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Top 5 Home and Vehicle Defense Firearms for Gun Rookies

I thought it was time to post a bit about home and vehicle defense. Here on Gun Rookie I post a lot about conceal and carry and self-protection guns for beginners. I went to Dan Davies the Gun Guru once again to get some information for all of you about some great guns for protecting your home and your vehicle and together we came up with this list for you. I learned a lot and I hope you do as well!

  1. Ruger SP101

This 5 shot 357 revolver is substantial, heavy, full stainless steel, and easy to shoot. In almost every case, the larger and the heavier the gun, the less recoil there will be. The weight and size of the gun have the ability to absorb the “kick” after the gun is fired, thus making it a more manageable firearm. All of these features make the Ruger SP101 great in the nightstand drawer for home protection. The Ruger SP101 comes with 2 different styles of grips, a hardwood insert or black plastic. It is easy to maintain as there are no special tools for takedown and maintenance. The cylinder is triple-locked into the frame at the front, rear, and bottom for a dependable and well-aligned shot time after time.

  1. Rock Island Armory 1911 A1

Because everyone deserves to have a 1911, I sure wasn't going to leave this list without one! While the 1911 by most any manufacturer is fantastic, the Rock Island Armory 1911 A1 is great for the Gun Rookie as it is solid and reliable and more than worth the ridiculously low price of right around $500. This firearm comes with high visibility sights for dim conditions which is usually when the bad guys do their thing. The weight and balance of the 1911 A1 are just perfect for control and accuracy. Of course, the weight helps to disperse the recoil when fired as well. And on some models, the safety can be ambidextrous!

  1. Springfield Armory XD9

The Springfield Armory XD9 is one of MY personal favorites on this list. With a more, what I would call, condensed frame, I find this gun to be well balanced and easy to handle. As far as safety goes, this gun tops the list. There is a safety on both the trigger AND the grip of this gun that have to be depressed simultaneously in order to fire it. The best part of that combo is that, when held correctly, the safeties naturally disengage so the gun can be fired. There is also a loaded chamber indicator in order to give both visual and tactile indication as to whether or not the gun has a cartridge in the chamber, ready to fire. For home defense the Springfield Armory XD9 is phenomenal! It is ergonomically designed and comes with a dovetail three-point sight system to provide accurate aim. Included with this firearm are not one, but two high capacity 16-round magazines in order to offer tremendous defensive firepower. Overall, just a fantastic and reliable gun for home and vehicle defense.

  1. Walther PPQ-M2

Well, if the XD9 was one of my favorites, then you're probably wondering which one IS my favorite! Here it is. The Walther PPQ-M2 is simply EASY and almost universally so! There is always going to be that one gun that, once you have it in your hands, will speak to you. Everyone is different. THIS gun though, THIS gun, just may be that one gun that ANYONE can fall in love with. Just picking it up makes an, otherwise, shaky hand or gun-shy rookie comfortable and confident. The ergonomics, alone, found in the grip of this firearm make it so easy to hold on to that it points itself in the direction that you need to fire. The trigger reset on the PPQ-M2 is absolutely one of the best in the industry. The weight and size make it perfect for the beginner as it absorbs the recoil with ease, and the stopping power is perfect for home, vehicle, or personal defense! This gun is just "butter"!

  1. Ruger GP100

This is the workhorse of the group. This revolver is a 7 shot 357 and its stopping power is serious. Serious is required if there's a bad guy in your home. Simply, point and pull the trigger. No need to cock the hammer, this revolver is double-action. A cushioned grip with a black plastic or hardwood insert provides a grip with no exposed metal and that equals comfort. Like the Ruger SP101, the GP 100 has a triple-locking cylinder that locks it to the front, rear, and bottom for a more dependable shot. The frame is thick and heavy which supports great recoil absorption and makes it easier to control. For home defense, this gun is a perfect choice and one you can NOT go wrong with!