Best gun for self defense?

Question

I live in a dangerous urban environment, and was looking for the best gun to buy for under $600. I want to conceal it, but I was looking for something with at least a 4" barrel?

Answer 1

a glock 17 my favorite

http://files.uzitalk.com/reference/uziga...

Answer 2

Beretta PX4 .40 S&W, 10-14 RND clip, ergonomic, small, light, 4" barell, $600 new.

Answer 3

There are so many makes, models, and calibers to choose from.  If you are not an experienced shooter, please learn how else you may only succeed at hurting yourself or someone untentionally.  Find a gun that is comfortable for you to use.  That is, it feels good when you handle it and the caliber is such that the recoil doesn't make you nervous when you need to shoot.  Most gun dealers will help you with this, but don't be afraid to get serval opinions just in case someone tries to take advantage of you.  Remember, bigger and most expensive is not always the best.    

Answer 4

The best gun for self defence is the one that is in your hand at the time you need it. No BS!!!

Too many people think that on gun or cal is better than another at fending off attackers. Often the conversation depicts larger and larger guns and cals that become too cumbersome to carry durring the summer months with shorts, or don't look good in a suit.

So if you plan on wearing a trench coat, buy a shotgun.

I carry a gun all the time. It is not that I am paranoid, its that I am a police officer, in an urban community. I also, durring the summer like to wear shorts, and ride a motorcycle. I carry a .380, or a .22.

I know all the armchair warriors out there are jumping out of their seats at the thought of something smaller than .500 S&W mag. Truth is most these people only do battle in magazines and or video games.

The fact is that somtimes it is cumbersome to carry my duty M&P .40, or my 1911's,(note: I own 3 of them).

I have come to terms that I carrry what I can carry. My suggestion is to find a gun that you will be able to carry all year long. Chose a calibre that is abundant enough to practice 10 feet with. Then buy a good name like Sig Sauer, Glock, Ruger, to name a few.

I would get a 2 inch revolver in .357. Smith and Wesson make an expensive one in scandian metal that weighs less than guns half its size, or a Ruger sp101 in .357, with a 2 or 3 inch.

The vast majority of shootings, civilian or police, occur within 5 feet. It is not neccesary to get long barrels for pinpoint accuracy, and or velocity.

A .357 mag, loaded with plus p .38 special rounds can put a 158 grain bullet out at 900 fps. This will kill any man as well as the same bullet going 1500 fps. The .38 special cases will drop faster out of a snub, than the .357 cases will, due to short extracter rods found in snubs.

A Ruger will run about 350 dollars, while the Smith will run 550.

What ever you do, it is so important to fire at least 250 rounds at the local gun range before you carry. You need to train the draw, the fire, and the reload, as you would in a critical incident.

Good luck, and stay safe

Answer 5

the desert eagle is a .50 cal

Answer 6

I would go with either with a Glock 17 or a smaller pistol.

As said before, a 12 Gauge isn't a bad option either, but you don't want anything to big for only home defense.

Answer 7

a shotgun would be the best for home defense but u cant really carry it around. id go with a 9mm, they pack a big punch and are often quite compact and small. try glock or ruger

Answer 8

You're saying you want to carry concealed so obviously the shotgun is outta the question!  You don't say if you prefer a wheel-gun or an auto-loader so let me just say to look into the Ruger family of firearms.  They make both excellent revolvers and pistols that are right in your price range.  Look at the GP-100 .357 Magnum w/4" barrel.  If that's to big for you look at its little brother the SP-101 revolver.  If that's still not what you want look at their "P" series of defensive, semi-auto pistols.

Take the gun safety course and if possible, get your CCW.

H

Answer 9

You will have to clarify the conceal part; on your person or in your house or what?  Best for self defense is a pump 12 gauge shotgun and 4 shot; takes out a bad actor with a basketball sized hole but won't harm the neighbor's children by going through 5 walls. There is also something blood chilling and unmistakable about the sound of a pump shotgun being cycled that makes believers believe.  For a handgun get a quality 9mm and practice; the caliber lets you buy enough fodder to keep your hand in.  

Answer 10

everyone has a favorite. My 2 cents worth? I believe that in the event of an attack that I need to defend myself from, I want the odds stacked in my favor. I carry a pistol chambered in .45acp.

