Comments on: 10 Tips for Choosing a Concealed Carry Handgun

By: Thor

Thor — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:10:05 +0000

I suppose it depends on how familiar you are with handguns, how much you carry, what clothing your wear and the nature of the threat. As a retired LEO who has carried revolvers and pistols on duty I would carry a pistol concealed. I used to practice speed assembly of a .45 1911 for hours/days in the Army. Most people treat any firearm like a coiled rattler. Ridiculous.

I’ve carried .357 Mags and spent a lot of time practicing. You won’t find me with a .380. Probably not even a 9mm. If I have to shoot I want results. It will be a .45 or 10mm. Not a .40 (10mm wimp).

I’m not worried about grip size or recoil but it may be a deciding factor for some. I got used to a S&W Mod 29 (.44 Special or .44 Mag) after Dirty Harry came out. Nice handgun when hunting–never tried it on the job–a 6.5 barrel is hard to conceal. Clear as mud! Thor

By: rickcross

rickcross — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:38:09 +0000

Sorry….thin and light???!!! Wrong answer! As a CCW Instructor a thin and light handgun in any of the defensive calibers (minor caliber and higher) will only hurt your hand when you shoot it. A famous instructor has said the same thing…”My boyfriend bought this small gun and it hurts my hand when I shoot it so I don’t” This leads to two big problems:

1. You won’t practice with the gun.
2. Without practice, you are already behind the power curve for defending yourself with the gun.

Choose at least a mid size handgun in a caliber you can handle and practice no less than 8 times per year. Dry practice should take place at least weekly (and only for 30 minutes at a time).

By: SmithKoWitz

SmithKoWitz — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:43:44 +0000

Some good advice, the best being; Try the Weapon(s) you are interested in before you buy them. I might add, if you experience problems with the weapon(s), bring that to the attention of the people who work there. The gun may not have been maintained very well. I rented a Springfield EMP 9mm at a range that had loose grip screws; it had issues due to this. I bought a 40EMP and had the same problem, but tightening the screws solved it (locktite would help prevent re-occurrence). Gun Maintenance is an important part of ownership and should not be overlooked. Some guns are finicky and comparison shopping is certainly worth doing. Find at least a couple you like, talk to people you know who shoot. If possible, compare them side by side on the firing line. Light weight is nice, but felt recoil is greater. Can you deal with the recoil and still maintain accuracy and grip or does a heavier firearm afford better control? I personally prefer stainless steel framed firearms for carry most of the time. Don’t forget to try a revolver or two as well, you might be surprised what you end up liking more.

By: Ernie White

Ernie White — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 06:27:33 +0000

All sounds good & I did get myself a 9mm with an extra magz.