I’m going to be buying a handgun in the next year or so.

More info as requested: Personal and home defense and of course I’m going to practice with it. I’ve already got a 12 gauge that I’m not sure works and is going to the gunsmith this week for an overhaul and test firing. It’s a 1947 Ithica Featherlite that may have been fired a total of 5 times. It was my Dad’s and it’s more of an emotional thing than anything else. I have to agree, a round being pumped into a chamber of a shotgun can stop a bad guy in his tracks. True Story: One of my Sister’s former Sister-in-laws was a cop down in Dallas. She’d flanked a bad buy in a parking lot and chambered a round of her shotgun right behind him. Heart attack killed him right there.

Boyo’s probably getting a Daisy in the next month or so for plinking and general gun safety training. He’s 10, it’s time.

What I’m seeing in the comments makes me feel good. The 45 or good ol’ 357 was where my head was going.

What would you recommend? Why?

And yes, the cost of a good, easy to open safe is already part of the plan, you don’t need to go there with me. Boyo is smart and well-behaved but he’s also all-boy and I have no delusions that he wouldn’t let curiosity get the best of him.