CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON
A handgun should fit like a glove
A record number of background checks in the U.S. for guns last week...Alright, everyone has very strong opinions about handguns, especially for self-defense. I could rant about being a staunch patriot for our Right to Bear Arms and the politics of women being justified to carry just as men rant in favor of the big guns -- I'd just bore y'all. There's a lot of folks interested to look, buy, if not to carry, at least to own a good handgun for home defense -- for 'just in case'. THIS post is info I found for inexperienced buyers mostly for potential conceal carry, and getting accustomed to a handgun.
I am a beginner with handguns, by no means expert so please do not misconstrue this information as a professional opinion.
You gun newbies, make no mistake -- yes, a handgun is a weapon. Don't be intimidated but be safe. Learn the gun before you carry. Seems like I'm stating the obvious but when you aren't experienced, then you actually have a gun in a holster, on your belt, and it's loaded, you must ask yourself the question: will I be willing to shoot to kill if I'm threatened? It does not matter if your threat is in a parking lot or at home, any joe blow or a supposed terrorist. Not to soapbox here, packing is very serious, nothing to take lightly In the second you get attacked, your instinct "fight or flight" is the next second and you'll either run or grab your gun. That is not the time for a conscious decision -- you must reconcile in yourself before that instant. The CCW class attorney said, the law recognizes the act of carrying a gun (either open-carry or closed) as intent to shoot to kill for self-defense.. And yes, I did ask myself that very question.
I have open-carried a revolver on occasion, primarily going fishing in remote spots, legal in Missouri. Living in Kansas City, at times it's inevitable, but I'd simply rather avoid trouble if possible, by avoiding a slummy area in the first place. Or any circumstance deeming it so necessary to pull out my gun against someone. It's a terrible thought but being armed is better than being dead.
I would certainly draw my weapon IF my life was in danger. Nonetheless, wearing that gun is not done as nonchalantly as I wear my hat. For one thing, I'm an instinctive shooter so it's a very good bet any perpetrator in my face would end up dead or at least in a hospital with a doctor attempting to save their sorry ass. Second, it would be a real nightmare to kill someone, self defense or even accidentally.
So to answer that question, yes. I admitted I would not hesitate to kill when someone tried to break into my home at midnight two years ago. My dog growled, I jumped out of bed, grabbed my shotgun and next thing they heard was the loud universal sound of my shotgun action slammed shut. They ran off -- my blood boiled instantly -- it pissed me off -- I felt the rage to kill that intruder. Police never showed. (I hadn't yet stowed away my 870 after turkey hunting the day before, so it was handy in that moment. No children are in our home too.) With that, my husband has the reassurance I will protect myself.
I grew up in more congenial times, but times have changed, those 'wrong side of the tracks' are at every turn. For months I shopped and test fired and discussed all my options with my husband and his buds, my neighbors, and read many comments and respect your all's opinions. I figured out my comfort zone in my 'weapon of choice'. But the manly men, rough-n-tough-guys can kindly give it a rest here...this is more for those dudes and dudette gun-owner-wannabes than the guy with the .45 in his backside.
So, shopping for a Conceal Carry handgun can get overwhelming. I test fired different models and calibers to decide which one to use. It's daunting. I rarely use other articles; but reading reviews for several conceal carry guns, I came upon this magazine article with the Sportsman Channel's videos geared at such help -- it's the most common sense I've read thus far.
The dominant fact is your own handgun should fit like a glove... hopefully after soaking in all this info, you'll be more confident with knowledge from handgunsmag.com, an excellent source for finding that self-defense handgun that's comfortable and doesn't have the recoil of a 50 cal. machine gun. My goal is to handle my handgun with the same confidence as my 870 Remington.
View these SPORTSMAN CHANNEL'S mobile videos of Handguns and Defensive Weapons show, with expert guidance of many scenarios, including tips for gals using the Smith and Wesson M and P Bodyguard and other home defense guns.
here's the article and my own input:
"Forget caliber, brand and all that stuff.
The first important step in buying a defensive handgun is find one that fits.
The first important step in buying a defensive handgun is find one that fits.
Grip, one of the fundamentals of marksmanship, is a determining factor in your ability to shoot, operate and control your handgun. Since grip is the interface between you and your gun, it’s important to select a handgun that fits your hand properly. A gun’s weight and caliber are also important considerations. One thing is certain. When it comes to defensive handguns, one size does not fit all.
