Most people will probably recommend an AR-15, a 12-guage pump shotgun, or a 9mm pistol; but I've actually been moving away from those types of guns after I started to learn more about how much permanent damage firearms do to your hearing. If you ever shoot an AR-15 or a shotgun indoors without hearing protection, you'll probably rupture your eardrums and hear an annoying ringing sound for the rest of your life. So, I'd prefer to avoid that if possible. That's why I recently bought a 9mm carbine (a 9mm rifle with a shoulder stock and a 16-inch barrel) as my new primary home defense weapon. Yeah, you lose out on some terminal performance (killing power), but 30-ish rounds of 147-grain 9mm Federal HST should be enough to deal with 99.999% of home invaders.

An AR-15 chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO will create about 167 decibels (anything above 140 decibels will permanently damage your hearing); a rifle chambered in .308 Winchester will create 170+ decibels; a 9mm pistol with a 4-inch barrel will create about 160 decibels; a 9mm carbine with a 10-inch barrel will create about 156 decibels; and a 9mm carbine with a 16-inch barrel will create about 152 decibels. I haven't been able to find reliable information about how many decibels a 12-gauge shotgun creates, but it's probably in the 160s.

152 decibels still isn't hearing safe; but the difference between 152 decibels and 167 decibels is huge since sound doubles in strength every 3 decibels. 152 decibels will still hurt your ears and cause permanent hearing damage if you hear it repeatedly; but it won't completely destroy your ears like a 5.56x45mm rifle or a 12-gauge shotgun will.

And the reason why I went with a 9mm carbine over a 9mm pistol is because carbines are much easier to aim, you get much quicker followup shots, you get a little bit more bullet velocity (and thus foot-pounds of energy and terminal performance), and there's still a large sound difference between 152 decibels and 160 decibels.

As to which specific 9mm carbines I recommend, I'll give you 3 different options to choose from.

The cheapest option: The Kel-Tec Sub-2000 Gen 2 ($500-ish but hard to find). I'm personally not a fan of Kel-Tec quality standards and aesthetics, but the Kel-Tec Sub-2000 is one of the few firearms that Kel-Tec makes that the vast majority of people in the gun community agrees is a good gun. I'd get the version that accepts Glock magazines and stick a 33-round Glock magazine in it. Glock magazines are widely regarded as being the best magazines in the world; and the 33 rounders that they make are widely regarded as being reliable.

The mid-tier option: The CMMG Mk9LE ($900-ish). From the research that I did on AR-15s chambered in 9mm, the ones made by CMMG are highly regarded as being reliable. I recommend using the 32-round Uzi magazines from IWI. Based on your criteria, this would be my top recommendation for you.

The high-tier option: The KRISS Vector GEN II CRB ($1,300-ish). This is the option that I personally went with. I chose it because it's reliable and because it looks amazing.

I also want to go out of my way to rule out a popular option: The CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S1 Carbine. The "pistol" version is wildly popular; but I've personally seen way too many horror stories about all-polymer magazines stretching and breaking their own feed lips after being stored loaded for a long period of time (which is what you'd be doing with a home defense weapon). So, until CZ upgrades their polymer magazines with steel-reinforced feed lips (like Glock does), I'd personally stay away from their products that use those types of magazines.

And I know that you said that you didn't want to add accessories, but a light is a mandatory accessory on a home defense firearm in my opinion (so that you can positively identify your target before you shoot and therefore hopefully avoid accidentally shooting a loved one). The Streamlight ProTac 2 and the INFORCE WMLx would be my top 2 recommended lights for long guns.

As to which bullets that I'd recommend, I already mentioned them: 147-grain 9mm Federal HST (standard pressure). The 124-grain 9mm Federal HST (standard pressure) is also extremely good. I wouldn't hesitate buying and using either of them for home defense. This website will help you find them in stock.

I also highly recommend this accessory in order to make loading your pistol magazines much, much easier.

