A question that I field a lot is how to pick a pistol for concealed carry, and with so many great options out there, its hard to pick just one. So instead me pointing towards a particular brand, lets look at the requirements I feel a carry pistol should have.
* Reliability: In my opinion this is the #1 factor is choosing a carry pistol. You need a gun that will go bang EVERYTIME you pull the trigger. A gun is just a hunk of metal if it doesn't shoot, when you need it to. It should fire when it is hot, and when it is cold. It should fire when its clean, and more importantly, when it is filthy. It should fire with any factory FMJ, or JHP ammo. Did I mention reliability?
It should be noted that certain guns are usually more reliable than others right out of the box. One particular brand I prefer is the Glock series of handguns. In my 16 yrs of shooting glocks, I have found that they have been more reliable than any other brand of pistols I have used. They are boringly reliable in fact. I know that when I pull the trigger with my Glock, be it at a match or in a fight for my life, my Glock WILL function correctly. Other reliable pistols include, but are not limited to: Smith & Wesson M&P series, Springfield XD series. We all know I prefer Glocks, but thats just personal preference. Whatever it is you decide to go with, it has to be reliable.
*Ease of use. What characteristics does a pistol have that would make you want to carry it everyday or not? Sure the S&W 500 mag might be the most powerful revolver in the world, but it is huge, it kicks like a mule, and is around $3 per round. Likewise a 22lr Derringer is small, lightweight, easy to carry, but it only carries 2 rounds. A gun at home in the safe doesnt do you any good. What I am trying to say is that there has to be a happy medium somewhere in the middle. For some people thats a super small revolver or single stack pistol, and for others thats a full size pistol.
I am fortunate enough that my employer not only allows me to carry at work, but actually encourages it. Lucky me right? So in my case, being able to totally conceal my weapon from everyone at my job, is not really a high priority for me. Yet others may not be as fortunate as I am, and being able to conceal their pistol is high on the priority list.
Your gun should fit you, and your hands. When you retrieve your weapon it should feel natural, and you shouldn't have to fiddle or shuffle your hands to get the proper grip. Some people like the slim grips of the 1911 model pistols, while others may prefer the larger grips of double stack associated with pistols such as Glocks, M&P's, and XD series, while others still like the feel of revolvers, but its so much more than grip size. You have to look at how the magazine is released, how the slide is dropped/released, how the safety is operated, and how the trigger feels to you.
When it comes ergonomics its usually a love it or hate it type thing. You will either like the grip angle, or you won't. You will either like where the mag release and safety are, or you wont. There are no perfect pistols out there. You should try out several models and designs to find out what is the best for you. A great way to try out multiple pistols at a time is to go to a range that rents guns. This gives you the opportunity to try the pistols out back to back and make a decision on what feels the best to you. Its all personal preference, and what feels best to you.
Once you have settled on a particular model of weapon you have only 1 thing left to do. SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT! Thats where your confidence will come from. Confidence to know that you wont have to fumble with the safety, or the magazine release, in a life or death situation. Confidence to know that you can hit what you are aiming at, under any circumstance.
Stay tuned for the next installment of "How to choose a carry pistol."
~Tim