Best Home Defense Revolver

[Mr. Bggs]

I have a friend who stopped a home invasion involving two armed intruders with one round from a sp101.
Cause as soon as he fired one round from that 357 the fighting stopped an the running started. 😂

I always think about this. It would be interesting to know the statistics of how many times the crooks split after a single round gets fired.

 

[dgp4]

I have a friend who stopped a home invasion involving two armed intruders with one round from a sp101.
Cause as soon as he fired one round from that 357 the fighting stopped an the running started. 😂

This is the case in 99% of home invasions. 1-2 perpetrators looking for an easy heist. One shot out of a handgun and they run. They are not stupid. It simply is not worth a confrontation for most of these guys. Trying to prepare for 30 armed ninjas like the next John Wick is really not necessary. A six shot revolver will address what you are likely to face quite nicely.

 

[Slimer]

The one that gets you to your shotgun or carbine faster.

 

[Gator]

Question isn’t really answerable without some info:

Why? Is this an affectation or are you looking at a revolver for a specific reason?
What’s your budget?
Any caliber preferences?
What size hands do you have?
Do you live with anyone else that might need the gun?
If so, what size are their hands?
Would you expect this be a dual-use gun (e.g. hiking, hunting, carry)?
Can you shoot a revolver well enough to warrant switching?
If you end up buying used, do you know how to inspect lockup and timing?

Editing to add: I am a big revolver fan but they are not for everyone. I keep a D-frame loaded with wadcutters in the nightstand with a flashlight. I carry and do all my travel with a customized 340PD and a load of wadcutters. I also shoot service revolvers at a reasonably high level in NRA/CMP competition and have run them successfully in IDPA.

They take less effort to maintain and operate than a typical pistol, but they take probably three times the work and effort to shoot as well.

To add, define "best".

.

 

[JBoyette]

Don't tell the Sig guys but I am thinking about making a S&W 686 or GP100 my primary home defense gun. I have had a Sig P220 .45 on standby for years but have been thinking about changing that.

Does anyone currently have the 686 or GP100 for their HD? Any other suggestions?

As I read all the great posts, I would tell you that the gun, not the caliber matter. All. Are good if the caliber is above 9mm.

What I know you need is a quality light, a quality gun and a skills. The plan can come later.

Make sure the wheel gun is nested with a hand held white light and you know your safe to fire zones. And go for it.

 

[sgtgeorge]

I have a friend who stopped a home invasion involving two armed intruders with one round from a sp101.
Cause as soon as he fired one round from that 357 the fighting stopped an the running started. 😂

That's the circumstance I like best. Let 'em hear me rack that 12 gauge and decide for themselves if they're all right with the Lord.

 

[Dale Gribble]

That's the circumstance I like best. Let 'em hear me rack that 12 gauge and decide for themselves if they're all right with the Lord.

Would they do this before or after they have arbitrarily started shooting in the direction where the “chluk-chluk” sound originated?

 

[Get Off My Lawn]

I have 2 Rotties, a handheld light, a wife holding a G23 with a WML as I get to my 300BLK AR.
I haven't put the time in to hit the broad side of a barn with a revolver under stress. If I could, I might have one of the 44mags out loaded with 44Spl.

 

[Oneofsix]

That's the circumstance I like best. Let 'em hear me rack that 12 gauge and decide for themselves if they're all right with the Lord.

The only thing that they might hear should be the safety click - if they can hear that over the alarm blaring.
Then it's on like donkey kong.
I don't believe in a fair fight, 3rd monkey on the ramp to the ark an' all....

 

[georgel]

The one that gets you to your shotgun or carbine faster.

Why not go straight to long gun? (My choice.)

I remember test that showed an AR actually had less overall penetration than 9mm, in a home environment, due to bullet fragmentation.

That's the circumstance I like best. Let 'em hear me rack that 12 gauge and decide for themselves if they're all right with the Lord.

2 blast outside the window. Isn't anyone paying attention?

As I read all the great posts, I would tell you that the gun, not the caliber matter. All. Are good if the caliber is above 9mm.

What I know you need is a quality light, a quality gun and a skills. The plan can come later.

Make sure the wheel gun is nested with a hand held white light and you know your safe to fire zones. And go for it.

Here's an area that I think is often missed... It's YOUR playground. YOU can set up your own fatal funnels, area denial, firing lanes, lighting, etc. It's your home turf. Take advantage of it.

 

[Walkabout Dan]

If I’m at home I’m grabbing my rifle.

 

[Dan0311]

For me, I like a lighted long gun for static defense, but I don't like a long gun if I'm moving within a house. I want one hand free w/primary light and to be able to open doors, manipulate light switches, protect my head/gun, move objects, operate a phone, etc.

 

[Snoopz]

1.) Smith Mdl 19 2.5" loaded with 38 spl and 357 mag backups
2.) Lew Horton Smith Mdl 29 3"

you said revolver.. so revolver..


semi ...
Para Warthog
Sig 250 Compact
Smith 4553 TSW

but them again..
MP5, close by ..

