Submitted by _smojface t3_10pwunt in pittsburgh
nevans89 t1_j6negb4 wrote
Reply to comment by skumps814 in Never shot a gun, want to learn (38m) by _smojface
Unless you have big meaty paws I'd recommend looking at a .380 if you go to a range and practice on a few
MaybeADumbass t1_j6nibgw wrote
The sole purpose of .380 is for tiny, super concealable guns. It makes absolutely zero sense for home defense.
It's also worth noting that these tiny pocket pistols are very difficult to shoot accurately and are generally not good for beginners.
skumps814 t1_j6nthe3 wrote
I was thinking more like a 9 mm
MaybeADumbass t1_j6okl75 wrote
That's much more reasonable. .380 is a weaker cartridge; it's most powerful loadings are a little more than half the energy of the most powerful 9mm loadings. The advantage of .380 ACP is that it is small and can fit into some really small guns.
As a general rule, though, small guns are harder to fire. The shorter barrel and smaller mass mean felt recoil is much greater. The short barrel also creates a poor sight picture (and most of these pocket pistols barely have sights to begin with) making it much harder to be accurate.
This carries through to small guns of any caliber. A Glock 17 is generally going to be much easier to shoot accurately than an ultracompact Sig p365, so generally for home defense you are going to prefer a duty weapon like the Glock 17 over a carry weapon like the p365. Everyone has their own preferences, though, so you need to figure out what works for you. E.g. I have small hands and the p365 fits like it was designed for me, while I often have a hard time reaching controls on full sized guns (I need two hands to release the slide on my G40). I've been more accurate with the p365 since the second time I shot it than any other handgun, so despite being a small carry gun it's also my choice for home defense.
My advice is to go to a shop that also has a range and rents firearms. Spend some time trying out a few different 9mm handguns and pick the one that you do the best with. Larger ones are generally going to be more appropriate for home defense, but the most appropriate gun is the one you've shot enough to be very familiar with.
There's also the argument that you should consider a shotgun or AR for home defense. I'm not going to make an argument either way, but some info to consider: With Shotguns in particular you need to be concerned about over-penetration (what's on the other side of the wall behind the bad guy you're planning to shoot?) and they can be a challenge to train with as a lot of indoor ranges do not allow them. Training is necessary, though, because it's really easy to short stroke (especially in a stressful situation) and cause a malfunction. At the same time, they are far more forgiving when it comes to accuracy, and their power means one hit is much more likely to stop a bad guy. With an AR chambered in .223/5.56, overpenetration is less of a concern as the rounds tend to fragment when they hit something solid, but the increased size/barrel length can be harder to handle indoors (much like a shotgun). ARs with shorter, "pistol" barrels exist, but the ATF is changing the rules around these and you're better off waiting until the dust has settled.
skumps814 t1_j6ove3o wrote
Excellent comment. Luckily I have a friend who’s also knowledgeable on these things and he’s gonna take me to Allegheny arms sometime soon to check some stuff out. I appreciate all the info!
nevans89 t1_j6nje1u wrote
Makes more sense than a baseball bat but i get you. With the right training and practice any firearm can be accurate especially in a house where, unless op has a mansion, long distance accuracy shouldn't be an issue. But like I said it's just my recommendation. My wife has a 380 and I have a S&W xd40 so to each their own. For a beginner I'd argue it's a good top 3 contender
WheelyMcFeely t1_j6nhzpf wrote
Yeah a compact .380 is a decent all-rounder. I’d recommend them to not go any smaller than something like an M&P Shield EZ though because once you get into pocket pistol territory they just get to be plain uncomfortable to shoot well.
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