OT: Home Defense

Overkill.

If you are looking for a home defense weapon, do you want something the rest of the family can use if needed? Are you an experienced pistol shooter? The .357 will be much easier to hit what you aim at than the .50 cal. It will also be much cheaper to take to the range and practice with. You can also shoot .38 spec thru the .357 for practice and reduce your costs a little more. The thing to think about is where does the bullet go after it leaves your target, or if you miss your target. In my house my kids room is on the opp side of the house of my room so any intruder is between us in the house. Check this site out, they do great exp with bullet travel:

There are a lot of options for home defense guns, I would go to a local range that will rent guns for practice, ask them the same ?'s, then try out their answers. That's my $.02 anyway. As for me, I own lots of pistols, but I carry a Glock 32. (.357 sig)

Unless your protecting against bears, that is overkill and way too much penetration to be safe in an urban area. Better check the laws as some states restrict the max calibre to .45

I like my S&W 66 K-frame. :) "The original point and click interface."

Overkill for estate defense. Overpenetrates wallboard, excessive muzzle flash and report when used in closed room in the dark, expensive practice ammo, difficult for other family members to use. Not a wise choice for home use. A med. framed .357 or .45 is a much better choice.

I'd go with the .357 and you could even go to a model 66. For just home defense I'd get a 2 1/2" with a rounded butt. Then get some good rubber grips to replace the stock wooden ones. If you plan to make other use of it get the 4" barrel with the square butt. The 686SSR you're looking at is a larger frame and a bit heavier than the 66. Something to consider as you're trying to grab it off your night stand when you hear your door getting kicked open.

Subject: Re: Home Defense Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:52:11 -0600 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1914

Thanks guys. I live in a rural area, I am handy with driwall, the wife wants her own gun too, and the kids have all moved out. Still, "easier to hit" makes a lot of sense. Pretty gun though.

Great group.

User 40

If there's a range within reasonable driving distance where you can rent and try, then it would be a good idea to do that. Too much gun can be a liability in a firefight--even if the first hit is perfect, the more recoil you have the longer it takes to get off the second shot if you need it. If you're dealing with multiple assailants that can make a big difference.

Overkill. How about a 9mm automatic with a 14 round clip?

Hahaha! My belly hurts from laughing.

Get a 8 or 9 shot shotgun 18.5" barrel. 12 guage for home defense. Stock it with buckshot.

I have a smith 686 357 with the full lug, it shoots 38 special like a

Welcome to rec.autos.makers.jeep+willys+firearms.

"Happiness is a warm -- yes it is -- gun......."

Get a good watch dog (not necessarily a guard dog, just a watch dog) who'll alert when a stranger is in the house. Then you won't have to worry about speed drawing and accidentally shooting someone or something because you'll have more advance warning. My dog barks when a stranger enters the yard, even when my dog is all the way at the other end of the house--that's how good her hearing or smell or whatever is. If I were paranoid I'd have plenty of time to draw a weapon and have it ready if needed.

Especially if you had one with a pintle mount.

Yeah, it would be inconvenient to kill the wrong neighbor.

Thanks for the tips. This is exactly why I posted here in the first place. Now when you say "it shoots 38 special like a

Other people have recommended bird shot. I guess it all depends on how much you object to having your house broken into and your life put in danger. Or being threatened by an insane neighbor.

I am a sucker for pretty things too. That 500 sure is pretty, the 686SSR too. I guess I should pay attention to the business at hand though.

User 40

If you do get the .357 you have a third option for ammo. The +P load is hotter than the anemic .38 Special, but much easier to get back on target for that second shot. I'd get the jacketed hollow points in +P as opposed to the semi waddcutter, given a choice.

WAY WAY TOO MUCH GUN for simple home protection but now we are getting somewhere. If you want pretty or big and bad looking or maybe threating that is a different requirement. Loud alarm system AKA BIG noise will get rid of almost any intruder. Physical threat can be stopped with something as low power as a 9mm ( even a .22 ) though it might take multiple hits. Druggie or psycho might best be stopped with a shotgun. For someone that will not learn and practice quite often the shotgun is best. It makes a lot of noise, can be used as a club and will not penetrate the next two houses. What are you trying to protect against and do you want to kill the perpetrator of just stop the threat?

Jim

Stick with a pump 12 guage. Just the slide machanism is enough for the perp to crap his pants and run like hell. Now, if you wanted to hurt him but not kill him perhaps load 1 shot of bird for the first shot, all remaining shot should be buck shot.

Yes. You are correct, the 686 shoots a standard pressure 38 special that feels and kicks like a 22LR pistol. No kidding either. Almost no recoil. Of course, my 686 is a 6" barrel with the full lug so that lessens the muzzle flip (heavy). But who cares if it is heavy as long as you aren't carry it on a hip.

If you want a lightweight carry and really like smiths, go for the

Yep.

Called the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. Asked the lady what brand of beer would go with Lucky Strikes and a 357.

They hung up on me. :(