A Helpful Guide on Choosing Your Personal Handgun

When choosing which handgun is appropriate for you, there are some factors that you need to consider. There is no exact type of handgun that can be generally recommended for carriers because every individual has a different preference. Often times, people are buying certain types of handguns because that’s what the other members of the family suggested are good ones. Actually, we should not let other people decide what is the best type of handgun for us. In this article, we will discuss some of the criteria that will help you decide on what type of handgun you should purchase. This may be different from the criteria that you are currently using, but this may be helpful if you are still confused on what you should choose.

We rarely encounter people that would take the time to enumerate the reasons why they need handguns and choose the handguns that would best fit those purposes. Only a few would try shooting real guns to see if they would really work best for them. Most of us would assume that all guns will perform according to how we want them to. By this, we mean that people who are deciding to buy handguns should take the time and use a systematic approach in selecting guns. There should be the identification of the goals and purposes, specification of the criteria, prioritization of the factors and evaluation of the alternatives based on the same criteria. The whole process can take a lot of time, but is really worth it since choosing the best type of handgun can save your life in the future. This will be your self-defense buddy, so you must pay attention to every detail. This is a helpful guide that you can use when choosing your personal handgun.

First of all, ask yourself what the major use of the gun would be. Then, identify the factors that would affect your choice of handgun. You may use the Colben’s Handgun Selection Checklist which consists of 22 factors to evaluate your handgun choices. You may also add or remove some of the factors in this checklist. You can then give points on the handguns for the different criteria set based on the 5-point Likert Scale. The pistol with the highest total points is the most recommended one for you. Each of the following factors are defined below.

COLBEN’S HANDGUN SELECTION CHECKLIST

Likert Scale:

5 – Very Acceptable

4 – Acceptable

3 – Neutral

2 – Unacceptable

1 – Very Unacceptable

These are the definitions of the different criteria for the Colben’s Handgun Selection Checklist.

1. Accuracy – The ability of the handgun to hit the target on your first time with the same distance, speed, grip and aimpoint for every gun.

2. Reliability – The consistency of the handgun’s performance. Will it give the same results every time you use it?

3. Durability – How long will the gun last based on the materials used, its design, overall craftsmanship and the details?

4. Ergonomics #1 – Grip Fit; Grip Angle; Finger to Trigger Fit – The compatibility of the gun to the owner’s finger and hand size.

5. Ergonomics #2 – Controls Access – Reachable – The ease of reaching for the safety, magazine release, slide lock lever and other controls of the gun.

6. Ergonomics #3 – Comfortable – Feels Good – This refers to how the owner feels when holding and shooting the gun and the acceptability of the recoil.

7. Trigger Press – Would you like a handgun with a long and hard press or the opposite?

8. Length of the Barrel – The length of the barrel affects the strength of the recoil as well as the accuracy.

9. Caliber – The size of the caliber would depend on the personal preference.

10. Sights; Types; Sight Radius – This is also dependable on the use and preferences of the person. There are night sights and fiber optic front sights.

11. Magazine Capacity – An increased capacity of the magazine would help an individual become more prepared in engaging with multiple threats.

12. Width – Thin guns are easier to conceal than the thick ones.

13. Weight (when loaded) – When choosing the appropriate weight, the use of the gun should be considered. The weight may influence the accuracy and movement of the gun.

14. Safety or Not – Preference; Types; Decocker or Not – Some carriers do not want handguns with safety, but others would like to have a safety especially when using the gun at home. There are different types of safety including the firing pin block, hammer block, transfer bar, safety notch, etc.

15. Height – The appropriate height of the handgun depends on an individual’s hand and finger size.

16. Overall Length – The length of the gun affects the velocity of the bullet being released. Longer guns are often preferred for long-range shooting.

17. Concealability – The size of the gun and the individuals body frame affect the concealability.

18. Material – Frame – Handguns can be made of either polymer or steel. Steel is usually heavier than polymer.

19. Available Accessories – Parts – It is preferable to purchase guns with accessories that are readily available like ammo, pouches, magazines, holsters and parts.

20. Price of Ammo – Cheaper ammo will let you practice more often.

21. Price of Handgun – Compare the specifications of each handgun and check if their prices are reasonable.

22. Personal Choice – Think about the special characteristics that you are looking for in a handgun.

The guide given above is meant to help you decide on the appropriate handgun that you should buy. The criteria and system that you will use will still depend on your needs, purpose, reasons of purchase and priorities. This may apply to most shooters, but the author does not necessarily mean that all shooters must use this specific criteria.