WHICH GUN SHOULD I BUY?
Things to consider
- weight
- trigger
- grip length
- grip diameter
- ergonomics
- eye dominance
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.
As a new shooter, in the previous post, the author writes he didn’t understand the emphasis on the phrase “press the trigger” because to me it seemed you “pulled” 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.
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.
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.
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.
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| finger easily reaches the trigger |
Small hands might prompt the shooter to select a subcompact pistol. While the small-handed shooter may be able to establish a more comfortable grip on a smaller handgun, it will tend to produce more felt recoil than a larger, heavier gun.
While it makes sense to carry a handgun of a caliber sufficient to stop an assailant who presents a deadly threat, you don’t necessarily have to carry a .45 ACP. With today’s quality defensive ammunition, calibers that were once dismissed as being too diminutive for personal defense—such as the .380 ACP—are now getting a second look.
You’re better off selecting a .38 or a 9mm that you can shoot accurately and control than a .45 ACP that’s not as easily managed. A hit with a 9mm always beats a miss with a .45 ACP.
My Test fires
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| Taurus PT111 Millenium G2 |
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| Glock G42 semiauto |
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| Ruger 357 SP101 revolver http://www.shootingtimes.com/handguns/1911s/nice-price-1911-shootout/ next: Taurus 380 TCP-738 |
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