By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
Personal defense is serious business and home defense a vital consideration; I don’t think anyone is exempt from an invasion at home.
I have repelled boarders before, although it was many years ago. I have dealt with animals on the property which may be deadly as well.
Therefore, the home defense handgun must be versatile and must be tuned toward the likely problem. I don’t go overboard with fantasy and cinema or panic driven scenarios. I understand what may occur and unlike the majority of pundits I have dealt with assailants. Some of my adversaries did a lot of time- not like it was a fresh experience for them. I have quite a few scars that are becoming more noticeable as I age. I don’t dwell on the past, but it certainly provides a reference point and gives legitimacy to my opinion.
My first line home defense firearm is a handgun. A real handgun not a hand rifle or AR type pistol. Quite often the carry gun is kept by the bed at night. At other times it is simply in my pocket.
Stashing guns around the home is an excellent means of arming a housebreaker. It may be deadly if you are in the home. They have learned the hiding places and will be fast to turn the gun on you.
The handgun I carry in the course of the day becomes the home defense handgun at home. But then some like to have a dedicated home defender. Quite a few extras such as an extended magazine are not practical for carry use but fit well in the dedicated home defense scenario.
The house gun doesn’t have to be a sub compact. It may be a long slide handgun or anything you are comfortable using. I don’t like to go too large because I may decide to carry the home defense firearm at some point. Just the same a firearm with a large grip and plenty of area for mounting lights is desirable. I also keep a quality heavy duty flashlight available. The Infinity X1 light features modern technology- something we cannot ignore. This light features a rechargeable core, and the option of swapping to dry cell battery core power. These lights are a century ahead of the old D cell lights in every way and affordable enough for anyone to own several.
Many of us carry Glock pistols. If you carry a Glock 43 or 48 9mm, a Glock 17 or Glock 19 for home defense makes for familiarity and easy transition. I am not as big a fan of commonality of magazines and caliber with a carbine as some are, but it is good to have a 9mm carbine that takes Glock magazines. This is a superior home set up. Unless you are storming a bunker I don’t see the absolute need; it is simply convenient. Those on the point use rifle caliber long guns. So, if you have two or three handguns magazine interchangeability is good but not demanded. Glock is the baseline. They are as reliable as a handgun may be.
Cheaper guns may not be reliable and if you pay more than the Glock costs be certain you are getting your money’s worth. A polymer frame striker fired 9mm is a baseline for home defense. Reliability and ease of use is high on the list. Parts and ammunition are easy to come by. Choose a handgun with the big R for reliability and the little M for maintenance. If you prefer HK, S&W, SIG or CZ over the Glock you have a good handgun. A Shadow Systems 9mm may be the ultimate Glock development. Be certain you have practice and training behind the sights. There are modern handguns that are simply too reliable and too efficient to ignore.
As a rule during waking hours I am carrying a handgun. At home I sometimes lock the carry gun in the safe and pocket a snub .38 for easy carry. The snub .38 Special isn’t something you may lay in a drawer and pick up once a year and remain proficient with. You must practice! This isn’t a front line handgun, but it gives a measure of security.
I work practically every day and if it isn’t writing or shooting or working out with weights or jogging I have yard and fence work to do. My home is 117 years old, so I stay on top of it! So when I retire the home defense gun is almost an afterthought but never neglected. Many of us came in on different ships but are in the same boat in this regard.
When I take time to prepare- and I should more often- I slip an Inforce combat light on the rail of my Shadow Systems pistol. I have several flashlights around the house for emergency use. The Infinity X1 is at the top of the list and a Surefire Stiletto for the pocket. This allows searching with a light without pointing the gun. I don’t wear a gun to bed. Nowhere to hang it!
The first requirement of a personal defense handgun is a good set of night sights. XS Sights offers the original big dog, DXT, and my favorite F8 sights. These sights provide the shooter with 24 hour capability. XS sights offer a comforting glow when stored beside the bed. You must be able to quickly access the handgun. A handgun between the mattress and box springs butt out or on a dedicated carrier is ideal. I have a different program when small grandchildren are in the home. I will be alerted by the Canidae before anyone gets to the bedroom. I like the fast handling and maneuverability of a handgun over a long gun for most chores and don’t wish to load the pistol down unnecessarily. Just the same a combat light is good to have. Next perhaps a red dot sight with co witness to the night sights. This is a brilliantly fast combination offering high hit probability.
I have experimented with the new Meopta MeoSight IV and found it an outstanding optic with excellent performance. All of my personal defense carry guns are not optics ready. As an example I often carry the sub compact Shadow Systems in a vest pocket or Crossbreed ankle holster. No room for an optic or combat light.
The SIG P365’s are in a similar niche. The lightweight Glock 19 size Shadow Systems 9mm is light enough when ‘suited up’ and is usually loaded with a Glock magazine giving 19 rounds at ready. That is an impressive ammunition reserve. For those who practice I cannot imagine a better set up. I sometimes have a 33 round Glock factory magazine at ready.
If you have a higher capacity magazine (where they are legal) be certain it is a Glock magazine. The others don’t work well. If you don’t agree feel free to waste a few hundred cartridges proofing a cheap magazine. MecGar offers an 11 round 1911 magazine and Wilson Combat offers the superb Bureaucrat 10 round magazine if you prefer the 1911. Smith & Wesson offers a 23 round magazine for the Military & Police 9mm pistols.
Ammunition
For defensive ammunition nothing is as important as reliability. The load must feed chamber fire and eject reliably. For those concerned with over penetration the Liberty Overwatch 9mm is a load to consider. A 72-grain bullet at over 1500 fps is a formidable and frangible load. Accuracy is good. For general purpose defense the Federal 124 grain HST or Hydra Shock offer good function and are proven loads. The means of preventing over penetration is to hit the target.
These are my recommendations for home defense gear. Keep in mind that no tool will help if you have not practiced and considered tactics. Plan ahead and don’t neglect training.
