Rash of home invasions in my area over the last few weeks. If I were to get a gun, what would you recommend. Also have two small children so a safe would be required, recommendations on a safe that can be opened quickly?

My Glock 23 is the nightstand gun loaded with 165 gr. Gold Dots, with a 12 gauge in the closet loaded with 00 buck (no kids).

Just curious, what area?

Find a rental range and take a lesson and go shoot 4-5 makes.

Look here for safes

The gunvault design quick-open safes in the link above are very good. I would not buy the bigger one, it's too big imo.

[This message has been edited by TXAGFAN (edited 6/1/2009 12:55p).]

Shannon Hills, AR

I'm not against guns at all. Just always been apprehensive with little kids in the house. Had a friend in middle school kill another friend with his dad's gun. So safety is top priority for me if I were to get one.

Those small gun vaults with the quick access are the best, you may not have time to get to a large safe. Don't know how old your kids are, but teach them about guns and gun safety. Lack of training and education is a big part of accidents. I would also take them to the range with me and show them just what a gun will do. Don't scare them, but let them know it is NOT a toy and it can do alot of damage.

no one here is going to knock you for safety with kids around.

I also agree to teach them firearms are tools, not magical devices that are hidden.

quote:

---

Shannon Hills, AR

---

Don't want to claim Little Rock, huh?

If you are looking for a hand gun strictly for home defense (ie. you don't shoot for recreation), I would recommend a S&W J Frame revolver in .357 mag or .38 +P, and .38 special ammo. As far as a safe goes, I am going to defer to someone else for that answer.

quote:

---

Don't want to claim Little Rock, huh?

---

I Don't live in Little Rock so no. All the robberies we've been informed have been a perpeatrated by a gang of 8-10 people here in my town. One in custody. They've been kicking in doors and just grabbing whatever they can.

quote:

---

If you are looking for a hand gun strictly for home defense (ie. you don't shoot for recreation), I would recommend a S&W J Frame revolver in .357 mag or .38 +P, and .38 special ammo.

---

A reliable choice, but I'd prefer my HD gun to have a little more capacity than 5 rounds. A little more punch than a .38 would be nice too. I have a J-frame for concealed carry, but for SHTF scenarios at home I'll be reaching for more firepower.

Agree with the above poster. J Frame is great for conceal carry, but there's no need for the compact frame for home defense. If you want a revolver for stricly home defense, go with the S&W 600 series in .357 mag. But if you're not sure about revolver or semi...do like someone else said...go rent a few of them and try them out at a range.

quote:

---

A reliable choice, but I'd prefer my HD gun to have a little more capacity than 5 rounds. A little more punch than a .38 would be nice too. I have a J-frame for concealed carry, but for SHTF scenarios at home I'll be reaching for more firepower.

---

a .357 mag or +P is also an option in this weapon. I also qualified my statement with: If you are looking for a hand gun strictly for home defense (ie. you don't shoot for recreation).

I chose to recommend a revolver because they WILL NOT jam. You can load it, put it in the night stand, and forget about it.

I saw that you qualified your statement, but I still stand by my opinion that J-frame is a terrible choice for home defense. Nowhere near enough capacity, and shooting .357 out of such a light gun is not conducive to good follow-shots (especially under stressful circumstances in the dark, etc). If you want a revolver, get a full-sized .357.

It looks like you are a newbie to handguns, so proper training is the first thing to do, and this can be done very quickly. As for the type of handgun, I too would recommend a revo at first (just not a J-frame as previously suggested) as they have the shortest learning curve, and are more reliabe *as a whole* than semi-auto's. A seven-shot .357 is plenty powerful enough, and can be reloaded fairly easily once you get the hang of using a speedloader. Get several too, as you never know what part of the house you will be in when the breakin happens.

If you can devote the time/effort to really learn the semi-auto's, then take a look at the many high-capacity defense handguns from the major manufacturers such as Sig, Glock, H&K, Beretta, CZ, S&W, Ruger, FN, Walther, and Springfield. 15-16 rounds and very quick reload is hard to beat....

Or you could just get one of these:

you can get a good home defense shotgun at academy for $300. another suggestion is a guard dog...

