Hey everyone,

I’m in the process of buying my first handgun for home defense.
What are some things you would recommend I purchase to complement the gun in terms of maintenance, storage, and other must-haves or even nice-to-haves?

Already on my list is a carrying case, fire-proof safe, dummy rounds for dry-fire practice, and a good pair of ear plugs for the range. Not sure if I should throw in a speed-loader with that or not. I feel like I’m missing some stuff, hence this post.

For the future, I plan to build the gun out. I have already decided on purchasing an optics-ready pistol, so I can throw a red-dot on it down the line, and also a light.

Looking forward to your responses, cheers!

15 points
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A cleaning set. For a handgun, some handgun sized disposable barrel swabs, some oil (I prefer Hoppes 9 for general purpose), rags, and some q-tips are usually enough. For some guns like Glocks, a little bit of metal polish applied to the trigger mechanism can make them a bit smoother overall for not much investment.

A roll of painter’s tape is good to have for a range bag to help plug up targets while you’re shooting to make the targets usable a bit longer. Sharpies also work, I just prefer tape. It also works to put up targets if the range’s staple gun or target clips aren;t working.

Targets. You can go from buying a fancy set of splatter targets to just printing off some on normal paper.

For handguns I have not really ever used speed loaders for the magazines. I just haven’t felt hindered by putting rounds in manually, but if you want a little help it’s out there.

You may want some way to adjust the sights. This can be a set of small precision screwdrivers, or for factory Glock sights- a tap and mallet. Eventually with the optics you’ll probably want allen keys or star keys to make adjustments.

The investment that is you should learn both good shooting and responsible habits. Ranges tend to have introduction to shooting either as group classes or one on one, and getting those basics down may seem boring but fundamentals are important for everything else. I’d even soft suggest looking at a CCW course, even though you don’t intend to carry, since the CCW courses do focus more on crash courses of legal and storage responsibilities. It can’t be bad to have those things in your head.

After that point, regular practice is just something to keep the rust off your abilities and familiarity with handling. I have a habit of sharpie marking targets with dates/distances/drills/gun used and taking photos so that I can record long term. It helps identify certain trends where I need to work on them.

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Just promoting your post, because you caught almost everything.

A cleaning set

So much this. The type depends a lot on what OP is planning to buy, but it sounds like a pistol (as opposed to a revolver). The right size for the caliber - new people may not realize the brush size matters; 100% agree on the Hopes 9. I also like to have a set of those gun toothbrushes, one that includes polymer and steel heads - they’re nice for getting into crevices. Also, Break-Free, and some type of light lubrication.

Good call on the painter’s tape. I also started collecting the sides of larger shipping boxes (Amazon, what have you) for free target backing. Splatter targets are worth the $$ IMO, but I’m getting older and my eyesight isn’t what it used to be.

Again, I agree with you about skipping speed loaders. Unless OP is planning on running a revolver, which it doesn’t sound like they are, there’s no situation where they’ll be loading mags in a home defense scenario.

I’m low key off drills. I haven’t carried in years, and I don’t think drills help much in home defense. Target practice, yes. But practicing quick draw for in your house?

One suggestion I’d add for OP is that, if they’re really going for home defense, skip the handgun and get a shotgun. Unless OP is going to be constantly carrying in the home, or they plan on buying a bunch of guns and stashing them around the house, they’re going to have to run for their gun, in which case a shotgun is no worse for access, and is a far better home defense weapon.

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5 points

I’m low key off drills. I haven’t carried in years, and I don’t think drills help much in home defense. Target practice, yes. But practicing quick draw for in your house?

Drills are more than just draw from holster. For example, point shooting is something that gets much better with practice time put in. Beyond that, while perfectly aligning sights at speed and being able to track onto targets or moving targets may not matter in a sub-5ft home defense range scenario, it isn’t detrimental. Having more skill and familiarity than is actually needed can only be a positive in that scenario.

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More time and experience is always better; I just think there are diminishing returns for running drills for home defense. If that’s how you want to spend your spare time, sure. I just don’t think it’s going to measurably affect any outcomes.

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1 point

This is a late tangent, but:

I also like to have a set of those gun toothbrushes, one that includes polymer and steel heads - they’re nice for getting into crevices.

Steel? Does that not cause issues? Every metal I stick inside a gun to clean it is brass because I have always been told and do worry about causing undue wear and scratching on surfaces.

