Whenever I write about firearms, there are lots of technical questions. And because I’m no expert, I often turn to you, the readers, to help answer them. A member of our community volunteered to write a series to help folks who are choosing their first handgun. There are a lot of things to think about when making that decision, so for the next month, Monday will be Gun-Day here at The Organic Prepper blog.
Please offer a warm thank you to Steve Candidus for the first post in this excellent guest series. ~ Daisy
Some Things to Think About When Choosing Your First Handgun
by Steve Candidus
This article is specifically for anyone that might be considering acquiring their first handgun but is unfamiliar with the myriad types and offerings. This should be a good basic guide to get you started. You can always further your knowledge over time and in future articles posted here on The Organic Prepper.
There are countless articles on the Internet recommending which handguns that particular writer thinks are best so I will not be discussing any particular brand or models here.
First of all, a handgun is very much a personal weapon. What is best for one person might not be best for another. Although you might choose the same handgun that someone else has you should do so for the same reasons that they did rather than just because they did.
A quick handgun glossary
Some of the things that you will need to consider when choosing a firearm are:
- Intended Use: The first thing you need to consider is the purpose that you intend the handgun. Do you want one for day-to-day or occasional concealed carry or do you intend it strictly for home defense?
- Revolvers Versus Semi-Automatics: Do you want a revolver or a semi-automatic? A revolver, sometimes called a wheel gun, has a cylinder typically holding five or six rounds. They are not called bullets, that is what comes out of the end of the barrel. The complete bullet, powder, and brass or aluminum case is called a cartridge or round. A semi-automatic is flatter in profile and typically holds more ammunition. It fires a bullet each time the trigger is pulled, and extracts and ejects the spent cartridge case from the firing chamber, re-cocks the firing mechanism, and loads a new cartridge into the firing chamber.
- Polymer Versus Metal Guns: This is the material that most of the gun is made of. Polymer, sometimes referred to as plastic, is a very strong and very light material that is used in constructing the frame (the guns skeleton) and its outside covering.Metal guns have an all-metal frame. Some use an aluminum alloy to reduce weight, but all will usually be heavier than polymer guns. The barrel and the slide (the top part that moves backward when fired on semi-autos) on all semi-automatics is metal. Revolvers are usually metal and heavier than autos.
- Caliber: Caliber means the diameter of the bullet that exits the barrel.
- Recoil: Recoil refers to how much backward force the gun will give when you fire it. As with the caliber selection where the more powerful the caliber the greater the recoil, the lighter the gun the greater the recoil will be.
- Holsters: A holster is what you would most likely keep a gun that you intend to carry in. There is a wide variety of types including side holsters – some worn outside of the pants, and others inside the pants. Additionally, there is something called a small-of-back holster (SOB), and even shoulder holsters. What you choose depends on both purpose and even your own personal build.
- Strong Hand and Weak Hand: The hand you hold a gun with is called your strong hand and as you might expect your other hand is called your weak hand.
- Training: Training is very important. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you will be able to figure out how to use the gun when the need arises. If such a situation, you will need to be able to react quickly and instinctively. Plan to spend some time at a gun range to familiarize yourself with your weapon.
I will be discussing each of these categories in future posts, but this is at least an introduction to the language that you will likely encounter when you begin your exploration into the world of handguns.
How will you use your handgun?
The first thing you need to consider is the purpose you intend the handgun. Do you want one for day-to-day or occasional concealed carry? Do you intend it strictly for home defense?
For home defense, you need not consider some of the limitations that come into play for concealing and carrying it daily.
Something that is easy to use and that you will be able to wield even in the dark is good. For that purpose big and bulky is okay and night sights are useful. Night sites are ones that will glow so that you can still see them. They are available on a few guns as manufactured, but are usually something that you can have added by a gunsmith after
you have purchased the gun.
For home defense, either a revolver or an automatic is fine – it’s that personal preference thing.
Another consideration for home defense is the surrounding area. A miss or even a glancing hit that exits an arm or leg can continue on its trajectory and harm someone in another room or even in a neighbor’s house. There is an ammunition called a safety slug that is best for use here. It is powerful enough to stop an assailant, but most often
will not penetrate walls and go where you don’t want it to. Glazer Safety Slugs are the most common. Please consider them for home defense.
For concealed carry, you will want something small enough to conceal and light enough that you are willing to carry it. Automatics are generally smaller, less bulky, and in most cases will hold more ammunition.
Some gun-use philosophy
In either case, remember that your purpose is not to kill, but to stop an assailant. Forget all of that bravado nonsense about shooting even after your attacker has fallen. If his attack has stopped, your shooting should too.
Many people inexperienced with guns think that carrying a gun only makes a person reckless and looking for a fight. The truth is just the opposite. With most people, carrying a gun makes them more responsible, less aggressive, and less likely to escalate an otherwise dangerous, but avoidable confrontation.
There should be no backdoor that you won’t run to, no window you won’t climb out of, no fight you won’t run away from to avoid escalating a confrontation when you are carrying a gun. You have a bolt of lightning in your hands. You want to do everything possible to avoid having to use it.
