When it comes to home defense, choosing the right firearm for your household is crucial. With so many models and ammunition options on the market, making the decision may feel overwhelming. Advantages and disadvantages of home defense guns can be hard to judge without more information.
What really makes these guns different? We’ll answer that for you, but the best way to find out is to try them for yourself.
“You've got to go out — you've got to try firearms,” explained John McClain from Team Armscor. “You have to get rounds down range with them, so you can figure out if you can handle them and if they feel comfortable to you.”
Consider shotguns, pistols, or revolvers and which is right for you. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself when you’re trying out home defense weapons:
With these questions in mind, weigh the pros and cons and choose the best gun for home defense in your situation.
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A great first choice for a home defense weapon is the All-Gen 12 Gauge 18-inch Shotgun. It’s efficient, affordable, and reliable — the perfect home defense shotgun.
The long barrel makes it easier to manage from a defensive position rather than an offensive chase or search through the house. Another benefit of the All-Gen is the adjustable cheek rest and spacers, so you can customize the gun to fit your comfort level.
From buckshot and birdshot to slugs, there are shells to fit your situation — whether you’re looking to invoke fear or lethal force to defend your life. Our team recommends #00 buckshot shells for defense because your target area is wider than that of a slug.
“Shot placement obviously does matter a little bit, but you don't have to be as accurate with #00 buck,” said John.
One con of a shotgun like this to consider is the capacity. With the versatility of a shotgun, you sacrifice high capacity for 5 + 1.
And while loading a shotgun may give away your location, it can also be an effective scare tactic.
“The sound of you racking a round into your shotgun, to most people, is very recognizable,” John explained. “To most home invaders, that would be enough of a deterrent that they decide to go ahead and stay away from wherever they heard it.”
Overall, the All-Gen 12 gauge is one of the best shotguns for home defense.
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“If we're talking about just the person that needs to get a gun, they don't have a lot of money in the bank, the M200 is going to be a great option, as well as the GI 45,” said John.
The M200 38 Special Revolver is one of the best options for first-time gun owners looking to protect themselves without spending their entire savings. With this revolver, you can choose to fire in single or double action.
Single-action guns require fewer pounds of pressure to pull the trigger, making them great options for older and younger folks and those with less grip strength.
Because the cylinder of a revolver like the M200 is not manipulated in the same way as a double-action-only gun, it doesn’t have the same intense recoil. This makes it easier to grip while shooting and helps eliminate any potential malfunctions from those that might have grip issues, or limp wrist.
“For someone who can’t handle or manage recoil, they don’t have to worry about a malfunction because of that. That’s a plus side to having a revolver,” said John.
In the case of an unlikely malfunction, another benefit of a revolver is the ease of recovery. If a revolver clicks without discharging a bullet, another pull of the trigger will cycle the cylinder to the next round with ease.
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The GI Standard FS 45 ACP is another cost-effective home defense option, serving as a great representation of the US GI combat issue 1911. That makes it a great choice for 1911 lovers.
With a 5” barrel, this gun has the classic balanced weight that made the 1911 infamous, giving you better accuracy and accommodation for recoil.
Unlike the M200, this semi-automatic 1911 takes a little extra action to recover from a malfunction. Rather than easily cycling to the next bullet with a trigger pull, the GI 45 will require you to manipulate the slide to either dispel the shell or bad bullet and welcome a new round into the chamber.
The GI Standard is also available for 38 Super rounds.
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The STK100 Ultra is one of the best pistols for home defense.
“Our STK line of firearms has the 1911 grip angle,” said John. “Essentially, the STK line of firearms is the striker-fired pistol that a 1911 fan could fall in love with.”
Made with aluminum, this 17-round handgun has all the benefits of a metal gun for the price of a polymer gun.
It even comes equipped with aftermarket upgrades and is compatible with extended magazines for additional ammunition. It’s also perfect for navigating your house in the dark with its rail for any accessories and lights you may want to use.
Carrying 9mm rounds, the STK100 Ultra is one of the best options for home defense due to it’s popular caliber. That means it’s more accessible and often less expensive for you to get in plenty of practice at the range.
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Like the M200, this gun is a great choice for those who cannot apply much force with their hands and fingers. With very light recoil, this gun is easy to manage while shooting. And in the event of a malfunction, the light recoil spring is easier to manipulate when racking the slide.
“The downside to shooting TCM in a self-defense situation at home is that the round is extremely loud," said John.
In addition to being loud, the TCM Premium also creates a fireball — a big burst of light — with each round, which can cause night blindness after firing.
Additionally, if you would benefit from a light or laser on your gun, the TCM Premium has a rail for accessories. Keep in mind that there are pros and cons to having a light on your gun that you should weigh as well.