Thinking of buying a new pistol

I think the extra step in a 1911 makes it an ideal home defense weapon. You need to stop and think before you kill someone, especially in your own home.

I always carried my 1911 cocked and locked. Most people I know carry them that way too.

coaledsweat wrote:I think the extra step in a 1911 makes it an ideal home defense weapon. You need to stop and think before you kill someone, especially in your own home.

That's why I went with the Taurus. You could drop the thing and it's not going to go off without you pulling the trigger. It's got a tight trigger pull, too. Unlike DK's Glock which, being a semi automatic, can let off 4 or 5 rounds before you know it. If you have to use the gun, you’re going to have enough excitement in the area that you don’t want to have to worry about letting off unintended shots. I've found the Taurus to be an excellent basic gun for carry conceal or home defense. Lisa

theo wrote:Lisa, what brand shell's are you using in it ? Reason I'am asking is because i've been reading that the judge does not like to shoot certain brands, i guess alot of people say it sorta jams or hangs up ,,, have you had any troubles ?

Nope, I've had the gun 7 or 8 years now and I can only remember one miss fire. This gun is so basic it's hard to even think of it hanging up. I generally use Winchester range ammo. That's what they carry at Walmart. Here in the Metro DC area, buying anything gun related is super expensive or they are sold out so I make it a point to stop at WalMart whenever I'm traveling outside the area. I feel like the old lady who, when stopped by the police is asked why she has so many guns with her and what she is afraid of - that answer of course is "because I can" and "not a thing." Take care, Lisa

Good one Lisa,,, " Not a Thing " If i remeber correctly the Winchester ammo is suppose to be the best to shoot in the judge. Did you watch the video were the fellow starts with the 00 buckshot then goes to the potent whatever he calls it ? I'd hate to get hit with that at close range ! I think you have to go to a regular gunshop to buy the heavy ammo.

after all of em. I too vote the p226... my all time tack driver and extension of my hand. hanging in a Gelco rig with 2 spare drop clips itsa lotta tacks ti drive

coalkirk, Did you check that dump trailer out ? Did Santa bring you one?

coaledsweat wrote:I think the extra step in a 1911 makes it an ideal home defense weapon. You need to stop and think before you kill someone, especially in your own home.

I'll be thinking whether I have time to manually cock it for better accuracy.

Damm, i would think a single action revolver (45 long colt) would instill a perfectly accurate shot in the hands of the gun holder, however slow it may be, and incite deathly fear with the clickity click to the assailant. I love Ruger Blackhawks. If you want muzzle flash in the bedroom ,get the 30 carbine. Here is a read on some calibers http://www.chuckhawks.com/ammo_by_anonymous.htm. It says to stay away from the 410 3 shot 000 buckshot. It doesn't state why though. We used to load 2 sized .36 caliber navy balls into a 357 case, would leave 2 holes in the target. I thought the 125 jhp in a .357 was the number one manstopper on record. Of course that is what is loaded in my bedside Ruger SP101. And to the poster (lowfog i think) whom said 1 failure in 7 or 8 years, that is too many.

mozz wrote:..and incite deathly fear with the clickity click to the assailant.

Not sure if it's been thought of but I always thought a great marketing idea would be a device that sounds like racking a shell into a shotgun. Be useful for those that don't want an actual gun, I'm sure any intruder would be heading for the door when they heard that.

mozz wrote:And to the poster (lowfog i think) whom said 1 failure in 7 or 8 years, that is too many.

I agree - my 1 misfire was due to the ammo I was using. The bullet never left the casing. I turned it over to the range officer who confirmed that. The reason DK doesn't want to sell this gun is because it is so dependable. Lisa

Reliability is the number 1 thing to look for. I prefer revolvers to autos. I also recommend anyone who purchases a gun for home safety to buy a revolver. Maybe a few years down the road, buy a auto. Ammo does corrode after sitting for years. These days, i can bet the quality is even worse. Back when i was really into guns(late 80's), i bought a used Smith and Wesson model 39. Before i had the gun paid off, i had reloaded 500 rounds of ammo, from 88 grain 380 tips to 160 grain round nose meant for 38 special. I reload by the book(my father was a reloading fanatic)and it fed and fired all of these rounds flawlessly. Anything i keep for protection is loaded with factory ammo. When the Glocks first came out, they were big all over the covers of gun magazines. No safety, i didn't like that. Polymer frame, no way. Friend of mine passed and was hired as a Scranton Police officer. He was handed a Smith model 10. He went out and bought a Glock in 9mm. We go back in the woods one day to do some shooting. Having read all the magazine articles on the Glock i knew i could make it misfire. My friend was so proud of this Glock, hi capacity, lightweight, etc.etc. He fired a few clips then handed me the gun. I loaded it, then told him,"watch, i can make this misfire(jam). He said no way. go right ahead. So i shot the gun ,then held the gun loose, a bit sideways, pulled the trigger and it stovepiped. He could not understand why the gun jammed. Holding the gun loose and sideways is something that actually might occur in a police or home invasion situation. The gun is so light, if you hold it loose, it doesn't have the momentum to chamber the next round. So much for the perfect gun. What ever you are going to use, be proficient of it uses before trusting it. I keep a big pipe in the closet left over from installing the closet organizer.

I've had the same experience with the Glock jamming. In fact, it was so bad I refuse to shoot it anymore. It clearly wasn't "my gun" if I couldn't fire it with out it jamming. I also couldn't work the slide. I don't have the hand strength to pull the slide back or remove it for cleaning. I'm a firm believer in if you can't do everything required to safely fire and maintain the gun; you shouldn't be firing that gun. I'm looking for a new gun, a 9mm like the Sig Saur P222(?). It's small and I can do everything I need to with it. It also has a 15 round clip which will be a great on the range after the 5 shot revolver. Lisa

coaledsweat wrote:I think the extra step in a 1911 makes it an ideal home defense weapon. You need to stop and think before you kill someone, especially in your own home.

Slow to battery, again that is why I feel it makes a poor home defense weapon...Same as SMITTY said, yoiu slid your thumb up to disengage the safety and you are ready to fire, assuming you are locked and cocked. Maybe this happens maybe it doesn't. In playing with an empty weapon in close quarter fighting many time we could not even get enough grip on the weapon to disengage the grip safety. In a home invasion you mostl likely are so far behind the ball that you have no extra time to waste. Think what happens if you are watching TV and suddenly the door burst open with 3 or more armed thugs. Do you have any extra time to make sure everything is working properly? Or if you are jumped in the parking lot whle getting in your car at Outback? Don't get me wrong, I love the 1911's, fun to shoot, fantastic trigger, great competition weapon. But to not consider the down side of it in a surprise attack is only fooling yourself. So for me, I show my friends my Kimbers, and my enemy my Glock.

It is not the arrow, it is the Indian. There are plenty of great home defense choices, but the bottom line, you got to train! Static, moving, low light, close, far, off hand, reload, reload weak hand. If you don't train with whatever your weapon of choice is, you leave your fate to chance.
There is much merit in terminal ballistics, caliber, and recoil. If you don't master your weapon, in a variety of conditions, or stress levels your chances of success diminish.
I am not saying it can not be done, I am saying be prepared for the unexpected. be prepared to stay in the fight, regardless of the circumstance. Know your weapon, prepare yourself.

As far as choices of firearms go, this is my motto:
If you treat your guns like you treat your lawnmower............. Buy a Glock. It will keep on working.

Just food for thought. Carry on