Purchasing a Handgun for Concealed Carry

As a firearms instructor I am frequently asked what I recommend for a concealed carry handgun. I almost always answer that question with this question, How much time are you going to spend at a firing range becoming proficient with your handgun? Sadly the answers I receive often indicate that little to no time will be spent becoming proficient with the handgun due to busy work schedules or time involved raising and caring for a family. For those people I have tried to approach the issue of buying a handgun to their lifestyle.

The handgun that you purchase for self or home defense should meet three requirements; it should be safe to handle; it should be dependable so that it will always work when needed, and it should be simple to operate. Certainly a small frame, double action revolver meets all these requirements. The length and weight of the trigger pull required to cause the gun to fire makes it safe to handle. It cannot just go off; it takes a conscious effort to pull the trigger with enough force to overcome the eight to ten pounds needed to cause the gun to fire. Next, double action revolvers produced by major manufactures and shown due care are very dependable and will always function when needed. The technology is more than a hundred years old and has been improved many times by major manufactures. Lastly, nothing is simpler than a double action revolver; you move one button to open the gun, then load it, close it, and it is ready to fire. If you should pull the trigger and it does not fire, usually because of defective ammo, all you have to remember is to pull the trigger again.

The handgun you choose for concealed carry should also fit you. When gripped in your hand properly, your forearm and the apex of the barrel of the gun should form a straight line. Your index finger, trigger finger, should rest on the center of the trigger with the trigger bisecting the first pad of your finger. The center two fingers should wrap around the front strap of the gun’s grip so that the grip is pulled straight to the rear and into the web of your hand. The gun should be a natural extension of your arm and should point as naturally as you would point your index finger.

The weight of your concealed carry gun is also very important. You should be able to hold it pointed at your target for several minutes at a time without shaking or tiring. Modern materials and designs can produce excellent carry guns that weigh less than one pound. While lightweight guns are much easier to carry, they can also produce uncomfortable recoil when used as range guns. Heavier guns are more comfortable to shoot on the range, but they are difficult to carry concealed. You should understand that one gun rarely meets both concealed carry and range gun requirements.

The caliber is certainly important, but you must be able to shoot the caliber accurately. Unless you are an experienced shooter, I suggest you stay away from the larger, hotter calibers- .40 S&W, 45 ACP. Middle of the road calibers like 38 Spl and 9 mm are good choices, and ammo is more affordable and widely available. Small calibers like .22 LR and .25 ACP are not good choices for inexperienced shooters. They usually come in the small, cute guns, which should absolutely be avoided as well. They are what I call nose guns and should only be carried by a big guy who has no problem with getting up close and personal and sticking it up his attacker’s nose before shooting him.

If you have decided to purchase a double action revolver for concealed carry, you may want to ask your gun dealer to show you a S & W Model 442 as a standard to compare the dozens of small frame revolvers that are available. Don’t scrimp on price either; remember you are purchasing a tool you will use to defend your life or the lives of your loved ones. When shopping for a gun, visit several shops and talk cash instead of checks or cards. New guns do not have the markup of used guns, so don’t expect a big price break. Buying a used gun produced by a major manufacture can be an excellent way to save money when you pay cash.

In a later post, I will address the issue of buying a handgun if you are experienced or are willing to spend the time to become proficient with your handgun.