Joseph von Benedikt

A look at revolvers that make great nightstand or full-blown, apocalyptic-scenario sidearms.

The author explains his thought process in choosing the best nightstand guns for home defense. In Part 1, he reaches for semi-auto pistols.

Revolvers and semiautomatics are very different beasts, though both are capable personal protection arms. The key to solving the semiautomatic vs. revolver debacle is knowing the differences and choosing what best fits your environment and needs.

Not all handguns are right for home defense. In fact, a nightstand gun is going to have a number of features that might make it unwieldy for many other forms of self-defense, such as concealed carry.