A while back, we created an article about what the Pew Pew Tactical staff uses for concealed carry after some of you asked.
But as most of you know, concealed carry is just one facet of gun ownership. So, we thought it would be interesting to share what firearms and setups we use for other things as well.
While many of us at PPT have things like AR-15s, PCCs, and shotguns for home defense, most of us also keep at least one handgun around to protect our homes as well.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into what we keep around for our HD handguns, the accessories we run, and the ammo we use.
Table of Contents
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Eric Hung – PPT Founder
- Glock 17 Gen 3
- Streamlight TLR-1
- Federal Hydra-Shok 9mm 147gr
Sometimes, you don’t fix what ain’t broke. I’ve been using this Glock 17 Gen 3 for over 10+ years, and it has the most rounds through it of any pistol I own.
The stippling is a self-mutilation job, and the light isn’t the newest model, but it just works. For home defense purposes, my Glock keeps me in the fight while I access my long gun.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Jonny Villanueva – Videographer & Social Media Manager
- Sig Sauer P365 X-Macro
- Sig Sauer ROMEO-X Compact
- Streamlight TLR-7A
- Sig Sauer Elite V-Crown 9mm 124gr JHP
Having carried the Sig P365X for a few years with proven reliability, I decided to designate its younger-yet-bigger brother, the P365 X-Macro Comp, as my dedicated nightstand gun.
Having a 17+1 capacity in a handgun that feels very similar to what I carry daily offers me a great advantage.
I chose the Sig ROMEO-X Compact optic for its MOTAC (Motion-Activated Illumination) feature, eliminating the need to manually turn it on and sparing me from the challenge of relying on fine motor skills after a rude 3 a.m. awakening. A Streamlight TLR-7A weapon light is also mounted to cast some lumens onto a potential boogeyman.
With defensive ammo having a somewhat questionable reputation for compatibility, I remained on the Sig train and chose their Elite V-Crown 124gr JHP ammo. I’ve fired several boxes to confirm its reliability and haven’t had a single issue.
Though a compensator on a ‘nightstand gat’ may not be optimal for home defense due to the flash, this gun runs flawlessly and shoots great. It’s good enough for me at the moment!
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Scott Murdock – Editor
- Walther PDP Pro SD full-size
- Trijicon RMR
- Surefire X300
- ZR Tactical +4 base pads
- ZR Tactical Ultra Mass guide rod
- Jarvis barrel
- R3D 2.0 Suppressor Height Night Sights
- Federal HST 9mm 124gr +P JHP
Full-size pistols provide decent capacity while leaving one hand free to manipulate door handles, locks, light switches, and a phone. The PDP is one of the best out there. I recently tested a bunch of great upgrades, so many of those are still on my home defense pistol.
I’ve done several training events with various PDP models in the past year, so I’m comfortable using the platform and trust it to save my life.
This setup packs a ton of safety and performance into something that I can roll out of bed and employ while dialing 9-1-1 if I need to. The PDP is as rock-solid as any other pistol I’ve used, and it’s extremely accurate — especially with an optic.
The trigger is excellent. The ergonomics are great. If you want to use it for more than home defense, you can customize the platform for all kinds of different purposes, often for a pretty reasonable amount of money.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Sean Curtis – Content Producer
- Staccato P DPO
- Holosun 507C X2
- SureFire X300 Turbo
- 20-round mags
- Speer Gold Dot 9mm 124gr JHP
The Staccato P is my choice for a home defense handgun for a number of reasons. First, it fits my 2XL hands very well. The aggressive grip texture and excellent ergonomics help it stay locked in my hands when I start shooting. Plus, the P handles recoil so well that I’m able to keep my dot on target while continuing to let off shots.
