a lot good info.
it's time to learn about guns
- Thread starter MetalSlug
- Start date
You lost me at, "and I only want one gun." Haha. Good on you for wanting to learn safety first. If I were you, I'd go for a full-size pistol. My go-to is a Glock 17, but there are many that size to choose from. Visit a gun range and rent different types of guns so you can get a feel for what suits you. We are all different and have different needs.
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
Marksmanship? He needs safe handling and familiarity first.
Yes I agree. I assume a lot of classes do cover safe handling. Appleseed does. I'm not saying it's the only thing to take. I'm just saying it's good to learn the fundamentals of basic marksmanship before doing some run and gun type class or even just going out on your own. Bad habits are easy to learn and unlearning them can be difficult. I'm not advocating going to sniper school.
You're showing good sense. Take the classes for sure. They'll probably include at lease one live fire session at a shooting rage. At most indoor shooting ranges, they have a case full of pistols that you can rent and I suggest you shoot at least several different types. If you are like 90% of folks, you'll get a medium sized 9mm pistol. You might find you prefer a revolver and that is perfectly fine, so don't let anyone tell you those are a bad choice.
If you think you want to carry one around, spend almost as much effort in picking out a holster as the pistol itself, and for the love of Pete, don't go stuffing a Glock into your pants without one.
If you think you want to carry one around, spend almost as much effort in picking out a holster as the pistol itself, and for the love of Pete, don't go stuffing a Glock into your pants without one.
I say this as a firearms instructor with 23 years on the job- Go slow. Think before you act. Always apply the 4 firearms safety rules. Buy quality, not quantity. Keep it simple and reliable. Know the law and dont treat the gun like a solution to non life safety problems.
If you are looking at a pistol, the best handgun for self defense is the HK VP9 series. I have used and taught just about every major manufacturers pistol and I would choose the compact VP9A1 in a JM Kydex holster. Add a decent light. Carry 1 spare mag and a TQ.
Buy a lot of proficiency ammo and use it sparingly. Account for every hole in the target. Dry fire religiously, but safely with no live ammo around.
Kyle Lamb wrote a couple of books you should read.
If you are looking at a pistol, the best handgun for self defense is the HK VP9 series. I have used and taught just about every major manufacturers pistol and I would choose the compact VP9A1 in a JM Kydex holster. Add a decent light. Carry 1 spare mag and a TQ.
Buy a lot of proficiency ammo and use it sparingly. Account for every hole in the target. Dry fire religiously, but safely with no live ammo around.
Kyle Lamb wrote a couple of books you should read.
Elkins45
Site Donor 2026
I know you said you only want one gun, but there’s no substitute for trigger time. If you’re buying factory ammo the only affordable way to get in enough shooting to really master it is with a 22 rimfire. So I recommend two guns: a good 22 and a 9/40/45 with similar ergonomics.
Before you buy your first gun, learn safe handling and etiquette, handle and shoot a few guns to try ergonomics etc. Handguns are not the best choice for home defence, I think shotguns are. Whichever gun you consider has to be comfortable to hold, aim, manipulate safety and loading for you. Eventually, make a short list of up to 5 and try them all including shooting. After you buy one, buy different ammo for it, a box each and try them all. Gun has to cycle and shoot reliably.
Another bit is learn legal scenarios if you do end up having to shoot an intruder or assailant.
Another bit is learn legal scenarios if you do end up having to shoot an intruder or assailant.
The answer for this is long gun. Always. A long gun is more reliable, more accurate, more likely to hit your target, best outcome. I'd forego the shotgun and look at a pistol caliber carbine in 9MM. You can have 20-30 shots on hand in a fast, reliable, platform. Shots are FAST and accurate downrange. You really need to have one in your hand to see how much better they are than a pistol. Once you try it, the light comes on and it just makes sense. Check out the Ruger PC carbine, Smith response carbine, Beretta Storm carbine, CZ Scorpion,
If you are only going to buy ONE gun, for carry and home defense, then a pistol is the only option. A Glock 19 size pistol has always been recommended because its offers duty gun performance and still concealable. Although its a larger gun and harder to conceal than the later model ultra compacts like the P365.
If you are never going to conceal carry, then get a full size pistol. The largest one in the serios. Like the Glock 17, duty size.
Stick with 9mm for pistols. No other calibers.
Check out the new Gen 6 Glock pistols, just released this month. Also check out the VP9, the P10C, Springfield Echelon, and the Walther PDP.
For $1100-$1200, you can get a pistol and a long gun and be pretty protected. I would never ever limit myself to only one gun and would have at least a long gun in my home, and a pistol for carry outside the home. Bare minimum.
A quality.357/.38 caliber revolver with a 4" barrel .
It simplifies the safety part of a chambered round and is extremely reliable.
It simplifies the safety part of a chambered round and is extremely reliable.
What's a TQ? Tourniquet?
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A Mossberg Home Defense with number 6 shot. If an intruder makes it through a spray of 6 shot you can’t stop them anyway. They won’t have eyes, teeth, or much of a face, not to mention the shot embedded in there body-groin. Again, if that doesn’t stop them, rack another round and aim in the general vicinity. Done. At least you won’t have a bullet that goes through 4 Sheetrock walls where your family is.
