Home Protection Recomendations (2nd amendment type)

[ponyuk]

I'm a personal fan, and owner, of the Springfield XD45 (Ijust bought the 9mm version for the wife). However I keep a Smith & Wesson 357 magnum on the nightstand. If I am tired when awoken and the gun suffers a malfunction I do not want to have to think about clearing it. With a revolver, in almost all instances of a malfunction, you simply pull the trigger again.
I carry my XD 45 loaded with a round in the chamber. The revolver is on the nightstand with the hammer down - I don't want to be reaching for a glass of water or the alarm and find the trigger.
If you are not going to get training and practice then you are better off getting a cheap pump action shotgun - a Mossberg 500 is fine. As previously noted all pump action shotguns come with a universal warning sound, chambering a round shouts "GET OUT" in a any language For home defense stay away from semi-automatic shotguns.


All my home defense rounds are frag rounds, and will not penetrate two sheets of drywall. They will however destroy internal organs - so you better be ready to accept you are probably killing someone when you attempt to stop them.

Originally Posted by SybErkRimInAL

So with recent activities around these parts, I've started thinking it would probably be a good idea to get some sort of firepower. My question to you pros is what would you recommend for someone like me. I've fired guns in the past but just messing around in the desert, shooting bottles and stuff like that. I don't need anything nickel plated and was looking for something like what the police or swat teams use. I heard Sig Sauer is a good, reliable brand.

[ponyuk]

4 day defensive handgun course here:
Front Sight Firearms Training Institute - you can get vouchers for the $1,200 course for $100 on eBay (prerequisite is you haven't attended a course before). I can personally recommend this training, i just got back from another 4 day course in April - first rate!

Originally Posted by ramoine

Many local police as well as sheriffs depts. offer classes as well as local gunshops have self defense classes for firearms trainning .

[charger1213]

You mentioned you would like a few different guns in the house in different areas? What kind of an area do you live in. Not totally up to date on Palm Springs, but didn't realize it was this bad. It's hard for me to relate to that being in North Idaho. I can leave the garage doors wide open all through the nights and have never had problems. LOL

One thing that makes me think reading recomendations....if you can roll in the kind of wheels you're in.....you can probably afford 90% of any production guns. Go to a firing range / gun shop that rents everything they sell...(a good shop will have everything) and do just that....try everything.

I bought a Glock when I was younger and don't care for it anymore. Biggest thing is it doesn't feel comfortable in my hand. Kimber was mentioned...a very nice gun, but the best feeling Kimber I've ever fired was their least expensive model. Grip, and recoil feel were very good.

Dogs have just as much liability as Guns if not more. You lock up the gun, you're probably covered for liability. Lock up the dog, and it becomes mean. Get a dog that protects and has good general temperment. Some guard dogs....well lets not go there.

Get an alarm on your house!! LOL That will give you some kind of notice.

[ponyuk]

Charger,
I hope you take this the right way - but the area in which you live has little to do with wanting to protect yourself. Sure, if you live in "butt fck smalls-ville" then the chances of needing it are lesser than "down-town craps-ville". That does not negate the risk - it lessens it!
I live in an affluent area of L.A., but thats exactly why I have a 357 on the nightstand. Some piece of crp dirtbag isn't going to rob his neighbor, because his neighbor is exactly like him and has nothing worth stealing; that piece of crp dirtbag is going to look for the guy with something worth stealing - maybe the sucker who can afford a shiny new truck

I made some mistakes when i first started buying guns; and a gun range isn't necessarily going to help you make the best decisions. Firing a gun at the range is no substitute for operating a gun under real pressure. Training is never going to recreate that pressure, but it is the closest we get without putting ourselves in harms way. 1911 (Kimber) is a fancy gun, but would I trust my life with one if given a choice between that and a XD, Glock or revolver - hell no! Do i want to think about that safety being off or on, is that up or down - no thanks
The previous link to the course at Front Sight covers all kinds of things, from selecting a gun and accessories, to the moral and legal implications of using your gun. I cannot express enough my praise for this course. The web site sucks - it looks like some rambo training course for redneck morons - the reality is far removed. It is 6 days crammed in to 4! seriously - you get on range at 8 am and leave at 6 pm (9pm on the nightshoot), lunches have optional lectures. NO time is wasted. The most important 4 days you will ever take in learning how to protect your loved ones.

