Hey everyone,
I’m in the process of buying my first handgun for home defense.
What are some things you would recommend I purchase to complement the gun in terms of maintenance, storage, and other must-haves or even nice-to-haves?
Already on my list is a carrying case, fire-proof safe, dummy rounds for dry-fire practice, and a good pair of ear plugs for the range. Not sure if I should throw in a speed-loader with that or not. I feel like I’m missing some stuff, hence this post.
For the future, I plan to build the gun out. I have already decided on purchasing an optics-ready pistol, so I can throw a red-dot on it down the line, and also a light.
Looking forward to your responses, cheers!
A book covering your local gun laws. :)
This should be higher. Lawful self defense in most of the US requires innocence, imminence, reasonableness, proportionality, and sometimes avoidance. If your state has no castle doctrine, this can mean if someone is only stealing things from you, there’s nothing you can do to them but yell.
There’s nothing you can say to the police that can’t also be said by your lawyer. There are tons of things that if you say them, you can get yourself prosecuted even with no crime. Tell them (don’t ask, don’t hint) that you want your lawyer, and you are invoking your right to silence, then be silent.
Do not talk to the cops. “Anything you say can AND WILL be used AGAINST YOU.”
Long version, best 45 minutes you can spend today:
Short version? Same message in 1 minute:
Good call. I plan to show both videos to my kids when they’re old enough.
A cleaning set. For a handgun, some handgun sized disposable barrel swabs, some oil (I prefer Hoppes 9 for general purpose), rags, and some q-tips are usually enough. For some guns like Glocks, a little bit of metal polish applied to the trigger mechanism can make them a bit smoother overall for not much investment.
A roll of painter’s tape is good to have for a range bag to help plug up targets while you’re shooting to make the targets usable a bit longer. Sharpies also work, I just prefer tape. It also works to put up targets if the range’s staple gun or target clips aren;t working.
Targets. You can go from buying a fancy set of splatter targets to just printing off some on normal paper.
For handguns I have not really ever used speed loaders for the magazines. I just haven’t felt hindered by putting rounds in manually, but if you want a little help it’s out there.
You may want some way to adjust the sights. This can be a set of small precision screwdrivers, or for factory Glock sights- a tap and mallet. Eventually with the optics you’ll probably want allen keys or star keys to make adjustments.
The investment that is you should learn both good shooting and responsible habits. Ranges tend to have introduction to shooting either as group classes or one on one, and getting those basics down may seem boring but fundamentals are important for everything else. I’d even soft suggest looking at a CCW course, even though you don’t intend to carry, since the CCW courses do focus more on crash courses of legal and storage responsibilities. It can’t be bad to have those things in your head.
After that point, regular practice is just something to keep the rust off your abilities and familiarity with handling. I have a habit of sharpie marking targets with dates/distances/drills/gun used and taking photos so that I can record long term. It helps identify certain trends where I need to work on them.
Just promoting your post, because you caught almost everything.
A cleaning set
So much this. The type depends a lot on what OP is planning to buy, but it sounds like a pistol (as opposed to a revolver). The right size for the caliber - new people may not realize the brush size matters; 100% agree on the Hopes 9. I also like to have a set of those gun toothbrushes, one that includes polymer and steel heads - they’re nice for getting into crevices. Also, Break-Free, and some type of light lubrication.
Good call on the painter’s tape. I also started collecting the sides of larger shipping boxes (Amazon, what have you) for free target backing. Splatter targets are worth the $$ IMO, but I’m getting older and my eyesight isn’t what it used to be.
Again, I agree with you about skipping speed loaders. Unless OP is planning on running a revolver, which it doesn’t sound like they are, there’s no situation where they’ll be loading mags in a home defense scenario.
I’m low key off drills. I haven’t carried in years, and I don’t think drills help much in home defense. Target practice, yes. But practicing quick draw for in your house?
One suggestion I’d add for OP is that, if they’re really going for home defense, skip the handgun and get a shotgun. Unless OP is going to be constantly carrying in the home, or they plan on buying a bunch of guns and stashing them around the house, they’re going to have to run for their gun, in which case a shotgun is no worse for access, and is a far better home defense weapon.
I’m low key off drills. I haven’t carried in years, and I don’t think drills help much in home defense. Target practice, yes. But practicing quick draw for in your house?
Drills are more than just draw from holster. For example, point shooting is something that gets much better with practice time put in. Beyond that, while perfectly aligning sights at speed and being able to track onto targets or moving targets may not matter in a sub-5ft home defense range scenario, it isn’t detrimental. Having more skill and familiarity than is actually needed can only be a positive in that scenario.
More time and experience is always better; I just think there are diminishing returns for running drills for home defense. If that’s how you want to spend your spare time, sure. I just don’t think it’s going to measurably affect any outcomes.
Ammunition! Nothing beats practice to build comfort and confidence.
Other than getting your pistol and ensuring that it is secure, you need time to practice.
I always suggest any new shooter to purchase their gun and then spend around half as much again on ammunition.
Use ammoseek.com to get the best deals!
Okay so I am going to tell you something unpopular but true. A gun will not make you safer. If you truly just want home defence options there are other better things than a gun. Home defense is a close quarters encounter a gun is a range weapon. Unless you are very well trained, a gun will not be your best option and seriously well trained not just Gravy SEAL trained.
If you still decide to get a home defense gun. You don’t need a lot of shit hanging off it or something fancy. Truly the best defense hand gun is a 4in DAO 38 special. But they are just not cool enough so people always have to get something fancy. A revolver is more reliable, needs less cleaning and can cycle a misfire. Getting in DAO will mean every trigger pull has the same feel every time.
Things you don’t need is really anything hanging off your gun. Red dots, lights, lasers, ect are pretty useless. You’re better off spending time and money learning how to point shoot. I get it is fun to accessorize. Everyone wants Barbie’s Dream House. If that is what you want for it, have fun. But if you truly want a home defense gun. Do it the right way not the Gravy SEAL way.
Also please know that in home defense you are much more likely to shoot a loved one or be killed with your own gun then to successfully defend your home. Learning unarmed combat is safer and likely to serve you better.
Citation need.
Did you have something meaningful you felt like adding?
Spelling
I require a citation before blindly believing this claim?
I see, that is a no then, you don’t have anything meaningful to add.
Sure I could spend the next hour double checking my sources, but I am sure that no amount of evidence would satisfy you.
If you would like to make a counter point you are more than welcome to. Though I do expect it with citations (in-text) APA or MLA, APA preferred.
