I only have a pistol close at hand to use in order to get me to my scattergun. IMO, a shotgun is better for home protection as opposed to a pistol. Tunnel vision sets in, loss of motor skills etc like we have all heard sets in when your life is at stake. In this case, a shotgun is more forgiving and creates a better chance at hitting the perp.

My first choice would be either a Rem 870 in 18 or 20" lengths, or a Mossberg 590 A1 loaded in 00 buck.

For handguns, you might want to take your other half to a range and have her try a few different handguns to see which feels better and is easier to operate for her. When me and my wife went thru this, I was suprised that she liked how the 1911 in 45acp felt and shot better than an XD 40, go figure.

 

I don't know...a little ole' 165 grain bullet traveling at 1200 fps out of a Glock 22 might shut him up.

Not that I'd shoot your dog or anything. I love mastiffs.

 

Whatever you get, make sure you and your wife (to be) spend some time training with it/them. Be familiar with your weapon, spend some time target shooting, and then spend a little more time doing some tactical/scenario shooting that relates to your need. Try your best to "train as you'd fight." My $.02.

 

Mossberg 500 "Street-Sweeper" model can be picked up for around 150-180 bucks... short barrell length and easy to find and operate safety. My choice for home defense, 'specially if anyone using it is NOT proficeint with firearms.
Unless the wfe-to-be is "into" guns and is willing to go practise enough with a handgun to be proficeint enough to find it, load a mag and chamber a round quickly in the dark while under stress... then a shotgun is a much better choice.
Just as something to think about as well:
I dont want to get blasted for saying this, but I have worked one rape and one home invasion where women HAD handguns for home defense, and when it came to it, couldnt pull the trigger. The one rape victim literally let the creep just reach out and take the gun out of her hand. In both cases the perps werent armed until the vicitms gave them their guns....
Really talk to the misses and if she has ANY doubt that she could actualy pull the trigger on another human being, and a lot of women( and men) cant, then DONT leave her a firearm, you could just be armming the bad guy.....get a meaner dog.....

 

My choice, Glock! Glock 9 mm is what most police are using. The model 27 Glock 40 cal is nice small weapon. Have had both, and like the way they shoot and very little recoil. Light weight, for the wife, and easy to clean. Never had a weapon before a co-worker talked me into buying the Glock's. javahjoeo from Kokomo

 

Whatever you get make sure the wife to be can pull the trigger even if the hammer isn't pulled back. Also if you aren't going to carry it concealed, get a barrel longer that 2in because you can't hit anyting with a short barrel.

 

Exactly...home defense is the 1300 Defender, if they get past the three dogs....I wouldn't even aim it at the intuder if the dogs were having fun with him My carry is a HS2000 9mm made by Intrac (Croatia) now it's the S.A. XD9 http://www.xd-hs2000.com/ ....the wife carrys a S.W. Model 340 http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...egory_rn=15704

 

So I guess my 240 Grain Silver Hollow point .44 Magnum are too much??

Let them pick, I have enough guns, lil ole 22 and the wife can just shoot him till he dies, 9 mm which is great, or the 44. Just the sound of it he'll be running. Then there's the double barrel, maybe just make him swallow a bag of gun powder and light the fuse?? All I know is me and my wife are in bed, anybody else in the house, they'll find them there in the morning. No reason the paper boy should be delivering the paper to my bed room

 

I have many but use two for protection - a Taurus PT145 11 shots high velocity hollow points kept with me and at night at my bedside; the other is a 12 gauge pump shotgun with the plug pulled so I get at least 6 shots. The PT145 is sweet and is very easy to carry as a concealed. I am well trained with both so god help the intruder that happens my way. First shot is to stop him but not kill him. If necessary the second shot will drop him. Both my son and wife are well trained also except that my son and I can both put all 11 shots dead center within a ¼ inch of each shot.

Proud to be American!

An armed citizen is a free citizen.

 

You're a much better shot than me. I got rid of my PT145 because at 25 yards I could hardly hit a 25 yard pistol target with it...much less get tight groups. With my Glocks it's a different story.

 

I agree, shoot to remove the threat.
But waiting after the first shot to see if it takes effect might not be the best choice of tactics.
I practice 'doubles' at <25 feet to try to achieve 'muscle-memory'.
Two or three rounds isn't going to get me any more attention from the responding LEOs than one.
And hopefully, practice will take over when the Adrenalin in kicks too.

It's a scenerio we plan for, and hope none of us EVER have to experience.