Gear & Defense
Popular Firearms for Home Defense, by Caliber
For many households, a firearm is part of preparedness, for home defense, hunting or pest control. We list one popular, well-rated pick in each of five common calibers instead of ranking them, because the right choice depends on your use, experience and local laws. A 9mm pistol like the PSA Dagger is a common choice for home defense. An AR-15 in 5.56, such as the PSA PA-15, is easy to shoot accurately. A .22 LR like the Ruger 10/22 is cheap to practice with and good for small game. All firearm purchases must follow federal, state and local law and go through a licensed dealer with a background check. Get professional training, and store firearms locked and unloaded, away from children.
Picks by caliber
| Rank | Product & source | Key note | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
9mm | ||||
| 9mm | PSA Dagger Compact 9mm (Sniper Green)Troy's pick (PSA customer ratings) | Compact striker-fired 9mm pistol; 98% rating from 179 PSA customers. | ~$299.99Price checked Oct 20, 2026at palmettostatearmory.com View product | |
5.56 | ||||
| 5.56 | PSA PA-15 Classic 16" M4 Carbine 5.56Troy's pick (PSA customer ratings) | Classic M4-style AR-15 in 5.56 NATO with a 16" nitride barrel; 97% rating from 206 PSA customers. | ~$499.99Price checked Oct 20, 2026at palmettostatearmory.com View product | |
.308 | ||||
| .308 | PSA Gen3 PA10 18" .308 MOE EPTTroy's pick (PSA customer ratings) | AR-10-pattern .308 rifle with an 18" stainless barrel; 96% rating from 87 PSA customers. | ~$729.99Price checked Oct 20, 2026at palmettostatearmory.com View product | |
.22 LR | ||||
| .22 LR | Ruger 10/22 Standard 18" .22 LR (32006)Troy's pick (PSA listing) | Ruger's long-running semi-auto .22 LR rifle, a common pick for plinking and small game. | ~$299.99Price checked Oct 20, 2026at palmettostatearmory.com View product | |
.45 ACP | ||||
| .45 ACP | Tisas 1911 Government .45 ACPTroy's pick (PSA customer ratings) | Full-size 1911 in .45 ACP with a 5" barrel; 97% rating from 501 PSA customers. | ~$319.99Price checked Oct 20, 2026at palmettostatearmory.com View product | |
Firearm purchases must follow all federal, state and local laws. Firearms ship only to a licensed FFL dealer, where a background check is required. Listing is informational only.