As to bullet overpenetration, all major rounds will zip right through several of the kinds of walls that you'd find in a typical home. The only "safe" option is birdshot (used in shotguns), but birdshot doesn't penetrate deep enough into the human body (you want 12 to 18 inches of penetration according to FBI tests) to reliably stop a home invader (and therefore birdshot obviously shouldn't be an option for home defense in my opinion). Don't listen to the people that will tell you that the 5.56x45mm NATO round is safer to use because it tends to tumble and fragment when it hits a wall. It will still penetrate through several walls. You just have to be careful about how you angle your shots. That's really your only way to avoid hitting innocent people.

And if you're not as worried as I am about permanently damaging your own hearing while defending your home, then the Smith & Wesson M&P15 SPORT II would be my top rifle recommendation (I recommend pairing it up with 30-round magazines from Lancer); the Mossberg 500 series of shotguns would be my top shotgun recommendation; and the full-size Smith & Wesson M&P9 would be my top pistol recommendation. And I'd pair them up with this electronic hearing protection if I was you.

As to ammo recommendations for the 3 options that I listed above, I recommend Hornady 75-grain BTHP T2 TAP (8126N) or Hornady 5.56 NATO 75-grain BTHP Superformance Match (the .223 version that Hornady makes is also fine); this Managed-Recoil 8-pellet 00 buckshot from Remington (it patterns very tightly); and the 147-grain 9mm Federal HST that I already mentioned above, twice.

And if you go with a pistol, then I recommend the Streamlight TLR-1 as a mandatory accessory.

As to lubricant, you can't really go wrong with Break-Free CLP.

The Streamlight TLR-1 HL

Crye JPC. Or this "pistol" flashlight for the ol' blunderbuss.

If he wears his vest under his shirt these are amazing! Kind of high cost, but I don't know your budget.

If he wears an outer carrier for his vest you can find cheaper ones that go over the shirt. the over the shirt ones can be found here

Another option would be a gun mounted light. BP won't issue them but we/they are allowed to carry them provided you can qualify with it on. Also would need a new holster to accommodate.

Another $20 and this one is WAY brighter. Same size.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B8Q31UQ/ref=psdc_2445457011_t1_B000JWD16E

Order online like everyone else. http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-69260-TLR-1-Rail-Mounted-Tactical/dp/B00B8Q31UQ

It had to have been only a few minutes since none of my amazon trackers caught it... not even camel:


https://camelcamelcamel.com/Streamlight-692602-Weapon-Tactical-Flashlight/product/B00B8Q31UQ

You have a bunch of options here.

The TLR1 is on the affordable side, very reliable and durable, will survive anything the vast majority of people will put it through.

TLR1 light

TLR1 tail cap for pressure switch

TLR1 pressure switch

If you want to spend more money for the peace of mind of owning a top of the line light, get the X300.

X300

X300 switch assembly

If you want the tactical look, pick up an Arisaka 300 series with a pressure switch. It's a Surefire scout light clone that's compatible with Surefire mounts and accessories and carries some improvements of the Surefire line.

I'm a pretty big fan of the Streamlight TLR-1 HL.

Or if you prefer a more traditional style flashlight with a clamp, the Streamlight ProTAC with a clamp would work great as well.

Stay away from pressure switches, it's just another thing to fail when you need it most.

EDIT: That Choate stock is $80 plus shipping. That's 25% of the way to another gun...just something to consider when you are thinking about tricking out your shotgat!

Looks like I was mistaken, $88 BUT the only site I checked was Amazon.

https://camelcamelcamel.com/Streamlight-692602-Weapon-Tactical-Flashlight/product/B00B8Q31UQ

Amazon warehouse deals is a good place to look for stuff like this, if you don't mind having an item that somebody has already opened

Here's one for 108

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00B8Q31UQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481564512&sr=1-1-fkmr0&m=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=Streamlight+tor1

I had to make sure it had strobe before I got it. This is the exact one I ordered.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00B8Q31UQ/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lasers are stupid. Buy a Streamlight TLR1 HL or if you really hate money a Surefire X300U.

