Firearm Selection
Choosing a handgun for personal protection, which one is best for you?
There are many things you will need to consider when trying to determine which handgun is right for you. Do you want something that is simple to operate? Do you need something extremely concealable? Is weight going to be factor when deciding? Are you strong? Weak? Are you small in stature? All of these things and more can be a factor when deciding. Nobody, but you can decide what is best for you. However, I can give you some info that might help you decide.
Revolver or Semi-Automatic?
Both of these firearms have advantages over the other one; its a matter of intended use or personal preference which one out weighs the other. The advantage of the revolver lies in its simplicity. Revolvers are more forgiving than autoloaders in the sense that they aren't as prone to jamming and they are usually much simpler to operate for an inexperienced shooter. The way revolvers work quickly becomes obvious to those inexperienced with firearms. For people who may not be really "into" firearms, the revolver is a good choice. This does not mean that the gun owner should not become intimately familiar with their firearm and develop required safety and procedural skills with practice, it just means they should be immediately more comfortable in the understanding how the revolver works.
The downside of a revolver, if any, lies in the fact that an unloaded gun can't be brought into action by most people as quickly as the unloaded auto-loader. Accurate follow up shot's also tend to be easier to make with a single or double action auto-loader when compared to the revolver. Revolver's don't usually have a manually operated safety, they feature internal safeties called cross bars that keep the hammer from resting on the cartridge allowing for a fully loaded cylinder without worrying about a dropped gun discharge. Keep in mind I'm referring to the more modern revolvers, older revolver's didn't have this feature and as a precautionary measure people would carry the gun with the hammer on an empty chamber.
Revolvers can be had in a plethora of barrel lengths, finishes and construction materials. Im only going to lightly touch on these subjects. First, barrel length does play a role when considering a concealed carry sidearm, a seven inch .44 magnum might sound good for personal protection, but might not be practical enough to wear to the office under your sport coat. So that being said, you need to consider how you will conceal your firearm when choosing barrel length. Barrel length plays a role in accuracy and ballistics as well, but Ill come back to this topic later.
Revolver finishes range from steel, aluminum alloys of all types, and the more "exotic" metals like titanium. Again, Im just touching the surface on this subject for concealable practicality.
Steel is strong and available in many finishes. Polished stainless, matte stainless, blued steel, and many variations in between. Finish is personal preference, but some types do have advantages like rust resistance. Steel is also the heaviest of the bunch and that does play a role in concealed carry comfort ability. Remember you will need to be comfortable wearing your sidearm for hours at a time.
Aluminum alloys come in a variety of different compositions, so many types that I could fill a page explaining the tensile strength differences alone, some are stronger than others, some are more resistant to corrosion and some are lighter than others. Alloys come in a number of finishes that you can choose from, matte, polished, anodized, and more. It depends on your personal preference and needs. Aluminum framed revolvers are often chosen for concealed carry because they are lighter than most steel framed revolvers of equal size.
Titanium was named after the mighty Titans of Greek mythology. Although it is categorized as a "transition" metal, often alloyed to other materials such as steel, its amazing strength coupled with its lightness, poor electrical conductivity and low thermal expansion rate have made it an essential ingredient in 21st century aeronautics. Its use in architecture is also increasing as the high costs of processing come down. This is a "perfect" choice for a concealed carry sidearm; very light weight, very strong, very corrosion resistant, and very expensive. Oh, thats a downside, along with it not being the best looking material because its usually finished in a natural Grey color because its rather difficult to finish in the more popular finishes available.
Due to small size and weight, particularly aluminum alloy or titanium models, felt recoil can be extreme, a factor that may detract from follow-up shot placement and could cause the shooter to develop a flinch. Some manufacturers have introduced models with factory-installed barrel porting, a feature which helps offset perceived recoil. Porting is not recommended on handguns intended for self-defense. The disadvantage of a ported handgun lies in the fact that when the gun is fired from a position close to the body, rather than from a position of extended arms, the shooter may be stunned or temporarily blinded and burned by hot gasses and debris blasted upward through the exhaust ports in the barrel. Hence, it is generally advised to avoid porting on handguns intended for personal protection rather than for hunting or target shooting applications.
