[VANITY] Firearms advice needed

How to pick a firearm for self defense.

So you want a firearm for self defense. You specifically mentioned for concealed carry, so that rules out things like rifles and shotguns. Here's the bottom line up front – I'm not going to tell you “get X” or even “look at Y” firearms... What I am going to (try to) do is give you some food for thought. Because here's the dirty little secret of defensive firearms. There is no one “best” firearm style, caliber, manufacturer, size, capacity, finish, etc. It comes down to physiology of people (size/strength), personal preferences, and a bunch of factors that different people are going to prioritize differently. My best hope is to help you make an informed decision.

Here is what you should look for in a concealed carry firearm IMHO:

Get a weapon that fits your hand. It is surprising how different different firearms can feel in your hand. Even changing the thickness or shape of the grips by a few mm can make a difference. Try a dozen or two at a local gun shop, you'll see what I mean. Find several that feel good. If you live in a cold weather area, consider “trying them on” at the gun shop while wearing gloves.

Get something that is comfortable to shoot, and that you can afford to shoot. Since you're asking this question, I'm assuming you are new to shooting or coming back to shooting after a significant break. No worries, but you are going to want to get in a fair amount of practice until you get good with your firearm. There's an old saying, armatures practice until they get it right, pros practice until they can't get it wrong. Most of us probably fall in the middle there somewhere. Starting out, try to get to the range at least once a month for 100 to 150 rounds each session. Some calibers that's $30/month, some others double or triple that.

Don't be lured in by extremely small size lightweight firearms. They can actually be unpleasant to shoot. If it is no fun, human nature being what it is, you are not going to practice as much as you should. Small lightweight firearms lacking mass transmit most of the recoil to you. You'll hear them described as “snappy” etc. One bad side-effect of these – in semi-auto form – is they tend to be sensitive to limp-wrist holds which can cause jams (fail to extract, fail to feed, etc). Another less than stellar feature of some small semi-autos is that they have stiff recoil springs and small hard-to-grasp actions. If you can't reliably and comfortably operate the weapon (particularly to clear a jam) it is not a good choice. So even if you have to “step up” a bit on size you'll appreciate it on the range. You can always adjust your wardrobe a bit to offer concealment options. I'm an average size guy and even I can (and have) concealed a full sized 1911. One final thing to be aware of regarding very small firearms. They have a short “sight radius” (distance between front & rear sights) This can make them difficult to shoot accurately. This may be a problem in a defensive situation. Though most defensive shooting incidents occur at startlingly close ranges (I've heard roughly 3 yards – think, in your bedroom with you, or across one parking space – yeah, that close) Less than stellar sights and sight radius will also be discouraging at the range. Just realize it may not be (all) you, there are some fundamental limits based on physics and engineering.

Don't be lured in by “stopping power” and the claims that “xxx is useless for self defense” or “anything but yyy is useless” etc. As I said before, you have to be comfortable shooting it. Monster “stopping power” isn't much use if you're so recoil-averse that you flinch or anticipate it and shoot poorly. Now, you can start religious wars and verbal fistfights virtually anywhere on the internet by opening up a discussion of what is the best, or even good, or merely “good enough” caliber for self defense. All I'll say on the subject is this, there's a reason this is 4th on my list. The weapon you have with you and have practiced enough with to be confident in and shoot well is the best weapon. With modern ammunition well-placed shots are going to generally get the job done. Less well-placed shots are not going to get the job done, regardless of what sized non-lethal hole/trench they make. When it comes to ammunition (in whatever caliber you end up with) look for what the pros use. From what I've been able to tell, law enforcement tends to go with Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP), typically Speer Gold Dot or Federal Hydra Shok.

Consider taking a class from a professional firearms instructor to help you learn it right. It may even be required for a concealed carry permit in your state/area. Don't take advice on shooting (technique, drills, etc.) from gunshop personnel, other people at the range, even the internet (that includes me, take what I'm saying here with a grain of salt) Of the three groups, the people behind the counter at the gun shops are probably the most reliable for advice. However, every once in a while you run across someone who's only been there a week, or has some screwy ideas etc. So rely on multiple sources (to help weed out the oddballs) and a professional trainer.

Get a quality holster. Pocket carry, waistband carry, gangsta carry... Just say no! A quality holster protects the firearm, makes it easy/comfortable to carry, keeps you safer from accidental discharge (AD) by protecting the trigger, makes it easier to draw safely and reliably. Don't skimp on the holster. You're probably going to find you want/need more than one style.

Be aware of your surroundings. Start this, well, right now. Having a firearm isn't a magic talisman. It may get you out of a bad (ie. life/death) situation. Then again, it may not. It is far better to avoid situations where you might need your firearm than to put yourself and your weapon to that test. So pull out the ear buds. Put the phone away. Look around both near and far. Notice body language and eyes. This is people watching taken to the extreme, or at least with a specific purpose. The few seconds you gain could be all the difference. As one of my tactics instructors put it, we have all been checked out by criminals. If you're old enough to be here, reading this, you've probably been in a situation where a criminal has looked you over. If you've never been the victim of a crime great, that just means they decided not to pursue you – that time. That doesn't mean adopt a prey mentality of fear. Nor does it mean go all vigilante with your own predator instincts. Just know that they are out there. The more on the ball and aware you appear, the less likely they are to target you.