>My only concern is I don't know whether, in a real emergency, I'd remember to reach forward and switch on the light to blind an intruder

That's what practice is for.

Link

They call him the streak

Don't look Ethel!

For DA/SA pistols, I prefer the SIG P226. Using Gun Watcher, I found one for $750. But out of the 3 guns that you listed, I'd personally pick the FNX-9. I just think that it's an overall better design than the other 2 pistols that you mentioned. Here's a video review of it. If you're going to use it for home defense, I recommend that you put this light on it and use these bullets. You can find those bullets in stock using this website.

According to camel camel camel this is the lowest price ever from amazon.

https://camelcamelcamel.com/Streamlight-Weapon-Tactical-Flashlight-Lumens/product/B00B8Q31UQ

I like it... Mine is High Lumen this - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8Q31UQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Floody enough to light an entire room pretty well. Bright enough to pretty much blind an attacker.

Only complaint is I wish it had a safety mechanism for storage in a case as it gets pretty hot when left on for long.

This is the higher-end aluminum streamlight. counts on a pic rail and would work on rifle or pistol.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8Q31UQ/ref=ox_sc_sfl_image_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I've heard great things about this Streamlight...

The glock 9mm models include the 17,18, 19, 26, 34, and 43.

17: full size

18: basically a full auto 17. Not civilian legal

19: slightly more compact. Virtually full size. They shaved half an inch off the barrel and grip.

26: small double stack gun made for ccw

34: longslide variant for competition shooters

43: single stack 9mm. Very small but glock was late to get on the single stack bandwagon.

So your best options here are the 17 or the 19 if you do choose to go with a glock in 9mm for home defense. Stick with gen 4 as they are supposedly vastly better than gen 3.

You are also going to want one of these. The strobe is VERY effective (I had my wife test it on me while mounted to a plastic training gun). https://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-Mounted-Tactical-Lumens-Batteries/dp/B00B8Q31UQ

I agree. i use this for duty use with a Sig P320 Carry. This light works well and is available on Amazon for about $123.00 http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-69260-TLR-1-Rail-Mounted-Tactical/dp/B00B8Q31UQ/ref=pd_sim_469_9?ie=UTF8&dpID=41Lcnq4ABdL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1SB1J8A3X88QFP53CR8Y

https://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-Mounted-Tactical-Lumens-Batteries/dp/B00B8Q31UQ

If you're going with Streamlight, it may be worth looking at the TLR-1 or TLR-3 instead. They will probably weigh less, and they attach directly to the rail itself.

I own the TLR-3, and I love it. Such a powerful light in a little package.

Most pistol lights have a switch that's right outside the trigger guard. Example A, the Streamlight TLR-1. That switch on the back is easily accessible. The one issue is that the simplest way to trip it involves removing your finger from the trigger

I would start with a light. Positive identification is a must. I've got a TLR-1 that I like.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B8Q31UQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0nk7CbSMQMNX7

Guns:

• Glock 19.5
  
• Glock 45
  
• One extra stripped G19.5 slide from bigtexoutdoors.com
  
  Mods:
  
  
• Boresight Solutions "premium duty series" frame package on the G19.5 frame
  
• Jagerwerks Yeti Cut w/ RMR cut (front pocket, no slide beveling) x2
  
• Trijicon RMR RM06 Type 2 x2
  
• KKM Precision Glock 19 Match barrel with 4-port compensator, nitrided
  
• Ameriglo GL--452 Suppressor Sights orange front black rear
  
• Johnny Glock striker
  
• Johnny Glock drop-in combat trigger
  
• Hyve extended magazine release
  
• Vickers Tactical VTSS-003 Gen 5 slide stop
  
• Streamlight TLR1 HL

Streamlight mag tube attachment. I put a TLR1 HL on my 500 with that. Works nice.

