How to Choose a Handgun

Handguns are the most popular self defense weapons in the world. However, with so many models, caliber options, and styles available, selecting the perfect handgun can prove to be a daunting task. Let’s first talk about why we choose a handgun in the first place.

Why Choose a Handgun

Handguns lack the range and stopping power of rifles but are also portable and are perfect as concealed weapons. Therefore, if you want a weapon that’s small enough to fit inside a briefcase or a glove compartment and provide decent level of protection, handguns are your best bet. Here’s our list of 3 things you need to check that will ensure you select the best handgun every time.

Selecting a Size

The size of the handgun totally depends on the way you are going to carry it around. If you are looking for a gun that will always be concealed you might want to go for a smaller frame. There is a wide range of 9mm compact pistols and .380 super light pistols available in the market. Anything heavier and bigger might make it uncomfortable to carry it for long hours in a pocket or a bag.

However, if you are selecting a gun for your home and have no intention of concealing it, then it’s advisable to go for the larger framed models. Select ones that can fire larger caliber rounds and have longer barrel length. This will make sure your gun has more stopping power and accuracy.

Selecting A Caliber

This is one of the most crucial decisions when selecting any gun. To be sure, go to the firing range and fire handguns with different calibers. You might be tempted to go for the larger calibers but be sure you are comfortable holding and firing the handgun you select.

There is no point in selecting a hand-cannon if you fail to hit the target when you need it the most. The 9mm and .380 pistols are easier to control as they have less recoil and barrel jumps when fired. Once considered to be large calibers the 357 Sig ammo or the 357 magnum is now considered to be intermediate calibers. They have more stopping power but has slightly more recoil than the 9mm and .380 pistols. The large caliber handguns which fire .45 rounds and more have the best stopping power. However, a shooter needs to train himself or herself to deal with the recoils and barrel jumps.

Reliability

A reliability of a handgun is a matter of life and death. You need to be sure that every time you take it out of the holster and pull the trigger the gun is going to do what it’s meant to do. Unfortunately there is no set parameter to measure reliability. Therefore, it’s best to avoid experimentation and go for reputed brands. You can also read user reviews before deciding on a particular model. There are plenty of review videos available on YouTube so check them out before making that final call.

Why a 12-Gauge Shotgun Is Perfect for Self Defense

You might be wondering what type of gun to by for your self defense. While conventional wisdom suggests buying a pistol, opting for a 12-gauge shotgun might be the wiser choice. There are a few very compelling reasons for this.

A 12-Gauge Shotgun Is Easy to Operate

A basic pump shotgun has, essentially, two parts required for operation. The first is the pump that feeds a shell into the chamber and the other is the safety. If a round is already in the chamber, simply pressing the safety button on or off allows you to pull the trigger.

Unlike the double-action semi-auto pistol with a safety, trigger guard, and hammer, you have no complicated features to deal with. You could even have handle grips affixed to the pump and stock making the weapon easier to hold and aim. You can put a laser sight on the top of it making it very easy to aim the shotgun in a high stress self-defense scenario.

A Wide Variety of Ammunition

It has been said that a 12 gauge shotgun is the most versatile of all weapons a person could own. This caliber of shotgun could literally be used to hunt for ducks and just as easily be employed to stop a charging grizzly bear. The great range of 12-gauge ammunition makes this possible.

Target loads (also known as birdshot) are perfect for those who worry about over-penetration. Also, the recoil on birdshot is minimal making this ammo perfect for those with limited experience. At close range, target load does not spread out very wide and dissipate. Honestly, most self-defense scenarios are at close range anyway.

For those who to feel more confident about stopping power, 00 Buck ammo might be the better choice. This load fires 9 pellet balls designed to take down deer and other large animals. For home defense, there are “no recoil” rounds offered so you do not have to worry about a huge kick.

Rifled slug shotgun shells do provide a massive kick, but these slugs can stop pretty much anything. These shells deliver the load capable of killing a grizzly bear.

12 Gauge Power

No matter what type of ammo you put into a 12 gauge shotgun, the muzzle velocity is over twice that of a .44 magnum. In short, a shotgun is a massively powerful, easy to handle weapon. So, why not make a 12 gauge your number one choice for a home defense firearm?

The Benefits of Using Quality Handgun Ammo for Self Defense

Owning a handgun in this day and age is so often recommended, but a lot of people don’t consider it. They are afraid it will cause danger to their loved ones. Being able to protect your family is never a dangerous or  a bad thing. The true danger lies from the people who can cause harm to your family.

