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There have been many discussions over the years about choosing the right gun—this issue will contribute to that discussion. It’s too easy to answer the question with a “buy a Glock” or “buy a revolver.” Many who offer this advice fail to ask some very basic questions that will help the questioner get the best gun for them.
The co-founder at Austin Tactical Firearms, Allen Christy, found firsthand that proper fit is just as important as caliber when choosing a gun. He has written a brief discussion about it, so I won’t rehash it, but it does go to the heart of the issue. It doesn’t matter if you buy a semi-automatic, a revolver, .45ACP, or .22LR, at the risk of sounding cheesy; if the gun doesn’t fit, you won’t get a hit!
When you’re shopping for a pistol (or helping someone else shop for a pistol) ask a few questions:
- Am I planning on carrying this gun? If so, how frequently and how will I carry it (shoulder holster, inside-the-waistband, belt)?
- Is this gun concealable given my body size?
- Do I primarily want this for self-defense, plinking, and/or competition?
- What caliber is appropriate for me? Can I manage the recoil?
- Will I be the only one shooting it or will my spouse/significant other need it as well?
- How much am I willing to spend?
- Semi-automatic or revolver?
- Will I use this gun to qualify for my CHL shooting test?
- Does this weapon comfortably fit in my hand?
We’ll talk about gun fit in future newsletters, so stay tuned. For now, we’ll address some of these questions. Many of these boil down to individual preference. Frankly, if you’re going to spend more than a couple hundred dollars on a firearm, you should go to your local gun dealer and test fire a few pistols. In the long run, you’ll be happier with your final purchase and have more confidence in your ability to accurately shoot it.
If your ultimate goal is to use the pistol as a self-defense/concealed carry weapon, some of the more important decisions will be weight, bullet capacity, how you carry, and body type. If you’re 6′3″ and 270lbs, more than likely you’ll be able to carry a full size pistol like a Beretta 92FS or S&W N-frame. For those of us who are smaller in size, it becomes a challenge hiding those larger framed guns. A heavier gun is going to present some problems too. While the weight will help eat up some of the shock of recoil, while sitting in a holster all day, you tend to get tired of it being there. Carrying a gun is meant to be comforting and not necessarily comfortable. If it’s too much of a hassle to wear, more than likely you’ll leave it at home. The converse is also true. If you have a light gun, get used to the amount of recoil. You’ll want to practice bringing the gun back on target since muzzle flip may be somewhat difficult to overcome. The point here is to try and strike a balance. The best gun is to get a gun that you’ll use for your desired purpose, and be able to control after the bang!
Some argue the superiority of the old fashioned revolver over those complex semi-autos. There is something to be said about that. Wheel guns have very few moving parts and assuming good ammunition, when you pull the trigger they will fire. Even if you hit a dud, pull the trigger again and you’re right back in the fight. Some argue that the semi-automatic is notorious for spring failure. I’ve been carrying a Springfield XD, left the magazines fully loaded all the time (12 rounds) and have not had a problem in three years. The one or two fail to fire issues were due to my own hand-loaded bullets. That’s not a bad track record! With practice, a misfire on a semi-auto can be cleared within seconds and you have the high capacity to carry you through a fight. The way Austin Tactical Firearms looks at it is very simple: your gun may be used to save your life. If you have little value for your own life, treat your weapon of choice the same. A semi-auto will shoot just as well as a revolver and visa versa; just keep them maintained.