Remember that if you kill a person you cannot undo that. If you do when it wasn’t absolutely necessary, you will have to live with it for the rest of your life. Stopping them is the goal.
When it comes to home defense though the rules change. You are now defending both yourself and your family. For home defense, the rule is that no one gets past you to do harm to your loved ones. You are the last line of defense between them and the bad guy.
In all cases remember that you don’t shoot to kill. You shoot for you and possibly your whole family to live.
Be on the lookout next Monday when we talk in more detail about the specific types of guns. ~ Daisy
Great article Steve! A really great introduction to handguns. Personally, I use handguns only for sporting purposes, but self-defence is what others use them for. One thing to note though: it is an unfortunate fact that people who are not trained in the specific use of their firearm are more likely to hurt bystanders and kill attackers.
Places with stand your ground laws and castle laws (laws that allow gun owners to kill home invaders and people who threaten them on the street) also have higher gun homicide rates, as ill-trained gun owners are emboldened by the fact that they will not be punished for killing someone who threatened them.
So, if someone is going to be carrying a firearm in public or defending their home, they should take as many weapon training courses as possible, as it is possible to disable without killing. But unfortunately, a lot of gun owners are not avid shooters, and so they only know to aim for the easiest target, the chest.
Some may disagree with this, stating that they are responsible gun owners, but just google “gun fail compilation USA” and you will find many videos about people who are uneducated in firearm use, or are just plain idiots who are only a danger when they have a gun.
So, the biggest item with firearms use, especially with self defence, is: train often, train well and learn to defend yourself without lethal force.
I have to disagree a little, here, Anonymous. The focus of your training should be to STOP THE THREAT. You stop the threat by any force necessary and this will vary from situation to situation. Practicing ‘disabling without killing” is a great way to get other people killed when you merely tick off an aggressor.
My only complaint is you have to disagree “a little”. The idea of “disabling without killing” is absolutely wrong. That’s a Holllywood fantasy. Shooting under extreme stress is very difficult at best. Shooting a person is ONLY justifiable when one is in immediate fear of death or grave bodily injury to himself or to a loved one. That means that there is no other option than to stop the bad guy immediately. If “shooting to disable” is an option, then the situation is not grave enough to justify shooting at all. Period.
Thank you Daisy and Stephan for your replies. I carried at church for the first time Sunday. I can pray I never have to use it, however if I do the best case scenario would be a one shot stop. Not an easy thing under stress in a room full of loved ones. Can one get too much training and practice, not likely.
best regards and God bless,
Mac
You’re absolutely right.
So anonymous-When I took my CC course, we were taught to aim for center mass, in other words the chest. We were also taught to stop the threat and that means center mass in most cases. Unless you are extremely well trained and very proficient in shooting, aiming at a smaller target under great pressure usually results in a miss and a pissed off aggressor who will really want to hurt you now.
So I respectfully disagree with some of your post but your premise is good. I really don’t want to kill another human being and would prefer to wound only enough to stop the threat myself.
Good main article with many good points to consider. I ended up with a Sig.380 with night sights after MUCH consideration and holding/aiming many handguns. Talked a lot with the gun shop man too! Got an inside the pants holster which works well with a belt. Not so good with my scrubs though!!
Nothing you said is factually correct.
It’s so great that I’ve sparked this conversation. I just want to say, as someone who shoots for sport, I’m more used to shooting smaller targets, and this may not be for everyone in all situations. Stress, time of day, lighting and proficiency with your firearm are all possible factors when it comes to self-defence. I’m just trying to advocate people having an outlook of not trying to kill their attacker, as I believe that all human life is sacred, even the life of a criminal. But I am pleased to hear different opinions, as it is vital to learning and changing your views.
Thank you for your feedback everyone ????
I have a couple of thoughts on carrying for self defence. First if you are buying a gun for self defence against humans (as opposed to bears and such) you had better have it clear in your head that if you have t o use it you will likely kill a human. Many years ago when my brother in law got his New York state carry permit the deputy sheriff that handled the paper work advised him that if he had to use it he should shoot to kill as that left only one witness. Most rules of engagement call for center of mass shots unless a vest is involved. certainly if the attacker is armed with a gun you must continue until he or she is disarmed. I agree with other commentators who point out that a self defence situation very few could make a disarming shot. Also in a tense situation that has not developed into one which would justify deadly force you should never draw your weapon as that leaves you as aggressor.
The conversation seems to have quickly turned to shoot to kill. If I may, I’d like to turn it back to firearm selection.
I grew up around guns and hunting. I’ve owned many over my lifetime but what I had was a rag-tag collection that served the purpose but only marginally so. When we moved to the farm several years ago I decided to reshape the armory to one more suited to defense.
In pursuit of this it came time to add handguns. I wanted something durable, reliable, high quality with wide availability of parts. I also wanted to standardize around one manufacturer and as few calibers as much as possible. I spoke with every gun owner I knew and when possible took the opportunity to fire their weapons. These included Glock, Smith & Wesson, Colt, Sig Sauer, and others.
