Buying a Home Defense Firearm

Everyone wants to feel safe in their homes and a good home defense gun can help. For most, the trouble comes in deciding which gun would serve them best in the event it was needed. This decision usually takes place between shotguns, rifles, and pistols. In this article, we’ll discuss the various options and the pros and cons they can bring to your home defense.

First Gun Jitters

Many people are hesitant when buying their first firearm due to a few reasons, but the biggest is safety concerns. The truth is firearm accidents are quite rare and can easily be prevented with a little education and practice. There are four rules to remember when handling a firearm:

1. Treat every gun as if it’s loaded and ready to fire. If you’re unsure if it’s loaded, check.
2. Know what’s between you and your target as well as behind the target.
3. Never point your firearm at something you aren’t willing to shoot.
4. Keep your finger off the trigger unless you’re ready to fire.

Remembering these rules as well as keeping your firearms stored away safely will greatly reduce the risk of any accidents. If you’ve never fired a gun before, it’s best to seek help from someone you know who has. Lastly, visit your local gun range and take some time to practice regularly.

Deciding on a Defense Firearm

All firearms are purpose-built and can serve you differently in a home defense scenario. The most common choices are shotguns, rifles, and handguns. Shopping for a firearm can be a very fun experience, but when shopping for a home defense gun, it’s best to keep your needs in mind. We’ll go over some of the pros and cons to each type of firearm to help you narrow down your search.

Shotguns

One of the most popular choices in home defense is the shotgun. It can fire a spray of pellets or a single slug, but either way it packs a punch. On top of that, it can be a terrifying sound to an intruder when they hear someone pump a shotgun.

There are a couple of downsides to shotguns as well. They can be large and heavy, substantially impacting your maneuverability. Most of them also have very noticeable recoil which can be a problem for a new gun owner or someone with a smaller build. The last thing to consider with shotguns is they can be a challenge to reload in a fast paced and stress filled situation. There is the option of a magazine-fed shotgun, however these do tend to add additional weight to the firearm.

If it seems like shotguns may be your choice, we recommend either a 12-Gauge pump-action or semi-auto shotgun. We have a great selection of both to choose from.

Rifles

These can seem complicated for a new gun owner but are actually very easy to learn. Rifles can be lightweight, low recoil and great precision. This is especially true of AR 15s and that’s why they are our top pick for home defense rifles.

The media and many politicians will tell you how terrible and deadly ARs can be, but most of them don’t even know what ‘AR’ means. AR 15s are the top semi-auto rifle because they’re easy to learn and a lot of fun to use. Thanks to the popularity of this firearm, ammunition and parts tend to be very affordable as well.

One of the best things about AR 15s for home defense is their versatility. The ability to customize them to perfectly suit your need with various optics, grips and accessories make these a very attractive option. A good tactical light or laser could come in handy in a nighttime home defense scenario. We have tons of great rifles, parts and accessories to choose from.

Handguns

Due primarily to their size, handguns are one of the most common defense firearms used. Although they’re the weakest of the three options we’ve gone over, they are one of the most difficult to learn. This is because unlike rifles or shotguns, handguns send all the recoil into your hands, making them much more difficult to handle for many people.

They do have one major upside over the other two options and that is carrying. Whether it be concealed or open carry, these firearms are much more suited for the job. This means you not only have a decent home defense weapon, but a great personal defense option as well.

Handguns come in a massive range of size, caliber, and design. The best way to decide what’s right for you is to try a few out before making your decision. However, we would recommend for anyone new to handguns to start with a semi-auto compact in a 9mm caliber. These are easy and comfortable to use while still having plenty of stopping power.

The Last and Most Important

No matter what firearm you decide to use for your home defense, the most important thing is lots of training. Even the most experienced shooters require regular training. A little practice can make a big difference in your accuracy and handling of any firearm and when it comes to your safety or the safety of others, it doesn’t get more important.