If you feel like your home is in danger, having a firearm in the house can help give you some peace of mind. This is especially true today, given data from large cities like New York show that burglaries and homicides are on the rise.
If you don't know what firearm to get for defending your home, here are some steps that you can follow to help you make the right decision. (h/t to DoomsdayMoose.com)
Decide the purpose of your firearm
Before you even think about which gun you should buy, figure out what you will be using the gun for, either for everyday use, concealed carry or just for home safety and defense.
If you're looking for a concealed carry firearm, then perhaps a small handgun is best suited for you. If you're looking for a strong home defense gun, then maybe you'd like a shotgun or a semi-automatic rifle. Understanding the purpose of the firearm you want to buy will help you narrow down the kind of gun you need.
Do your research
Now that you've figured out what kind of gun you need, it's time to do your research. You need to consider the model of the gun that you need. For this, you need to learn about the size of the gun, the caliber of the ammunition and how much recoil you believe you can handle. All of these will help narrow down your decision. If you're still unsure of what model to purchase, here are some other details you can consider:
- Home size - If you live in a small apartment, a high-caliber firearm can be very dangerous, and firing that weapon risks the bullet traveling to a neighbor's apartment, endangering their safety. If you live in a rural area, this shouldn't be a problem.
- Round count - Different models of firearms will have varying round capacities. If you feel like you don't need to use a lot of bullets in any kind of encounter, then a revolver that holds between five, six or seven rounds would be enough. If you're uncertain, then err on the side of caution and get a semi-automatic handgun with over 10 rounds.
- Security systems - The presence of children in your home changes the kind of firearm you can have around them. This means you need a firearm with security features that make it less risky to have a firearm in your home, such as manual, grip or drop safeties, decockers and hammer blocks.
- Price range - Not everybody has a large enough budget to spend on the latest and most expensive firearms. Fortunately, price is not always a measure of quality for a firearm. Consult with your trusted gun seller and consider your options if you can only spend several hundred dollars on a gun. (Related: Empty shelves, empty gun racks: Ammo and gun sales up 139%, stores having difficulty keeping up with surging demand.)
Test your research at the gun range
Once you've narrowed down your choices, it's time to test out your knowledge at the gun range. There are a lot of factors that you may not be able to account for unless you get hands-on experience with your firearm, such as stopping power, ease of control, sight radius and the style and “feel” of the trigger. Find a gun range that has the firearm that you want to test out, and try shooting it several times to see if it's a great match for you.
Selecting the right firearm for home defense is a major decision, and it involves a lot of factors that you need to take into consideration before finally committing yourself to the gun of your choice. Once you've made your purchase, be sure to learn everything there is to learn about gun safety. Enroll in a class or buy a book about it if necessary. All of the knowledge you've accumulated will help you be a better gun owner.
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