Never thought I’d say this, but I suddenly feel the need to have the ability to make big holes into things on demand. At this point, my preference is the colt 45 Automatic, but being a complete novice that preference is based on, well, no reasons whatsoever. So is that a good gun for self defense for a novice, given, say, an introductory class?
What should I expect to pay for one?
Looking for pointers, not a great debate.
For home protection you have to go with the Barrett Model M82A1 rifle. The only drawback is the limited clip of 10. I suggest getting armor piercing bullets to go along with it…Although I’m not sure if they make it in that caliber.
Yes it’s a tad expensive…But imagine how the urine will fly out of the people breaking into your house after seeing it.
http://www.barrettrifles.com/
PS. By the way I’m kidding. Although a grain of truth can be found in my statement-the M82A1 rifle would sure as hell be a good defense weapon for fighting an army…
I personally have a Glock 19. It’s pretty good and accurate, it will fire under many different conditions and will take a beating if needed.
A pump shotgun is a good weapon for home defense.
But if it’s a pistol you want, I wouldn’t recommend the Colt for a novice. First of all, the .45 barks pretty hard. Second off, the Colt is a single action, which means the hammer has to be cocked for the first shit. You can’t just pull the trigger. This means if your carry it you either have to go “condition one”, hammer cocked with safety on, or carry with the hammer down cocking as you draw, or carrying hammer down, chamber empty jacking a round in with the slide as you draw.
The final down side is that the Colt doesn’t have a decocker lever. Which means if you have a cocked weapon with a round in the chamber you have to use your thumb and the trigger to decock. Not a simple move for the beginner.
I say, start off with something easier like a .380 or 9mm double action. Of course, I say these things to you a novice. Experienced shooters find the Colt a simply pleasure to use.
Or you can just get a recording of a shotgun being racked that’s hooked to your alarm system, combined with your scariest sounding friend saying, “GET OUT!”
I wouldn’t start off with a .45 . Granted, they’re cool but that’s a hell of a cartridge to start off shooting.
IMHO a good starting pistol would be a Beretta 92FS. It’s 9mm, easy to handle, feels nice in the hand…
Hey iso,
Speaking as an owner of two 1911 style pistols (one full size and one Commander sized), my opinion would be that they are not the best for a true novice (someone who has never shot or wanted a gun before now).
First, you need to be sure to get some good preliminary firearms training from a qualified instructor before you make a decision on the type of gun to purchase. Not just one class, but several, dealing with basic gun safety, maintenance, marksmanship, and use of deadly force. This should allow you the opportunity to fire multiple types of weapons, and allow you to work up in confidence to larger calibers. DO NOT ASK A GUN STORE CLERK WHAT TO GET! A lot of these fellows give advice without much true knowlege.
The reason for working up in caliber and power is that if you are unprepared for the noise and recoil of a large gun, you can develop a nasty flinch. Work slowly, build confidence and ability.
As you go through your training, it will become more apparent to you the type of firearm you are comfortable with. If you are small framed or have small hands, a 1911 may not be the thing for you. You may be more confident handling a revolver, or it may fit your hand better. This takes time and there is no one right answer.
The basic thing most authorities will tell you is to carry the most powerful gun you can safely handle. This might be a .380, or a .44 mag. You cannot determine this based upon other folks experiences.
For me, (and there are A LOT of opinions on this, trust me), I like the power of big, fat slow bullets, so I tend to favor the .44 SPL, .45 ACP, .45 Colt and stuff of that ilk. I prefer the older style single action auto, just because the trigger pull is the same shot-to-shot. I also have a 1917 S&W .45 ACP revolver that is lovely as well, but for the sake of firepower and portability, the auto works better for me. (Elmer Keith and Jeff Cooper have ruined me.)
This is a very personal decision, like who you marry, so don’t take it lightly. Read as much as you can, and get a good instructor who will take time with you.
Finally, always assume it’s loaded.
Hope this helps,
45acp
Find a local shooting range that will rent firearms. Take a shooting class, and try out a few different calibers. Find one you’re comfortable with and buy it!
Don’t dive into the deep end until you can swim. First thing you need to do is get enrolled in an NRA approved handgun safety course. Second if you choose to get a gun is buy a quality .22 so you can afford to practice a lot. Get some experience under your belt so you can safely handle firearms and then you will have enough knowledge to know if a 1911 is right for you or not.
