Guns!

[Charlie don't surf]

Shodog, I am in San Jose . House is single story, mostly stucco. 3 kids, I shoot shotguns. Have a Remington 12ga. side by side for skeet. I have 2 dogs (if you can call them that). I have been looking for a while now (end of the world and all ) for a hand gun. When we came home from a day trip yesterday, we found our back door had been bashed in a little. They didn't get into the house, but it was enough for me to stop dragging my feet. Anyways, thanks for the responses. Keep them coming. -Jeff

If your intent on a household pistol, then a DAO ( double action only ) revolver or autoloader in 9mm or .38 spl +p your best choice for a couple of reasons, however a good shotgun loaded with #8 shot is the best overall. The things you want to consider for a house pistol is aside from combat proven stopping power is sheetrock and exterior wall penetration because you have a family inside your walls, and other family's outside them. The Double action only is to save your hide in the instance that you have to drop the hammer in defense, as (specifically in CA) there have been more than one instance when a person used lethal force in self defence and was cleared criminally, and thus civilly. However being the super liberal area that it is, the "victim's" family then sued the homeowner's insurance company under the accident contingent. (which gifts the family of the perp untold millions and you the right to never get insurance again) See, the perp was wrong in breaking into your place but you didn't mean to shoot him, you were only trying to intimidate him with the firearm and you "accidentally" fired because you single action capable pistol has a 6# trigger and a 1/8" pull. Furthermore, they are "right" as you can't prove that you meant to shoot him and that it is just as possible that you flinched and moved the trigger that 1/8". This has been tried with DAO revolvers, shotguns and Autoloading pistols and the lawsuit has failed as it was determined that you can't "accidentally" move a 12# trigger 1".
Find a good shop with an indoor range, "test run" a few demo models, see what feels good when operating and don't get talked into any weapon. Everyone is different as to what feels right. Avoid all cheap autoloaders such as Ruger's line, they are chunky and cumbersome, the Sig Sauer lines ( such as the 228/229 ) are great overall and available in DAO. Glock's line is DAO and super proven but lack any external releasing saftey which may be a concern in a household with growing children.
I carry a Glock 22 fullsize chambered in 40 S&W everyday everywhere, I am also a certified Firearms Instructor in Concealed carry and Tactical, and have taught over a hundred different weapons system just for background- but once I am home the Glock is safed, and my H&K M1 Super90 12ga auto loaded with #8 shot is the house gun as it will stop anyone at 1-7 yards, but won't penetrate the sheetrock into my son's or daughters room if used-

[PBR Allstar]

I own a ruger 10/22 plinker. It stays locked in a case so it's probably not the best for use in a home defense situation.

I do have a 33 oz Ash Louisville by the door, which I've carried out the door a couple times when I used to live in a fairly seedy neighborhood that was rich in meth dealers/users

I honestly have never felt I've needed a fire arm for self/home defense, I'm sure part of that is ignorance, and the other part is my faith in humanity that I'm not going to fall victim to some douche bag with a gun.

[rc10johnny]

The 40Cal....is and still used by the PD because of stopping power BUT also looses FPS in close quqrters....I keep mine loaded with FMJ then JHP that way a double tap takes care of any situation...even an auto......JMO......JohnnySr

[kaiser]

i'm not a fan of 40cal. my brother in law has a 229 in 40 and 9mm, 40 pops too much IMHO, 9mm is much nicer to shoot.

[aconsola]

CDS,
I am completely firearm naive. The only guns in my house are of the nerf, nail, or grease variety.
I can't wrap my head around how one would have a home protecting firearm available for the rapid action which I assume would be necessary in a break-in situation, while having small children in the home. How do you keep the curious kids (and their playdate friends) safely isolated from a ready to go shotgun?

[kaiser]

can't tell you that, i have alot of guns and none are ready to go. they are all locked up.
i do have an irish SHILLELAGH (war club) next to the bed, i'd rather be shot then clocked in the head with that.

[Charlie don't surf]

CDS,
I am completely firearm naive. The only guns in my house are of the nerf, nail, or grease variety.
I can't wrap my head around how one would have a home protecting firearm available for the rapid action which I assume would be necessary in a break-in situation, while having small children in the home. How do you keep the curious kids (and their playdate friends) safely isolated from a ready to go shotgun?

Hidden single weapon safe with a finger code key sequence-, they make pistol varieties too but I am not a proponent of pistol rounds in a house with more than one occupant.

[Charlie don't surf]

i'm not a fan of 40cal. my brother in law has a 229 in 40 and 9mm, 40 pops too much IMHO, 9mm is much nicer to shoot.

9mm has way less muzzle rise, but statisticly poorer penetration and one shot stops then the 40 S&W. The exception to that rule is a 9mm auto with a fully supported chamber (Glock/Sig) that is rated for +p+ loads, but then your muzzle rise is back again.

[kaiser]

2 to the chest, access the head....9mm do just fine.

that doesn't work? 4 TO THE GROIN!

[PBR Allstar]

So what is the weapon of choice for fighting the zombiepocalypse?

[kaiser]

for the zombie apocalypse you need a few things:

club
machete
12 guage w/slugs
45 caliber pistol, 1911 for me
ar15 (although i'd prefer an ak or sks w/ bayo, .30 cal > .22, but ammo availability is key here)

this is if you have a vehicle, if i was on foot, machete, pistol and ar.

[SoloGraphix]

for the zombie apocalypse you need a few things:

club
machete
12 guage w/slugs
45 caliber pistol, 1911 for me
ar15 (although i'd prefer an ak or sks w/ bayo, .30 cal > .22, but ammo availability is key here)

this is if you have a vehicle, if i was on foot, machete, pistol and ar.

Haha, depends on which school of thought you subscribe to, Walking Dead on AMC, or Zombieland. Whatever the case:

[slotcarrod]

I love my Glock 17 Gen 4! You get 3 mags with the gun and 9mm is cheaper to practice with! I just got a 1911 but I like the Russian copy better, the Tokorev TT33! Ammo is not cheap for that (7.62X25), unless you buy surplus but then it's steel cored and most indoor ranges will not let you shoot steel core!

If you go for the Glock, I would recommend a triggger job, to get it down to 3-5lbs!

[rc10johnny]

If anyone is not tolerant of barrel rise good old MagnaPort works just fine...I just got a new catalogue from CDNN and they have some new pistols .....less expensive that are ported already...JMOP! I carried a S&W mod 29 4" in Phoenix..Maricopa Co. in the 80's MagnaPort...worked very well in the "shoot box"

[Phin]

So what is the weapon of choice for fighting the zombiepocalypse?

Saiga 12.

It's also my answer for when the robots rise up.