I had the privilege and honor to work with a friend of mine in a “Collision Course” (Ca/ Utah CCW w/ Intro to Combat Focus Shooting) this past weekend. One of the main questions I was asked was, “What type of gun should I buy?” This is actually one of the most common questions I get asked along with “what type of martial art or combatives system should I study (a future post)?”
I used the following three principles in choosing my handgun(s) of choice: 1) Intended Use, 2) Ergonomics, 3) Legal ownership. As you can see I didn't mention “cost”. I believe that purchasing a firearm for defensive purposes is a value question, more than a cost question. However, you can only afford what you can afford.
Intended Use
What is your purpose for owning a firearm? Firearms are great for recreational use and there are many shooting sports available for shooters at various skill levels. A firearm used for sport doesn't necessarily make it a proper firearm for defensive use. Two points to think about in the defensive shooting realm include concealed carry or a primary home defense use.
Ergonomics
The way the firearm fits in your hand will determine how well you are able to “run” the gun. If you are an armed professional you may be limited to what type of firearm you are able to use, thus you will have to adjust your grip in order to be efficient as possible. Make a note that a firearm that does not fit your hand may be subject to malfunctions. The goal is to achieve a good “360 degree” grip for optimal recoil management.
Legality
The short and straight answer to this is principle is to EDUCATE yourself on your state and local laws pertaining to firearms.
Lastly, I would recommend you look at reliability. Of course the main idea of reliability is when you touch and press the trigger, the next step in the chain is to hear the firearm go, bang!
More to come….
Train HARD!