Semi-automatics, as the name implies, automatically cycle the slide after the first shot is fired. The slide then moves out of battery and travels back under the pressure generated from the fired cartridge to extract and eject the empty shell casing, then chambers another round off the top of the magazine. Whether or not the slide recocks the hammer after the initial shot is a function of the type of action:single action and double action versus double action only. Semi-automatics are also termed auto-loaders or self-loaders.
The stereo typical machine gun fires full automatic, meaning it fires numerous rounds when the trigger is initially pulled, and keeps firing until the trigger is released. Semi-automatics, on the other hand require that the trigger be pulled each time a shot is fired.
In an autoloader, cartridges are held in a spring-loaded magazine that is inserted into the grip portion or the guns frame. The quick speed with which an empty magazine can be removed or dropped, and a loaded magazine reinserted, is one of the key factors which contributes to the perceived attraction of the autoloader as a handgun for personal protection.
Semi-automatics usually have a higher capacity of cartridges available to the shooter, compared to the average revolver most auto-loaders can often double the available firepower. This is considered a big advantage in the auto-loader catagory. In the hands of an accomplished shooter, auto-loaders can be devastatingly quick to fire and reload.
Many auto-loaders of modern design will not fire if the magazine has been released or removed, this is called a magazine disconnect. This safety feature can potentially save lives. Example: a police officer that is capable of releasing the magazine of his own duty gun during a struggle with a criminal, just prior to having the firearm taken away from him could potentially save his own life, or minimally allow time to react with a back-up duty gun.
Semi-autos are usually slimmer than revolvers partly because the cartridges are stacked in a magazine that needs to fit in the frame or grip, it dosnt change the thickness of the firearm. Compared to the location of the revolvers cartridges being chambered in a round cylinder that extends past the thickness of the guns frame.
For a variety of physical reasons, some people find it difficult to "rack the slide". For these individuals, a revolver would be a better choice, as would a tip-barreled auto-loader. The latter incorporates a barrel that, upon release, rotates around a pivot in the front of the gun allowing a round to be manually placed into the chamber (see photo above). In all other respects, the tip-barreled auto-loader functions as a normal auto-loader. Extreme stress, fear and anxiety cause the loss of fine motor skills in any self-defense situation. This is the result of our ancestral "fight or flight" response to danger. When supercharged on adrenaline, one's ability to shoot accurately and if necessary, reload quickly is adversely affected.
Single or Double Action?
Conventional Trigger Systems
In Single Action (SA) systems the hammer must be cocked first before the gun is ready to fire. In this condition, usually, the trigger weight is very low and the trigger travel for discharge is also very short, which increases the risk of an unintended shot.
In Double Action / Single Action (DA-SA) systems the user has to deal with two different trigger pull weights and two different trigger travels for discharge. For the first shot the trigger pull weight is very high and the trigger travel is extremely long. For the second and the following shots the trigger pull weight is very low and the trigger travel is very short. Because of this there is a risk to fire a second, unwanted shot after the first one.
Double Action Only systems have a constant trigger pull weight and a constant trigger travel, but the trigger pull weight is very high and the trigger travel is extremely long - two aspects which have some influence on accuracy.
Revolver and Semi-Auto specific differences.
The type of action associated with a revolver or auto-loader involves the mechanical relationship between the trigger and the hammer, specifically whether or not the trigger will cycle the hammer, or must the hammer be manually cocked. Types of actions include single action, double action, and double action only.
A single action revolver or auto-loader requires that the shooter manually cock the hammer for the first shot. When the trigger is initially pulled, comparatively little effort is required to disengage the hammer and ignite the first round.
With a single action revolver, commonly the older or western type, all subsequent shots will require that the hammer be manually cocked. The single action auto-loader hammer must be manually cocked for the first shot only. Once the gun is initially fired, the action of the slide automatically extracts and ejects the empty case and recocks the hammer. Subsequent shots will require only a light pull on the trigger.
With double action revolvers and auto-loaders, the initial pull of the trigger cycles the hammer to its full position and then releases it to fire the first shot.
All subsequent shots with a double action revolver will require an extended trigger pull, identical to the first, to cycle the hammer and shoot the remaining rounds. Note that a double action revolver can also be shot in single action mode. This is done by manually cocking the hammer, usually with your thumb, and then pulling the trigger to release the hammer and fire a shot. Trigger pull in the single action mode is lighter than the extended trigger pull of the double action mode. Accuracy may sometimes improve if the shooter has the luxury of time to fire in the single action mode.
