![]() Power and capacity have a direct effect on carryability. The weight of a polymer-framed gun in 9mm means more capacity in a smaller size. Some people believe that you can train yourself to be able to do this, but the truth is, in a stressful situation, you will lose the fine motor skills that are usually needed to flip a safety lever and most people will (or can) not train to overcome that.Ĭarryability is your ability to conceal the firearm in a way that you can get comfortable enough that you will carry it every day. It has little to do with how well they can shoot it.Ī simple design without external manual safeties removes many points of failure when it comes to how well you can shoot a gun in a critical situation. However, after working with hundreds of students, I’ve learned to downplay the importance of how a grip feels to a shooter trying out a new gun. I appreciate that a gun that feels good in your hand is a nice feeling, and it’s not a bad thing in itself. That may seem important, but most people I know who have purchased their first firearm at the recommendation of a gun store salesperson or a friend that tells you they “have the perfect gun for you”, have been painfully disappointed once they are at the range trying to use it in demanding situations. Can you load and manipulate the controls? A good instructor knows what to look for to help you here, but this is NOT just a matter of what feels good in your hand at a store. Shootability (YOUR ability to control and shoot the gun well) will need to be tested with the firearm in your hand and live ammunition in the gun at a range. How many rounds you (or your buddy) have put through it at the target range is probably not so important. If the gun isn’t 100% reliable in these conditions it should not be a consideration. Thousands of rounds in harsh environments and abuse should not cause malfunctions on a personal defense firearm. Reliability (the gun’s ability to function correctly 100% of the time) comes from knowing what other people are using and training with in the field, finding out what is working, and what breaks in real-life situations. Choose your compromises carefully and keep in mind the priorities suggested here (in order of importance). It is impossible for one firearm to be the best in all of those categories. ![]() 45 – there is little difference according to most reliable studies.)Īny defensive firearm is a compromise of its reputation for reliability, your ability to control and shoot it well, carryability, power, capacity, accuracy, and cost. (Among the most common defensive calibers …. Please note that as far as effectiveness, I don’t believe that caliber matters as much as design. Most of us (experienced defensive shooting instructors) agree that the modern, polymer-framed, 9mm, high capacity, striker-fired semi-auto, with no external manual safeties, is the best type of handgun for concealed carry.ĩmm is the best round for its overall effectiveness and availability, and it costs less to practice with. My opinion has also changed over the years because of over three decades of personal study of defensive shootings, various opinions of top experts in the field teaching thousands of students, and countless hours of my own personal time as a student and instructor. I know many instructors who have been teaching professionally in the private sector for decades, and most acknowledge significant evolution in their thoughts. (If you ask a gun store salesperson, you will probably find out what they are making the most profit on - I do not sell guns, though I can direct you to a few good places to buy one, as long as you go there knowing what you want.) I’ve seen just about every possible variation of gun and holster combinations come through a class. I have also drawn from the wealth of knowledge and experience of many other instructors at high-volume defensive shooting schools, so my experience isn’t limited to just the guns I’ve shot or carried. I’m far from being omniscient, but I have taught defensive firearms skills for more than 20 years, and before that, I had trained with law enforcement on the range regularly for 15 more. Often times we don’t know what we don’t know. However, if you ask 10 people who are experienced personal defense firearms instructors, their answers will be very similar.Įveryone is limited by his or her own experiences, myself included. If you ask 10 different gun owners this same question, you will probably get 10 different answers. One of the most frequently asked questions I get asked is “what is the best handgun for concealed carry?”
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