How about a Taser instead? To be effective with a pistol, you need to have training and to keep in practice. It’s WAY too easy to 1) miss, 2) hesitate, 3) have the pistol taken away and used on you, 4) actually shoot and hit him, but still have the gun taken away and used on you.
Now, a Taser is really only effective against a single intruder. On the other hand it’s non-lethal so you’d be less likely to hesitate. And if you shoot and miss it’s unlikely the Taser will be used against you (Is the intruder going to find a new “load” for the Taser and then use it on you?). I’m talking about the type of Taser that shoots out barbs, not the contact Taser.
A 380 doesn’t have much stopping power unless you hit something vital – not guaranteed, in the heat of the moment. To get stopping power, you really need a shotgun, but you can’t handle the weight (or probably the recoil, if you could handle the weight). A 45 has a little more stopping power than a 380, but a hit is still not guaranteed to prevent the intruder from taking the gun and using it on you. And handling 45 recoil may take more strength than you have.
With a firearm, you also have the competing issues of storing it safely when not in use, versus fast access when you need it. Do you ever have children visit your home? If so, you’d definitely want to keep it locked up. For best safety, keep it double locked (e.g., in a locked container with a trigger lock on). That’s how I store mine. But this also prevents me from getting to it quickly in an emergency.
You also have to consider where in the house you keep the gun. In your bedroom? But what if an intruder breaks in while you’re in the kitchen or living room? (Or vice versa) You won’t have time to get to it. To guarantee access quickly when you need it, you’ll need to have several gun safes in several different rooms. So now you’ll need to be proficient with several different handguns, or have several of the same handgun. Now cleaning and maintaining times have just multiplied. You’ll have to take all of them to range with you when you practice, and clean and oil them when you’re done.
If you DO decide to go with a 380, I’d recommend learning how to shoot fast and accurately. If you ever need to use that gun in self defense, you keep firing until the assailant is on the ground and no longer a threat. And a great way to learn how to shoot fast and accurately is to join IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation). They set up shooting courses with multiple targets and you “run and gun” through the course. If you can’t run, most groups will make accommodations for you.
I remember one small target setup I did in IPSC. It had 2 targets slightly left of center, a steel target in the center, and 2 more targets right of center. No running was needed. In each target, you had to put 2 shots. You needed to shoot the steel target and knock it over, which typically only took 1 shot.
Here’s how the course went. You start standing at rest with your gun holstered. At the buzzer, you draw your weapon, put 2 shots each in the 2 left targets, and 1 shot to knock over the steel target (or more if you miss). Now, drop the current magazine and reload with a new magazine. Now put 2 shots each on the 2 right targets. I did it 6.9 seconds, which I was rather proud of. However, in the group that day at the range, I was slightly slower than the average time.
My point here is that IPSC will help you learn how to shoot fast, accurately, and (as much as you can) safely.
Anyway, I’ve rambled long enough. Good luck to you, whatever you decide.
J.
