DISCLAIMER:
The opinions displayed here are the independent views and opinions of David Donchess, and are not a reflection of the shared opinions of the other writers of Spotter Up. This article is not to attack the beliefs of others, but is a reflection that the writer wishes to share about considerations he would make as a new gun owner looking for a defensive pistol.
When it comes to making a defensive pistol purchase, it can be very complicated. It actually gets more complicated by the year because of new guns being released and updated pistols to add value and reliability, and features. Then along with that, you have to choose the right caliber, have a plan as far as training, and budget out how much you are able to spend. It can be a very complicated process in order to choose the right pistol for your purposes. Let us go over a few considerations for choosing a defensive pistol in process.
PURPOSE
The first and most obvious thing you will need to figure out is what you are getting a pistol for. Is it gonna be for home defense or concealed carry? These two things will each require something different. For instance, for concealed carry, alot of it is going to depend on your budget, environment, and you will need something you are comfortable and capable of shooting and practicing with. Carrying a pistol should be taken seriously and you must realize that missing the target should never be acceptable. Also this purpose is going to affect your budget because you will need to account for ammo for practice, a holster, and a training course or two. It can cost a good amount of money to be set up for responsible concealed carry.
On the other hand, if you are looking at a home defense pistol, you do not need to be concerned with the size so much, and you may want to budget for different types of gear like lights and such. Another consideration is if you are going to look at getting one gun to do it all. If this is your goal, it will cost you a good amount if you want to be fully prepared and accessorized. Having a dual purpose pistol is still going to affect your budget the same, at least, as having a pistol for concealed carry. Once you know what you want the pistol for, you can move on to the next decision making process which is money.
BUDGET
The one thing that will help you dictate everything else is going to be your budget. How much money can you spend on a pistol, ammo, holsters, accessories, and training? Some people will be limited on their funds and there are others who are gonna be able to afford more. As my dad always said, money gives you options. You can spend more on a gun and less on ammo for practice, or you can spend a reasonable amount on a gun and alot on ammo for practice. You have choices, as I said.
Have no illusions, having a gun makes you just as capable of defending yourself as have pots, pans, and an apron makes you a gourmet chef. It takes training, practice, and dedication to be both a chef and a good shooter. Having the gear on hand does nothing if you do not know how to do basic things like hit your target when you need to and manipulate your pistol without looking at it.
CALIBER
Selecting the caliber early on is a huge step. I would say that this is one of the best ways to keep yourself from extending the decision making process. To keep it short, if you are on a budget, can buy a $400-$500 gun, then I would say 9mm and .40 should be the two calibers you can afford to deal with. I know that the hatred that the .40 has suffered is due to both price and recoil compared to the 9mm, but I feel that improper training and bad instructors are the reason for this general mindset in the gun community. I personally have seen no one truly suffer to shoot a .40 as their first gun when they are taught to shoot properly. On the other hand, if you are rolling in dough and want a caliber that has had outstanding performance but is really expensive and niche, you can pull off a .357Sig. You can have the capacity of the .40 but with the performance of the .357 Magnum.
Caliber selection is a sensitive subject for almost anybody out there. Some people want the best but don’t have the ability to spend money on it, while others are willing to make sacrifices for the best. It all depends on the individual. My best suggestion is to consider everything from recoil, price, your intended practice frequency, and wounding ability. Remember that ballistic performance is very important in caliber selection. There are sources out there on the internet that can show rough results of different calibers and bullet designs. Just remember to be objective and keep in mind that temporary stretch cavities are ineffective with pistol calibers. Understanding what bullets actually do in the body is very important. HERE is a link that will give you an idea of what I am talking about.
FEATURE SHOPPING
After finding out the caliber that you want to have, you can start looking at different guns and hunting for qualities that you enjoy. Things like if the pistol points naturally, is the right size for your purposes, if it is easy for you to manipulate, etc. You may want a longer barrel and bigger pistol on a home defense firearm so you can control it better and get maximum terminal performance with a wider variety of ammunition. If you are shopping for and concealed carry pistol, you may find yourself working with a shorter barrel which will mean that the list of ammo that will give you good terminal performance is going to be more narrow.
I did not list things like how the trigger feels because that is something that you learn during training. From the way I see it, there is no trigger on modern produced firearms that cannot be used properly and effectively. So, I personally, would not count the trigger as a consideration if you are new to shooting. But if you like a certain pistol, but are afraid it is out of your price range, I would advise you to take a few things into consideration.
I would say that the best thing you can do to save money is to order a pistol online and get it sent to an FFL. Of course you need to account for the transfer fee and even shipping from the site. I recommend THIS site to do research on the prices out there on certain pistols that you may have found to be your favorite.
LE TRADE-IN/USED
One of the best ways to save money that I wish I would have taken advantage of, is purchasing Law Enforcement trade-ins. I would say that the used market is not too bad, but there is more risk in getting a gun in bad condition. The one thing that makes LE trade-ins very attractive o me is that they are typically built alot tougher and designed to be more durable than regular civilian guns on the market. Also, you will find that certain big name pistols that usually go for a high price can be found for affordable prices with the bonus of better construction. Now, it can be hard to find a gun that you liked or that fit your required specs, but you can easily find a pistol for home defense on the LE trade-in market, in my opinion. But one consideration is that you may wanna be careful to consider the fact that some pistols may only come with a single magazine, and I only hope for your sake that Mec-Gar makes magazines for the pistol you find appealing for your uses. The good thing is that you can get pretty inexpensive magazines online.
LOCAL GUN SHOP SUPPORT
I understand that there is a big push lately to support ones local gun shop. It is definitely good to support your local business for economic reasons and just to be able to create competition which increases choices and prevents monopolies that dictate control of the gun market. For those of you on a budget and without the ability to support their local gun shop without losing the ability to buy certain things or attend training, you may want to consider the sacrifices you will be making. I am not going to tell you not to support your local gun shop, but I will just make you aware that there is a time and place to make sacrifices and compromises when it comes to monetary decisions. If it costs a dollar more for ammo at your local gun shop vs online, I would say, why not just buy it from the local source. $20 for a thousand rounds extra is not that much of a commitment in the long run. But that is if the prices are close enough and competitive enough to justify paying more. Some budgets are gonna be very strict while others can be more flexible. Basically, if you can swing it, I advocate on supporting your local sources for gun supplies.
EDUCATION/AFTERMATH
This is kind of a weird subject to place in a guide to how I feel one could better find the firearm they need or want. I just feel that pointing this kind of subject out can prevent people from staying in a less educated mindset. My advice to all new and less experienced gun owners is to always seek improvement and to always aim to advance your skills. If there is anything that allows higher growth and virtually unlimited potential, it is the firearms field. There is so much that you can learn, comprehend, and experience. This is why you have so many people who get into guns as a hobby. You learn how the firearms community is like a sport where you are always seeking perfection in understanding and skill.As human beings, perfection is realistically impossible, but the path to attempting it is what we are built for. Just be ready to learn more and find that perhaps you may have been wrong in your assumptions and that your needs require different things or more than what you thought. This is a natural part of learning about guns and how to take your security into your own hands in a responsible way.
PURCHASE
The last step is obviously to go out and spend your hard earned cash on that defensive pistol and get acquainted with it. The most important thing you can do right away is to learn the rules of gun safety to keep yourself and others safe. The biggest responsibility you have as a gun owner is to remain competent and realize your actions can and will be a representation of the rest of the community.