All were quality weapons that would suit anyone’s need. I chose Sig Sauer. The primary reason for my choice was modularity. I have P226 and a P250 both of which support interchangeable barrels and slides that allow you to use 9MM, .40 S&W, .357 Sig and .22LR ammunition. The P250 has a full size frame and slide as well as a sub compact. The P226 is an all metal firearm, the P250 has a polymer frame.
Like many of us, I don’t enjoy an unlimited cash flow and have many other projects that compete for funds. This selection gives me flexibility without breaking the bank.
I too, would like to dispute the unsubstantiated “facts” of anonymous along with his absurd notions about shooting to wound. When my daughter prepared to leave home and live on her own I purchased a Taurus Judge loaded with .410 shotshells containing 000 buckshot for her and trained her to use it. I carefully taught her the”rules of engagement”: if someone was to break in to her apartment she was to retrieve her gun and phone, lock herself in her bedroom, get behind her bed, call 911 and leave the line open. She was then to warn the intruder that she was armed and that the police had been called. If the intruder persisted in breaking into her bedroom he crossed a line: he considered that what he planned to do to her justified risking his life. In doing so he forfeit any expectation of mercy. I told my daughter not to shoot to warn or wound but to shoot to kill and continue to shoot until the threat was eliminated. As an EMT I can state from personal observation that the human body is capable of sustaining incredible injury but continue to function for a dangerously long period of time (contrary to the Hollywood depiction). We once picked up a man who was shot three times in the chest, three times in the abdomen, and once in the back. He was still conscious and capable of firing a gun. Despite two chest decompressions on the way to the hospital he lived. In short, there is far too much concern for the welfare of violent criminals: when in doubt, err on the side of protecting their potential victims.
Very good article.
I see way too many articles pushing for a particular make and model, or a specific caliber. A lot of tacti-cool wannabes out there pushing their so-called expertise advice. YouTube is full of them.
A handgun, like any firearm, is a tool. Use the right one for the right job. And ergonomics plays an even more important factor than a given make or model.
When I was looking for my first handgun, I was all into Glocks. Until I had the opportunity to shoot one. Note this was way back in the day, before changeable backstraps to adjust for fit. The Glock just did not fit my hand comfortably. At all.
Not going to spend that kind of money on something that does not fit, or I do not enjoy shooting.
You’re exactly right – and interestingly, Glocks are more comfortable for me than anything else. I have two different ones and love them both. At the same time, I tried my instructor’s M&P and absolutely hated it.
Nothing beats trying a variety of guns to see what you like best.
You are both right.
In addition to the interchangeable backstraps that are available on some of the newer models, just changing the grips the gun came with can make a huge difference.
The original grips supplied by Smith & Wesson on what are called their third-generation autos were awful.
The first thing that I do now when I can find another one (they are no longer made) is to take those grips off and replace them with Hogue rubber grips. It makes a huge difference.
We used to say that the best thing about S&W grips is that they are removable…
Steve C.
Spring, Texas
Thank you for this article – looking forward to the next installment!
The only time I would suggest anyone aim other than center mass is if the assailant is hiding behind partial cover… To that end, I have spent much time with a silhouette target set up behind a 6″post so that only the shoulders are visible and drilled with my pistol at various ranges until I can reliably draw, aim and fire two rounds into the target after having run 100′. This would hopefully spin the assailant out where I can then aim center mass.
Practice, practice, practice and more practice.
Having the weapon of your choice isn’t worth a hoot if you can’t use it correctly.
Exactly right.
And having it with you when you need it.
I discuss both in coming parts.
Stay tuned.
Steve C.
Spring, Texas
It would have been nice, for this beginner, if there were pictures. Such as this statement…”A semi-automatic is flatter in profile and typically holds more ammunition.” I already had a picture, in my mind, of what a revolver looks like.
That is a great idea, Joan. Next article is specifically about semi-autos vs revolvers and it will have photos. Thank you for the suggestion.
I’ve enjoyed owning firearms most of my life. I have taken firearms classes, practice on a regular basis and have carried concealed for several decades. Never once in any training did any instructor advocate shooting to intentionally wound an attacker. Never! I may sound callus, but should you ever do have the need to protect yourself using a firearm from an attacker and only wound them, I suspect that once they are finished suing you in civil court you will wish you had killed them.
If you are serious about carrying a firearm for your protection I would recommend you seek out a legal firm who specializes in firearms self-defense cases and establish a retainer with them in advance of you ever having to become involved in a shooting.
Great introductory article for those considering their first handgun purchase. Lots to consider before laying down the cash.
“With most people, carrying a gun makes them more responsible, less aggressive, and less likely to escalate an otherwise dangerous, but avoidable confrontation.” Spot on. An excellent article, thank you for sharing this information!
I just got my first gun last night. I don’t want a gun, but felt it was wise to get one. I had very few choices because 1. my hands are very small and so limited on guns that would fit my hand. As I get older I seem to have less strength in my hands too. 2. The man at the gun store said they are having trouble getting guns and ammo. They have people calling them from all over the state and even from out of state trying to find these items. They are in short supply these days. I plan to get training! I know it’s best to try different guns, but since my options were so few I got what I could. I plan to look for the other articles in this series and read them if I can find them. I also am going to call around to the places the gun store recommended and see about training. Any other advice