Mossberg 500A ‘Persuader’
For serious home defense, we have a flexible 12-gauge shotgun. We settled on the Mossberg 500A ‘Persuader’ model as a reliable, flexible platform for our most serious defensive duties. The 12-gauge caliber offers a wide variety of reasonably-priced ammunition options for different purposes.
- Model: Mossberg 500A ‘Persuader’.
- Type: Shotgun.
- Action: Pump.
- Caliber: 12-gauge.
- Capacity: 8-shell magazine.
- Finish: Blued steel.
- Stock: Synthetic
- Barrel: 20″.
- Purchased: September 2009 (new).
- Country of Origin: United States.
Smith & Wesson M&P 9
My main handgun is the Smith & Wesson M&P 9—a polymer pistol with a growing reputation as a solid competitor to the ubiquitous Glocks. It’s a solid workhorse that has been flawlessly reliable, and is a lot of fun to shoot down at the range.
- Model: Smith & Wesson M&P 9.
- Type: Pistol (semi-automatic).
- Action: Locked-breech semi-automatic (double-action trigger).
- Caliber: 9mm.
- Capacity: 17-round magazines.
- Frame: Zytel polymer & stainless steel (large).
- Slide: Stainless steel with ‘Melonite’ finish.
- Barrel: 4.25″.
- Purchased: October 2008 (new).
- Country of Origin: United States.
Kel Tec P-3AT
I’ve supplemented my wonderful M&P with a relatively inexpensive, super-small, easily-concealable weapon. This is for those times when I feel a need to be armed, but it wouldn’t be appropriate to carry openly.
- Model: Kel Tec P-3AT.
- Type: Pistol (semi-automatic).
- Action: Locked-breech semi-automatic (double-action trigger).
- Caliber: .380 Auto.
- Capacity: 6-round magazines.
- Frame: Aluminum (sub-compact).
- Slide: Steel, ‘Blued’ finish.
- Barrel: 3.1″.
- Purchased: January 2009 (new).
- Country of Origin: United States.
Smith & Wesson Model 620
This was our first family firearm and, truth be told, the first firearm I ever owned. Melissa and I share this weapon for general home defense duties.
- Model: Smith & Wesson Model 620.
- Type: Pistol (revolver).
- Action: Single or double action.
- Caliber: .357 Magnum & .38 Special.
- Capacity: 7-round cylinder.
- Frame: Stainless steel ‘L’ (medium).
- Barrel: 4″.
- Purchased: June 2008 (new).
- Country of Origin: United States.
Ruger Mk-III 22/45
For inexpensive range practice, plinking, and possibly other ‘light’ purposes, my first .22 pistol will make it a lot more affordable to drop by the shooting range. 500 rounds of .22 LR are less expensive than 100 rounds for my M&P 9mm.
- Model: Ruger Mk-III 22/45.
- Type: Pistol (semi-automatic).
- Action: Blowback semi-automatic.
- Caliber: .22 Long Rifle.
- Capacity: 10-round magazine.
- Frame: Steel, ‘Blued’ finish.
- Barrel: 5.5″.
- Purchased: January 2011 (new).
- Country of Origin: United States.
Firearm Predecessors:
- None.