Revolver or semi auto? 9mm seems to be the most common rounds available. H&k or Glock.
If you end up with a striker-fired pistol (Glock etc.) grab some "snap caps". They are dummy ammo rounds (in whichever caliber you end up with) and great for practicing loading/unloading at home, seeing how it works, dry firing, etc. Been great for safely teaching myself and family how to use these type of firearms before heading to the range to reduce stress and increase confidence.
If you are male, of typical physical abilities, and plan to use the gun for all personal defense needs, in the home and out of the home, I suggest 9mm, 40S&W, or 45ACP as a chambering. If you had hand issue or limited strength, I would suggest the 380ACP. Do not pick an offball caliber that is hard to find of way expensive, like 30 Super Carry, or 5.7x28.......
@Astro14 directed you to go to a range and rent some to see what you like and can handle well. This is great advice. This will save you a bunch of money, do that for sure.
As to recommendation to a gun........
The king of defensive pistols is Glock. Point blank period. More militaries and police depts use Glock around the world than any other pistol. The Is a reason for this. Are they the best? NO. But as a first and perhaps only pistol, you will likely never be lost when it come to a holster, extra mags, barrels, parts, etc, with a Glock 19 or 17....or whatever number they have (confusing #'s). Soon they will be coming out with a Gen6.....I suggest waiting a few months to buy these.....
For the money, the best value out there IMO is the Springfield XD Service Model, can be had at Gunbroker for just south of 400$.
S&W M&P is a great choice.
HK VP series or of course the USP
Good luck.
Yes.
Don’t die in a preventable way. If you carry a tool to make holes in people, carry tools to fix them as it might be you and you literally have seconds, not minutes on an arterial hemorrhage.
The 2 optimal choices are the CAT from NA Rescue and the SOFT.
I have used both, probably 500+ of them over a decade of training and 3 years on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. They both work fine if you understand how to apply it under stress one handed.
Skip to the end…the SOFT is better because it’s reusable and you can practice with it. Not that you should…but you can. It’s a bit harder to put on one handed unless you use your teeth. Prep it and it’s easy.
2 is one, buy 2. Buy a pouch for your belt. Do not buy off Amazon…it’s counterfeit.
None of the above applies to pediatric patients. That is another topic. If you have kids, build your kit around their needs.
Tom NJ
$100 Site Donor 2026
I believe in being prepared for a worse case scenario, such as a night-time home invasion involving several intruders. In spite of training, you should expect to miss most of your shots due to fear, moving targets, and darkness, so in such a case capacity is king. I suggest a full size 9mm with at least a 15 round capacity located in the bedroom, and a full spare magazine at hand.
While shotguns are lethal, the TV shows where a hip shot sends three bad guys flying through the air is total nonsense. A shotgun pattern indoors is only about 4" so you still need to aim, and most only hold a max of seven rounds. In addition, the length of shotguns inhibit mobility through doorways and halls and gives the intruder something to grab, plus they are deafeningly loud indoors, heavy, and require two hands. While I do keep a shotgun handy, my main home protection gun is a full size steel CZ 75BD with a 16+1 capacity. It is also a good idea to keep additional guns located in different house levels in case you need to retreat or protect other family members.
Most important, remember that shooting a person is a last resort to be used only when you are in imminent danger of death or severe harm. It is something you do only when you absolutely positively have to because you face a real and immediate threat to you or a family member. And be sure to read and remember the laws; federal, state, and local.
While shotguns are lethal, the TV shows where a hip shot sends three bad guys flying through the air is total nonsense. A shotgun pattern indoors is only about 4" so you still need to aim, and most only hold a max of seven rounds. In addition, the length of shotguns inhibit mobility through doorways and halls and gives the intruder something to grab, plus they are deafeningly loud indoors, heavy, and require two hands. While I do keep a shotgun handy, my main home protection gun is a full size steel CZ 75BD with a 16+1 capacity. It is also a good idea to keep additional guns located in different house levels in case you need to retreat or protect other family members.
Most important, remember that shooting a person is a last resort to be used only when you are in imminent danger of death or severe harm. It is something you do only when you absolutely positively have to because you face a real and immediate threat to you or a family member. And be sure to read and remember the laws; federal, state, and local.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
OP is in Texas. They don't need to worry about much there. This actually applies in many, many states in the US now, in fact. "Stand your ground", "castle doctrine", etc - all in favor of the defensive shooter protecting themselves or their family. Most importantly, just state "I feared for my life and my family's life..." and repeat that and nothing else. Works for cops, so it had better work for the citizens too.
For home defense you will be much better off prioritizing deterrence.
Focus on good exterior lighting, solid doors and windows including the locks, exterior cameras, a security system, backup power, and a German Shepherd.
Forget about the firearm until the above is in place.
Focus on good exterior lighting, solid doors and windows including the locks, exterior cameras, a security system, backup power, and a German Shepherd.
Forget about the firearm until the above is in place.
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