RedSuinit

Unloaded, locked in the trunk, yes. (Don't quote me on that)

I bought the gun used,and it needs a good external cleansing, but I just bought it a few hours ago so I haven't had the chance yet. I did field strip it though, and the insides are really clean and well oiled.

Here it is.

Thanks for all the good advice. I do the first, but the second I already learned the hard way

Good advice, thanks.

No open window, no animals. However, I have a theory on the motion sensor. A little bit of background info. We have a decorative glass panel front door, with a security door in front of it, and we leave lights on in our den at night. There is about a 1/2" gap between the bottom of the safety door, and the porch, a big moth could easily fit in there. Story - The night that the motion sensor had gone off, my wife had broken on of the glass panels on our front door earlier that day. I didn't get a chance to get out and replace it that day, so it was just going to have to wait until the next day. I didn't think anything about it since we have the security door. My theory is that since we leave lights on in the den at night, a moth may have flown under the security door, through the broken panel, and set off the motion sensor because it was flying around in our den. It's just a theory, but the last two nights it hasn't happened, and I replaced the glass panel the day after the incident happened. Apex Tactical huh? I'll have to look into it. Thanks.

I actually got it gently used, but it is in perfect condition, I got to shoot it at their range, and had no problems with it. It had two mags with it, and one has the short hand extension.

My name is Luke, 21, and I live in Chattanooga. My wife and I just purchased a S&W M&P9c. Haven't had a chance to take her to a range yet, but plan to do so very soon. Main reason I bought the gun is for home, and self defense. Long story short, my wife and I had our home broken into and some stuff was stolen. We installed some good safety doors on the house, and really didn't think anymore about it until two nights ago. Two nights ago, the motion sensor in our den went off, and scared the living daylight out of us. We were defenseless, and thought someone was in our house. After that experience, we decided it was time to enable ourselves to be able to defend ourselves. I am familiar with handguns, and am a pretty decent shot too. I am actually really excited about dragging my wife out to the range in order to get some good practice in, and show her how to use the weapon properly.

I went down to Carters supply shop, and got to shoot a G19, S&W M&P9c, and the XD 9mm SC. I also shot the XD .4 SC (with extended mag with grip spacer). I went with the M&P. I like the wight, grip angle, and the recoil. The misses also really liked it (the main reason I went with the M&P, personally I liked the XD 9mm the best, but I'll get that in the summer when I have a little bit more $$. I personally like the weight, feel, and recoil of the 9mm caliber. Clips hold more rounds, it's easy to re-aquire your target, and they're light. So I think (especially since I want to be able to carry) For now I'll stick with the 9mm. A little later down the road I'll get a .45, but for now, 9mm it is. I also bought some Remington gold tip JHP's to keep in the mag at home, and a big 'ol box of UMC's to use at the range. Plan on taking my wife out to the range tomorrow, maybe use up 100 rounds or so.

I want to get two guns. One for myself, and one for her. She is a very strong woman, and is more than capable of handling an automatic, she also isn't skittish around guns, because her daddy taught her how to be safe with them (her dad is a smart man, he believed in gun-proofing the child, not gun-proofing the home). However for her I was leaning towards (as suggested here) a DA snub nose .357 or .40. Easy to use, low maintenance, PLUS you don't have to worry about cycling mags so that you don't get spring wear. Any class I take, She'll take. Also we will definitely both be going to the range, (hopefully once a month at first, I really would like to get used to the gun quickly, and I want to teach her how to properly shoot a pistol) it shouldn't be a problem though because She likes guns, especially rifles (BIG fan of the 30-06 that she used to hunt with) just have to get her used to pistols. Hmm, it seems I have going to have to give the XD's a really good look, see what it's like. BTW - .45 Thanks for the welcome!

I want to go small so that I can carry concealed. I am going to have to start walking around chattanooga at night soon, and want a weapon I can use for home defense, and for carrying concealed. Thanks for the list, that was really helpful. I will have to look into this as well. Thanks for all the info everyone, it's very nice information to have.

Ok then. Sounds like really good advice, I will have to see if I can find a good range that rents guns. Anybody know of one in the Chattanooga area? I know that I really like Glocks. I have shot the 17, 19, 26, 27, 31, and 33. I personally like the feel and weight of the compact and subcompact over the standard. However, my experience with handguns doesn't go far beyond Glock. The only other handguns I have shot are the S&W 8" .45 magnum revolver, and the S&W snub-nose .357 special (loved both of those guns). Anyone fimiliar with Glocks, and have any opinions on them in comparison to other guns?

Just looking for some advice. My wife and I had our house broken into, and we were robbed a few weeks ago, and last night out alarm went off, and really scared both of us a lot. I couldn't find any signs where anyone had attempted to get into the house, and I don't know why the alarm went off. The pad said that it was the motion sensor in our den that set it off, but there is no way anyone got into the house with the way all the windows and doors were locked when I inspected the house. Anyways, I was just looking to get some advice on pistols for home safety, I don't want to get a shotgun because they're so long, big and bulky, and we have several very tight corners going from the bedroom to the den. I have been doing a lot of research, and am currently looking at the 9x19mm glocks (leaning towards either the compact or subcompact) and keeping glaser safety slugs to use as home protection ammo. I have already taken a few handgun safety courses, and have been through TN's hunters education courses, and I know my way around guns. Any thoughts on what I should use?