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The sets I get have polymer, steel, and copper(? Brass?) heads. Break free and polymer works most of the time, but some carbon is stubborn. Yes, I don’t use the steel ones much, but I use the copper ones all the time. What are your bore brushes made of?

TBF, some of the chemical products these days, I’ve been tempted more than once to just hose the barrel down with lead and carbon dissolvers, rinse the whole thing off with break free, give it a wipe and call it good.

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10 points

A book covering your local gun laws. :)

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5 points

This should be higher. Lawful self defense in most of the US requires innocence, imminence, reasonableness, proportionality, and sometimes avoidance. If your state has no castle doctrine, this can mean if someone is only stealing things from you, there’s nothing you can do to them but yell.

There’s nothing you can say to the police that can’t also be said by your lawyer. There are tons of things that if you say them, you can get yourself prosecuted even with no crime. Tell them (don’t ask, don’t hint) that you want your lawyer, and you are invoking your right to silence, then be silent.

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3 points

Do not talk to the cops. “Anything you say can AND WILL be used AGAINST YOU.”

Long version, best 45 minutes you can spend today:

https://youtu.be/d-7o9xYp7eE

Short version? Same message in 1 minute:

https://youtu.be/6EI_RYIEtrg

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2 points

Good call. I plan to show both videos to my kids when they’re old enough.

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9 points

Classes, practice, cleaning kit + associated fluids and lubricants, and eye protection.

Consider getting some Howard Leight Impact Sport earmuffs. I like to throw some surefire ep3s with the plugs open under them and I can talk easily with others.

A range bag is really nice to have, better to go oversize to your needs because you will probably need a larger one down the road. Speed loaders are nice to have but not essential if you don’t have trouble loading mags.

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3 points
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Of course, I didn’t think to take a class; was relying on the YouTube route, but I think it’s a better investment to check one out.
Good idea on throwing ear plugs under the ear muffs, I’m gonna do my research on that combo.
Also, Thanks for the note on getting an oversized range bag too. Most likely going to stock up later down the line.

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4 points

An instructor is leagues better than YouTube.

Doubling up is always best unless you never want to have a moment of silence ever again. Outdoors you can get away with one or the other, but you can’t fix hearing damage.

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4 points

The ability to wear earplugs and muffs in together is a good option not so much for your own handgun, but for when something next to you is testing out their short barreled .308 with an obnoxious muzzle device.

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2 points

There is good information on YouTube but if you have any good trainers near by I’d recommend that over YouTube. But I’d also do that with the caution that you should vet whomever you train with, read reviews if you can find any.

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6 points

Work out a detailed defense plan. If you’re woken up by someone kicking in your door in the middle of the night you are not going to make good decisions. So make them in advance. Figure out where you and your family need to go and what cover is available. Work out ways to minimize how much you have to expose yourself. (Don’t go looking for an intruder.) Think about whether you want to turn on house lights or use something else. One way or another you never want to shoot at a target you have not positively identified.

It’s also important to think about what you are willing to do in various situations. Are you prepared to kill someone to defend yourself and your family? The answer is almost certainly yes, but give it some thought in advance. Are you willing to kill someone to protect your property? Does any intrusion warrant lethal force or only if they approach you or your family? The questions are simple and the answers may be obvious to you, but make them in advance when you are not under threat and can take the time to think them through.

Talk through your plans and decisions with anyone else in the house. Everyone should know what they are supposed to do.

Stay safe.

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6 points
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After the basics like a safe and some ear protection with sound amplification, I’d get some dummy rounds to practice loading and unloading the gun so you’re really comfortable with it and don’t need to use real bullets, which can be nerve-racking at first. You can also use the dummy rounds more safely at home, whereas, when you’re new, you don’t usually want to be loading or unloading real bullets unless you’re at the range. Others also use dummy rounds at the range mixed in with real rounds to try to figure out what they’re doing wrong with grip and trigger pull.

Also, I’d suggest getting a dry fire trainer, basically a laser bullet and target. This will help you learn how to aim and pull the trigger without needing to waste bullets. You can also use this at home. They sell these on Amazon pretty cheap. They are awesome for getting comfortable with the iron sights and understanding how your trigger pull is fucking up your shot.

Finally, once you’re good with the iron sights, see if you want to modify the gun in any way like swapping to night sights, putting on a red dot, and attaching a light.

As always, safety first. Treat every gun as if it is loaded. Check and clear it every time you use it. Keep the damn thing locked up whenever you’re not using it. You want to build some comfort with it, but never get too comfortable.

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