Hopefully this is the place to ask about the best home protection hand guns. If not,

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24. I currently use a S&W Model 642 Airweight as my prime home defense and carry gun. ...

It is quite similar to the S&W "Bodyguard" series of revolvers.

My situation may vary from yours. I live in a large old home that was once a hotel. Often we have roomers who stay with us for a short period of time as we do try to help out those in need.

If I hear a strange noise in the middle of the night I quickly put a pair of cargo pants on and slip the little .38 snub nosed revolver into a pocket. I then wander out of my bedroom and check the situation out. ( I should note that in many cases this is a poor idea. Playing Wyatt Earp can give a dangerous intruder a significant advantage if he hears you approaching.)

I have my hand on the snub nosed revolver in my pocket as I check the situation out. If necessary I can draw it rapidly. However if the noise was caused by a occupant of the home or a visitor I don't scare the crap out of them when I enter the room. I just calmly walk to the kitchen and get a glass of water.

The light .38 caliber revolver is considered an adequate handgun at close range by many experts. You just aim and pull the heavy trigger and it makes a LOUD noise. You can't forget to flip the safety off as with a revolver YOU are the safety. I believe that the Bodyguard series comes with a laser and this accessory can aid accuracy for rapid close range shooting. (I don't have a lot of experience with lasers but I am considering buying one for my snub nosed revolver.)

Drawbacks to any .38 snub nosed revolver:

1) It is a difficult weapon to master when shooting at 45 feet or longer as it is definitely not a target quality handgun. (However most self defense situations a civilian will find himself in occur at ranges under 21 feet.)

2) Because of its light weight it is not a fun handgun to practice with as it has a sharp recoil.

3) This revolver has a long heavy trigger pull and some, especially women, have difficulty with this. It is possible to lighten the trigger pull but it might effect the reliability of the weapon with certain ammunition.

4) While adequate many experienced shooters argue that the .38 snub lacks stopping power. They feel a larger revolver in .357 magnum, or a pistol in .40 or .45 caliber as having far more stopping power.

5) Many shooters prefer their self defense weapon to have a higher capacity than five rounds. It is also true that you can reload a pistol far faster than MOST revolvers.

If you live in a home and don't have other family members to worry about, your best home defense weapon is probably a shotgun. Your best plan if you hear a very strange noise in the middle of the night is to call 911 on your cell phone and hide behind your bed with the shotgun pointed at your locked door. If the intruder breaks down your door and enters your bedroom you simply shoot him. A 12 gauge shotgun is far more lethal than any handgun at close range if loaded with the proper ammunition. It has EXCELLENT stopping power. Unfortunately it will likely kill the intruder. Of course if you use any firearm for self defense this might be the result. Even the low powered .22 caliber handgun can severely injure or kill another person. The drawback to a shotgun is that if you leave your room it is far easier for an intruder to disarm you as it has a lengthy barrel which you intruder can grab. Plus it can be an awkward weapon to employ at close range.

The last thing you should ever hope to do is to have to shoot another person. It often leads to significant psychological problems even if you were entirely justified. Be aware of this.

Of course if you do purchase a firearm for self defense you need to know how to safely handle it and you need to be willing to practice with it enough to become proficient. This might involve taking a gun safety course and spending some time at a range. If you have no experience with shooting it might be wise to find an instructor to help you or another very experienced shooter to give you pointers. If your only knowledge of shooting is from the movies or TV you might mistakenly believe that it is very easy. The reality is that it is a difficult skill to master or even become slightly proficient. Shooting can also be a very interesting hobby. You might find you enjoy it.

It is VERY important to realize the responsibly that owning a firearm involves. You should always store your weapon so that it is not accessible to children. For a self defense handgun, a lockable gun box which can be quickly opened is a good idea. They are fairly cheap but very secure from children. If you have a large collection of weapons a gun safe is an excellent idea. A cheap one will keep most people out but even the best will not deter a professional criminal for a long period of time.

One argument often used by those who oppose gun ownership is that a firearm in your home might prove far more dangerous to you or a family member than the threat of an intruder. This is ABSOLUTELY true. Imagine how you might feel if a firearm killed one of your family members or if they choose it as the tool to commit suicide. Guns are NOT for everybody and even an entirely rational person may at one time in their life suffer from a mental issue such as severe depression and a firearm may offer them a quick and easy chance to escape their problems. Also be aware that if you or a member of your family abuses alcohol or drugs or has anger management problems a firearm in the home is a poor idea.

Recently a close member of my family who was suffering from depression because of her inability to find a job in this Great Recession used a handgun to kill herself. She was engaged in an argument with her husband over financial problems and shot herself right in front of him. At the time she was legally intoxicated and was also taking a anti-depression drug that had a history of leading to suicidal tendencies. Imagine how I feel as I was the one who trained her in gun safety! Imagine how her husband feels as he had just threatened to kill himself just before she did!

Perhaps your best decision is to consider burglar proofing your home. There are many sites on the web with excellent suggestions on how to accomplish this.