How to Select a Handgun for Home Defense

Selecting a handgun for home defense is a very serious decision for anyone to make. You are making this decision with the knowledge that you may have to use the handgun you choose to take another life to keep you, your family, and your property safe. It is not a decision one should take lightly.

Instructions

1. Know the points of entry into your home. These places into your home are the most important because that is where you will likely encounter home invaders. How thick are the doors? How many of them are sliding glass, and how many are wood or security doors? Windows are also points of entry into your home. With heavy doors you will need something big enough to penetrate them and stop the intruder before he gains access into your home and threatens your family's security. Heavy caliber handguns such as .44 magnums and .357 magnums are good for defending these types of areas. These handguns can be more effective if you have a home security system at these points to alert you to an intruder.

2. Confined spaces are important to know because they can be traps -- not just for those invading your home, but you could be trapped there as well. In these areas, large or long-barreled handguns will be harder to wield so something more compact would be desirable for this type of location. Semi automatic or short barrel revolvers are an excellent choice. You can have something as small as a .32 caliber revolver up to a .45 caliber semi automatic pistol and not have to worry too much about length.

3. Knowing where the blind spots are in your home is important. Those are good places for home invaders to hide and are good positions for the homeowner to ambush an intruder. You should also known things about this type of location, such as wall thickness because it may be necessary to fire into the wall to dislodge an intruder hidden there.

4. Open areas are important for offering good fields of fire against home invaders. The best form of defense in this type of area is offense and with a good field of fire you can stop an intruder in his tracks. In these types of areas virtually any handgun will have the knock down power you will want to use against an intruder. While a shotgun would be good here, most people are more likely to pick up a handgun to defend their homes and families.

5. Select the handgun you will use for home defense. Once you know about these four different types of areas in your home, you will be ready to go shopping for an appropriate handgun. Most reputable dealers will have a wide variety of handguns to choose from, and they can help you with your purchase. Make sure you can easily hold the weapon and that it isn't too heavy for your comfort. You should also ensure that it will do what you intend for it to do. If the caliber is too small, it may not stop the intruder. If the caliber is too larger, it may travel completely through obstacles, and you could endanger your own family members.

Tips & Warnings

• Always try to call 911 before engaging an intruder in your home. It is safer if law enforcement can deal with the intruder. If you have to engage a home invader with a handgun because your life or the lives of your family are in danger, do not shoot to injure. The intruder will not be trying to just injure you at that point. Talking to your law enforcement officer can help you make the choice of a handgun for home defense as well. Most officers recommend that home owners go with handguns that they are comfortable with and also highly recommend revolvers. Many officers are issued a 9mm semi automatic handgun, which they recommend for stopping intruders in their tracks.