Best Bedside Home Defender

[clc2112]

Assumptions. Yes, I know what ever I shoot best and am more comfortable with is the best choice and in the reality of an intruder, both are suitable and I'd be thrilled to have ether it needed. That said, just want to get others' take on it.

Here are my criteria:

• Fit comfortably (small hands)
• Rail (for a light)
• .40 or .45 (think I have decided on 45)

Here are my finalists. Admittedly, I haven't scoured the globe for all the possibilities

• Sig P220 Carry
  • Already Sig fan
  • Fits nicely as it's a single stack
    
• XDs in 3.3 in .45
  
  • Like what I have read
  • Nice size, but is it too small?
  • This isnt going to be a ccw, only a home defender
  • Have never had a polymer gun
  • Yes, I know it's off roster.

[BHPFan]

Here are my finalists. Admittedly, I haven't scoured the globe for all the possibilities

• Sig P220 Carry
  • Already Sig fan
  • Fits nicely as it's a single stack
    
• XDs in 3.3 in .45
  
  • Like what I have read
  • Nice size, but is it too small?
  • This isnt going to be a ccw, only a home defender
  • Have never had a polymer gun
  • Yes, I know it's off roster.

Why not a full size pistol like the SIG P220 or full-size XD in .45ACP instead?

[jeffafa]

Why not a full size pistol like the SIG P220 or full-size XD in .45ACP instead?

Agreed. For HD I would want to take advantage of the longer sight radius and less snap of a full size compared to a subcompact. Just what works for me. I have a Glock 17 with light for HD and the XDs for carry.

[Malmon]

Go for the P220 carry. It has less felt recoil compared to full size p220, I don't know why but it does.

[Mayor McRifle]

I have a Sig Sauer P220 Carry in my nightstand. It's perfect.

[tal3nt]

A subcompact 45 auto for HD would be a bad choice IMO

[Leadingall]

Mossberg 500

[40calibre]

Glock .40s&w with a high cap 22round magazine is what best fits your description to me. Too bad we can't have those magazines though.

[40calibre]

+1 on the subcompact xds 45 being a bad choice. I would take a full 10 rounds anyday over the 8. Plus might as well get a 1911, the grip is single stack and slim and will handle the recoil much better for consecutive shots than the XDs.

[sigfan91]

Bedside? Nothing beats a good ol' pump action of 12ga goodness.

[Arkangel]

Since you're already considering off roster options, how about an HK45?

I let a friend shoot mine and she loved it. She preferred shooting the HK45 more than she did my SP-01 in 9mm. This was her first time shooting .45 acp, and she was surprised how quickly she went through her ammo.

The HK meats all your criteria:

- Great ergos
- Picatinny rail
- 45 acp

If you're in or around SD, you're welcome to put some rounds thorough mine.

[L84CABO]

How did you arrive at these two choices and what else did you look at?

How about Glock, M&P, a 1911? Did you try a Sig P227 to see if it fit your hand?

And as others have said, I would most certainly go full size for a home defender.

I'd also go .45 over .40. But then I really don't care for the .40. If you had said 9mm it would be a harder choice for me.

[merrill]

I keep a Smith MP9c right next to me. Anything bigger/heavier and I might shoot my toe off. Keep it simple, keep it light.

[Trenchfoot]

This is what I use.

[Mini14]

There's also the XDs 4.0