Get familiar with cleaning and maintaining your firearm. A clean, well lubricated firearm is a reliable firearm. In fact that's a good point. Most any firearm from a major manufacturer is going to run reliably. (barring issues with magazines and ammunition types with semi-autos) Sure some manufacturers have slightly better or worse reputations depending on who you talk to. Take any brand and you can find some people that swear by them and some that swear at them. Get a good firearm from a decent manufacturer, keep it clean and well lubricated. There are numerous YouTube videos out there that can show you how to field strip and clean virtually anything you can buy.

Carry with one in the chamber. (semi-automatics) Some people might say this is unsafe. BS. There are literally tens of thousands of people, law enforcement and civilians, walking around right now with semi-autos in XX+1 configuration. (full mag, round in the chamber) Sure, there's the “Israeli draw” technique that is basically as fast a regular draw of a weapon with one in the chamber. A big bravo and well done to all the people who practice and hone this skill. Me, I'm average. I know without nearly daily practice I'd never be that good. I tend to carry stuff in my off hand. I might be using my other hand to push-off an assailant or ward off the initial blows. I might be pushing my wife behind me out of the way. (actually I should probably step aside and clear her field of fire too – she also carries) Granted, many first-time carriers are uncomfortable carrying condition 1. Ok, still carry, even if it is condition 3 and work on handling your firearm (see below) until you get confident enough in it and yourself to carry condition 1.

Even though you are no-doubt going to buy some relatively cheap FMJ ammunition to practice with, also buy and go through several boxes of whatever ammunition you are going to load when you are carrying the weapon for self defense. Often this ammunition will have a different recoil, different feel. If you end up with a semi-auto weapon, sometimes they (or their magazines) don't “like” a particular ammunition. So ensure that you and your firearm works well with the carry ammunition in all magazines.

Get a set of “snap caps” (inert rounds) for your firearm. Practice loading/clearing/handling the weapon with these. This is a great way to run drills in complete safety (no live ammo) and become familiar with your weapon. Once you run through holstering/drawing, loading/unloading etc. until all the mystery and anxiety are gone you will become confident enough to carry at the ready.

Super carry. This goes along with the practice and familiarity. As I have heard it and mean it “super carry” means carry your firearm around the house. Either wearing the holster, or simply carry it with you. Do both. This will help break-in the holster and the feel of it will become second nature. Same with having the weapon in your hand (yes, muzzle and trigger discipline are a must). This will make your grip perfectly natural on the weapon.

Practice “clearing” your house. Have a plan. Say, oh, right now you heard a pounding at the front door, someone kicking it in. Or maybe the sliding glass door being broken in. What's your move? Where is your firearm? Where is your cell? Where are any other family members? Are you going to be able to hold-up in the bedroom until help arrives? Are you going to have to go confront the intruder(s) to protect other family members? Say you're in a parking lot and you hear a scream. Are you going to go over and insert yourself into that situation? Just having a firearm for defense isn't a magic bullet. You need to consider these things carefully before the adrenaline starts pumping. What are you willing to risk in various situations. If you think you may have to go on the offensive in your home, practice it in the dark, no lights. Learn where external illumination comes through windows etc. to possibly silhouette you or an intruder. You don't want to be making this up as you go along.

Finally, learn the 4 rules of firearm safety. Learn them, live them, breath them:

One. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded, period. Do not rely on memory, do not rely on anyone else's practices. When you pick up a firearm after it has been out of your immediate control you check it. You don't assume it is how you think you remember leaving it. You'll see people at the gun shop doing this. The sales rep will pick up a weapon, check it, hand it to the customer. The customer (should) similarly check it. After handing it back to the sales rep, the rep will check it one more time before putting it away. No, they don't think the weapon magically loaded itself passing over the counter. They aren't worried about that firearm. They are training themselves to just make it automatic that when you pick up a weapon, you ascertain it's loaded/unloaded status. It should be that automatic.

Two. Never point a firearm at any one or any thing you are not willing to kill or destroy. These are not toys, we're not kids, this isn't cowboys and indians, this damn-sure ain't no Hollywood movie. Muzzle discipline, always have it pointed in a safe direction. A sidebar here. I'm actually a little concerned by this. I've been around firearms 40+ years and this is so ingrained in me that I am literally afraid that if I ever do need my firearm in a defensive situation I'm going to hesitate to point it at a person. Hopefully I'll never find out.