Having a gun in your home or office to protect yourself can be the ideal choice to keep you safe. However, aside from owning a quality handgun, it is also important to own quality handgun ammo as well.

The best kinds of ammo are the ones that will not falter especially when you will need it most. Do your research to find out what type of ammunition you will need for the type of gun you want to purchase. Educating yourself about all the aspects of a gun will allow you to better understand why it is needed.

The Benefits Of Owning A Handgun

The main benefit to owning a gun is being able to protect the people around you in the face of danger. Everyday there is a possibility of experiencing home break-ins and kidnappings. Being able to defend yourself can save your life. Having ownership of a handgun will psychologically help you. You won’t be afraid of dangerous people who may find you as a target.

You will be able to take control of the doubts you may have in case of a burglary.  Knowing how to use a gun and having one can put your mind at ease. If you take the proper precautions of owning a handgun and use it according to what it’s meant for, then you will find it beneficial.

Before Purchase

Before you purchase a handgun, you will be required to take a course to better prepare you to use it and target properly. Gun ranges are always a great idea to take advantage of, especially if you plan on purchasing more than one. It is also recommended to have every one of your family members to get trained as well in case of emergencies. Having trained people in charge of a handgun will ensure that no one will be harmed accidentally.

What Make Handguns the Best Home Self Defense Tool

We live in the world of great uncertainties. This fact can be seen around every corner. Danger could be lurking anywhere and it is easy to see why so many people feel this way. Since the beginning of the 21st century, a multitude of new problems has appeared. In many regions of the world, conflicts are spawning terrorism and global insecurity, but also creating a huge overflow of illegal weapons.

At the same time, economic hardship and financial insecurity are a factor. People are continuously pushed into a life of crime, where they often get their hands on those illegal weapons. These are then used in scenarios like robberies, carjackings, muggings and most frighteningly, home invasions and residential attacks.

These are especially gruesome and terrifying because they take place in and around a person’s house. This is the place where you and your family should feel most secure. This is the exact reason why there is a need for an effective self defense tool. These tools are handguns and with one of these, everyone could sleep tight and not worry about their safety.

What Make Handguns the Best Home Self Defense Tool

Handguns have many advantages when it comes to being a reliable self defense ally. With a minimal amount of training, anyone can learn how to handle and used them, even in the case of an emergency. On the other hand, all handguns present a formidable force in any enclosed space like a house or an apartment. A loaded handgun can be stopped right in their tracks.

At the same time, getting everything needed for this defensive tool was never easier. There are many options for choosing the most suitable handgun. The market for handguns is huge and many of these have different characteristics when it comes to performance, magazine size, weight and so forth, but all of them are more than effective in a home self defense role.

Handgun Ammo

The same fact is also true for their ammo. Today, everyone can find ammo online and purchase the amount and type they need while the same is true for classes and training on using and handling guns. Because of these factors, getting a handgun and learning how to use it was never more accessible.

Looking at all of these advantages of owning a handgun and using it as a home self defense tool, it is clear that with one of them, every individual or family can feel much safer in their place of residence.

Self Defense With 38 Special Ammo

Selecting a cartridge/handgun combination can be a formidable decision. Should you choose the optimum gun and settle for its chambering? Or would it be better to begin with a fight stopping, proven cartridge and wrap a gun around it? A century ago, there weren’t many choices available. Today, a plethora of popular handgun platforms are available in a wide array of trigger actions, sizes and chambering.

38 Special Ammo

38 special ammo is considered to be one of the most versatile handguns. It represents three distinct power levels using the same bullets and any Magnum gun  can fire all three cartridges. These have been popular for decades, and are more popular now than ever. A decent defensive load is a balancing act between controllable recoil, bullet weight, gun durability and good velocity from a short barrel. The 38 special has all of these qualities and more.

It represents a step up in versatility and power. Bullet weight varies from 120 to 200 grains, with 159 grain lead bullets and 125 to 129 grain jacketed bullets being the most popular choices. No matter what pressure load you choose, it will always provide minimum blast.

The 38 special load is an effective self defense ammunition. It is a good reduced recoil option for anyone looking to curtail the felt recoil of their compact, lightweight personal protection handgun. It offers 100% reliability in self defense situations. Even from a snub revolver, it can provide a good stopping power. It comes in two variants, the extra power +P and the regular pressure. Both types are easier to shoot and control in lightweight, small revolver.

