situation for that individual.

Plan and practice that's the key.