Double action auto-loaders require a long initial trigger pull to cycle the hammer and fire the first shot in a manner similar to double action revolvers. Because the slide automatically extracts and ejects the spent casing and recocks the hammer, however, all subsequent shots revert to single action mode, requiring only a slight pull of the trigger. Like a double action revolver, a double action auto-loader may selectively be fired in single action mode for the first shot by initially manually cocking the hammer. First shot trigger pull will be correspondingly light.
A number of gun manufacturers have introduced to the market double action only auto-loaders. These designs respond to a perceived need by some police departments to minimize accidental shootings that may be attributable to the light trigger pull of subsequent shots once a double action auto-loader reverts to single action mode after the first shot. Double action only auto-loaders function in a manner similar to that of a double action revolver. They are preferred as standard issue by some law enforcement agencies.
Choosing the type of action an auto-loader should possess is mostly personal preference. Many shooters prefer the single action auto-loader. The .45 ACP caliber Colt 1911 was the standard issue sidearm for generations of American servicemen. It and its numerous derivatives and clones posses a large following. Military issue now consists of the 9mm Beretta, equipped with a double action trigger group.
To bring a single action auto-loader such as the .45 ACP caliber Colt 1911 or the next generation Colt 1991A1 into action in the shortest amount of time requires that it be carried "cocked and locked". This means that a round has been chambered by racking the slide, the hammer has subsequently been cocked by this action, and the safety has been manually engaged.
To deploy the gun, one merely has to release the safety and pull the trigger. In this mode, the gun will accidentally fire if inadvertently dropped, hammer first. Many people are quite comfortable with this method of carry; others find it intimidating. Single action autoloaders may not be the best initial choice of a gun for the novice shooter. As skills develop with practice, new shooters may wish to further investigate the merits of single action auto-loaders.
Double action auto-loaders provide the reassurance of a long initial trigger pull for firing the first round and the ease and quickness of firing subsequent rounds associated with single action. In many respects, this combination of features offers the best of both worlds to many shooters.
Care must be exercised at all times, but it becomes especially important after the initial shot is fired from a double action autoloader. Only light pressure on the trigger will cause the firearm to discharge again. Hence, the rules of safety must be engrained in one's behavior to the point where mistakes will never occur. Observance of the top two rules will prevent accidents from happening: watch the direction of the muzzle and keep it pointed in a safe direction; keep your finger off the trigger until you wish to shoot. Because police officers may become involved in a physical struggle with a criminal once a shot has already been fired from their duty gun, accidental discharge of the firearm becomes a distinct possibility. To reduce the chance of this occurring, some police departments are insisting on double action only auto-loaders, like the very popular Glock pistol.
The Glock pistol was once referred to as the "terrorist gun" because it's frame is manufactured out of a very light and strong polymer plastic, and people fear what they do not understand, so back in the 1980's "plastic" guns could only be explained to the un-knowing public masses as the gun that metal detectors could not detect. This however was totally false, because the bulk of the gun being the barrel and slide where manufactured out of steel just like every other gun of that time period. FAST FORWARD to 2010 and Gaston Glocks' creation is now carried by more law enforcement agencies than any other gun manufacturer. (talk about a paradigm shift)
Caliber selection?
Any gun, chambered for any caliber of bullet, is better than nothing in the horrific event that you are ever confronted by a criminal intent on inflicting bodily harm. However you may find that smaller, less effective calibers might not possess the capability of taking control of a criminal encounter when the application of superior physical force is required.They may not provide the "stopping power" needed to deter a determined aggressor. At worst, smaller caliber handguns may inspire a false sense of security in the mind of their owner, and let them down when most needed. At best, the same gun may diffuse an attack because many criminals are thwarted by the mere presence of a firearm in the hands of the intended victim, often without a shot being fired.
In selecting a specific caliber for self defense you need to consider few factors, including ease of carry, portability, recoil tolerance of the shooter, and bullet performance.