-Snoopz

 

[RedneckFur]

Revolvers are just fine for home defense. My bedside gun is a 686 with a 2.5bbl, but I'd be fine with a model 19, GP100, etc. I keep it loaded with 38+p. Any revolver will be fine. Find the one that you like/shoot the best.

This is the case in 99% of home invasions. 1-2 perpetrators looking for an easy heist. One shot out of a handgun and they run. They are not stupid. It simply is not worth a confrontation for most of these guys. Trying to prepare for 30 armed ninjas like the next John Wick is really not necessary. A six shot revolver will address what you are likely to face quite nicely.

Nice to see someone else who gets it!

Every time a "whats best for home defense" thread comes up, I'm looking for some suburban Rambo to eventually come to the conclusion that if you don't have a sandbagged belt-fed in every window, you're just sitting naked and afraid for the cyborg ninjas to come rob your grandma.

I remember when Gecko45 was a joke...

Its great to be prepared. But its also great to be realistic about threats we may face. I figure my chances of an armed group of 5+ career criminals in body armor breaking into my house is about the same as a plane crashing into my house while I'm asleep.

 

[Snoopz]

Revolvers are just fine for home defense. My bedside gun is a 686 with a 2.5bbl, but I'd be fine with a model 19, GP100, etc. I keep it loaded with 38+p. Any revolver will be fine. Find the one that you like/shoot the best.



Nice to see someone else who gets it!

Every time a "whats best for home defense" thread comes up, I'm looking for some suburban Rambo to eventually come to the conclusion that if you don't have a sandbagged belt-fed in every window, you're just sitting naked and afraid for the cyborg ninjas to come rob your grandma.

I remember when Gecko45 was a joke...

Its great to be prepared. But its also great to be realistic about threats we may face. I figure my chances of an armed group of 5+ career criminals in body armor breaking into my house is about the same as a plane crashing into my house while I'm asleep.

exactly, and "home Defense" do you want something to go thru every wall in the house? Do you know where
everyone is in the house? watch some videos, or better yet do the test yourself. you will be surprised.

-Snoopz

 

[BigWaylon]

That's the circumstance I like best. Let 'em hear me rack that 12 gauge and decide for themselves if they're all right with the Lord.

Why would you intentionally launch a shell onto the floor?

Because surely you don’t have a primary HD weapon sitting there with an empty chamber. 🙄

 

[MCQUADE]

As far as revolvers and the OP’s original post, I’d use both if you have them. I’m one of those that doesn’t fret about reloads, I’ve gotta another within reach.
Give ‘em hell

 

[MDO]

Any one of these.....357 Magnum

 

[CITYPUNS]

Sounds like you want a GP100 in .357 mag. I’d take a modern Ruger over anything coming out of S&W these days. Fewer chances of getting a dog.

I had to send a brand new model 19 back to S&W I bought it from a PSA retail store as the display model since it was their last one - the gun didn’t work properly the only way to open the cylinder was to smack it to open and that was both new and when I took it home and cleaned it - I shot about 500rds about half and half .357 and .38s to break it in and it’s still not working properly so I called S&W they told me it was just dirty and needed cleaned and I explained to them that I’ve owned a revolver form every manufacturer and Ive been shooting ICORE and this is the only gun I’ve ever had this happen to - didn’t care for the lady in CS on the phone so I shot a total of 750rds both mags and specials and finally sent it back to S&W - it took them about a month to adjust the barrel and replace the crane - I just got it back it was free of charge but still took a month and shipping I’ll shoot it this weekend and update if it’s actually fixed

 

[JRV]

I had to send a brand new model 19 back to S&W I bought it from a PSA retail store as the display model since it was their last one - the gun didn’t work properly the only way to open the cylinder was to smack it to open and that was both new and when I took it home and cleaned it - I shot about 500rds about half and half .357 and .38s to break it in and it’s still not working properly so I called S&W they told me it was just dirty and needed cleaned and I explained to them that I’ve owned a revolver form every manufacturer and Ive been shooting ICORE and this is the only gun I’ve ever had this happen to - didn’t care for the lady in CS on the phone so I shot a total of 750rds both mags and specials and finally sent it back to S&W - it took them about a month to adjust the barrel and replace the crane - I just got it back it was free of charge but still took a month and shipping I’ll shoot it this weekend and update if it’s actually fixed

I bought a new production model 19 several years ago. My options were one with a canted barrel sleeve or one with an atrocious action. I went with the one with the 18 lb trigger, which turned out to be an easy fix... it looked like someone had swept up the factory floor, mixed it in grease, and dumped it into the revolver before shipment. After a full disassembly and cleaning, it was a great revolver! But, I've never had a Ruger come from the factory in a state like that. They're not as easy to shoot as a cleaned up Smith, but for a buy-it-and-run-it option, they're better wheelguns.