I have carried other caliber pistols and revolvers both on and off duty. I have seen first hand the results of shootings with most calibers from .22lr to 44magnum on a human, as well as being on the receiving end 3 different times.

So, by caliber, my choices for self defense from best to least are:

#1) .45acp

#2) .40 S&W

#3) .357 magnum

#4) .38 special

#5) 9mm

#6) 9mm Makerov

#7) .380acp

This is not just based on power, but on several factors including bullet performance, energy transfer, vicarious liability from over penetration, pure stopping power and personal experience.

Now, as for the firearm: with limited firearms experience, my number one choice for self defense is the revolver chambered in .38spcl. My next choice is a revolver chambered in .357 magnum so that yu can shoot .357 mag or .38 spcl in it. Ruger sp100 or sp101 are excellent choices and well under your budget.

If you have firearms experience, and if you have trained with a semi auto and understand their weaknesses, than a good pistol is hard to beat, as long as it is quality and not "cheap junk". the used gun market produces many quality pistols in .40 S&W and .45acp as well as 9mm that fall under your budget. New pistols are expensive if they are quality, and if you are going to place your life, or that of a family member on a firearm, you DO NOT WANT A CHEAP FIREARM. Again, Ruger comes thru with some excellent budget semi auto pistols in their "P" series (p89 etc)

What is cheap? Lorcin, Raven, Rohm, Charter arms, Rossi, and yes, even Taurus can be junk at times.

Quality firearms? Ruger, S&W, Para ord, Colt, Sig, Browning etc

My personal pisotls for CCW and I do mean "concealed" are Para Ordinance pistols in .45acp. The "nite hawg" the Colonel LDA etc are excellent but outside your budget, unless you find a really really good deal on one.

I don't know if this helped or not.

Shoot safe

Answer 11

I'm a fan of revolvers for concealed carry.  A 4" barrel is long for a concealed gun.  It can be done, but it does effect your options for clothing and placement.

Revolvers are inherently more reliable than semi-autos.  Fewer moving parts, fewer things to go wrong.  And they simply do NOT jam. Granted, your ammo capacity is limited when compared to semis, for the fact of the matter is that people do NOT get involved in prolonged gun battles. The average gunfight ends after 2-3 shots.

I like .357 magnum guns loaded with .38 Special +P ammo.  The +P .38 gives you ample stopping power, but with reduced recoil.  that combination, in a slightly heavier revolver, means it is very quick to come back on target.

Specifically, I'd look into the Ruger SP101 or any S&W K-frame revolver.

Answer 12

I went with the Glock 17 when we moved in to town, have not needed it. The best solution is to know your visitors and to know the people you are near.  

Answer 13

9mm or a shotgun. That's what I use for home defense.  

Answer 14

Your best choice is a Smith & Wesson revolver in 357 Magnum caliber, because it has been tried, true, tested, and proven to be the Best no-nonsense man stopper.* Use 125 grain jacketed hollow points for self-defense ammo.* You get two (2*) handguns for the price of one, because you can also shoot 38 caliber ammo in the 357 Magnum.* Get a 4 or 6 inch barrel.* Buy new or used and save $$$.* A new handgun doesn't shoot any better than a Good used one.*

Answer 15

12ga for Home defense

for personal protection best calibers are .357 Magnum (125gr.) & .45ACP  (230gr.) [(with hollow-point bullets)]

Answer 16

Well, looking to conceal leaves only pistols. I would say a 9mm because its cheap to shoot and and easier to get a followup shot, which is very important. The most important thing is you are good with it. Also, if its that dangerous, the high-cap mags will be beneficial. I'd recommend glock for reliabilty/durability.

Don't forget that you have to get your permit too and that will be at least 100 bucks more also.

Overall, a shotgun is the best defense, but you cant conceal that. So if you are looking for home defense as more important than personal/carrying defense, get a mossberg 590. otherwise, pistol all the way.

Answer 17

For close quarters like inside your house, a shotgun cannot be beat.

Outside with concealed carry, depends on what you like. During winter, a bigger gun can be carried because you can cover it with clothes. However, sometimes like summer, you have to carry light, and small.