The Glocks and XD s are all nice and dependable gun. But for home defence there is nothing like a 12 guage. Anyone that uses those for some fun ammo check out brassandlead.com But for the wife (who will barely touch let alone shoot my 12) i bought her ruegar lcr .38, most impressive 38 i have ever shot especially with a 3inch barrel and it weighs 14 ounces Very nice for the lady and fairly accurate at about 40 feet even! But mainly everyone i know says reliability and comfort are the main things you need to worry about for your carry gun. good luck and enjoy

Inubus wrote:
[quote]The Glocks and XD s are all nice and dependable gun. But for home defence there is nothing like a 12 guage. Anyone that uses those for some fun ammo check out brassandlead.com But for the wife (who will barely touch let alone shoot my 12) i bought her ruegar lcr .38, most impressive 38 i have ever shot especially with a 3inch barrel and it weighs 14 ounces Very nice for the lady and fairly accurate at about 40 feet even! But mainly everyone i know says reliability and comfort are the main things you need to worry about for your carry gun. good luck and enjoyThe Glocks and XD s are all nice and dependable gun. But for home defence there is nothing like a 12 guage. Anyone that uses those for some fun ammo check out brassandlead.com But for the wife (who will barely touch let alone shoot my 12) i bought her ruegar lcr .38, most impressive 38 i have ever shot especially with a 3inch barrel and it weighs 14 ounces Very nice for the lady and fairly accurate at about 40 feet even! But mainly everyone i know says reliability and comfort are the main things you need to worry about for your carry gun. good luck and enjoy[/quo


yep. a 26" 12 gauge pump action is the best home defense around.I have a couple of those too. try a highpoint 995 for cheap fun and pesky varmints. I find that each one of my firearms are better suited for specific purpose..... i guess its kinda like buying chrome for the bike..I just keep having more!

If you haven't shot a glock i'd try one out at a range like was said earlier, They bite me every time, damn stupid thumb gets in the way of the slide every time I've shot one, didn't like the grip, seem too small. Do however fancy the 686 S&W 7 shot 357 and the HK45 (.45ACP) it's a fine shooting pistol, so light for a 45 you'd swear it'd kick all over but it doesn't it feels more like shooting a .38 with target rounds. Something to at least look at, and besides, a .45 has a whole lot of umph that no one can argue with.

I have a Glock 36 (baby Glock) in .45 ACP.....LOVE IT. It's small enough for comfortable concealed carry, and really packs a punch. I fabricated a "T" bracket which slides between my top and bottom mattress, and holds a thumb break holster. This allows for instant access. If you can't get your hand on it within 60 seconds or so, it's useless. At the front door, I have a S&W .357. it's located so that I can put my hand on it when I open the door. A home invasion usually occurs after a knock on the door, when you open it, it's kicked in, and then it's too late! Remember, when seconds count, the cops are only minutes away!!!

jetspray wrote:
[quote]Inubus wrote:
[quote]The Glocks and XD s are all nice and dependable gun. But for home defence there is nothing like a 12 guage. Anyone that uses those for some fun ammo check out brassandlead.com But for the wife (who will barely touch let alone shoot my 12) i bought her ruegar lcr .38, most impressive 38 i have ever shot especially with a 3inch barrel and it weighs 14 ounces Very nice for the lady and fairly accurate at about 40 feet even! But mainly everyone i know says reliability and comfort are the main things you need to worry about for your carry gun. good luck and enjoy[/quo


yep. a 26" 12 gauge pump action is the best home defense around.I have a couple of those too. try a highpoint 995 for cheap fun and pesky varmints. I find that each one of my firearms are better suited for specific purpose..... i guess its kinda like buying chrome for the bike..I just keep having more! [/quote]

As I said, I have shot guns at home ready to use. The hand gun issue is for outside the home protection and hopefully/mostly for recreational shooting for me and my wife. I would hope it would never come to the point that I nor my wife would have to shoot someone, but our world is changing and not for the better. My kids are grown and out of the house so having loaded guns at home is not an issue anymore.

Bought my wife a Taurus ultra light .38 after she took the NRA women's pistol course. She handles and shoots it very well. She wouldn't carry it, however (too heavy). She bought a Kel-Tec .380. It weighs practically nothing, and she now carries at all times!

