Which Caliber for Home Defense

[ToolTimeFlannel]

Hi. I do not own a Henry currently but am thinking of getting one for home defense. I have revolvers in 357, 44 Spl and 45 Colt. I only have 38 caliber for my 357. Which of these 3 calibers would be best for home defense? Wife would shoot it also so recoil is a consideration. How loud would a 357 cartridge in a Henry shot indoors?

Thanks.

[GunnyGene]

Hi. I do not own a Henry currently but am thinking of getting one for home defense. I have revolvers in 357, 44 Spl and 45 Colt. I only have 38 caliber for my 357. Which of these 3 calibers would be best for home defense? Wife would shoot it also so recoil is a consideration. How loud would a 357 cartridge in a Henry shot indoors?

Thanks.

Any of those would be fine for HD, assuming you use hollow point ammo (NEVER use any hard point ammo in a tube fed gun). The .38spl/.357 will have the lowest recoil. Indoors they will all be very loud. Even a .22 is loud in confined spaces.

Welcome aboard.

[markiver54]

Welcome to the forum.
No caliber is going to be easy on the ears if shot indoors. Of the revolvers you own, the 38's shot out of the 357 will have the least recoil which you probably know already. I, personally, would stay with a handgun for home defense due to maneuverability.
A 9mm resides in my nightstand.
There are obviously unlimited choices for a home defense weapon from pistols to rifles to shotguns. This is a personal choice considering your surroundings.
Don't forget to buy a Henry though, ☺ you won't be sorry!

[Shakey Jake]

I'm not sure my wife can shoot a revolver, but I know she can fire a shotgun. We shot on mixed skeet leagues back when we were first married. She's got her own shotgun locked and loaded if she ever needs it for self-defense. I know if she can hit 23 of 25 clays consistently an intruder is no match. I'm certainly not worried about the neighbors hearing a report in a life/death situation.
Jake

[JEBar]

first, welcome to our forum, delighted to have you join us .... as to your question, a Henry 357 loaded with 38's has a very mild recoil .... haven't ever fired ours indoors but tend to believe the muzzle blast would be relatively mild

[Ozarkwoodswalker]

I shot a big eight point buck while I was standing in my dining room ( through an open door) I briefly wonder if a 308 rifle might not be pretty loud going off inside a house, but I wanted to get that big buck...was excited enough the noise was no issue... im pretty sure if you have to shoot at an intruder inside your home you are going to be excited enough that the noise level is going to be a zero issue... just sayin......

[Hatchdog]

A big consideration is where you live in relation to other neighbors. A home in a typical neighborhood sitting on a lot away from the home next door, an apartment with shared walls or a rural settings with no close neighbors. The closer the other neighbors the more restrictive you need to be with your weapon/caliber choice. A 9mm semi or a 38 special revolver are good choices if you have neighbors near. Using a rifle for home defense only makes sense if you live rural and the fight might extend outside. Otherwise the ultimate best choice is a shotgun for all applications.

[John E Davies]

IMHO you want a big and slow bullet, at subsonic speed out of a carbine length barrel (20” or less) I would buy a .44 Mag Henry and shoot .44 Special self defense rounds from it. The plinking hand load in my .44 Mag BIg Boy X is around 800 fps, it is super mild and easy to shoot. Anything over about 1100 fps will give a sharp sonic crack, which is the last thing you want inside a building. The X is a great choice because you can add a silencer and a good tactical light. Most bad guy encounters take place in low or no light conditions, you need supplemental illumination.

I use mine for campground self defense against bears, I would NEVER choose it as a primary weapon for at home. I recommend a full sized high capacity 9mm semi auto pistol, with a good light and lots of practice. A gun with some mass to it (aluminum or steel frame) plus a large grip area is super easy to shoot. Compact pistols take a lot of learning and practice to shoot adequately well. I used to daily carry small guns, since I got into my late 60s and am starting to have hand strength and dexterity issues, I now have a CZ P10F. It is huge, but it so very easy to hold and shoot well. I added an optic to it also, not so much for sighting, but to make it easy to rack the slide, since my finger strength is not good.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[BigAl52]

Welcome to the forum. Agree with Jake. Shotgun might be the best choice especially if you live in a subdivision where the houses are close together. 410 would be a good choice and the recoil should be not bad.