On the last course I attended I met a jewelry store owner who shot two robbers who attacked his store. He had not had training before, and told us the horrors of dealing with this situation in real life (physical, moral and legal). He subsequently sought training after realizing simply buying a gun was not enough. Heck, we don't think folks can drive just because they went out and bought a vehicle. ooops, I'm ranting . . .

Originally Posted by charger1213

You mentioned you would like a few different guns in the house in different areas? What kind of an area do you live in. Not totally up to date on Palm Springs, but didn't realize it was this bad. It's hard for me to relate to that being in North Idaho. I can leave the garage doors wide open all through the nights and have never had problems. LOL

One thing that makes me think reading recomendations....if you can roll in the kind of wheels you're in.....you can probably afford 90% of any production guns. Go to a firing range / gun shop that rents everything they sell...(a good shop will have everything) and do just that....try everything.

I bought a Glock when I was younger and don't care for it anymore. Biggest thing is it doesn't feel comfortable in my hand. Kimber was mentioned...a very nice gun, but the best feeling Kimber I've ever fired was their least expensive model. Grip, and recoil feel were very good.

Dogs have just as much liability as Guns if not more. You lock up the gun, you're probably covered for liability. Lock up the dog, and it becomes mean. Get a dog that protects and has good general temperment. Some guard dogs....well lets not go there.

Get an alarm on your house!! LOL That will give you some kind of notice.

[charger1213]

I used to live in San Diego, but I never felt the need to have multiple guns in various spots in the house to make me feel safer.

Despite growing up in a household with a multitude of guns (My father used to work for Browning for years in Utah) we didn't obsese this much over home protection.

Good luck!!

[charger1213]

Originally Posted by ponyuk

Charger,
I hope you take this the right way - but the area in which you live has little to do with wanting to protect yourself. Sure, if you live in "butt fck smalls-ville" then the chances of needing it are lesser than "down-town craps-ville". That does not negate the risk - it lessens it!
I live in an affluent area of L.A., but thats exactly why I have a 357 on the nightstand. Some piece of crp dirtbag isn't going to rob his neighbor, because his neighbor is exactly like him and has nothing worth stealing; that piece of crp dirtbag is going to look for the guy with something worth stealing - maybe the sucker who can afford a shiny new truck

I made some mistakes when i first started buying guns; and a gun range isn't necessarily going to help you make the best decisions. Firing a gun at the range is no substitute for operating a gun under real pressure. Training is never going to recreate that pressure, but it is the closest we get without putting ourselves in harms way. 1911 (Kimber) is a fancy gun, but would I trust my life with one if given a choice between that and a XD, Glock or revolver - hell no! Do i want to think about that safety being off or on, is that up or down - no thanks
The previous link to the course at Front Sight covers all kinds of things, from selecting a gun and accessories, to the moral and legal implications of using your gun. I cannot express enough my praise for this course. The web site sucks - it looks like some rambo training course for redneck morons - the reality is far removed. It is 6 days crammed in to 4! seriously - you get on range at 8 am and leave at 6 pm (9pm on the nightshoot), lunches have optional lectures. NO time is wasted. The most important 4 days you will ever take in learning how to protect your loved ones.

On the last course I attended I met a jewelry store owner who shot two robbers who attacked his store. He had not had training before, and told us the horrors of dealing with this situation in real life (physical, moral and legal). He subsequently sought training after realizing simply buying a gun was not enough. Heck, we don't think folks can drive just because they went out and bought a vehicle. ooops, I'm ranting . . .

Training with these courses doesn't mean you will do everything, or even anything you were taught correctly when it comes down to the final moment of drawing a gun, or having one drawn on you. Look at the numerous video of Policemen reacting when in a firefight. Many freeze, freakout, duck for cover, etc.....you never know what you'll do until you have actually faced this situation. Training can certainly educate you more, but don't assume it's going to solve your problems when or if the moment arises. The best answer to this is make your home an area where somebody WOULD NOT risk getting into. Ask any home protection specialist.

[Scoutdriver]

Originally Posted by hollow point

syber, get a glock, your wife will love the way it fires, not much recoil , i have 3

I second that. There are many great pistols out there. It really depends on what you want to spend. As far as price, reliability, and easy-of-use, a Glock is hard to beat. You should be able to find a new or like-new Glock for around $500. Not sure what you're wanting to spend though.

[glenn remaley]

ruger sr9 about $420.00 very accurate

[SybErkRimInAL]

I don't live in the "ghetto", but I also don't live in the nicest area. About a week ago, 4 guys did a home invasion and killed a guy. This house was about 2 miles from my house, if that. There has just been a recent rise in crimes such as home invasions so I figure I'd rather be safe than sorry. About a month ago, someone broke into the wifes car and 2 weeks ago, someone stole our mail. I have an alarm already.

[Scoutdriver]

Originally Posted by SybErkRimInAL

About a month ago, someone broke into the wifes car and 2 weeks ago, someone stole our mail.

Yep, definitely time for some firepower.

[UndraDog]

Alarms, motion detection, see them coming before they enter.
I use one of these with two of those round sensors (wireless) to chime indoors if someone is walking around my truck. You can add more sensors and each one makes a different chime sound. I also have a camera (wireless) so if those things are chimeing repeatedly I turn on the LCD next to my bed and can see who is there. This is all being recorded on a DVR. Twice I caught theives and gave the police a DVD of them. They haven't come back for a year now.
Optex Wireless 1000 Driveway Alarm

[08CREWMAXX]

wow man be safe.... get something good for them bad boys....

Originally Posted by SybErkRimInAL

I don't live in the "ghetto", but I also don't live in the nicest area. About a week ago, 4 guys did a home invasion and killed a guy. This house was about 2 miles from my house, if that. There has just been a recent rise in crimes such as home invasions so I figure I'd rather be safe than sorry. About a month ago, someone broke into the wifes car and 2 weeks ago, someone stole our mail. I have an alarm already.

[SybErkRimInAL]

As far as cameras go, I was looking at this from costco. Only 250 bucks. It uses an existing computer so there's no extra charge for it's own DVR. 4 cameras would be more than enough to cover the areas of interest. Of course one will be pointed directly at my tundra. A motion detector would be nice though.

linky

[UndraDog]

Originally Posted by SybErkRimInAL

As far as cameras go, I was looking at this from costco. Only 250 bucks. It uses an existing computer so there's no extra charge for it's own DVR. 4 cameras would be more than enough to cover the areas of interest. Of course one will be pointed directly at my tundra. A motion detector would be nice though.

linky

Yeap, those cameras have motion detection in the software. You can set it up so it only records if the motion is tripped, then stops at the time set, then keeps going as it see's more motion. You can download that kind of software from cnet.com free trial ($30) all you need is a camera (usb) and a CPU. Eyecopidia I liked the best.

[SybErkRimInAL]

Originally Posted by UndraDog

Yeap, those cameras have motion detection in the software. You can set it up so it only records if the motion is tripped, then stops at the time set, then keeps going as it see's more motion. You can download that kind of software from cnet.com free trial ($30) all you need is a camera (usb) and a CPU. Eyecopidia I liked the best.

Well a motion detector like the one above that would alert me. I'd rather stop the guy than just have video of him doing whatever he's doing. And yea, it seems there are tons of options when it comes to cameras. I sure as hell am not hiring someone to do this for me. My inlaws did that and they paid some crazy amount for a camera system/dvr/monitor. I wanna say close to 3k. I have plenty of extra comuters I can use. All i need is the cameras and the software.