Favorite defense gun?

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Self-Defense & Prepping: General

Jorge Trucco March 24, 2015 at 8:40 am

I’ve had several. 45 cal. Colt 1911, 357 mag, Glock .40 cal. Several semi- auto shotguns.
Which is your favorite?

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Anonymous March 24, 2015 at 4:58 pm

My only thorough experience with handguns is the Browning Hi Power. Excellent accuracy/reliability, time tested. If I lived in a country that allowed the use of a firearm for self defense, I would purchase one.

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  Jorge Trucco March 24, 2015 at 5:22 pm
  
  That’s a classic! Move down to Patagonia (part of this piece of geography that some call Argentina) and buy as many as you want!
  
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    Anonymous March 24, 2015 at 6:25 pm
    
    One day Jorge my friend! One day…..once I accumulate the required capital!
    
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Mike Vroman March 24, 2015 at 6:02 pm

I have moved away from having one favorite, and have developed several favorites based on my activities. .380 for maximum concealment, 9mm for lesser concealment, .357 for areas where open carry is accepted, especially as a backup when hunting. Accuracy has become more important than size.

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  Jorge Trucco June 22, 2015 at 12:28 am
  
  I had forgotten about the .380. I’ve never had one myself, but I’ve read positive things about it especially when loaded with adequate expanding bullets for needed good stopping power. I think if you’re looking for maximum concealment the .380 can be an ideal choice.
  The thing is that concealment has not yet been an issue for me. When I’m at ranches, which it’s often, a handy 20 G Remington 870, with a chopped barrel and the plug removed, loaded with buck-shot shells makes me feel pretty safe.
  
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    Toni Sopocko June 22, 2015 at 3:30 pm
    
    My grand-dad’s side arm was a Colt .380 auto. Very nice gun. Sort of wish I still had it. . .
    
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Jorge Trucco March 24, 2015 at 7:22 pm

I’m awaiting Matthew Reece’s opinion on his favorite defense gun… maybe a hand-bazooka or a concealed driven missile 🙂

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  Account deleted June 20, 2015 at 9:55 pm
  
  I will not disappoint you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSp7CipN1pw
  
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    Jorge Trucco June 21, 2015 at 10:23 am
    
    Hahaaa !! Great!! I wouldn’t have expected any less coming from you, Matthew!
    Have you considered collateral damage as a result of the use of this gun? Would that be a concern?
    
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    - Account deleted June 21, 2015 at 9:46 pm
      
      The area of effect is not that large. Typically, this would be fired at an enemy vehicle, and we can typically assume that everyone inside is an aggressor. I am generally not that concerned with collateral damage from a moral standpoint, as explained here: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-100-and-a-libertarian-perspective-on-innocent-shields
      
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Douglas Koobs June 8, 2015 at 4:00 am

Mike Vroman makes a good point, picking one favorite is difficult. For concealed carry, I use either a S&W .38 snub nose or a Springfield EMP 9mm compact 1911. For home defense, 12G pump Mossberg or S&W M&P 9mm. For plinking, a Ruger SR22 or 10/22.

But what really makes my heart beat faster is a .45 ACP 1911. If I were to open carry, I this would be it.

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  Jorge Trucco June 8, 2015 at 11:32 am
  
  Excellent combo !!!
  
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Ben Johnson June 20, 2015 at 1:16 pm

“Favorite Gun” depends on the situation.

For rolling around town I keep a Sig Sauer 9mm in my car with an extra 15-round mag. I don’t Conceal Carry because for me the cost is not worth the benefit.

For my daughters’ bedrooms, they each have a Youth pump .20 gauge shotgun with #4 foxshot next to the bed.

I’m spending next week faaar out in the country at a beach house east of Galveston, Texas. For that, I keep a light-weight AR leaning against the wall in the bedroom. It’s better if I needed to punch into a car that rolled up the driveway. In suburbia where I live, I run a 12 gauge to prevent accidental over-penetrations into my neighbors’ houses.

Love the 16″ light-barrel AR! Great for women and children to use. Easy to train on and maintain. I’m converting all my ARs to light-weights.

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  Jorge Trucco June 20, 2015 at 4:22 pm
  
  I was just discussing that with friends last night! A 20G shotgun with buckshot! Ideal defense home-gun.
  
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  Jorge Trucco June 22, 2015 at 12:35 am
  
  Don’t you find 20 G shotguns easier than light-weight ARs for women and children to use?
  
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    Ben Johnson June 22, 2015 at 7:24 am
    
    My girls dislike shooting the 20 gauges. The light weight of the gun makes it kick harder. Even with a recoil pad, it bruises their shoulders, which they must then explain to their friends when wearing summer clothes.
    
