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Right, so (shock, awe) dogma likes him some guns.

I presently own a Mossberg 590 (defense), and a Mateba 6 Unica (Hunter in .44 Remington Magnum, in essence a gun for the sake of "Ooo, cool!").

I'm in the market for an easily concealed (Not for CC, but for home placement.) pistol with reasonable stopping power and relatively cheap ammunition. Overpenetration is a key concern as I live in an apartment complex. My hand is ~7.5 inches from heel to tip of middle finger.

As I have stated in the previous threads, and it should fit your hand just fine. I have no problem firing it.

Taurus Judge. Fires .410 shotgun shells, which come in LOTS of variety, and and fairly inexpensive, as well as .45 Colt which are harder to find and more expensive.

But you can mix and match in the 5 cylinders all you like, and it should be enough to stop any home intruder.

I'm impressed dogma a Mateba, I didn't know you were a man of such taste and sophistication. You may already be aware but Webley also produced an autorevolver. OT sorry.

You have large enough hands that most grips should fit you comfortably in the full-size range. So personal fit is really the issue. Since over penetration is your largest concern I actually recommend a 22 WMR revolver. I always feel like a goofball suggesting 22s for a gun that's primary purpose is self defense but it works, and you can't argue with results. They come in snubs up to the venerable MandP receiver size (Model 12?) and inside 50m pack a whollop. It's controllable ammo is cheap, and overpen is minimal.
The other option that comes to mind in the run of the mill 38 snub with SOFT lead rounds. Saw a guy het shot through the leg from about 3 feet away the bullet passed through the meaty portion of his thigh and dropped on the ground...it were eerie. Not a glowing recommendation for wound channels but hey...you won't kill your neighbor and that's what counts.
If you insist on an auto there's all the run of the mill suggestions. I would generally avoid anything in 9mm and above when penetration is an issue. Many police departments are opting for 223 to replace their mp5s because they overpenetrate a lot. 40sw is a nice way to say 10mm lite and was DESIGNED to penetrate barricades.
45 ACP will always be big and slow, use soft lead dum dums in this too. There's a plethora of options, a Colt Commander, Kimber Carry II (cringe) Sig Pro, Hk, etc.
I would avoid Walther like a plague, Kimber too unless you admit to yourself that you or a competent gunsmith will have to fix it right out of the box.
Do you have any preferences? And a solid budget?

AustonT wrote:I'm impressed dogma a Mateba, I didn't know you were a man of such taste and sophistication. You may already be aware but Webley also produced an autorevolver. OT sorry.

Even better, I bought it off a friend looking to get rid of some guns (His wife was worried about the impending baby.) for $100.

I know of the Webley and the Union, and would love to complete the set, but the price is way too much for a novelty.

AustonT wrote:
You have large enough hands that most grips should fit you comfortably in the full-size range. So personal fit is really the issue. Since over penetration is your largest concern I actually recommend a 22 WMR revolver. I always feel like a goofball suggesting 22s for a gun that's primary purpose is self defense but it works, and you can't argue with results. They come in snubs up to the venerable MandP receiver size (Model 12?) and inside 50m pack a whollop. It's controllable ammo is cheap, and overpen is minimal.

I hadn't thought of that, and will definitely look into it.

AustonT wrote:
Do you have any preferences? And a solid budget?

Price is not an object, and I'm not sufficiently experienced to have a real preference. I've shot several pistols, and gone through a couple NRA courses, but I'm not what I would call a "shooter" I'm more of an "enthusiast" and a guy that rented an apartment in a dodgy part of town.

You can get a Taurus 941 for about 350. That's a solid gun, I'm not a fan of the fit and finish of the Taurus guns, but they are mechanically sound.
Another gun not to be sniffled at is a Ruger Mk3/45. Good grip shape solid accurate performer. 22LR but again still effective.

I have my wife carry a Walther P22 it's not my favorite gun or brand but it fits her and she shoots it well which is what counts.

The key to using a 22 for self defense is finding ammo that absolutely will not jam.

I'd mostly say to stick to low caliber revolvers for two good reasons, ammo is cheap which means you can shoot a lot, the recoil and sound of the shot indoors under pressure won't startle you or hurt your ears and increases your ability to make follow up shots.
Those two together make a deadly combo should the need arise. The relative inexpense means you could potentially have one in every room, I do but I'm not afraid to say I'm also paranoid and a gun nut.

The standard P22, or the P22 Target?

The standard one. If you look carefully the only difference is the barrel itself. The extra part on the front is attached to the barrel and doesn't move (neither does the barrel tilt as it does in Browning type actions) the Target models have a problem with slides cracking I think is related to repeated slamming into the barrel block...I mean I'm not engineer but....

Cool.

Thanks for the advice, I was hoping you would respond as you seem like the guy on this board to talk to, I'll check out everything you've recommended. In particular a revolver is something I hadn't considered before.

Thank you, it's good to be useful.

