Thinking of new handgun for home defense

View · by **SavageSmoker** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:19 am

Hi All,

I currently use a 3rd Gen Glock 19 equipped with a Crimson Trace laser sight as my primary home defense firearm. Looking to expand my inventory and to get a smaller CCW firearm, I picked up a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield in .40cal. I like this little gun so much that I recently bought a Shield in 9mm as well, primarily for my wife to shoot.

Personally, I have come to really appreciate the .40 platform and am now researching compacts in that caliber. Being pretty impressed with the M&P series, the 40c is topping my list. I am a lefty so ambi controls would be nice. However, I have learned to adapt with my G19 and operate it smoothly and quickly in a left-handed application. I do not want a mannual thumb safety.

So...should I choose to get a .40 as primary HD firearm, what are your thoughts? Also, what are your thoughts on laser sights, TFO sights or what makes a good combo for HD or use in low light and dark conditions?

Sorry it's so long. Thx...Brian

View · by **bstrawse** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:37 am

Glock 22/23/27

I have a Glock 27 Gen 3 (.40) w/ night sights - only a year old, couple hundred rounds down the pipe, that is for sale in this forum

In my house, I use a fullsize firearm. For me, it's a Gen 4 Glock 17.
b

View · by **Irish.40** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:45 am

I carry a Glock 23 daily. For me it's the perfect size. Still concealable but higher capacity. It's also slimmer than a .45 caliber glock. I do have trijicon night sights and a stainless steel guide rod. As well as Talon grips. I've been thinking about a smaller frame for worry free concealability but my wish list is already too long!!

View · by **ronin069** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:48 am

I am a fellow-lefty. My nightstand gun is a SIG229/.40cal...(and in light of recent events has replaced my nice, light, .38 snub nose for EDC)

I played with the laser for a while, and find it fun to look at, but for a home defense situation am uncomfortable with a laser on a handgun. To me, you are wearing a neon sign that shouts "shoot this direction". Some might say the same about my railed flashlight, but I am comfortable and practiced with it...which matter to me.

Regarding your EDC carry question, I too am now in the market for a compact .40 cal. XD comes to mind as a natural choice, but I am curious to see what the group has to say.

View · by **SavageSmoker** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:02 am

Thx for the replies so far. I was really on the fence about using a laser on my HD firearm as well. I am adamant that myself and my wife learn to shoot a new weapon using the factory or iron sights prior to adding any upgraded sights, lasers or optics. Those can fail (dead batteries, etc.) and being proficient in the firearm's purest form is a must. I have noticed that i can get on target very quickly with a laser, especially without having to bring the gun up to a natural sighting position. Might help when split seconds count.

Any thoughts on the M&P line? While I do not carry a CCW a lot, the Shield is very comfortable and makes a great carry and car gun. Don't want to start a debate about the recent movie killings, only to say I may be armed a bit more now.

Thx...Brian

View · by **grousemaster** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:06 am

I've got a Gen 4 Glock 23 in excellent condition (all factory "stuff") for $450 plus MN state sales tax.

View · by **rugersol** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:37 am

SavageSmoker wrote:So...should I choose to get a .40 as primary HD firearm, what are your thoughts? Also, what are your thoughts on laser sights, TFO sights or what makes a good combo for HD or use in low light and dark conditions?

Sorry it's so long. Thx...Brian

I wouldn't worry too much about 9mm vs .40 ... whichever one ya'll practice with more, and shoot better/faster, is the one ya'll be more successful with!

Whichever caliber, fer home defense, I'd get something with a longer slide ... particularly if I expected my wife to make good use of it, as well! That'll do a lot to keep the muzzle down!

I personally don't like lasers ... particularly for self defense! ... depending on ambient light and whatever the attacker may be wearing, it could be very difficult to find that red dot on him! I like the XS Big Dot ... I also like just the one vertical line in the rear!

Good quality weapon light is mandatory! ... I like nuff lumens to blind him fer a second er two!

If ya ever see a gun training class for "low light" (shooting in the dark), jump on it!

Maybe see if ya can find a Walther PPQ to check out?!