Accuracy on the P is phenomenal, thanks to an outstanding trigger. It has been extremely reliable for me, as I have put approximately 5000 rounds through it between events, practice, and training. I don’t like how expensive it is, but with the level of performance it has, I get it.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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Jacki Billings – Editor-in-Chief
- Glock 17 Gen 4
- Crimson Trace Laserguard
- Hornady Critical Defense 9mm 115gr FTX
It might be pretty basic, but my home defense handgun is a Glock 17, specifically the Gen 4. This has been my go-to home defense pistol for close to a decade.
I’ve hung on to the Glock as my home defense weapon due to its reliable nature and the fact that it’s simple to operate. I’ve been involved in an attempted home invasion, and that experience taught me some really valuable lessons.
Ultimately, I learned that I needed a firearm that was reliable, easy for me to use and control, and one that I felt confident in using if necessary. For me, the Glock 17 ticked all those boxes. While I’m not a huge fan of Glocks ergonomics, ultimately, it feels like a good marriage of capacity and reliability – so that’s enough for me to overlook a meh trigger and a blocky aesthetic.
I have astigmatism, so red dots are really tough for me to use, especially if I’ve woken from a dead sleep, so I keep things simple with standard iron sights and a Crimson Trace light for positive ID purposes. Everything else on my Glock 17 is stock.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Wyatt Sloan – Editor
- S&W M&P 2.0 Compact
- Holosun EPS MRS
- Streamlight TLR-1 HL
- Speer Gold Dot 9mm 124 gr +P JHP
With over 100 handguns, I have a pretty wide spectrum of stuff to choose from when it comes to an HD pistol. Despite that, I opted for a pretty basic gun.
I was fortunate enough to get a good deal on a barely used optics-ready S&W M&P 2.0 Compact at a pawn shop. It was $350 flat with all the original mags and accoutrements, plus an extended 17-rounder.
I threw on a Streamlight TLR-1 HL because I did not want to spend $250 on a SureFire to achieve the same results inside of a house. Since the gun lives in or on my nightstand most of the time, I chose the Holosun EPS because the enclosed emitter helps keep the dust out.
The optic is mounted using a Calculated Kinetics DOGTAG plate, which provides a stronger mounting solution while also redirecting the dirty gasses that escape from the loaded chamber indicator away from the optic lens.
The M&P 2.0s are well-known for being exceedingly reliable, regardless of the conditions. Mine runs like a sewing machine and is an absolute tack driver. It is a comfortable gun, the trigger is good, and it was affordable.
I know I can rely on it when I need it the most. And with the base gun being relatively cheap, I don’t mind that it sits in a nightstand pretty much indefinitely.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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Final Thoughts
Just like with concealed carry, what you choose to defend your home with is a very personal choice. Picks can vary based on someone’s physical build, their budget, and their environment and lifestyle.
Whether you are looking for a home defense pistol yourself or just want to see what we use, hopefully, this article has given you some inspiration or insight.
What do you think about our choices? Any questions for our authors? Let us know in the comments below! Want to check out some other gun options for home defense? Check out our article on the Best Home Defense Guns of 2024!
16 Leave a Reply
doesn't anybody have a 460 Magnum with armor piercing rounds? (in jest of course)
good old Kimber Polymer Target 1911 that has 14 +1 of glorious 45 ACP Speer Gold Dots 230 JHP.
anybody know where I can buy another one? (they quit making it around 1999 or so). I have about 27K rounds through mine and it works fine. Did have it "tuned up" with new springs and polish the feed ramp.
Bob, if you are actually looking for another Kimber Poly Target, keep an eye out for the BUL M5 if you are searching on Gunbroker or other sites. Don't quote me, but I believe the Kimber Poly is just a rebranded BUL M5. You might be able to snag a backup an avoid paying extra for the Kimber name.
I'm aware of that. Have been unable to find the Bul M5 in 45 ACP caliber. I even bought an FN/FNX as a "back up" but I didn't like it. NO adjustable rear sight, and it has the decocker feature. I carry my kimber cocked and locked with one up the pipe. Never had an NG with it in the 22 years of CCW.