What Makes 38 Special Good for Self Defense?

In self defense situations, a person is seeks to apply force to dispel a life threatening criminal, 38 special is ideally chambered for a round that is capable of penetrating at least 7 inches of bodily tissue. After two or three shots will incapacitate your attacker, and thus they will be unable to attack you or fire back.

It is a fairly cheap cartridge and when bought in bulk, it is even cheaper. The 38 special has a mild coil and is also easy to conceal in a small frame handgun. You can also readily find it available in online stores and many sports stores.

It is a top quality, welcome relief that provides utmost quality to deliver the best value to the customers. Many people believe that this is the best tool in self defense situations.

45 Auto Ammo Delivers Super Self Defense Stopping Power

The .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol is considered a legendary firearm. This was a weapon of choice for many in the military during World War II and for good reason. The .45 offers a tremendous amount of stopping power. For home defense, the .45 is a consistently recommended weapon. Once again, the stopping power of the firearm is suggested.  Anyone in the market for a home defense or a concealed carry gun should consider buying a .45 and .45 auto ammo.

.45 Auto Ammo Is Supreme

When you are confronted by a dangerous person in a life or death scenario, you may have to draw your weapon to defend yourself. The weapon should be sufficient enough to stop the threat. Many self-defense experts recommend the 9mm because it offers less recoil and 9mm handguns are capable of holding significant amounts of ammunition. What if a home invader is wearing a thick leather jacket or it is winter time and he has a thick coat on? Can a 9mm reliably penetrate these layers? More than likely it could, but do you want to rely on “more than likely” when faced with a brutal criminal?

45 auto ammo is going to deliver a massive payload. No matter what type of makeshift body armor the assailant is wearing, a .45 is more than up to dealing with the threat.

Low Recoil Loads Are Available

The question of whether or not the recoil on a .45 ACP may be too much, the standard answer is summed up in a single word: practice. The more you practice with your .45, the better you will be able to handle the recoil. You will also become a more accurate shot.

That said, you may also wish to look into purchase low recoil ammo for a .45 auto.

Low recoil loads are, essentially, standard .45 ammunition with a lesser amount of grain in them. Since there is less grain, discharging the weapon comes with smaller kick. Accuracy improves greatly since your hand is not jerked around and the muzzle does not move up or down, right or left without warning.

Does the lower amount of grain reduce power? No, not when it comes to self-defense because most self-defense scenarios take place in close range.

One Again, Practice

Regardless of what type of load you are using, you do want to get a lot of practice in with your .45. You might even wish to enroll in a concealed carry or home defense course. Doing so increases the chances you can use the weapon effectively.

Handgun Self Defense Considerations

The use of guns in senseless acts of violence and crime is one reason why people talk about gun control. It is always dangerous for a very violent person to own a gun. That is why there are conditions that one needs to meet before they own a gun. Most citizens apply for gun ownership but only a few of them meet the conditions for gun ownership.

What Makes Handguns Good for Self Defense?

Handguns are very effective and widely available. For these reasons they are among the deadliest self defense weapons. You can also buy bulk ammunition online for your handgun if you use it on a regular basis. This article will highlight some of the most important considerations when it comes to owning a handgun for self defense.

The most violent street criminals use handguns because of their ability to deliver deadly force and that is why they are very effective when it comes to self defense. It is possible to deliver force with a handgun regardless of strength, sex and age. Many lives have been saved by handgun self defense. It is a perfect choice for most licensed gun owners. A gun is a very effective weapon when used in a responsible manner.

There are common mistakes that those in possession of handguns are likely to make and that is why you should know them if you intent to own a handgun for self defense. It is not always a good idea to buy a gun out of emotional reaction because you can end up using it in a wrong way. You should never rush out to buy a fire arm anytime you become angry or frightened because that is a disaster in waiting.

It is important to know that personal safety is not guaranteed by simply owning a handgun. Relying on a particular weapon for self defense is a popular fallacy that most people have come to believe. It is advisable to complement your weapon with other aspects such as security alarm systems and street fighting techniques for total protection.

Handgun Limitations

There are some limitations that come with owning a handgun for self defense that one should also be familiar with. To begin with, there are some areas where you may not be allowed to enter with your handgun. Your handgun can misfire, run out of ammunition or completely jam and in the process leave you defenseless. It is also good to know that the use of a hand gun for self defense is not justified in all situations.