INFORMATION ON HELPING YOU IN CHOOSING THE RIGHT HANDGUN


By: Fred Emerson III
Owner: Allsport Performance Inc.
681 Bog Road
Hermon, Maine
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Choosing the right handgun for the range or self-defense can be difficult. It is hard to find one handgun that will do both well. Here is some information that I am putting together based on customers questions in the shop.
 
Revolver or Pistol? 
 
Benefits of a revolver:
- Simple to operate
- Reliability
- Easy to clean
- Double action trigger so no safety is needed
- No slide. Just swing out the cylinder load the ammo and close the cylinder. This is very simple and requires minimal hand strength. 
- Ability to shoot 410ga / 45lc in some revolvers. The 410ga is a great option inside the home since the pellets (if bird or buckshot is used) will not penetrate through walls as easy.
Cons:
- Limited capacity
- Can be slower to reload for the average user
- Thickness of the cylinder
- No option for a manual safety
- 38sp, 357mag, among others are more expensive to shoot due to the cost of the ammo. (They do make revolvers in 9mm and other automatic pistol calibers)
- Hammer to catch on clothing when drawing the firearm out of its holster or your pocket. (unless you have a hammerless or shaved hammer model)
 
Benefits of a pistol:
- Capacity
- Depending on the pistol they can be thinner and more compact that a revolver.
- Capability of carrying extra magazines verses speed loaders for revolvers
- Increased accuracy when shooting in rapid fire depending on the type of action and  trigger
- Option for manual safety
- Cheaper to shoot depending on the caliber (See revolver cons)
Cons:
- Possibility of jams or misfires effecting the operation
- The slide must be pulled to the rear to load the first round of ammo. Some pistols have more slide spring tension than others and can be difficult to slide back for some people. Some slides are lower profile or small than other which can be difficult to grip. Hand strength is very important when using a semi auto pistol. Usually 22 caliber firearms are the easiest to operate. Some larger caliber firearms such as the Walther CCP 9mm, Walther PK380 380acp, and Smith & Wesson M&P380 Shield EZ are good choices for an easy to operate semi auto handgun.
- Must disassemble to clean properly
- Some have either no safety or just a safety integrated in the trigger assembly.
 
Choosing the right size:
Once choosing a revolver or pistol you need to determine the size of handgun you wish to buy. This depends on how you intend to use the firearm. Remember the smaller the firearm the more felt recoil vs a larger firearm of the same caliber.
- Do you plan to use it for home protection only?
If you plan to use the firearm for home protection the size really does not matter.
- Do you want an accurate range gun?
If you want an accurate range gun then you will want a 4" barrel or longer. It is difficult to find a conceal and carry gun that will do both well.
- Do you plan to conceal and carry the firearm?
If you plan to conceal and carry you need to consider how you will carry the firearm. The most common ways are:
- Inside the waistband
- Outside the waistband
- Front pocket
- Rear pocket
- Purse
Depending on how you carry depends on the size of the handgun you choose. 
Pistols:
You must determine if you want a double stack or single stack firearm. 
 
Difference between double stack and single stack.
 
Double Stack:
- Wider magazine which holds a staggered stack of ammo
- Holds more rounds of ammo
- A thicker magazine means a thicker firearm
Cons:
- Heavier than a single stack
- Bulkier
- Not for small hands
 
Single Stack:
- Narrow magazine which holds a single row and ammo
- A thinner magazine will allow for a thinner firearm
- Lighter than a single stack
- Better for small hands
Cons:
- More recoil felt when firing ( typically )
- Holds less rounds of ammo versus a double stack
 
With a small single stack pistol you can purchase one small enough to fit in your pocket with ease.
 
Revolvers:
As far as size when it comes to a revolver all you really need to do is choose whether you want an exposed hammer or not and what barrel length you need. There are options with type of material the fame is made of. Some are lighter than others. Some hold more of less rounds. The higher the round capacity the heavier and bulkier the revolver will be.
 
Caliber:
Five factors you look at when choosing a caliber.
- Use
- Cost
- Availability
- Stopping power
- Recoil
Everyone has their own opinion on this. The cheapest to shoot is the 22lr for target practice. The most popular defensive round is the 9mm and it is also the most economical of the larger calibers to shoot. With the advances in ammunition even smaller calibers will do well in tests. I personally carry a 9mm outside of the office and a 40s&w in the shop but do also use a 9mm and 45acp as well. Some will not use anything less than a 45acp. I have heard it all.
Choosing a caliber can be effected by the size of the firearm especially when you want to conceal and carry. The felt recoil of a pocket 380acp pistol can be as much or more that a larger 9mm single stack pistol. Pocket guns are lighter, smaller, and you have less to hold on to. The one thing about a pocket gun it they are easy to carry in any situation. 
The most popular calibers I sell are 9mm being the most common seller, next would be 45acp, 380acp, 40s&w, 38spl, and 357mag. If you purchase a 357mag revolver you do have the option to shoot 38spl through it.
If you are using the firearm for home protection you need to be concerned about wall penetration. Larger high velocity rounds will penetrate through walls very easily. Penetration will be greater if you are using FMJ ammo. 410ga revolvers are another option due to the fact that pellets (assuming bird shot or buckshot is used) will not penetrate through walls as easy.
As far as expense in shooting here is a list of cheapest to most expensive in the most popular calibers. Starting with the cheapest .22lr, .22mag , 9mm, 380acp, 40s&w, 38spl, 45acp, 357mag, 357sig and 10mm. This can vary depending on the quality of the ammo. I use brass cased ammo in my handguns although I do not reload. Steel cased is none reloadable, a little dirty, and may not function well in some firearms however it is cheaper to shoot. If you used lead round nose ammo this can cause lead building up in the barrel. Most ammo such as above can be found at most gun shops with 357sig and 10mm being the least come from that list.

HORNADY BALLISTICS CHART
http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/ballistics/2015-Standard-Ballistics.pdf
 
See the disruption as as the bullets travel through ballistics gel. 

Pistol Round 380acp

Pistol Round Terminal Ballistics

Handgun Ammo rimfire

Handgun Ammo Centerfire

Handgun Ammo Centerfire Maine

Brand:
Most firearms manufactured today have very high quality standards. Most have a limited lifetime warranty through the manufacturer. The best value in firearms I believe is those made by Ruger.
Hi Point and Jimenez are great for someone on a budget. The Hi Point handguns 380acp, 9mm, 40s&w, and 45acp are heavy and bulky. The Jimenez J.A.9 is heavy as well. This is compared to any other handgun on the market that is the same size. This can be a problem if you plan to conceal and carry one of those models.  

Maine Shooting Range

Maine Handgun Training


TROUBLE SHOOTING A SEMI AUTO HANDGUN:

Here are are some quick things to check before sending your firearm back to the manufacturer or taking it to a gunsmith.

- Did you try different ammo? Not all ammo will function properly in semi auto handguns especially those that are in rimfire calibers. Try different grains and brands.
- Did you try different magazines? Sometimes you will get a defective magazine.
- Have you cleaned and lightly lubed the firearm?
- Limp wristing is a common problem. Hold your arms out stiff with a firm grip on the firearm when firing.  More the gun moves when firing the greater the chance of malfuction. You want the energy of firing to transfer into the action of the firearm not through your hands and arms. Don't hold a handgun loosely.
- Have you broken in the firearm? Shooting the firearm the recommended amount to break in the gun. Break in periods can be 200 rounds or more depending on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers will not look at the gun until the minumum amount of break in shots be fired through it.



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