Sports
The Best Guns For Home Protection & Self‑Defense
By CM Chaney · February 29, 2024
The Best Guns For Home Protection & Self-Defense
When it comes to defending yourself and your home, having the right firearm can make all the difference.In this list, we'll be highlighting several of the top-rated handguns and shotguns that provide reliable protection.
From high-capacity semiautomatics to easy-to-use revolvers and compact shotguns, we’ve researched and reviewed the most effective personal defense weapons on the market today that balance power, safety, and accessibility for home use. LOGAN WEAVER / Unsplash
Springfield Echelon
The Echelon is an optimal home defense pistol - its full-size frame allows high ammo capacity, easy accessories mounting, and controllable shooting. Features like swappable grips, an optics-ready slide, rail-mounted lights support, threaded barrel models, and 17+1 capacity provide exceptional capability for home protection needs. $679 springfield-armory.com
Glock 19
The Glock 19 9mm is a jack of all trades, balancing compact size with a standard 15-round capacity magazine, optimal for concealed carry and home defense alike. Its lightweight polymer frame absorbs recoil while the rugged simplicity of design ensures flawless function even under harsh conditions - Glock perfection personified in just 25 ounces. $609targetworld.net
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield
Valued for discreet carry, the slim M&P Shield packs 7+1 rounds of 9mm into an ultra-compact polymer frame. What it lacks in capacity, it makes up for in concealability and shootability, with molded ergonomics dissipating felt recoil for fast follow-up shots. This featherweight pistol disappears under clothing, making it an ideal everyday concealed carry choice. $549 smith-wesson.com
Taurus Raging Hunter
The Taurus Raging Hunter packs 7 rounds of potent .357 Magnum in a full-frame revolver optimized for recoil control. Key features like barrel porting and an integrated sight rail - allowing easy mounting of reflex optics - make this a uniquely modern take on the wheelgun suitable for home defense. With enough heft to tame magnum loads yet not be unwieldy, it spins fortune your way. $879cabelas.com
Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol
The Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol shotgun optimizes home defense with an integrated sight rail, M-LOK slots for accessories, and competition-inspired controls for stress-free operation when every second counts. Its 12-gauge versatility, 7+1 capacity, removable chokes, and gas-operation provide formidable firepower with controllable recoil for fast, accurate follow-up shots. $1099 outdoorlife.com
Sig Sauer P365
The revolutionary subcompact 9mm changed concealed carry forever, packing enviable 10+1 capacity in a highly concealable polymer frame. Standard 10-round magazines enable discreet carry, while offering 12 or 15-round options for added firepower, creating an optimal balance of portability and stopping power for personal defense needs. $650 sigsauer.com
Mossberg 590A1 – 9 Shot
The Mossberg 590A1 pump-action shotgun delivers out-of-box home defense readiness with its 20-inch barrel, fixed cylinder bore choke, and ample 8+1 shot capacity. Standard ghost ring sights quickly get shots on target, while an integrated sight rail and M-LOK fore-end offer seamless optics and light mounting. Tried and true firepower perfected. $812 outdoorlife.com
Ruger LCP II
Weighing just 10.6 ounces, the .380 LCP II sets the standard for deeply concealed micro pistols. Upgraded from the original LCP with improved sights and crisper trigger, this featherweight packs a full 6+1 rounds for its tiny size. Ideal for discreet everyday carry, the LCP II disappears under clothing with ease. $479 ruger.com
Ruger PC Carbine
The Ruger PC Carbine rifles the benefits of the versatile 9mm cartridge into an ergonomic, adaptable package perfect for home defense. Its innovative takedown design offers precision accuracy and customization potential in a discreet, tactically sound package. With Glock magazine compatibility and a wealth of included features optimizing its use, this modular carbine hits the mark. $779outdoorlife.com
Beretta 92FS
The venerable Beretta 92FS 9mm pistol sets enduring standards for accuracy and reliability with its open slide resisting fouling even under adverse conditions. This full-size classic offers a 15+1 capacity, with generations of battlefield-proven durability confirming why the 92FS remains a military and police mainstay globally. $799 beretta.com
Colt 1911
The venerable 1911 .45 ACP pistol has defended Americans for over a century, valued for its match-grade accuracy, buttery smooth trigger, and substantial stopping power from the 7+1 rounds it carries. Its all-steel frame tames .45 recoil for fast follow-up shots, while military-grade reliability keeps this iconic sidearm firmly in the front ranks of personal defense. $899 colt.com
Marlin 1894
Don't overlook the fast-handling Marlin 1894 lever action rifle for home defense - its reputation shields scrutiny while providing 9+1 rounds of potent .357 Magnum from a drilled and tapped receiver. Intuitive handling marries with an enhanced capability from extended accessory rails, empowering this classic with modern tactical flexibility. $999 palmettostatearmory.com
Springfield Armory XD-S
The slim, single-stack XD-S packs .45 ACP or 9mm firepower into an ergonomic, concealable polymer frame augmented with grip and trigger safeties. This lightweight pistol is prized by carry enthusiasts for its reduced snag profile and inclusion of desirable features like an aggressive texture and high-visibility sights - perfect for a concealed yet capable personal defense option. $440 springfield-armory.com
Walther PPS M2
Svelte Walther ergonomics distill 9mm power into the impressively slim, concealable PPS M2 platform. Striving for shootability in a defensive pistol, its refined trigger break enhances precision within an easy handling, snag-free frame. With adaptations optimizing concealed carry, a choice of 6, 7 or 8-round magazines balances portability and capacity. $479 waltherarms.com
Heckler & Koch VP9
The accurate, ergonomic HK VP9 struts excellent 9mm credentials with features like swappable backstraps and side panels, custom tailoring fit to the user's hand for enhanced control. High-visibility sights and 15+1 capacity cap this modular polymer platform blending customization with German engineering for superior handling dynamics. $899 hk-usa.com