Three. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. That means off the trigger and out of the trigger guard. Trigger finger stretched out along the side of the weapon is the typical rest position. It is safe, secure, and a visible indicator to anyone looking at you that ok, maybe this person isn't a complete yahoo and knows what they are doing. By “ready to shoot” I mean you have your target, have your sight picture and the last two things you need to do are put your finger on the trigger and pull it.

Four. Be aware of your target and surroundings. Evaluate what is behind your target in case you miss or the round over-penetrates. Know what is going on to either side of your sight/firing line. Is someone/something moving towards it, going to be in the way? Is someone/something dangerously close to the line of fire?

Ok, so this morphed into a lot more than simple firearm advice. I hope this helps with your choice and provides some modest amount of guidance so that you can use it effectively, though again, I hope you never have to.

The extra weight of the 4” barrel helps with the recoil. Give it a try sometime, its a nice shooter, just loud.

How many rounds you need to put the perp down?

Wife has the one in the middle with the factory laser. Have never seen her miss a beer can at forty feet. I told to simply put the red dot on the can and gently squeeze. She nails it every time!

The only gun that is worth having is one that you are comfortable with and can shoot well, and will carry.
Several have recommended going to a range and rent several different types and models. Great advice! Ask for opinions at the range, and ask why they recommend XXX. Fire at least 50 rounds through anything you rent, get a feel for it.
Have you shot before? Take a gun safety course. Ask them for their thoughts, and why XXX is better than YYY.
After you have narrowed your choices, go back to the range and shoot it a second time, maybe even a third.
Once you have made your decision and purchased your new weapon, practice, practice, practice. Consider taking a tactical handgun course. These courses also give you the laws on what not to do.
Shooting at a paper target in a range is simple. It does not move, or shoot back! Your absolute worst day at the range will be 10X better than when the adrenaline is pumping. Hopefully, you will never be confronted with the choice, but, make ABSOLUTELY SURE that you will be able to pull the trigger if the need arises. If you are not able to pull the trigger when the time arises, a gun may not be your best choice.
Last, have fun.

I like that. A lot. Thanks for sharing.

I need one of those.

I’m going to sign off now, but I want to thank each and every FReeper who posted. It is obvious that a lot of the posters went to a lot of effort to share their knowledge, and I hope it was as useful to others as it was to me. I will be going over these posts very carefully, as I make my decision.

Just a side note. Although I am new to firearms, I am NOT new to self-defense! I grew up in a, let’s just say, “rough” neighborhood. As an independent girl, who liked to explore on my own, I was proficient in protecting my own safety by the time I finished sixth grade. The kids in my neighborhood were too poor to have guns, so we relied on other weapons - like knives (which were not illegal then), chains, screwdrivers, baseball bats, and many of the girls in my highschool carried a razor blade or two in their hair! So I’m well aware of situational awareness, etc. I actually look at firearms as a rather clean way to deal with things.

That being said, I’m going to bed. Nighty-night!

Stay safe and take care.

Nope, although I lusted mightily after a Blaser .470 Nitro double at one time.

Its a great first ccw. I bought it in .38 for my wife and daughter when she turned 18. 18 yo can get ccw permit in AL. I Carry my wife’s 642 often when I’m in shorts and a t-shirt. Btw it don’t kick too hard for a 105 pound teenage girl so dont worry about that.

It’s simple, accurate, powerful (enough), and idiot proof.

“but serious shooters know that the less visible your weapon is to your opponent, the better.”

If you are in intense military conflict, that is good advice.

In most civilian self defense situations, you *want* your opponent to know you have a gun, so that they will run away instead of thinking that you are bluffing.

Trick question?

After I saw her in action, I asked, “Honey, is there anything that I’ve done that need to ask you for your forgiveness?” hehe

I don’t blame you. LOL

By the time she was about 12, my daughter was a very good shot with a .22 pistol.

Now she’s a mom and has moved up to more lethal calibers.

Your home page is great.

My wife carries a Taurus Slim 9mm - 7 round magazine and it’s medium size fits her hand and is just big enough to reduce the recoil. She’s 65 and her hands aren’t big or as strong as they used to be but she can handle it just fine.

Ok, so this reply is a bit late but I didn’t see anyone post it in the first several posts.

Find a friend, or a nearby range, that has the pistol you want. Go shoot it. Then try shooting a couple other similar models. Don’t just buy it based on some reviews or forum suggestions, every person feels different firearms differently. That’s why 10% of people are blindly in love with Glock, 10% of people who’ve never touched them hate them, and 80% just don’t care.

Also, take note of caliber and gun size/weight. Make sure your caliber is plentiful enough to be able to find ammo cheap enough. A heavier frame means less recoil, but will be bigger and maybe not comfortable to hold. Less powerful rounds will also be easier on the recoil. .38 special is usually a good round, same size as 9mm but usually the recoil is less.

But in the end, just go shoot a couple models. Find what feels comfortable (in your price range), and go with that! I personally like Ruger, but most manufacturers are decent enough for someone who’s only going to the range occasionally and carrying.

Bookmarked.