Weapon light. Own the night and be safe.

TLR-1 HL for 122 if you want the power of the sun with you.

The only reason to own one would be nostalgia or fanboy-dom. Even at $40 there are better lighting options, including holding a $10 maglite in one hand and the gun in the other.

If you want a decent light, follow the other recommendations in this thread and pick up the Streamlight TLR-1 HL.

streamlight tlr-hl - $114, pretty smokin deal

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00B8Q31UQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497227975&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=tlr-1+hl&dpPl=1&dpID=41Lcnq4ABdL&ref=plSrch

Here's a link to the rest of the images

Parts/Gun List (left to right):

SAI BLU w/ Vism Pop-up sight and Streamlight TLR-1

Stock KWA KZ.61 Skorpion

TM870 w/ Midten Red Dot (EOTech Clone) and Laylax Custom Shotshell carrier

Tippmann M4 w/ Magpul UBR, Angel Custom M4 to MP5 adapter, Phantom 3x Magnifier, Vism Rifle Pop-up Sight, APS Boar 1.0 M-Lok Handguard, VISM VGF, Ace tech Tracer on a Tippmann 10.3 CQB outer barrel. Internally there is a Tippmann brand buffer in the stock to increase fire rate and FPS, a Tippmann low power air nozzle (shoots just at 320-330 the way I got it), a Prommy 6.03 tightbore inner with a G&G Green Bucking. On the other upper, there is a high power air nozzle (shooting at 550) with the same bucking and a longer 6.03 Prommy inner with the 16in Tippmann outer. The sight is a generic acog on an APS Keymod handguard. Even though you can't see it, there is an amplifier on the end which is a G&P Meatcutter. The bipod is a Recon Flex Bipod, nothing special just needed keymod lol.

Don't know if I would buy that. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8Q31UQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I also have a tlr-3.

You have to remember, even a bright flashlight, like one of the new 500 lumen models, is still not as bright as a regular lightbulb. Sure, the focused beam is brighter than a lightbulb, but you're just going to be the one pointing it.

I'd pick up this guy or an X300.

The nice thing about the x300 is that it has a really awesome switch if you want to throw it on a rifle.

Also, I'd rather use CR123 than CR2 batteries!

Amazon.com says it's the C4 LED, typical of Streamlight. (read: "typically behind the times")

The TLR-1 HL is really great, stupidly bright, has strobe, and isn't nearly as expensive as you'd expect for a light of this caliber. There is also the TLY-1s which is not as insanely bright, but still has strobe and is a bit cheaper. As long as your G19 has a full pistol rail they should fit, they might extend a bit past the end of the barrel, but they should fit.

Cheaper @ Amazon for $104.80 with 2 day prime shipping

Would you recommend this:

http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-69260-TLR-1-Rail-Mounted-Tactical/dp/B00B8Q31UQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1413496418&sr=1-1&keywords=glock+light

Or this:


http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-69240-Compact-Mounted-Tactical/dp/B0077RHYWQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1413496418&sr=1-2&keywords=glock+light

it has a TLR-1 HL its just off for cleaning right now and i decided to snap a few pictures of the grip :)

Yeah, the HL is like $118 on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-Weapon-Tactical-Flashlight-Lumens/dp/B00B8Q31UQ

https://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-69260-TLR-1-Rail-Mounted-Tactical/dp/B00B8Q31UQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468710536&sr=8-1&keywords=streamlight+tlr-1+hl+led

nightstand gun?

TLR 1 HL mandatory.

https://smile.amazon.com/Streamlight-Weapon-Tactical-Flashlight-Lumens/dp/B00B8Q31UQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1518342249&sr=8-3&keywords=tlr1+hl

Spend a little more and get the Streamlight TLR-1 HL . The 630 lumens it delivers is a weapon in itself. An attacker indoors can't look into the light. A short burst will make them see spots.