FWIW my 1911 is my favorite pistol but not my choice for defense. For that I have a Sig Sauer P245, a compact double action semi-auto in .45 ACP.
My .02 cents. No, the .45 is definitely not a beginners firearm for most of the reasons stated above. For simplicity’s sake, I’d recommend a revolver chambered in .38 or .357. The ammo is relatively cheap 'cuz you’re gonna need to practice, alot. Most of the revolvers are relatively inexpensive, and most can be fired single-action or double-action
Don’t make up your mind right away… There are plenty of good choices. The best choice of weapon is the one with sufficent power that you can comfortably, reliably, accurately, and safely handle. Anything larger than .380acp will do, although in a pinch, .380 may be OK. It’s a little weak, but it’s not totally useless. 
Wheelguns (revlovers) are a valid choice, as are shotguns under the right conditions. It all depends on you and your circumstances.
OK, everyone who’s heard this before can plug their ears… Tranq’s going to sing his favorite song…!
Get yourself to a firearms safety class. First. Before you do anything else. Now.
Next, go to a number of ranges, look to see if you can find one close to you that has rental guns. Ask for specific instruction on each different gun you try. Tell them that you’re a novice. They won’t laugh (well, they may rib you a bit, but it’ll be friendly), and knowing that you’re a learned will remind them not to skip the basics.
Once you find a style of weapon that fits your hand, that fits your budget, and has decent power, practice with it a lot.
[sub]Here comes the chorus… Y’all can sing along if you want. Y’all know the words by now…[/sub]
Get yourself a copy of Stressfire by Masaad Ayoob, and read it. Twice. Three times. Place a copy in the bathroom. Learn it, live it. Now, go back to the range, and practice some more. Practice till you’re sick of the smell of gunpowder, 'till the guys at the range know your birthday, 'till they know the way you like your coffee, and have a cup ready and waiting for you when you pull up.
Make a plan for defending yorself, including all possibilities (in the home alone, weapon nearby; in the home not alone, weapon in another room; etc.). Practice it. Have your friends try and poke holes in your plans, patch those holes, and try again. Make damn sure that anyone who will be spending an appreciable amount of time in your house knows the rules and plans. Go to the range and practice some more. Constant practice developes the “muscle memory” that will allow you to opperate yor weapon when you’re pumped full of addrenalin, and are not on your best form.
Get a cordless, or better yet, if you can get good reception, cellular phone and keep it nearby at all times you’re in the house. A phone call to the authorities will asve you more relably than a firearm will, and provides nice insurance if you must start shooting. Don’t forget to tell the nice emergency operator that you’re armed. The police take a dim view of being surprised, and you don’t want to add mis-identification to your troubles.
Get a quick access gunsafe for your weapon. There are a number of valid styles and choices, and they’ll allow you to keep a weapon in Condition “one” while keeping it out of everyone else’s hands. Go back to the range.
I haven’t read the whole thread because I’m at my desk and I’m supposed to be working, but I’ll assume it has been mentioned that you should get training before you buy a gun. And a Colt 1911/1991 is not a particularly good choice. For home protection, get a pump action shotgun and load it with #6 or #8 shot. Small shot will probably not kill your neighbours, but it will be enough to encourage an attacker to stop what he’s doing. If you must get a handgun, a .38 revolver is a good choice. Not too much recoil, no safety to fumble with, pretty-much foolproof.
As for the Colt, I have a 1991-A1 and it is a good pistol; but I prefer my Beretta 92FS with its 15-rd. (10 rds. if you buy them now) and nice thick grip.
This Friday I will be trying out what will potentially be my next pistol: A Heckler & Koch (HK) USP Compact in .40 calibre.
Which reminds me: Try before you buy. A pistol range will probably rent you a variety of handguns for about $10/each.
After getting some training follow Mojos advice. You will be able to find a pistol that you are comfortable with. This will make a HUGE difference while just starting out. Shoot as many different guns as you can, and once you buy it don’t just throw it your night stand and forget about until you need it. Practice, Practice, Practice.
Well I’m going to go a bit against the grain here. My first weapon was a 1911 style, Kimber Classic. I think they call it the custom now. Recoil is not bad at all and I’m a small guy, 5’6", 150 lbs. I will say that the best gun for you is the one you shoot the best with. I second the advice of finding a gun range that will let you rent a variety of guns and shoot them. You are going to practice with it right?
