Choosing a Handgun for Self Defense
2. The gun should feel comfortable in your hand. The more comfortable the grip the more likely you will practice with it at the range.
3. Choose a caliber that has the right balance of power and controllability for you. Popular choices for self defense cartridges range from .380 acp, .38 special, 9mm, .40 S&W, and up to .45 acp. There are many more choices available but the ones I mentioned are the most popular for their intended use.
4. Buy the most gun you can afford. Your life is priceless, so you may as well get a well made and reliable handgun to protect it. You don't have to buy competition grade guns with unnecessary bells and whistles, but a gun that is known for quality. As of this writing some of the manufactures known for making quality handguns are Beretta, Glock, HK, and Sig Sauer. These brands are often used by police departments in the United States.
5. If you are using the handgun for concealed carry you will obviously need a compact pistol. Keep in mind that the smaller the pistol (especially semi-automatics) the higher the quality you should buy. This is because the springs on compact semi-autos are very tightly sprung compared to the springs in full size pistols. Also little guns tend to take a harder pounding if you are using service size calibers in them.
6. Always try out the gun at a shooting range before you decide to make a purchase. If for some reason you are unable to find a range that has your particular weapon, read up on the reviews of the pistol and get a perspective from other's opinions. There are literally thousands of gun boards online where people discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a wide spectrum of firearms.
7. If you are able to test the gun out at the range, be sure to put at lest 100 rounds in it before you buy it. This way you will be aware if there are any jams, misfires, or any other negative aspect of the firearm. Likewise, after shooting 100 rounds you may find that the firearm functions reliably and is accurate.
8. Once you choose a handgun that fits your needs, find out if there is a qualified shooting instructor in your area. Often these instructors have years of law enforcement or shooting expertise which can greatly assist you becoming skilled in the use of your weapon.
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4 Comments
Post a CommentAS far as personal protection I carry a Glock 23 40cal. I went to the range with a buddy who carries a hi point, (which might as well be a piece of lead) it is so heavy and jammed at least once every other clip. Another one was a Springfield, nice gun similar looks to a glock, but it also jammed on me twice. I don't care if its a range gun or a personal gun but 1 jam is unacceptable!! People can talk all they want about Glock being plastic but 1 thing is for sure they don't jam. by the way Polymer Plastic is almost twice as strong as steel, next time someone tells you it's plastic tell them it's stronger than their gun! Go to youtube and look at the video of the guy shooting 100's of rounds on automatic through a Glock!
Even the most reliable semi auto on earth is subject to instant un-reliability by one bad round. With a reliable DA revolver, simply pull the trigger again. I have owned many revolvers (I would not and never have owned a poor quality firearm) and have NEVER had a jam or a malfuntion of any kind in ANY revolver caliber that was gun related. Revolvers are positively more reliable ruling out the possibility of even an ammo related oops. Simply thumb the hammer or pull the trigger again. Not so easy or quick with an auto. One bad round jammed in an auto can even require a tool to pick the failed round out. Bad situation in an emergency. Not so with a revolver. Most police departments use auto's for capacity related reasons that rule out revolvers entirely.
I have to agree with Timothy Frazier...revolvers are NOT more reliable than modern semi-autos made by the major manufacturers (Glock, SIG, HK, Beretta, S&W, Ruger) and in fact, I would go so far as to say that, as of 2007, Smith & Wesson and Ruger are the ONLY manufacturers that make any revolvers reliable enough for personal defense. If you really want a wheel gun for protection, get an S&W J-frame or a Ruger SP-101. Rossi, Taurus, and Charter Arms revolvers will BREAK on you when you need them most. And anyway, I think that most shooters would be better off with a semi-auto...my recommendation for a beginner's pistol? Go get yourself a Glock 19, load it with Speer Gold Dot 124 gr and you'll be fine...its not expensive, ultra reliable, very concealable, and will do anything you ask of it...by the way, this is the same pistol/ammo combo that is standard issue for the New York Police Dept.
I couldn't even get past number 1. Revolvers are more reliable than semi-automatics??? Revolvers typically have 3 times as many moving parts or more. If they get too worn or have enough grit in them they will cease rotating instantly and you might as well have a brick in your hand. Please check your facts. Revolvers have been proven over and over again to be much less reliable than a quality semi-auto.