[BrokenolMarine]

If you choose a Henry, I might suggest the 357 Carbine. The weight dampens the recoil to extremely manageable, even with 357 loads. My wife shoots it very well, and finds it fun to shoot. Although expensive, Glaser Safety slugs in 38 or 357 would be perfect for home defense use, especially if you live in an apartment or suburban area as they were designed for use by snipers to allow them to fire at targets in an urban environment without endangering innocents. They are frangible rounds that don't ricochet, and are MUCH less likely to over penetrate the interior / exterior walls of the home.

If you found yourself facing a grand jury after a home defense shooting, the fact you purchased ammunition specifically designed to prevent injury to innocents in spite of the higher cost would only help your position.

[GFK]

First, welcome to the forum. Second, a Henry is a good choice. Third, why are you considering a rifle for home defense? My thoughts: I preferred a rifle with a loading gate, in case it came down to me using it for defense. But, I prefer a handgun for mobility, while in close quarters. A rifle is probably a good choice for threats greater than 25 yards. At closer ranges, a handgun may offer a quicker reaction time. Yet, a shotgun offers less concern with shot placement, especially if buckshots are used. Plus, a shotgun, with buckshots, may cause less secondary casualties (innocent bystanders), if in an enclosed area. As pointed out, the backdrop should play a role in select of the firearm and ammo used. Of the rounds mentioned, I would probably go with .357 (using JHP). Enough to stop a person yet not over penetrate (at least with a handgun, not as much with a rifle). Just my 2 cent.

[JVogler]

357 magnum in a Henry Big Boy steel or brass. So many flavors to choose and try. All though recoil will be negligible with 357, 38 special as self defense load can be just as deadly.

[Travlin]

I f you go with the .357 I would use 110 or 125 grain hollow points so they will expand before going through too many walls.

[ToolTimeFlannel]

I'm not sure my wife can shoot a revolver, but I know she can fire a shotgun. We shot on mixed skeet leagues back when we were first married. She's got her own shotgun locked and loaded if she ever needs it for self-defense. I know if she can hit 23 of 25 clays consistently an intruder is no match. I'm certainly not worried about the neighbors hearing a report in a life/death situation.
Jake

Hi Thanks for the reply. What caliber shotgun? Is it a pump or semi?

[GunnyGene]

To add to my previous reply: You and your wife should visit a gun shop together and make sure both of you are comfortable with the weight and length of any prospective gun, how it feels when shouldered, length of pull etc. It's much like buying clothes or shoes, make sure it fits before taking it home.

[GFK]

Semi offers less recoil but cost more. If your life is on the line, that probably will not matter. My wife tried a pump 12 gauge and will not try another shotgun. She will not even try the .38/.357 carbine. But, she has fun shooting the .357 revolver. Yet, she shoots .38s with it, which should stop most people.

[Shakey Jake]

I'm not sure my wife can shoot a revolver, but I know she can fire a shotgun. We shot on mixed skeet leagues back when we were first married. She's got her own shotgun locked and loaded if she ever needs it for self-defense. I know if she can hit 23 of 25 clays consistently an intruder is no match. I'm certainly not worried about the neighbors hearing a report in a life/death situation.
Jake

Hi Thanks for the reply. What caliber shotgun? Is it a pump or semi?

Remington 1100 28 ga loaded with #4 shot. I think it will stop anyone at a short distance.
Jake

[Hatchdog]

If your wife is going to be involved in the home defense plan I suggest a 20 ga. My wife shoots a semi-auto 20 ga and it’s fine for her. She’s pretty small and the recoil doesn’t bother her at all. She tried a 20 ga pump and while she didn’t complain about it I watched her rock back quite a bit when she was shooting a grouse one day. Pretty funny really. Pumps are considered more reliable but any decent 20 ga semi would be fine. Maybe some low recoil buckshot for a load.

[fortyshooter]

20 ga. in the Shockwave with a light is my go to for any bump in the night. However that may change soon with a quiet .45 ACP carbine.

[Bobbyx44]

I keep my 44x loaded with.44 special and a tactical light within reach for things that go bump in the night. My wife has a .357 revolver loaded with .38 special +P, very low recoil on both weapons.