The 5 Best Guns for Home Defense
Thinking more and more about buying a gun for home defense? Need a starting point to look for the right gun for your situation? Then this is for you. This is not an all-inclusive list. Rather, this will cover some of the more popular options for new gun buyers. Most first time buyers are shopping guns for home defense. If you are new to firearms, don’t buy these online. Come into the store and try them out. You should be comfortable with your first purchase. In short, our suggestions for home defense are:
- Mossberg 500
- Remington 870
- AR-15
- Glock 19
- Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum
Shotguns
One of the best guns for home defense that you always see recommended is a shotgun. The reason is that you don’t have to be as accurate when shooting. You still have to point at the intruder, but you don’t necessarily have to be “accurate” as with other guns. Shotguns are also relatively affordable and there are many makes and models that are reliable. When choosing a shotgun, you also need to consider ammo. There are three types of ammo:
Bird Shot
Buck Shot
Slugs
The names explain themselves, but birdshot contains a small metal ball inside the shell. Birdshot is mainly used for bird hunting and small critters. While it would seriously hurt any criminal and even fatally wound them, It doesn’t have the same stopping power as buckshot.
Buckshot also contains small balls, but they are bigger and used for bigger game. With the right type of buckshot, you can blow limbs off. Buck is usually the go-to ammo for home defense because most of the buckshot will be stopped by a wall. Meaning that if you shoot, you won’t accidentally hit someone in the next room. However, as is the case with guns in general, there is still always the possibility of shooting through a wall. Keep that in mind.
Slugs are solid pieces of metals that are shot out of a shell. They pack a disastrous punch but don’t have the same spread as bird or buckshot. Slugs can also go through walls. Common home defense shotguns are:
Mossberg 500 – Used by military and police the world over, the Mossberg 500 is a reliable pump-action shotgun. Relatively affordable, this gun packs a punch and is the only gun for home defense you’ll need if you plan on buying only one gun.
Remington 870 – Around for more than a half-century, this shotgun has sold over 11 million units, according to Remington. As with the Mossberg, this gun can be outfitted with the latest and greatest add-ons or stay true to its basic components. This gun is also pump-action and can be used for just about any situation.
If you are new to firearms, make sure to read our guide on being a new gun owner. Check out other information about tactical shotguns as well.
Rifles
Rifles come in all shapes and sizes. However, we are just going to focus on one for home defense. You’ll find this gun on just about every best-of list on home defense. That gun is the AR-15. The AR-15 may seem scary, but there is a lot to like about this gun for a home defense rifle. For starters, the AR-15 gets a lot right:
- Starting magazines are usually around 20-30 rounds
- Extended magazines for extra capacity
- Lightweight
- Low recoil
- Wide range of after-market parts to fully customize your gun
The AR-15 is also moderately priced for a rifle and can be a great tool for hunting and target shooting. Ammo does vary, however, according to Sofrep:
“The rifle’s 30 round magazine capacity is crazy. But you know what’s more crazy? The AR’s most popular cartridge — the .223/5.56 NATO — penetrates less than pistol bullets and shotgun shells. How do I know? The FBI put the claim to the test. They fired various .223 rounds and compared them to 9mm, 10mm, and .40 S&W calibers (pistol ammo). The results? The .223 penetrated the least. The takeaway? If you’re going to choose a cartridge for your AR-15, go with something like the Hornady’s 55-grain load. It’s specifically designed for in-house use which will minimize bullet penetration”
Not only do you get a gun that is reliable and has stopping power, it also won’t tear apart your home completely if you decide to fire multiple shots.
As with all guns, training is key to using a weapon properly. If you decide to buy an AR-15 for self-defense, put in the work to be successful with it.
Pistols & Revolvers
The most common caliber for a home defense handgun is 9mm. This does mean that your gun will penetrate through walls and can possibly harm your loved ones during a home invasion. Also, many experts recommend hollow point ammo because of the power, and they are a bit safer to shoot in a home defense scenario. In general, pistols hold more capacity and have more moving parts. However, with revolvers, all you need to do is keep pulling the trigger if there is a malfunction.
Let’s focus on one pistol and one revolver.
Glock 19 – The Glock 19 is sturdy, having a 15 carrying capacity in a standard magazine, and shoots 9mm. Your Glock 19 can also be used for concealed carry if you have the right holster. It is easy to disassemble and put together again with thousands of tutorials located on YouTube. Glocks can also be fun to train with, and many people report the gun having a firm grip to work with which make them perfect guns for home defense.
Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum – This gun is, without a doubt, one of the best revolvers you can pick up in terms of stopping power. The .357 magnum can shoot both .357 and has enough power to go through multiple walls. If all you want is a powerful gun that is almost dummy proof in the heat of the moment, this may be the revolver for you. Whatever you point at will go down.
If you are looking for guns for home defense and concealed carry for a woman to, we also have a guide for that too.
Looking for a gun for home defense and need help making the right choice? Spring Guns and Ammo can help. We will walk you through the gun buying process in a judgment-free manner. Novices and experienced shooters are welcome here. Contact us today and let’s find you the right gun.
4 Comments
I bought a Smith & Wesson .357 magnum during the LA riots in ’92. Tensions were high everywhere, I live on the east coast. I would target shoot at an indoor range, buy the ammo there and shoot everything I bought, take empty gun home. I’m a USMC vet, but was in the air wing and am very respectful of guns and what they can do. The tensions now seem like they are getting higher by the day. I sold the .357, but am now considering gun ownership again, maybe even concealed carry. Pistol grip shotgun, maybe, for the house, and a handgun. I had a stainless .357 with 6″ barrel and it was beautiful and fun to shoot, but not especially accurate. I shot somebodies Glock one day, it felt like a toy, but put every round in the black. Any advice is welcome….
The .357 S&W magnum can shoot both .357 magnum and .38 special caliber rounds… But CANNNOT shoot .32 caliber rounds.
Interesting article. I can’t argue with the recommendations. The one thing that I might disagree with is choosing an AR 15 for a beginner. While I love this rifle, I am also aware of its many pitfalls. Having served 20+ years in the US Army, I became intimately familiar with the M 16/ M 4 rifles. They are beautifully engineered, but perhap over engineered. They must be maintained and cleaned diligently. And they are complicated and cumbersome to clean properly. So you have a steep learning curve with the AR 15. Of course, vets of the Army and Marine Corps will be very comfortable with this rifle. But a novice will have to commit to a lot of training. My go-to rifle for defense in my fairly remote mountain cabin is a Ruger Mini 14. The garand action is much more forgiving, and cleaning and maintenance is simpler and faster.
I fully agree with a Mossberg 500. I own one myself. The Glock is a great choice. although I prefer my Beretta 92FS. But that’s a personal choice, likely influenced by my familiarity with the Army M9.
I own multiple guns, both rifles, pistols, and a shotgun. I live in the country and duck hunt as well as the occasional deer. For home defense, I do not recommend a shotgun, unless you are being attacked by a mob. As I live in PA, we have the castle law. Now, there is an aspect subject to interpretation, and that concerns use of deadly force. To be on the safe side of the law, you need to let the attacker enter your home (mostly that will not be a choice because you won’t hear the invader until he breaks in). If you use a shotgun you will destroy your entry-way. I recommend the Glock 19. Uses 9 mm ammo, reasonable recoil for someone 5’8, 150 lbs. With practice you can easily hit the torso within 12 feet. The gun has a 15 round magazine, which should be plenty. An AR-15 at close range will easily pass thru the intruder without bring him down. While fun at the range, particularly with a scope and holographic sight, it would not be my first choice. Another consideration is a rifle that shoots .22 LR ammo, these come with 50 or 100 round drums. Probably take a few bullets to do the job, but with a 50 round drum, not an issue. Excellent for light men or women, very little recoil. The only issue with the Glock is there is no safety, so user training is critical and home storage must be done carefully . There are available small cases with a key you can put around your neck and the case holds the gun and 2 magazines.
I do not like the idea of a trigger quard or separating the ammo from the gun; you will only have a few seconds to react.