When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle you haven’t driven before, you’ll probably adjust the seat, rear and side view mirrors and maybe even the steering wheel. This not only ensures a more comfortable driving experience but also actually makes for a safer one. For instance, you can more easily bring the vehicle to a stop when you don’t have to stretch to reach the brake pedal. In the same vein, if you have to duck your head to avoid the roof while in the driver’s seat, you’re likely to fatigue more quickly than if you were comfortably seated. Obviously, there are countless other examples of ergonomics improving driver comfort and performance, but you get the point. In some respects, the automotive industry is light years ahead of the firearms industry. Now, thanks to reversible or interchangeable backstraps, a pistol such as a Ruger SR45 or a Smith and Wesson M and P can easily accommodate the vast majority of hand sizes and shooter preferences right out of the box."
Still, if you have hands the size of a catcher’s mitt, a pocket .380 like the Ruger LCP may not be the best choice. And the reverse, my husband's revolver is way too big for my hand. On the range with paper targets and relatively little stress, shooting a handgun accurately is challenging but fun to learn. Add to the mix the adrenaline dump you’re sure to experience when you’re fighting for your life, and it’s easy to see the importance of having a handgun that you don’t have to struggle with.
"The starting point
So how can you tell if a handgun is the right size for your hand? When you hold a handgun, place the web of your hand as high on the backstrap as possible and align the gun with your forearm. Gripping the gun in this manner helps tame recoil because the force is absorbed by the skeletal structure of your arm. It’s important to note that even with a two-handed grip, the gun will come out of alignment to some degree (unless you are shooting from a Weaver stance, with your shooting arm at near full extension and your other arm bent).
When a gun is too big for a shooter’s hand, the tendency is to change the orientation of the shooting hand in order to reach the trigger more easily. Unfortunately, this invariably results in the gun’s recoil being absorbed more by the thumb than the large bones of the arm."
'Absorbed' can be interpreted more like 'bites'. I tried a Glock 9mm and holding it the same as I had the Glock G42, its recoil bit my thumb badly. Whereas the Taurus 9mm PT111 was perfect in my palm and finger reach. Not only could this be annoying and prove injurious in the long run, but it also inhibits your ability to effectively control recoil, which means it will take you longer to get back on target after firing. I practice several stances and distances. When I bought my 380 the store tech told me that the FBI says most real gun fights are only within 5-10 feet, like across the hood of your car. That short distance is exactly what my gun is designed to handle. For instance, it has no-profile sights: point and shoot. So I practice the "draw and fire" five bullets in three seconds. Aim for center mass. The Taurus TCP 380 shoots exactly where I point the barrel. This dude is dead.
Taurus 380 was my ultimate pick for my self-defense. It's shown with an extended-finger clip.
"Without a proper grip, you won’t be able to move your trigger finger independently of the rest of your hand, which is an integral component of accurate shooting. Like grip, trigger control is a fundamental of marksmanship. When your handgun’s sights are properly aligned and overlaid on your target, you will hit what you’re aiming at unless the gun moves as you press the trigger to the rear. Therefore, when shopping for a handgun, make sure you can comfortably reach the trigger without having to shift the gun in your hand. If you can easily reach the trigger while holding the gun in the prescribed manner, you’re on the right track. " says the mag article.
So how can you tell if a handgun is the right size for your hand? When you hold a handgun, place the web of your hand as high on the backstrap as possible and align the gun with your forearm. Gripping the gun in this manner helps tame recoil because the force is absorbed by the skeletal structure of your arm. It’s important to note that even with a two-handed grip, the gun will come out of alignment to some degree (unless you are shooting from a Weaver stance, with your shooting arm at near full extension and your other arm bent).
When a gun is too big for a shooter’s hand, the tendency is to change the orientation of the shooting hand in order to reach the trigger more easily. Unfortunately, this invariably results in the gun’s recoil being absorbed more by the thumb than the large bones of the arm."
'Absorbed' can be interpreted more like 'bites'. I tried a Glock 9mm and holding it the same as I had the Glock G42, its recoil bit my thumb badly. Whereas the Taurus 9mm PT111 was perfect in my palm and finger reach. Not only could this be annoying and prove injurious in the long run, but it also inhibits your ability to effectively control recoil, which means it will take you longer to get back on target after firing. I practice several stances and distances. When I bought my 380 the store tech told me that the FBI says most real gun fights are only within 5-10 feet, like across the hood of your car. That short distance is exactly what my gun is designed to handle. For instance, it has no-profile sights: point and shoot. So I practice the "draw and fire" five bullets in three seconds. Aim for center mass. The Taurus TCP 380 shoots exactly where I point the barrel. This dude is dead. Taurus 380 was my ultimate pick for my self-defense. It's shown with an extended-finger clip.