If you see one, let me know please.
I like 9mm for concealed carry with a SA 911, but home defense is .45 hp with an XDM and gunlight.
Doug, that sounds like a slick little setup you have. I have a Springfield XD Mod.2 that I enjoy - the XDMs are solid shooters.
Seeing all these pistols in this article makes more sense as a what do you ccw? Why would you want a wimpy pistol to defend your home with? Pistol rounds just poke holes in the body…essentially a high powered slingshot. A pistol is what you use to fight your way to a real firearm like rifle or shotgun. .223 rifle is a fantastic choice to dump immense energy into bad guy to create massive wound cavity or tumble when hits barriers with other loved ones in other rooms. Shotgun is a great choice if you live alone or significant other in same room to inflict a ton of damage…unfortunately more challenging to suppress to safeguard your hearing. You guys might want to study up on ballistics
Eric, like I mentioned early in the article, most of us do have ARs and shotguns also ready for home defense (articles coming on that soon!). However, we also like to have handguns on tap. Personally, sometimes I want the ability to move around with a free hand to be able to turn on lights, lift things, peek through windows, or even answer the front door while keeping my gun out of sight in one hand - all without having to set my gun down or disarm myself. They are also inherently easier to maneuver in very tight spaces, and easy to semi conceal if you have to poke your head outside to see what commotion may be going on. With good ammo choice and a good shot placement, a handgun can still get the job done. Obviously other things have ballistic advantages, but there are always tradeoffs with each respective platform; that is why I keep an AR, a handgun, a shotgun, and a PCC ready. I just pick what the I think the situation best dictates, but in the end, there really isn't a wrong answer.
Great article!
I personally prefer a G19.4 with Streamlight TLR-1HL, similar to Hung's setup. I just trust Glocks to do the right job, at the right time.
To be honest, a Flux Raider would be an interesting option as well...
It is hard to go wrong with a G19! I also have a Gen 14 G19. Awesome gun; I would 100% trust my life with it.
H&K VP9 OR Tactical & IWI X95 5.56.
Both of those are awesome guns. The VP9 is a great handgun. I have a VP9SK and I love it - amazing ergonomics.
I like a Sig P365 Fuse. I use Federal HST 124 gr rounds because I like the subsonic aspect due to my house having lots of hallways.
How are you liking your Fuse so far? The capacity on those guns is nuts for the size. Also, are you getting subsonic speeds with the 124gr? I know most people lean 147gr for that purpose.
I absolutely love it! I was carrying a P320 so the Fuse was a great upgrade to reduce overall size without sacrificing magazine capacity. I actually carry the 21 round magazine as well. I am not sure on the bullet speed. I don't have a way, or really know how, to test that.
Home defense pistol? AR pistol. When you need to shoot thru cover and 9mm simply won't do. If it wasn't stripped right now for Alternate hunting season it would have a light and 20 round mag of FMJ. The idea of trading rounds with some perp who cares less about where his bullets goes means expediting a stop quickly to reduce the number of rounds they fire. As for my shooting lanes, I have all the time in the year to figure out which are ok and which are non starters - I'm not gonna hit the frig even if the perp is hiding behind that wall.
Other than that, the CCW is the home defense weapon for many of us - a budget for dozens of special niche guns isn't what many Americans can afford. And since it is a concealed carry gun, no optic, no extended mag, no special target mag wells, nada. It's svelte for reduced printing, lower weight, and because the more gizmos, the more can go wrong.
We used to discuss that a lot on forums in the day - now influencers are all about getting the paycheck recommending all the accessories and common sense has fled the internet.
Most 9mm loadings actually tend to penetrate common building materials as much or sometimes more than some 5.56 rounds, especially when the 5.56 is coming out of a short barrel with lower velocities. There are some pretty cool YouTube videos out there covering the subject, including shooting both drywall and studs.