View · by **bstrawse** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:49 am

I haven't shot a M&P in .40 - but I have handled and shot them in 9mm. I like them - nice gun.
b

View · by **CypressTrout** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:00 am

Slap a TLR1s on you're G19 and it will be good to go!

View · by **grousemaster** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:04 am

CypressTrout wrote:Slap a TLR1s on you're G19 and it will be good to go!

Yea, really no reason to "upgrade" from a G19 for home defense...and if you really want to I'll trade you a used G23 or G22 for it!

View · by **Cuda66** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:06 am

If you want a pistol that is primarily for HD, why muck about with a compact/subcompact design?

If you want to go with a Glock and .40, go with a G22 or a G35.

If you want the M&P, go with the full size M&P or even the longslide version.

Add night sights, and maybe a good weaponlight on it, and you're good to go.

The suggestion of the low light class is a good one as well.

View · by **Thunder71** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:41 am

I love my 9mm Shield so much that I bought the M&P 9C to go with it, if that helps tell you how I feel about it.

And yes, the 9C is one of my bedside pieces.

View · by **jshuberg** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:13 am

My nightstand gun is a Sig P220 Dark Elite with night sights and a TRL2 light/Laser.

I'm a big Sig fanboy, and the weight of the pistol will buffer recoil much better than a plastic gun in larger calibers. My recommendation is go with the largest caliber that you are capable of shooting. The advantage is that a larger, slower moving projectile will over-penetrate less through interior and exterior walls than something smaller like a 9mm will, but will still be very effective at stopping the threat. A .40 will work just fine, but a .45 is a little more suited for the role of a HD gun for this reason IMHO. Keep several loaded magazines with the gun, you're not limited to how many you can carry on your belt like you are with a carry gun.

As far as lasers go, I don't like them. They are not a very effective targeting system as you will find yourself chasing the dot around with your eyes, which wastes time and distracts from situational awareness. That being said my P220 has a TLR2 light/laser on it. I will always prefer to use my iron sights whenever possible, but there are still scenarios where a laser would come in handy. If you find yourself in a tight spot where you are unable to get the gun out in front of you to line up the sights, being able to shoot from awkward positions with a laser would be a good option to have. Stay away from the green lasers, as they will ruin your night vision much more than a red laser. Your iron sights should have tritium inserts should your light or its batteries fail on you.

For an HD weapon, I would highly recommend having a weapon light. Nothing crazy bright, as you can blind yourself as the light will reflect off ceilings and walls. Light manufactures like to advertise that their products can be used offensively, that the brightness or strobe functions will momentarily disorient the threat. While this may be true, this is not something that lends itself to a HD or carry weapon. The ability of a light to disorient a threat diminishes as you lose the element of surprise. If the threat is already aware of the encounter, and his adrenaline and heart rate are pumping, the disorientating capabilities of a light will be greatly reduced. Most weapon lights require a person to click the activation button several times in a short period of time to get to the strobe function. This is not something you want to be messing with if you wake up to someone in your house at 3:00 AM. Anything over 120-150 lumens is going to be too bright.

Finally, have a handheld light with your gun and extra mags. This is so you can identify the potential threat without pointing your gun at them, just in case it turns out to be an old drunk college buddy you forgot you gave a key to. Again, the only purpose of a light in a defensive encounter is so you can identify and target the threat.

View · by **bulletproof** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:43 am

jshuberg wrote:Finally, have a handheld light with your gun and extra mags. This is so you can identify the potential threat without pointing your gun at them, just in case it turns out to be an old drunk college buddy you forgot you gave a key to. Again, the only purpose of a light in a defensive encounter is so you can identify and target the threat.

Or a SWAT team, that will probably just shoot you anyways. If you don't know where all of your keys are you should change your locks.

View · by **SavageSmoker** on Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:38 pm

More great food for thought. Jshuberg...thx for your long and insightful post. All others as well. Just want a good reliable HD firearm ( may already have it in my G19) and need suggestions for the best sights and applications to assist in this. I have never really considered the addition of a tach light on a handgun, only lasers so that may change things a bit.

I just had low back surgery four days ago so I have lots of time to research and make decisions while I recover. I very well may end up equipping both a 9mm and a .40 for HD while using our Shield 9 and 40 for in car and CCW.