|
Note that a house or car gun may have different requirements. For example, you might want a full-sized pistol with a tactical light for your house gun, versus a compact- or sub-compact carry gun. Ammo and magazine compatibility between full-sized and concealment weapons is important. Think about how you plan to carry and conceal the weapon.
Concur with the trying what feels "right" to you before proceeding. Also consider the carry method. A Glock is fine in a holster, but not so much tossed into a purse.
Once you have narrowed your candidates down to 3-5 weapons, go to a range where you can rent or borrow the pistols you are considering, and shoot them. The one that feels best and that you shoot best is the one you want. Any significant jams or stoppages should remove a candidate, no matter how much you like it.
Concur with the preference for at least a 9mm, but concealment requirements, especially in the summer, can force me to carry a .380, which is a marginal performer, but is infinitely better than the .44 Magnum you left at home. Remember that the more power, and lighter the pistol, the more recoil. With good practice and training, most people should be able to manage a 9mm or a .38 Special, and there are some good ammo loads with excellent terminal ballistics out there for each caliber.
Competent instructors can be a big help, especially to new shooters. Women are generally better students because of lesser egos and fewer bad habits to unlearn.
There is nothing wrong with a revolver, other than the lower capacity and slower reloading (unless you are Jerry Miculek). They tend to be more reliable and safer than auto pistols.
Whatever you select, you need to practice with it over and over until you are proficient in drawing from concealment and delivering multiple accurate shots to your target at different ranges within the limits of you and your weapon. Lots of quality dry fire will be required to build the requisite muscle memory.
Then don't forget to carry it, whenever and wherever it is legal.
I tend to ignore people who can tell you a specific gun to carry without the above sort of logical process.
Good luck.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
|