Recently I wrote about selecting a primary carry gun and a deep concealment gun. I think almost all armed citizens need those two distinct carry choices to accommodate most situations and remain armed. This week, let’s look at another handgun that may not be mandatory, as your primary carry gun can likely fill this role, but may be beneficial as a separate, third weapon option: a dedicated home defense handgun.
Personally, I have always kept a dedicated house pistol that is different than my primary carry gun. I find that this simply offers more flexibility. One reason for considering such is that, if you carry a compact handgun rather than a full-size duty pistol, as do I, having a full-size house gun provides those entailed benefits. Since the gun will not bel carried concealed, why not utilize a full size pistol for this job? A second reason I like having the dedicated house gun is that it can be configured in a way that you likely would not carry it. For example, I keep a weapon-mounted light on my house gun, but I don’t bother with a mounted light on my carry gun. Additionally, you can keep an extended, higher capacity magazine, in the house gun, and since the gun is not carried, there is no downside to this. Finally, I like a separate house gun because it is consistently, and always, in the same place in the house as a dedicated defensive tool.
So, beyond just going with a likely bigger handgun compared to our carry pistol, what are some other criteria that should guide our decision in selecting the house gun?
Similar Platform
I am a true advocate of sticking with a family of guns, if possible. Even world champion shooters spend months, and thousands of rounds, to gain complete familiarity and proficiency with a different gun platform when they make a switch. For the average armed citizen especially, focusing your training on a single gun platform is very beneficial. Therefore, going with a larger version of your carry gun, but the same platform, makes perfect sense when choosing a house gun, if the option is available.
A very practical lineup to use is a compact or sub-compact versions of a platform as a carry gun, aligned with the larger version of the same platform as the house gun. As an example, the Smith and Wesson M&P line has a full-size, compact, and sub-compact version of the same gun. If you carry the compact or sub-compact version, why not use the full-size model as a house gun? This way, you are working with the same platform that has all the same controls and very similar triggers, ergonomics, and shooting characteristics.
In my own case, I carry a Glock 26, but use a dedicated Glock 19 as my house gun. The even larger Glock 17 would make a great house gun as well, but I find I don’t get any particular benefit from it over the 19, which is essentially a full-size pistol anyway. Beyond the benefit of having the same controls and triggers between the guns, they are also cross-compatible with magazines, as any of the larger G19 or G17 mags work in the G26. I find this a huge advantage.
Even if you don’t use guns of the same frame size (such as a G26/G19/G17) that will use the same magazines, you still may be able to stay in the same relative family. As an example, if you carry a Smith and Wesson Shield Plus (my most recommended micro 9mm, by the way) it is still quite similar in ergonomics to a full-size M&P, thus offering the advantage or familiarity. Therefore, stick with a related gun, just a larger version, when choosing a dedicated house gun, if at all possible, as this focuses your training efforts and needs more narrowly.
Capability
While most people are always limited in size to some extent when choosing a carry gun, there is no real limit in this regard for a dedicated home defense pistol. Therefore, don’t limit yourself. A significant consideration is, of course, capacity. Unless you live in a leftist-run state that places magazine restrictions on you, certainly have a higher capacity house gun.
Another element of capability that you may want to consider is the ability to add a weapon light to the house gun. I see no reason to have a mounted light on a carry gun, frankly, but I do like having one on the house gun. the primary reason that I like a mounted light on the house gun is the simple fact that, when responding to the proverbial bump in the night, you are likely to be holding just the gun and nothing else. Therefore, having a package that has significant ammunition capacity and a light on it gives you everything you need in one item.
Final Thoughts
While your carry gun may well serve as your home defense gun, especially if you carry a larger pistol, I believe having the dedicated house gun provides some significant advantages. Consider the themes illustrated here, though, when selecting your dedicated house gun. And, stay within the familiar family of guns, if at all possible, when selecting this additional weapon.
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Reflex Handgun 
Great article. I agree with your notion that your home defense pistol should be separate from your carry pistol. There are just so many trade-offs made on a good carry pistol. As you noted, some people forego a weapon mounted light, or a reflex sight on their carry pistol. Magazine capacity is a consideration. Also, frankly, I think many of us just shoot a full size pistol more accurately.
I think of necessary firearms in three categories. The one that protects you while you’re outside of the home, the one that protects you while you’re at home, and the long arm that protects you during a period of lawlessness. These needs are all a little different, and warrant a separate firearm. I like the idea of sticking to the same family of firearms too. Alas, sig does not make a microcompact version of the p226…
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I agree that most compromise in some capacity with the carry gun for obvious reasons. I agree also with your point about a dedicated long gun for defensive purposes. I think that plays an increasingly important role now for home defense as home invasions get more agregious
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