    They prefer the AR because it has almost no recoil. Problem is, the AR is too dangerous for them in suburbia because it will punch though several walls. The #4 foxshot will not.
    
    I have the 20 gauges under their beds, just in case they need to roll off the bed and grab something quick, which of course I hope never happens. My oldest daughter has one in her apartment in Austin where I felt an AR would be too dangerous to neighbors.
    
    http://www.theboxotruth.com shows penetration tests in common building materials.
    
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    - Ken Jons-un June 22, 2015 at 11:02 am
      
      Right, for home defense the buckshot is probably the best idea. If you are woken in the night you may not have ideal visibility and other aiming factors. Maybe your second or third load is a slug just in case someone doesn’t leave/stop like they should.
      
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    - Jorge Trucco December 1, 2015 at 9:26 pm
      
      I agree !!
      
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BRIAN BISHOP June 22, 2015 at 10:53 am

12 guage Maverick 500 for interior defense 00 buck for maximum effect, Tuarus pt 24/7 9mm for the lady’s ride, .357 mag for daddy’s truck, Ak47 for serious business, and perimeter security. I am planning on adding 7.62 in an AR platform, and maybe the kel-tech sub 2000 in 9mm for easy bug out.

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  Jorge Trucco June 22, 2015 at 4:43 pm
  
  Pretty complete assortment !
  
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Gary Bendall August 1, 2015 at 1:02 am

I like my mossberg 500 and my S&W M&P 9mm.

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Alex Wyman August 2, 2015 at 12:59 am

I would have to say a .45 cal. Its a bigger pistol, no good for concealed carry, but the reality is I’m not defending myself from people. Its the bears, mountain lions and moose I’m more concerned about. A .45 is going to take down whatever you need it to.

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Adam Hoisington August 3, 2015 at 8:08 am

I don’t leave the house without my LC9s, concealed. I used to carry a Commander-length 1911 chambered in 10mm, but first, I used to carry it in a IWB holster irregularly, then in a sling-bag all the time. I also keep an SR556 and Taurus 1911 in .45 in the trunk of my car. I may upgrade that Taurus to one of Ruger’s 1911’s at some point. A cousin of mine works there and gets a steep discount, and they have standard Novak sight cuts, so I can easily install my trusty TruGLOs on it.

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Brian Farmer November 24, 2015 at 10:46 pm

The 12 gauge Remington 870 is a hard gun to beat for self defense.

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  Zachary December 1, 2015 at 9:36 pm
  
  I shot trap with a Kel-Tec KSG a little while ago. Fun, fun, fun, little shotgun, and probably a great fit for a home defense weapon, if you were reflexively familiar with the pump action.
  
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    Michael Reith December 1, 2015 at 9:47 pm
    
    Pretty impressive to shoot trap with an 18″ barrel. I am terrible with a traditional trap shotgun. Do you find it to be heavy with both tubes loaded?
    
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    - Zachary December 3, 2015 at 12:27 am
      
      I didn’t notice that it was significantly heavier than an AR15. I actually shot better with the KSG than with a traditional bird gun.
      
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    - Michael Reith December 3, 2015 at 11:09 am
      
      Interesting! Come to think of it, most lightweight field guns have s similar length barrel. Indeed, that whacks off weight that probably compensates for the increased magazine capacity Sounds like a nice gun.
      
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Michael Reith November 25, 2015 at 11:55 pm

Being older, I grew up with steel pistols. I carried a 1911 and a Browning Hi-Power in .40S&W for a long time. Never did like the “snap” of the .40 recoil but loved the Hi-Power. Recently I moved to a Glock 36 for carry. It doesn’t have the charm of the 1911 for pleasure shooting but it is an amazingly utilitarian weapon. So much lighter than carrying a full-size steel gun and amazingly accurate for defense purposes. And it gives me the nice “push” of a .45ACP that I prefer over the “snap” of .40.

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Christopher Jones December 11, 2015 at 8:56 pm

I would have to go with a situational favorite. The Glock 43 is my favorite ever day carry as it is think and light and I find I don’t even notice having it on me. My favorite “by the bed” gun is a Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver. Because it is simple, my wife is also very comfortable with it. My very favorite home defense gun is the aforementioned Kel-Tec KSG with a pump handle and light. I think this will get the job done in case of home invasion or robbery.

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  Michael Reith December 11, 2015 at 9:23 pm
  
  The older I get the more I like revolvers, especially if a person isn’t regularly practicing as to how to clear a malfunction. If a round doesn’t fire, you just pull the trigger again. I’ve considered moving to a revolver for primary carry as I grow older. I’m really impressed with the S&W hammerless, featherweight revolvers. Weight was never a barrier for me when I was younger but I sure notice it now!
  
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