Guns and bullets are purchased for both personal defense carry and home defense purposes to combat potential intruders and each person’s preferences will be different. If your neighbor buys a long gun like a pump-action shotgun, a rifle, or another large fire arm it may be at the other end of the spectrum of what you feel you need for your own home defense.
Before purchasing the self-defense weapon, it is recommended that you choose a caliber of gun that you will actually feel comfortable shooting. If you are purchasing a semi-automatic handgun for self-defense that will fire off several rounds, then you definitely want to know how to use it if you are faced with a scenario in which you need it.The following are 5 of the best handguns for self-defense in 2017:
Smith & Wesson J-Frame
The Smith & Wesson J-Frame handgun is a good handgun in terms of home defense because it has a very sleek and lightweight design. Smith & Wesson currently has over 39 different J-Frame handguns, but if you are looking for a more entry level revolver, then it is recommended that you purchase the Model 36.
It has the J-Frame handgun’s original design. J-Frame guns are good for home defense and concealed carry and come in hammerless double action only styles as well as chambered with a five-shot capacity. Model 442 Airweight is a J-Frame handgun that comes in at under sixteen ounces and features an aluminum alloy frame and a carbon steel cylinder with a black matte finish. It is a hammerless option with a double action only design and integrally fixed sights.
Another J-Frame option Smith & Wesson offers is the Model 637 Airweight with Crimson Trace. It is a compact handgun that weighs approximately fifteen ounces but has a lightweight alloy frame with a black rubber grip. It also features an exposed hammer for a single action or double action modes and it has a five-shot capacity. The addition of the Crimson Trace allows for fast target acquisition.
Ruger LCP Handgun Approximately $$
The Ruger LCP handgun is only sold in stores—not online—and is a lightweight and compact pistol that makes a good carry gun as well as home defense gun. It comes in at just under ten ounces and measures about 5.16 inches long. This handgun also features fixed sights and nylon grips. The alloy steel provides improved durability. The magazine capacity is 6+1 and also has a finger grip extension for the magazine.
It is an affordable handgun that works well in the home for self-defense. Shooting as long as you get some practice is easy.It may take a bit of practice to get used to the sights on this handgun and the gun may be too small to accommodate larger hands. The trigger pull is also a bit long and may be an adjustment for some users.
Springfield XD Mod 2 Handgun Approximately $$$
The Glock 17 Gen 4 is a semi-automatic, large frame pistol. It is the fourth generation of Glock 17 handguns and features many improvements including removable back straps so that you can adjust the grip, a dual recoil pin, a grip texture so that the gun won’t slip in your hands, and an enlarged magazine release.
It is still a very lightweight and compact option at comes in at just two pounds when it is fully loaded.The front finger grooves offer a steady and strong grip and the double action trigger with safety. The safety is not located on the side of the gun; this allows for a safer gun because the only way the gun will fire is if you pull the trigger.
There is an internal mechanism in this handgun that prevents it from shooting otherwise because it will not allow the firing pin to punch forward. This is a good feature because it helps to reduce the occurrence of accidental discharges, especially if the gun has been dropped. Glocks are also good home defense guns because they feature an easy to use design.
TaurusJudge Public Defender Approximately $$$
The Taurus Judge Public Defender handgun is extremely effective for home defense because it can fire many different types of ammunition including birdshot, buckshot, and slugs which will potentially limit the amount of over-penetration if the gun is fired. It minimizes the chances of the ammo penetrating the walls or other hard surfaces which make it safer for home defense.
It also features a manual safety system with a built-in Taurus Security System, also known as TSS, and this feature can completely disable the handgun and it can only be engaged and disengaged by using the key you received when you purchased the gun.
These features allow for more peace of mind when you are concerned about the safety of those in the home that don’t know much about guns and gun safety. The Taurus Judge cannot be accidentally discharged without that key.The Taurus Judge also features a rubber grip handle that is both ergonomic and shock absorbing while providing you with a very firm grip.
Final Thoughts
No matter which handgun you choose to purchase for home defense, you will want to familiarize yourself with it and become comfortable with how it works and how it feels in your hands. You should also take proper safety precautions at home when it comes to storing your firearm and keeping it out of reach of those that do not understand how to use it.