Ideally, a caliber would be selected which is capable of penetrating deep into the core or vital area without exiting. The benefit of this attribute is relatively easy to visualize.With too much penetration, a bullet will put a hole in the intended target and continue traveling. Still possessing considerable energy, the bullet will continue on its course until its energy is dissipated by collision with subsequent objects, or worse, with innocent bystanders. All the energy of the bullet, once it passes through the intended target, is wasted.
However when firing a cartridge with not enough penetration potential, the bullet could get impeded by clothing and exterior tissue or bone, failing to disrupt the brain or the circulatory system. Such a shot might merely serve to further enrage one's attacker.
I consider some cartridges too hot, some are too cold and some are just right. The ideal round for personal protection will dissipate all its energy within the core area of the attackers body. It will not exit to endanger others. Such a round will have the ability to penetrate from between ten and twelve to eighteen inches of human tissue.
When considering a cartridge remember there is no perfect cartridge, you need to choose one based on your needs, also bigger is not always better or more powerful.
Consider this analogy: Lets say, A major league baseball pitcher can throw a fast ball at 90-100mph. This is a fairly small ball compared to a softball, now picture an average man or woman throwing a bigger, heavier, and slower softball. Which one would you rather get hit with? The obvious answer is neither, but if you had to, it would most likely be the slower traveling softball, even if it is bigger.
A .45ACP weighing 230 grains, traveling at 830 fps (feet per second) is a proven stopper, but this doesn't mean that a 10mm (10mm measures .40, slightly smaller diameter than the .45ACP) weighing in at 200 grains, traveling at 1100 fps is less powerful, in fact because it travels a-lot faster it actually has more energy at impact. The 230gr. .45 ACP generates around 360lbs of energy. The 10mm 200gr. Generates around 650lbs of energy.
Semi-Auto cartridges. (At least the popular ones).
Proper shot placement is crucial with any firearm, but especially with a smaller caliber handgun. However A diminutive .22-caliber handgun, or "mouse gun" as some call it, is certainly better than nothing.
The problem with .22's, both handguns and ammunition, is that they may not be consistently reliable. However, Revolvers chambered for the .22LR tend to be more reliable than .22LR auto-loaders.
Another drawback is that although an attacker may be shot, they may not be deterred from their immediate aggression. There is no question that a .22 is capable of inflecting a mortal wound. The question is whether or not the fight is taken out of the attacker immediately; an attack with a knife that isnt immediately stopped could still result in grave danger for the intended victim (you). Consider this: how much damage could be inflicted on the human body in just 5 seconds of up close slashing, too much! If you decide on a .22-caliber gun for self-defense always follow the gun manufacturers recommendation for ammunition, they tested the gun with far more ammo than you would want to, and they decided what performs best based on reliability and performance.
If your considering a .25 ACP caliber handgun. This is a notoriously poor performer, and is likely to generate a false sense of confidence in its owner. The .25 ACP was originally developed to offer a more reliable center-fired alternative to the rim-fired .22LR
A number of .32 ACP auto-loading handguns have found their way to market. Their unobtrusive size means that you will likely have a gun with you when you need it. Popular in Europe, the .32 ACP is acquiring a following in
The .380 ACP, also known as the 9mm Kurz (9mm Short), falls between the .32 ACP and the 9mm in terms of auto-loading bullet performance. It is quite similar to the ballistics of the revolvers .38 Special, when the latter is fired from a 2-inch snubbed nose revolver.
Auto-loaders chambered for the .380 ACP tend to be significantly larger than their counterparts in .32 ACP. Among other contenders in this arena are tip-barreled and traditional auto-loading Berettas, Sig Sauer 232, and the venerable Walther PPK and PPK/S. Because of their bulk, the larger models of pistols in .380 ACP are often compared in size to scale down versions of auto-loaders available in 9mm. Un-less recoil is a concern, the more potent 9mm represents the better choice for personal protection.
The 9mm luger, The 9 mm round is currently being used by the
The .40SW was originally developed to match the ballistics of the FBI 10mm lite load. Some agents considered the full power 10mm to be too intimidating. The .40SW falls in the category between the 9mm and .45ACP. This cartridge is commonly used among law enforcement and the private sector.
The .45ACP has the reputation of proven stopping power. This cartridge was developed in the early 1900s to be used in the " Automatic Colt pistol" the Colt 1911, or as the average American knows it, the 45.
To be Continued...