Dog-n-bear spray.

Get a Ruger M40 and train her to use it properly! I would also get a copy of the book, "Gun laws for all 50 states" from the NRA! Join a local shooting range to get her comfortable with any gun you purchase, it would be good for both of you! You need to know what your rights are. Here in Arizona, our castle doctrin allows us to use deadly force to protect life, family and property and the person you shoot cannot sue you in court by law for damages because you shot them while they were attempting to commit a crime!

A great big word of advice here! If you must shoot someone under these circumstances, SHOOT TO KILL! You will be believed if you empty your gun into the perp, but DO NOT RELOAD unless you must because he has an accompliss! Dead men tell no tales and hire no lawyers!

That gun is now twice as useless. She can't use it and it is locked away. What do you think the bad guy is going to do? Wait till she gets the gun before he charges.

Nobody can recommend for her. She has to do it herself. She needs to go to a range where they rent out guns and handle one and shoot one to get the feel of it. Just because I can handle a 44 mag doesn't mean she can and even if she could, it doesn't mean squat if the gun is something she is uncomfortable with. SHE needs to be the one to be able to shoot it. We can make all the recommendations she wants but it is ultimately up to her. Again, the lock box is worthless. You can't get to it in time.

Why not get her a class where she can learn gun defense? I believe the NRA conducts such classes.

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If she's worried about folks coming over the fence she's going to have to pack iron every time she's in the backyard. Highly, highly unlikely.

Get a dog that is loyal to her. Anybody f**k's with her deals with the dog. A serious growl from a big German Shepherd of a big Rott will scare anybody into jumping back over the fence. Guaranteed.

B

A criminal packing a gun will not stop at a dog, they will shoot it, been there and done that!

No doubt that happens.

Play the percentages: Which is more likely, a 24/7 pistol-packing momma or a 24/7 dog with big teeth?

Yeah the cops herd the home buys from New Haven with them! You should see it, they will tell a huge cop with a shot gun to F off, but when the cops pull out the dogs they turn into scared little kids.

I vote for a Walther PPK because I'm a 007 fan.

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1999 SL500
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Mossburg 12 gauge, she doesn't have to be a good shot just point and shoot. But I too agree a big dog is the best deterrent.

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2006 Mustang Convertible 4.0 Eaton Supercharged

Had that and the slide could bite your hand if you are not careful. Sold it and got the wife a Glock 23 with Crimson Trace Laser Sights. Before we got it, we went to a run range and had her try it out. When she could handle it and put lead on paper, we bought one and outfitted it with the laser sights.

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I like the 590, hard to miss with this. Even if you do the sound and flash should scare the crap out of whoever you are trying to hit.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Just a note to circumvent any spray and pray shotgun myths, a shotgun pattern opens about ( this far 4"--------------------------------------------- ) @ 10 yards so don't think that just aiming in the general direction and pulling the trigger is going to do any good...if anything you will run out of ammo.

And a 9mm bullit is about --- that much.

Hitting skeet with a shot gun is pretty easy, a person 10 yards away should be pretty simple. Put on a red dot scope.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

If the issue is "home invasion" then the optimal choice would be a layering of defenses, starting with a monitored alarm system that has a panic signal. The next layer might be a pet and/or retreat to a more secure room or part of the house that houses a weapon of some sort.

I just bought myself a Bersa Thunder .380 (conceal carry). They make two models, the "regular" and the concealment model. Great gun, lifetime warranty, warranty service within the US. I resaerched for a long time, and it was worth it. I originally wanted a PPK, but I think I made the right choice (this is less expensive, more modern, and doesn't "bite" your hand).

A gun that your wife won't use is worthless, though.


In addition, assuming she's not going to carry it out of the house (rather, use it for home defense), a pistol is NOT the way to go. The simple answer: get a shotgun. They're simple, reliable, very effective, and you don't have to aim nearly as well.

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What you say is true. However, a pistol is less unwieldy than a shotgun.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
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04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow