Pew Pew Tactical’s Home Defense Handguns: What We Use
Take a peek into the nightstands and safes of the Pew Pew Tactical staff as we go over the handguns and accessories we use for home defense.
PPT Editor. NRA & USCCA instructor. Hunter, former competitive shooter, collector (200+ firearms)
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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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!