Teach me about owning a firearm

quote:

---

The first firearm I’d like to pick up is an M1911 unless for some reason that’s a bad choice.

---

The most important part about home defense weapons is that they always function. while I love my 1911s, they aren't 100% firearms. Few are.

For HD, Id use/get an AR, revolver, pistol, shotgun. in that order. all are good though, but they AR has more benefits than negatives of all the factors for HD in comparison to the others

I would vote shotgun with buckshot as a starter. I also purchased a locking gun cabinet for a lot cheaper than a gun safe. If you are leaning to a pistol or a revolver go to a range and rent a couple to try, and see what fits and is comfortable.

My reason would be That is you miss with an AR you will be spraying rounds into other rooms and even houses.

Pistol rounds have a much lower velocity and it’s easier to maneuver between doors with a pistol.

If you spray and pray with a shotgun you aren’t killing you neighbors.

quote:

---

My reason would be That is you miss with an AR you will be spraying rounds into other rooms and even houses.

---

Have you ever seen how many walls buckshot will pass through? its pretty much on par with 5.56. many 556 rounds will even do far less

quote:

---

it’s easier to maneuver between doors with a pistol.

---

eh, somewhat. but its not that much of a difference

quote:

---

If you spray and pray with a shotgun you aren’t killing you neighbors.

---

well this isnt true for either

AR is easier to shoot/aim than a pistol(first shot and each after) and holds more rounds

AR is about on par with a shotgun to shot the first round as far as ease to shoot and aim, but the second round goes to the AR as far as which is better. AR holds more rounds by far as well.

There are a lot of false facts surround HD and firearms, especially with shotguns

Ask most combat vets what they would like to use to clear a house and the AR is going to be the winner, by large

quote:

---

To quote Mr Taubert, (emphasis mine) ” … As a result of renewed law enforcement interest in the .223 round and in the newer weapons systems developed around it, the FBI recently subjected several various .223 caliber projectiles to 13 different ballistic tests and compared their performance to that of SMG-fired hollow point pistol bullets in 9mm, 10mm, and .40 S&W calibers.

“Bottom Line: In every test, with the exception of soft body armor, which none of the SMG fired rounds defeated, the .223 penetrated less on average than any of the pistol bullets.”

---

quote:

---

And again on this page, there is testing by Gunsite Training Center Staff which found in a comparison of handgun calibers (9mm, .40 S&W, .22 LR, .45 ACP), and rifle caliber .223 (5.56) that:

“The only calibers which did NOT exit the “house” were .223 (5.56) soft point and hollow point loaded bullets.”

---

quote:

---

Then there are the “Box O’ Truth” tests with great pictures where they found, “… Common pistol rounds easily penetrated all 4 walls spaced out at room distances … The 12 gauge shotgun went through 4 walls like they were not there … The 5.56 rounds deviated greatly from the original flight path once they started tumbling. This occurred after the second wall.”

---

quote:

---

And this drywall testing concluded, “Moving away from rifle rounds takes us from fascinating discoveries into the realm of mythbusting. Handgun rounds, for instance, may penetrate less than rifle rounds–but only if the rifle rounds in question are full-power ball ammo. The relatively slow speed and heavy weight of handgun bullets make them a poor choice for limiting interior wall penetration, which is why professional door-kicker types have abandoned pistol-caliber submachineguns in favor of .223 carbines.”

---

quote:

---

I'd rather a pistol for self defense/CQB

---

For carry, for sure. but if you have access to whatever you want and carrying or concealing is not an issue the AR usually wins these in most of the "categories"

quote:

---

The first firearm I’d like to pick up is an M1911 unless for some reason that’s a bad choice.

---

That's a bad choice for everyone except those who absolutely know they want one.

Modern, polymer, striker-fired, Glock 17/19, Sig P320, Walther PPQ, Smith M&P - that's your starting menu - you'll need $450 to $600 for the pistol and figure another $500 to $1000 for ammo and training because it sounds like you're behind the curve.

Be safe and good luck.

quote:

---

The only pistol with stopping power is a .44 mg a bigger.

---

Tell me about stopping power and pistols....

Please

quote:

---

stopping power

---

You were doing so well up until then.

quote:

---

44 mg a bigger.

---

You must be aware, of course, that for decades of experience with "real world" shooting data, the venerable Federal 357B (125gr JHP, which is still made to this day) round had a 95% 1-shot stopping record. Now, this dataset was heavily skewed to State Troopers across the nation firing the round primarily out of 4" and 6" Smith and Colt revolvers in the pre-WonderNine era of law enforcement handguns, but even still - that's pretty impressive for a handgun.

"Stopping power" as you're using may not mean what you think it means (and is a meaningless term in this or any small arms context, IMHO.)

quote:

---

Pistol is never going to be as good as a shotgun or rifle. EVER

---

I would rather have a pistol than a rifle if I'm dealing with protecting my home from an intruder in the middle of the night.

quote:

---

The only pistol with stopping power is a .44 mg a bigger.

---

Then why do so many police carry 9mm or .40's?