all 9 comments

[–]poestal 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (8 children)

nice choice what camber, full or compact?

[–]sawboss[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

To be honest it's my first pistol, and I don't know as much about firearms as I should. The weapon I'm getting looks almost identical to the one pictured. It's a 9mm with a 12 round magazine. I played with it a bit before deciding. The seller allowed me the option to return it for the TCP 738 if I'm not happy.

I may still go back for the AR-15, but I'm not sure. It's not like the hunting rifles I'm familiar with. I may prefer a shotgun. Either way, I'll still want the pistol because it's lighter and less cumbersome. Any advice?

[–]poestal 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

well it all depends on your price range of what your willing to spend on a firearm and what features your looking into a firearm. I can tell you that my first pistol that I ever bought was a beretta 92 fs because I enjoy full sized and I wasn't so sure on a polymer pistol.

the taurus is no means a bad gun but a lot of people shy away from taurus because of past quality control issues. but they make decent revolvers. the most popular brands to go with are sig glock m&p s&W cz springfield.

the best thing you can do is practice with it and see how it feels and shoot out the manufacturing imperfections.

[–]sawboss[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

I just want to make holes in targets.

[–]poestal 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

then it'll be a perfect little range piece. congrats.

[–]sawboss[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Thanks. Do you have any opinion on AR-15 versus shotgun for home defense?

[–]poestal 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Yeah it depends on the circumstances of your living situation and firearm training.

With a shotgun, you likely have six shots until having to reload one at a time and some believe this comes at a huge disadvantage, but my guess is that if the situation comes to gunfire, you won’t need them all when dealing with the average criminal. If you are shooting #00 buckshot, you are looking at about nine pellets per round that should strike in a group of about 2 inches at 7 yards. Even if you are using birdshot, you still get a group of roughly the same size to the length of the average hallway. Although, past 15-20 yards shot becomes terminally ineffective for two reasons. First, the pattern size expands to the point that a large portion of your shot will miss the target and the resulting wound is less concentrated. Secondly, round shot is not very ballistically efficient and loses energy fast. If the engagement distance extends past 20 yards, it would be advisable to switch to a slug. Another thing to consider is #00 buck pellets will weigh about 480 grains, which is about nine times heavier than a 5.56 round. To push this cargo out the barrel it takes lots of energy, and that push goes both ways. In short, shotguns kick hard, about 3-4x harder than an AR-15.

With an AR-15-style rifle, it's typically lighter, offers less recoil than a 12-gauge shotgun, get 30 rounds from a standard magazine, and reloading takes no more than 5 seconds. Shooting at 7 yards, you should be able to put several of those rounds into a 4-inch group in pretty short order. AR-15 rounds are light, fast and hit hard. They also have a larger tendency to over penetrate, although, tend to break apart when they hit hard barriers. But there is no guarantee that they will hit something hard if you miss your target. They might go through the drywall, insulation, sheathing and siding of your house. Then again, they might not. On the side of safety; Know your target and what is beyond it. Also, hit your target.

For my personal choice; I err on the side of shotgun. with altering my rounds from bird shot to slug in the mag tube, I have a variety of choices at my disposal.

[–]sawboss[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Wow, that's a lot to consider. I feel like the shotgun with birdshot would be ideal for inside the house. Very low possibility of penetrating my neighbors' walls that way, which is something I'd have to be worried about with the AR-15.

In a situation where I'm shooting from the windows though, the range and accuracy of the AR-15 would be more suitable. This would by my nightmare scenario though. I'd presumably be facing many targets with their own armaments. At that point I'd prefer to be at a more fortified location with allies than in my own home. Hope this never happens.

[–]HeyImSancho 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

No expert here; you may want to check out Paul Harrell on youtube; he's very informational, and has many videos on penetration. Most homes, and cars offer little protection from modern ammo; an .223/5.56 can penetrate; so can a shotgun slug.

Bird shot for defense can be underrated; sometimes.

I guess the only other things I can think of that would be important for you to keep in mind for defense, home, or away. No matter how justified in the shooting you are, you will be sued civilly. You'll need a balloon policy of $1 million, or better.

You've got to comprehend insurance carriers, and lawyers. Lawyers will take any case they can find money on. When it comes to homicide; which is what you'll be committing, even if it's proven to be self defense, will still carry the title, 'homicide', uninformed juries eat this up; most juries are uninformed anymore. Any ways, short of a million balloon policy, the insurers will pay out, even at that, or above, the plaintiffs can still draw it out in court, and cost money; meaning a claim, and payment at times.

If you don't have enough insurance, you'll lose your butt; if you actually committed a negligent homicide in any way, often times your insurance company will walk away; as they don't insure crimes.

So on that note, study up on carry incidents, as well as at home incidents; learn what you can, and cannot do. You're more than likely going to be arrested, whether in the right, or wrong; be ready for that, and what to say, or not to say to the police. They maybe your biggest help, and your biggest enemy.

Aside from that, on load up, and what guns; those matter as well in the eyes of an ignorant jury. Someone 'alternating' their rounds, is easily seen as someone who maybe engaged in criminal activity; no shit. Likewise, carrying FMJ's, and/or other ammunition can 'label' you in the eyes of the law; even when you should be in the right.

My biggest advice? If you're really not scared for your life, and have something to lose, then lose it willingly; if you feel your life is in imminent danger, and you feel so strongly that you care not what happens next, as long as you get to take another breath, don't hesitate with your actions. Let the rest work itself out, and PRACTICE!