After some thought, you have made the decision to purchase your first handgun. You have visited with friends and read several articles on various guns. While you may believe you are ready to head to the register, I would suggest we make sure you are buying what you really want and need.
There are several things that people rarely consider when they head out to buy their first blaster. So grab a seat and let me share a few things to consider.
1: Small guns are not always the best guns.
The number of micro pistols on the market has grown exponentially and is showing no sign of slowing. These guns can be very well made and easy to carry, but they are also, in most cases difficult with which to train. Their super small size reduces mass which in turn puts more felt recoil into the hands of the shooter.
The word “snappy” is used quite often when discussing these small guns. If you absolutely must have a small gun for concealed carry, then this may still work for you. Just make sure you try before you buy.
2: “I carry a .45 because they don’t make a .46.”
The “which caliber is best” argument is still raging, but modern ballistic testing has proven that the 9mm round performs on par with its chubbier .45ACP counterpart. The upside is higher magazine capacity with the 9mm. The .45ACP is still a formidable round, but I would lean towards having additional ammunition in the magazine.
3: Just because your new handgun has a place for a weapon light, laser, bayonet and blender doesn’t mean you should put it all on there.
While some full -size handguns are designed to accommodate accessories, these items add weight and bulk. If this is going to be an everyday carry gun, I encourage you to dress it up with everything and see if you can carry it concealed. Chances are the gun will be back to bare bones in short order.
4: The price of a handgun generally correlates with the overall reliability and function of said gun.
The purchase of a handgun should be considered an investment. This is especially true if it is a personal defense weapon. If you come across a handgun at bargain basement pricing, you should ask yourself if you are willing to trust it to defend your life. The adage of “buy once, cry once” really applies here.
5: Feel matters.
What this means is that no matter how many people are telling you to buy gun X or gun Y, it needs to be a personal decision. How the gun feels in your hand is very important and honestly one of the biggest things you should weigh. As long as you stay with a respected manufacturer you cannot go wrong by using “feel” as your final decision point. If the gun feels good, you will perform better with it and in turn enjoy your new purchase even more.