Except a home defense weapon you keep chamebered and ready to go as you don't know if you'll have time to pump the action. Same goes for a handgun. Never know if you'll have time. When you need it, you'll need it NOW.

It's a good choice but you shouldn't use Pepper Spray on anyone with a higher weapon. Pretty much everything is a higher weapon than pepper spray though. You can overcome the pain. One of the things they do in police training (or actually any training with less than lethal weapons) is to hit you with it and then you have to do something. In the case of my friend who is a cop, he has to get hit, chase someone down, and handcuff them all without being able to wash his face off.

If you want to go with Pepper Spray though, then I'd suggest something from Fox Labs, which is a mix of Pepper Spray and Tear Gas. Some people are immune to either of those attacks and in case, the other will get them. I'd also suggest a stream over a mist or fogger, simply so she doesn't also hit herself with it. But, I'd get one so she can practice taking it out, taking the safety off it, and aiming it.

 

Another advanage of a shotgun over a pistol is that you lessen the chance of injuring your family in another room.

Adrianspeeder

 

A revolver is the place to start. But go slow. Your wife was exactly like mine who just about hit the roof when I bought my first gun. The last revolver she bought to go with her carry permit. Things change.

There are no other choices than a firearm for self-defense. Pepper spray? Do you want to bet your life on that fact that the furnace isn't blowing in your face? Bow? Obviously a very bad choice for a lot of reasons. The other items don't stand a chance of being helpful if your intruder is armed.

If you are concerned about the little one getting to the firearm, first of all, good for you. Second, get a quick access safe. Mine takes less than 2 seconds before there are 11 rounds in my hand and several more in my wife's.

And the best chance an intruder has is if I'm home. The wife is a dang dead-eye! I remember that when I start to make here mad! LOL!

Seriously, don't bother with anything besides a firearm. Anything equal or above a 38 special will work.

I reload ammunition so I load very light loads for my wife so that she can practice more rounds. Then she fires 10 of the carry ammo before we finish. That's usually when I realize that I need to be nice to her! LOL!

There are many other things to consider if you chose a semi-auto pistol, but by all means start with a revolver. Simple, reliable, safe.

The only safety on a gun that you ever trust is the one on top of your shoulders. Be aware!

Hunt4Fun

 

Well first thing i would do is get a home security system that will be a great start. Then think about a dog they are a great deterrent if a would be thief, whatever attempts entry the dog will be the first to know and the thief will be the 2nd. These 2 items are as far as i would go with non lethal ways to defend. Now get the 2 i have mentioned and also get a 20 Gage shotgun and take her to a rifle range and get yourself and her familiar with using it in close quarters. They have a pistol grip one (Mossberg) with a shorter barrel that will work just fine, use number 8 shot as a deterrent and number 2 shot to put them out of their misery. As a last resort there no better security than a weapon because chances are the thief will have one or something near as lethal. Good luck with your choices..

 

For most women, a shotgun is too bulky, heavy, and clumsy - and she will never pick up another shotgun after firing 00 buchsot out of a 12 gauge. A 20 gauge is a better choice, but still to clumsy for most women.

Go with a .38 revolver, or a .357 revolver loaded w/ .38s.

If she really is against firearms, I would say mace/pepper spray is the next choice.

 

I agree with the dog but get a Pit Bull. They are very loyal and great with kids.

 

I have a Louieville Slugger in the house....and a 4 D Cell MAGLITE in the truck....all I need....


EDIT:

I know a lot of members are recommending a 12ga.....if you go this route, I would recommend that you only load it with birdshot (#8)....that way...you would have a much higher degree of success in court if you do kill someone....birdshot will mame pretty bad at a good distance...but at close range (i.e. self-defense arguement) it is lethal.....just something to keep in mind....plus, the 12ga is a "point and shoot" gun....all you need to do is take the wifey out to shoot clays one day and she will have enough knowledge of the weapon to feel confident about using.....course, when there is a living, breathing human being at the end of the barrel she may not have it in her to pull the trigger....so look into bringing a new member to the family in the effect of a dog....I would recommend a Lab....they are a great "family" dog and are awesome with children....they are extremely loyal to their masters and if they sensed a threat, they are more than adequate at protecting their family.....