How do the quick open safes work? I went to the link in this thread, and it appears by just looking at them that some utilize a type of fingerprint recognition along with a key? I didn't see where it said anything about setting it up so that multiple people (my wife and I) can access the same safe. Are there some generalities in how they all work?

Where is the most common place to store the safe? I'm thinking I would put it in the top drawer of the bedside table, but I have a 19 month old that gets into everything, so that safe better be 200% foolproof.

I'm also looking into getting my first handgun. Will be used for HD. I like the glock 23 and the comparable S&W, .40, sub compact.

best part about a shotgun is you don't even have to aim

quote:

---

best part about a shotgun is you don't even have to aim

---

Nope! Just shove a clip of ammo in there and let fly!

quote:

---

I'm also looking into getting my first handgun. Will be used for HD. I like the glock 23 and the comparable S&W, .40, sub compact.

---

Hmmm... I thought this thread looked familiar...

You can't go wrong with either a Glock or a S&W (get the one that fits your hand the best). However, don't get a sub-compact. These are made for carrying. For HD, you can have any size you want since you are not concerned about trying to hide it upon your person. Why not get something full-sized, which gives you more capacity, and a full-sized grip which will make it more pleasurable to shoot at the range...

Ruger GP100. Simpler than Smith revolvers, feeer moving parts=greater reliability,

If the gang is 8-10 I wouldn't get a revolver. Even if half of them broke in, 4-5 against 1 can turn bad quickly. I would get a good HD 12ga shotgun and pray that you don't have to use it.

If you've got a group of 8-10 people breaking into your house you pissed off the wrong person.

I've got the big daddy GunVault (Deluxe) and like it a lot. If you are wanting to put it in a drawer, check this one out:

http://www.amazon.com/Gunvault-MV500-STD-Microvault-Pistol-Safe/dp/B000TG9RCC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323467776&sr=8-1

If it's anything like mine, it should have holes on the bottom and/or back that allows you to secure it.

GunVault is code driven, not finger recognition. So you put your fingers in the slot and punch in your code...I can have my gun ready to rock in ~3-5 seconds.

Don't have any experience with any other brands.

What good is a gun locked in a safe when armed intruders are kicking your door in ?

quote:

---

What good is a gun locked in a safe when armed intruders are kicking your door in ?

---

Better than the one you don't own because you decided having an unsecured handgun and small children is an unacceptable risk. Or were you not serious with your question?

quote:

---

If the gang is 8-10 I wouldn't get a revolver. Even if half of them broke in, 4-5 against 1 can turn bad quickly. I would get a good HD 12ga shotgun and pray that you don't have to use it.

---

If 4-5 intruders break in and they are armed and ready to shoot it out you are pretty much effed unless you have done some serious planning and training. I agree that the large frame .357 is a great option.

This is easy. I have a little boy, and I carry concealed in the house (CHL, but you don't need one in your house) and then at night, I lay a pistol on the nightstand. When we wake up, I put that pistol in the safe and go back to concealed carry.

Little kids sometimes magically show up in the middle of the night in your bed without you knowing because you're fast asleep.

Unless you lock your bedroom door.

Get a gun, but also beef up your defenses.

Install door jamb armor to stop/slow down the intruders.

http://www.armorconcepts.com/Our-Solutions/Door-Jamb-Armor

Safe:

www.ftknox.com/redesign/pistolboxes

Handgun:

Can't go wrong with a Glock in my opinion. As self defense handguns go I don't think you'll find anything better. Stick with 9mm, .40 S&W or .45 ACP calibers.

I have a gun vault with the finger recognition and a G19. You can have several fingerprints that will open the safe. It fits fine in the closet (which is right by the bed and on a shelf so the rugrat doesn't climb around it).

I would go with the code version. Sometimes the fingerprint takes 2 attempts. Finger placement is key.

Just go to a range and shoot the glock, xd, and a Ruger revolver. Pick the one you like best, buy a flashlight to keep in the safe, and take a defensive handgun course. You'll feel more prepared after the course.

I did all of the above this year.

Why flashlight in the safe??