I would encourage you to seek second and eighth opinions. Good boards to look are the high road and the firing line. But as a warning, watch all three videos on you tube titled "every question and answer on a gun board"

Are you sure you want another gun? I could really see you rocking one of these.

Oh, believe me (No offense, of course.) I will.

Also those videos remind me of:

That's epic.

Shadowseer_Kim wrote:As I have stated in the previous threads, and it should fit your hand just fine. I have no problem firing it.

Taurus Judge. Fires .410 shotgun shells, which come in LOTS of variety, and and fairly inexpensive, as well as .45 Colt which are harder to find and more expensive.

But you can mix and match in the 5 cylinders all you like, and it should be enough to stop any home intruder.

Respectfully, I disagree. The spread pattern is crap for the shotshell which is crap to begin with. There are far better revolvers for 45 Long Colt.

Dogma, CC options are plentiful. How small are you looking at? There are .380s that weigh just a lb and are tiny. Slightly larger and there are a plethora of double column 9mms and 40cals. I strongly suggest renting some at the local range.

Frazzled wrote:
Dogma, CC options are plentiful. How small are you looking at? There are .380s that weigh just a lb and are tiny. Slightly larger and there are a plethora of double column 9mms and 40cals. I strongly suggest renting some at the local range.

Size isn't a huge issue, as I will basically be keeping this in a drawer in my living room (With a gun lock.), but I would prefer something small. I live alone (Not many guests either.), and the floor plan of my place has the living room as far away from the door as the bedroom (Which is where the Mossberg and Mateba are.).

I would get a CC permit, but I live in Chicago, where CC is heavily limited, and spend tons of time going in and out of buildings that frown on guns.

dogma wrote:

Frazzled wrote:
Dogma, CC options are plentiful. How small are you looking at? There are .380s that weigh just a lb and are tiny. Slightly larger and there are a plethora of double column 9mms and 40cals. I strongly suggest renting some at the local range.

Size isn't a huge issue, as I will basically be keeping this in a drawer in my living room (With a gun lock.), but I would prefer something small. I live alone (Not many guests either.), and the floor plan of my place has the living room as far away from the door as the bedroom.

I would get a CC permit, but I live in Chicago, where CC is heavily limited, and spend tons of time going in and out of buildings that frown on guns.

Small but comfortable:
S&W M&P standard or concealed
Ruger SR9c (with 17 round clip)
Beretta storm or even Beretta 92 (full size)
Sig Sauer 220 I think (could be wrong)
Springfield XDM carry or full size (full size is not that big)
Commander level 1911 (Springfield, Kimber, STI, Wilson, etc.) if one likes .45acp.
Glock 15 or 17
Walther PPQ

It comes down to feeling them in your hand and trying them out at the range my man, Thats what we did with the Wife and another friend.

The 220 is concealable enough, it has the same rough profile as a 1911 and actually fits comfortably into my Glock holster too (found out by accident)

Frazzled wrote:

dogma wrote:

Frazzled wrote:
Dogma, CC options are plentiful. How small are you looking at? There are .380s that weigh just a lb and are tiny. Slightly larger and there are a plethora of double column 9mms and 40cals. I strongly suggest renting some at the local range.

Size isn't a huge issue, as I will basically be keeping this in a drawer in my living room (With a gun lock.), but I would prefer something small. I live alone (Not many guests either.), and the floor plan of my place has the living room as far away from the door as the bedroom.

I would get a CC permit, but I live in Chicago, where CC is heavily limited, and spend tons of time going in and out of buildings that frown on guns.

Small but comfortable:
S&W M&P standard or concealed
Ruger SR9c (with 17 round clip)
Beretta storm or even Beretta 92 (full size)
Sig Sauer 220 I think (could be wrong)
Springfield XDM carry or full size (full size is not that big)
Commander level 1911 (Springfield, Kimber, STI, Wilson, etc.) if one likes .45acp.
Glock 15 or 17
Walther PPQ

It comes down to feeling them in your hand and trying them out at the range my man, Thats what we did with the Wife and another friend.

I agree with everything that Frazzled has said here (Though I think he meant to say "Glock 19 and 17" rather than "Glock 15 and 17")

While I understand that over penetration is a concern, the truth is that any caliber which has enough punch to penetrate deep enough into an attacker will have enough punch to blow through drywall. Shotguns are better when over penetration is a concern. Some people load them with bird shot. I cannot recommend this. I kept my shotgun loaded with #4 buckshot when I lived in a city apartment not so long ago. A single shell of #4 will put ~27 .25 caliber projectiles down range with one pull of the trigger.

One very good site regarding the drywall penetration of various calibers which I suggest you peruse is http://www.theboxotruth.com/

I would personally go with an S&W MP45, but this depends on where you plan on keeping it, personally I would avoid 9mm due to overpenetration issues with even hollowpoints (bullet will occasionally not mushroom). Another thing to consider is how important would a true safety be on your weapon, if it is very important I would suggest a 1911 over a Glock or a S&W, but so much on pistols depends on personal prefference.