 

Well you all know how I feel about guns... I dont like them!




I love them and can't imagine using anything else!

BUT.... Under the circimstances I agree with wstahlm80.






Am I the only one that invisons Napolean Dynomite here?

 

I was envisioning something similar......hehehe

 

Or she won't be able to hit the birds and she'll be afraid she can't hit anything even at close range w/ the riot gun. A 12 gauge is not what you introduce someone to shooting with - it has way too much kick.

I recently took my wife out to shoot my new Remington 870 Express 12 gauge (using #8 shot) - I've had her shooting handguns and smaller caliber rifles for about 10 years - and she wasn't a happy camper. I'm glad that I didn't sneak a 00 buckshot in on her.

A .410 shotgun loaded w/ slugs would be better for a begginer, but obviously not for shooting skeet. Some may scoff at a .410, but little .410 Deringers have put many people 6 feet under.

 

The best kept secret in home shotguns is probably a 20 gauge Remington 1100. I don't buy the "racking sound" scaring people away; hell, a dedicated criminal isn't impressed when you start shooting at them, you think a noise is gonna do any better? Even 20 guage birdshot at home distances (say, 10-15 yards) is gonna ruin someone's day. The most important thing when considering a firearm for home protection though, is that it's something she can operate quickly and accurately. I don't know if I'd recommend a 12 guage for starters, since depending on the load, recoil can be pretty fierce, especially for a casual shooter who may not dedicate themselves fully to being proficient with their blasters. A gas operated 20 gauge though still brings plenty of authority downrange with less recoil than a pump action 12.

Aside from that, I second the dog approach too.

 

hey now..... in that movie he picked up a Sai, not a sword

 

Hi new here and wanted to give you the input of a female.

I grew up in a no-gun household. I was terrified of them, until I worked at a super max prison and got threatened by inmates. At that point, I got a handgun, S&W .38 Special. I went to the local shooting range and was instructed in the proper use and safety. I went to the Sheriff's office and got me a carry permit. I practice almost every week.

I don't leave home without it.

 

If and when the chips are down dogs are nice, but they and peper spray are not going to stop a determined attacker. If someone's in your home while you're screaming at them, calling the cops etc and aren't retreating...they're not there to say good morning. Not in any way you'd like to see anyhow. Defense is best in layers, but nothing, and I mean nothing replaces a firearm for defense. Nun chucks, swords etc require you to be in almost within arms reach of an attacker, not where I would want to be, nor do I want my wife there. A decent revolver with some .38spcl hollow points is a great place to start. If she's terrified get something in a TINY caliber, .22LR - .32ACP -.380. None of those are my first pick, but any gun is better than no gun.

If you're dead set on a semi-auto a 9mm is a great rounds to start with.

One rumor to dispell about shotguns, you have to fawkin aim the things! Point and shoot are relative terms. Pointing it at a man's chest and touching one off is good stuff, poitning it kinda down the hall doesn't work. If and when that bad guy reaches you he'l gonna be a wee bit peeved that you were shootign AT him. FWIW

 

Thank you all for the replies.


I do have some "things" that can remove arms, legs, heads. With the age of one of them, it may have been used for just that.

A dog is a great idea, but we live in a small house. We also don't have a fenced in yard, so he/she would need to stay inside most of the time. Our child would give it more love that it could handle. My Mom and Dad have a part Great Dane part Horse. He is about 80lbs and still growing. Our child loves to give him hugs and kisses.

I am thinking about a 410 pump shotgun. Small, lite weight, and easy to handle. She will not like this idea.

We live in town, in a decent neighborhood - no bars on the windows, mostly senior neighbors. Some young punks like to park and block our drive, but all we have to do is go in from the side.

What we've been discussing is when things fall apart - natural disasters, riots, revolution, etc. - so a home security system(we'd never rely on someone else for protection), and maybe even a dog that we wouldn't abandon, might not be practical if you're heading for the hills.