This information is from a retired Military Police and previous City and county officer. I live in the gun center of the kind of midwest. We have Wilson Combat, Nighthawk Ind, and Guncrafters Inc, all within 20 miles of my house. They are among the best top line guns made, along with Kimber and Les Baer. I have a couple of Glocks, a couple Springfield XD,s, Colts, Kimbers, and Taurus, Keltec. I carry a Keltec 380 in my vest when I ride, because it is small and light. If your gun is uncomfortable, then you will not carry it. Most of the time I carry a Taurus 24/7 Milnemnum Pro 45 ACP. It is a big slow round that has good knockdown, and most of my guns are 45 ACP. I don;t like buying a bunch of different calibers..I prefer the Springfield XD to the Glock because it feels better to the hand and I seem to shoot better with the XD. Cost is about the same, with the LE discount..The number one thing is get a gun that you are happy with, become familiar with it and carry it..Once your legal..

hendersd wrote:
This information is from a retired Military Police and previous City and county officer. I live in the gun center of the kind of midwest. We have Wilson Combat, Nighthawk Ind, and Guncrafters Inc, all within 20 miles of my house. They are among the best top line guns made, along with Kimber and Les Baer. I have a couple of Glocks, a couple Springfield XD,s, Colts, Kimbers, and Taurus, Keltec. I carry a Keltec 380 in my vest when I ride, because it is small and light. If your gun is uncomfortable, then you will not carry it. Most of the time I carry a Taurus 24/7 Milnemnum Pro 45 ACP. It is a big slow round that has good knockdown, and most of my guns are 45 ACP. I don;t like buying a bunch of different calibers..I prefer the Springfield XD to the Glock because it feels better to the hand and I seem to shoot better with the XD. Cost is about the same, with the LE discount..The number one thing is get a gun that you are happy with, become familiar with it and carry it..Once your legal..

Thanks for your input. I think that I may end up with a few hand guns over time, I am the type that will jump in and go deep. My last HOOOHA was in archery. I got hooked many years ago with a co-worker and we did leauge compitition for about 4 years. I closed out with a very expensive setup and was shooting very well. That was 15+ years ago and When I wanted to re-start reciently, All the local archery ranges have closed up. So I now have a $1200+ bow setup that is basicly worthless. In know that won't be the case with a hand gun. I like compitition and think this will get me going. I am sure that I will end up with many types and caliber guns over the next several years and will be compeating. Anothet Hobby direction with other benifits.

Call me oldfashioned, or just old! Comfort and confidence in your gun should be your number 1 priority. Your dog will give you the upper hand in home invasion and may prevent anyone being shot. I want to know someone is near before the entry. I have shot many $2,000 customs and have found CZ and Springfield XD to be as dependable in many cases(failure to feed,extract fire etc.) They both make good models for competition use. Now, on to the old part, I no longer own any semi autos I am more comfortable and confident with my wheelguns. And about the shotgun thing, you will only hear a click as the saftey is released. This will prove to be a more expensive hobby than the archery. Be safe and enjoy!

Can't go wrong with Glock. Springfield's XD and S&W's M&P line are similar and from what I hear just as good. Make sure you get something that fits your hand well and you can be comfortable shooting. You'll have to determine if you can balance a carry gun with a fun gun. Its very possible, but just up to your personal preference.

For carry - I like to think at least 9mm, but something is better than nothing. And you've gotta be comfortable with it on your body for extended periods of time, or you won't carry it. I had a Glock 30 for about 2 years and carried it maybe twice. I now have a Kahr PM9 (about 3 years) that goes with me just about everywhere (I don't really shoot it for fun tho). The Kahr is easy for me to conceal - considereing what I normally wear and that I'm about 5-8 190#. It's easier for bigger guys and/or those who wear looser or bulkier clothes to conceal bigger guns, IMO.

For fun - If you're looking for competition, consider IDPA. They have scenarios based on real life encounters. They have rules on the guns you can and can't use (restrictions for different categories of handguns and such) and they are more based in practical guns rather than a race gun ($$$). I think they may require at least 9mm...(I have a Glock 23 for fun - just don't carry that much because I'm so comfortable with the Kahr).

So - Sounds like you're on the right track. I'd say the G19 is a pretty good choice. Anything in that compact style is a good balance for carry and fun - and you can get a .22 conversion kit for it also to shoot for cheap cheap cheap.

If you're going to carry, make sure you practice all the skills that go along with handling a gun too (drawing from a concealed holster, mag changes, fail to fire drills, etc) not just shooting.

Have fun and good luck!