Keep in mind that it’s cheaper to shoot 9mm or .38 so if you will practice with a smaller gun, get the smaller gun. Practice is important and should be more of a concern to you than what caliber gun you have. It doesn’t matter what caliber it is if you can’t hit your target. I now carry an HK .45 USP compact because I like having a decocking lever and a double action capability.
Learn the rules of gun safety and follow them religiously. I think Remington has a list on their web site.
pkbites sayeth:
Once cocked, subsequent shits can be induced by waving the weapon around and screaming hysterically.
If you’re a beginner you might want to consider a revolver as your first choice. Revolvers are relatively inexpensive, reliable, and simple to use which are all qualities I’d think most beginners would appreciate.
Firearms can be a bit expensive and you may not be able to afford one that for just target shooting and another one for just self defense. I’d consider getting a .357 Magnum and you’ll find a wide variety of models in that caliber. The nice thing about the .357 is that you can load them with .38 spl, a less powerful round, which you can use when you want to practice marksmanship.
Ultimately you have to pick a firearm that you are comfortable with. A .380 that hits its target is better then a .45 that misses. Oh, and don’t forget the safety course. Operating a firearm isn’t rocket science but like operating any machine there are rules everyone needs to follow.
Marc
Thanks for the feedback.
I do plan to attend a gun safety course (tonight in fact) and subsequently probably one of the 8 hr modules my local range offers. The missus owns a 38 revolver, I just never liked the way it feels (I never actually shot it, though)
I will follow the frequent suggestion and try a bunch of different guns at the range.
I’d recommend a 4 inch 357 magnum revolver, preferably in stainless steel…namely a Smith and Wesson 686…
Its powerful enough to defend yourself, cheap enough to take to the range, strong enough to stand up to most things you can do to it, and simple enough that operate with just basic safty rules…It has no safties that must be turned off, no magazine that can fall out, and no chamber that can hide a round…
If you just have to have an auto, I’d suggest a Glock…Its a bit more complicated, but still reliable…Calibre is whatever you can handle and afford to shoot a lot (I’d steer towards 9mm or maybe .40 cal)…With the right type of bullet and load, a 9mm can be nearly as effective as a 45…
If you just have to have a 1911, well, I don’t discourage you…Just keep in mind that these guns are very complicated, some would say obselete…put in the practice getting used to it, and have the guy at the gun shop show you how to take it apart without launching the brushing across the room…
I have to go with PKbites and Bad Mojo.
A shotgun is pretty good for many people and many circumstances. Cheap, easy to use, etc.
But do try to find a place where you can go and rent the different guns to see what YOU like best.
A guy I know is a “gun nut” but for whatever reason has these little tiny doll-hands. He can’t use a lot of guns that require a big-hand grip or long trigger finger. You might be like that.
45 ACPs are pretty powerful and so on, but it is within the realm of reasonable possibility that it’s too much for you.
I don’t know why you feel you need a gun, but you might want to look at that as well. I used to be like that (and still support the right to keep and bear arms), but am not “into guns” anymore and have tried to get rid of what I had (which, BTW, ain’t easy). I find that a Dog serves better for home defense. A lot of crooks don’t like ANY kind of dogs in the places they go after, even small Dogs. And there are a lot of Dogs out there that need good homes; pick a breed and look on the web under the breed’s name followed by “rescue”.
I have to go with PKbites and Bad Mojo.
A shotgun is pretty good for many people and many circumstances. Cheap, easy to use, etc.
But do try to find a place where you can go and rent the different guns to see what YOU like best.
A guy I know is a “gun nut” but for whatever reason has these little tiny doll-hands. He can’t use a lot of guns that require a big-hand grip or long trigger finger. You might be like that.
45 ACPs are pretty powerful and so on, but it is within the realm of reasonable possibility that it’s too much for you.
I don’t know why you feel you need a gun, but you might want to look at that as well. I used to be like that (and still support the right to keep and bear arms), but am not “into guns” anymore and have tried to get rid of what I had (which, BTW, ain’t easy). I find that a Dog serves better for home defense. A lot of crooks don’t like ANY kind of dogs in the places they go after, even small Dogs. And there are a lot of Dogs out there that need good homes; pick a breed and look on the web under the breed’s name followed by “rescue”.
I found that Glocks shoot really nice, but can be very finniky about what you feed them. I wouldn’t bet my life and safety on one.