Firearm recommendation?

I’m looking for a small handgun primarily for home defense, secondarily as a tool for sport (shooting for fun). My priorities, in order, are: ease of use, safety/reliability, stopping power, non-penetration through thin walls, and durability (so that I can set it aside for months at a time without maintenance or attention without it falling apart).

You almost can’t go wrong choosing a revolver with a 4″ barrel. They’re easy to use, reliable, and suitable for sport shooting or defense. Get one chambered for .38 special. You could also choose a .357 magnum. The benefits of a .357 are greater stopping power and the ability to use .38 special ammunition in the same gun. The drawback is a lot of flash, bang, and recoil, which makes a .357 unpleasant for some shooters. There’s a wide variety of ammunition for both the .38 and .357, so you can choose the right round for either defense or sport.

Personal experience? After the L.A. riots, I decided to buy a pistol for the same reasons you want one. After a lot of research, I chose a 4″ Smith and Wesson Model 19 in .357 magnum. After I bought it, I talked about it with my father, who was a combat veteran and a firearms trainer for both military and law enforcement. His choice for home defense turned out to be a 4″ S&W 19 in .357.

I don’t think they make the Model 19 anymore, but any similar, medium-frame revolver from a reputable manufacturer should serve you just as well.

As for laws in your area, I have no advice. One of the reasons I left California was that their gun laws were getting too complicated and weird. You’ll need to check with local authorities to get an answer on that.

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me, and I’d be glad to help.

JMB
Former NRA-certified trainer in Basic Pistol, Basic Rifle, and Home Firearm Safety.

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