"Without a proper grip, you won’t be able to move your trigger finger independently of the rest of your hand, which is an integral component of accurate shooting. Like grip, trigger control is a fundamental of marksmanship. When your handgun’s sights are properly aligned and overlaid on your target, you will hit what you’re aiming at unless the gun moves as you press the trigger to the rear. Therefore, when shopping for a handgun, make sure you can comfortably reach the trigger without having to shift the gun in your hand. If you can easily reach the trigger while holding the gun in the prescribed manner, you’re on the right track. " says the mag article.
The graphic shows what specific part of your index finger should be in contact with the face of the trigger. I watched a demo on a show then experimented and yes, this works: While this is largely a matter of personal preference, the pad of your index finger—between the tip and the first joint—is probably the most common finger placement for shooting a semiautomatic pistol.
Here the proper gun grip for the semiauto is shown. The gun is in the 'V' created and firmly into the web of your hand. Newer compact revolvers are cupped neatly in the palms.
However, if you’re shooting a revolver or a semiautomatic pistol with a relatively heavy double-action trigger, you may need to insert your finger up to the first joint in order to have enough leverage to repeatedly fire the weapon.
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| crossed thumbs both thumbs forward |
Things to consider
- weight
- trigger
- grip length
- grip diameter
- ergonomics
- eye dominance
Trigger tech: If a gun you're holding requires you to stretch your index finger in order to reach the trigger, there's a good chance your rounds will impact left of your point of aim (assuming you're right-handed). That's because with too little finger on the trigger it's difficult to press the trigger directly rearward. In such a case, your right index finger tends to push the trigger, and therefore the muzzle, to the left. A right-handed shooter with too much finger on the trigger is likely to experience the opposite problem. The trigger tends to be pulled to the right, and consequently, the rounds will impact to the right of the point of aim.
Upon first learning as a new officer, the author writes he didn't understand the emphasis on the phrase "press the trigger" because you "pull" the trigger to fire a gun. An instructor told him the word "press" denoted a more precise movement. That's an important bit of terminology to consider regarding trigger manipulation. Using the word "press" also accurately describes moving the trigger rearward using the pad of your index finger (like you would press a button). This is in stark contrast to using just the tip of the finger to "push" the trigger or too much of the finger to "pull" the trigger.
Another consideration when it comes to selecting a handgun is the length of the grip. A shorter grip makes a gun easier to conceal and less likely to imprint (which is illegal in some states, including Missouri) through the fabric of the garment that covers it. The trade-off here is that although it's easier to conceal, a gun with a grip that doesn't accommodate your little finger tends to be less comfortable to shoot and more difficult to control during recoil. For this and a host of other reasons, small guns are easier to carry and harder to shoot than full-size guns (the reason I got an extension).
"Ideally, your chosen gun will fit your hand so well that you won't have to compromise the shooting grip, which was established prior to drawing your gun from the holster. If you have to 'spin' the gun in your hand to reach the magazine release, decocker or other controls, the gun is probably too big.
Grip diameter is another concern. The obvious advantage to a double-stack semiautomatic pistol is that it holds considerable more rounds than a single-stack pistol such as a 1911. However, the small grip diameter of the 1911 is a big reason the design remains popular more than 100 years past its inception.
While the ergonomics are the stuff of legend, not even America's pistol is a good fit for everyone. for some, due to hand size or grip preference, it is difficult to maintain sufficient pressure on the grip safety to keep it depressed, and 'Ol' Slabsides' won't go bang with a grip safety engaged.
Conversely, single-stack magazines, such as those from a 1911, make loading and reloading the pistol easier, especially for people with smaller hands. Conducting a tactical reload, where you are momentarily controlling two magazines with one hand, with a high-capacity double-stack can be difficult for small hands. Of course, the best way to tell whether a handgun is a good fit is to actually handle it.
finger easily reaches the trigger
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| finger easily reaches the trigger |
Try this:
After ensuring the gun is unloaded, pick a spot on the wall such as a light switch. Orient your body so the light switch is directly in front of you. Close your eyes then punch out your handgun toward the light switch. Now open your eyes. In all likelihood, if the gun felt right in your hand, its muzzle is pointed pretty darn close to the light switch. It's a simple exercise that can give you an idea of how a particular gun will point naturally for you.
To coin a phrase: a hit with a 9mm always beats a miss with a .45 ACP.
To coin a phrase: a hit with a 9mm always beats a miss with a .45 ACP.
This brings us to the grip angle debate, which primarily revolves around the Glock and the 1911. Some swear that the 1911's grip angle facilitates more natural aiming, and while the Glock has a steeper grip angle, its known that many police officers carried the Glock through their entire careers, being comfortable and loving the 1911 design as well.
Of course there are a lot of other grip angles out there on the market. Do your own research and test a variety of handguns with an open mind. You may be surprised what suits you."
