V. Defensive Use of Firearms

E. Picking a Self-Defense Firearm/Ammunition

2. I want a Pistol for Defensive Use. Which One Should I Get?

**** After you've done your reading on the subject, and you've decided
that you want to purchase a handgun your next step should be to take a
Handgun Personal Protection Course.  These are offered by the NRA  and
by  private  schools.  Contact the NRA or post a query to rec.guns  to
find out about courses in your area. ****

Regarding your purchase, there are many considerations:

-Price:  while some genuine bargains can be found out there, you  more
often  get  what  you  pay  for.  Buying  a  cheap  gun  for  personal
protection purposes puts you at risk due failure of the firearm  at  a
critical moment.  Conversely, some moderately priced models can  serve
you as well as the most expensive ones

-Ammunition:   Common  sense  will tell you  that  the  most  powerful
ammunition  is  most  likely  to stop an  attacker  and  is  therefore
desirable  in  a  self-defense  situation.   However  there  are   two
mitigating circumstances.  First, increase in power is accompanied  by
increase  in size of the cartridge and therefore for a given  size  of
handgun  less  rounds  of ammunition will be  available  in  the  more
powerfull calibers.  Second, the most powerful handgun calibers can be
difficult  to control (especially for a beginner), or cause noise  and
flash that can stun or disorientate the shooter if he/she doesn't have
proper protection or is an enclosed space -- a possible situation in a
self-defense scenario.

-Size  and  Weight:  If the gun is not going to be carried,  then  the
largest gun that the shooter is comfortable with is recommended.   For
a given caliber of ammunition, increase in gun weight reduces the felt
recoil,  increase  in  size  (to a point)  often  increases  grip  and
operation ergonomics, and increase in barrel length results in  easier
aiming  and  greater bullet velocities.  If the gun is to be  carried,
then  advantages of a large heavy gun have to be weighed  against  the
necessity   for  comfortable  carry.   If  your  sidearm  causes   you
discomfort, you probably won't be carrying it for long.

-Type of gun:  There are two types of handguns:
=Revolvers:  have a cylinder that rotates with each shot  to  bring  a
fresh cartridge into play
=Semi-autos:
(Also called just "autos," but not to be confused with "full-auto."
Also  called "pistols" although this term technically applies to  both
semi-autos and revolvers.
Also called "auto-loaders")
These contain their cartridges in a "magazine."  with each shot, a new
cartridge is loaded and the just used cartridge casing id discarded.

These guns will now be discussed in  more detail:

REVOLVERS

The  advantage  of  a revolver is its simplicity.  The  operation  and
maintenance of a revolver are straight forward and easy for a beginner
to  understand.  Unless a specific demand that can only be  met  by  a
semi-auto  is  necessary,  revolvers are recommended  for  first  time
buyers.

Revolvers are available in single action (SA), double action (DA), and
double  action  only  (DAO).   Only  the  latter  two  (DA,  DAO)  are
recommended for self defense.  Definitions of these terms can be found
elsewhere in this FAQ.

For home defense, a four inch barrel length should be sufficient.  For
carry,  a  two  inch  (or  sometimes  3  inch)  "snubbie"  barrel   is
prescribed.   Full size revolvers can hold six rounds  of  ammunition,
while many "snubbies" hold five.

SEMI-AUTOS

The  advantages  of  a  semi-auto are it's increased  capacity,  rapid
reloading,  flatter profile, compact shape, and (sometimes)  increased
accuracy.

Increased  capacity and rapid reloading are due to the  magazine  feed
mechanism.  For instance up to 14 rounds of ammunition can  be  loaded
into a compact medium power (9mm caliber) handgun.  Rapid reloading is
possible if a pre-loaded replacement magazine is available.

The  flatter  profile  of the semi-auto makes it a  popular  concealed
carry  choice.   A  powerful handgun can be fitted into  a  relatively
compact package.

Increased  accuracy is possible due to the single action (SA)  trigger
pull  of many SA and DA semi-autos (definitions of these terms can  be
found  elsewhere  in  this  FAQ).  Many people  find  a  single-action
trigger to be easier to shoot with due to it's shorter, lighter pull.

THE SPECIFICS OF CALIBER

Caliber  designations refer nominally to the diameter of  the  bullet,
but not always.  Hence a .45 ACP has a .45 inch diameter bullet, but a
.38  special  and a .357 magnum both utilize bullets  .357  inches  in
diameter.   The terms "ACP", "special", and "magnum" are manufacturers
designations  to distinguish between cartridges with  bullets  of  the
same diameter.

Revolvers  generally shoot one kind of ammunition, while  auto-loaders
shoot another (with a few exceptions).

The designation "+P" refers to ammunition that while still is the same
caliber  as  non-"+P" ammunition, has been "beefed  up"  in  terms  of
power.  Refer to your handgun owners manual as to whether it is  rated
for  "+P" ammunition, and NEVER load anything into your gun except for
the ammunition it was designed to use.

For revolvers:

.38  Special is often considered a good compromise between  power  and
controllability, especially when shot out of a compact or  lightweight
gun.   It was the carry load of most of this nations police force  for
many  years.  Fairly compact "snubbies" are available that shoot  this
caliber.  +P ammunition is also available in this caliber, as are many
models that can handle the +P ammunition.

The  .357 magnum load is considered an excellent manstopper.   However
this  load  is quite powerful and some beginners may find it  hard  to
handle, especially out of smaller, lighter guns.  Revolvers that  fire
.357  magnum are also capable of firing the less powerful .38  special
load,  thus  making  this gun a good pick for power  and  flexibility.
While  a  .357  magnum  revolver is built to be stronger  than  a  .38
special revolver, this strength comes at the price of size and weight.

The Carmichel and Quigley books both contain excellent discussions  of
caliber choice.

For semi-autos:

acceptable self-defense calibers, in ascending order of power are:
- .380 ACP
- 9mm parabellum
- .40 Smith & Wesson
- 10 mm
- .45 ACP

The  .380  ACP  is  definitely at the weak end of this  spectrum,  and
should  be  chosen  only  if small size is a premium,  as  some  truly
compact .380's exist

The  9mm is the workhorse of many police departments in the U.S.  It's
more powerful than a .38 special and many handguns shooting this round
have  truly  large  capacities, hence the nickname "wonder  nine"  for
these handguns.

The .40 S&W is gaining popularity as a compromise between a round with
the  power  of  the .45 ACP and able to be shot from a  gun  with  the
capacity and compactness of the 9mm parabellum.

The  10mm is the current load of the FBI.  A beginner is probably best
served by another caliber.

The  .45  ACP  is  a venerable and well respected load.   It  was  the
standard  handgun load of the U.S. Army until replaced by the  9mm  in
the  80's.   Still, the sheer size and power of the  .45  make  it  an
excellent  self-defense choice.  The price paid is  that  a  gun  that
fires  this round will probably carry less ammunition and/or be larger
than a gun shooting a lesser caliber.

Types of ammo:

There  are many bullet designs.  The most suitable self-defense choice
in  any  of  the  above  mentioned  calibers  usually  is  hollowpoint
ammunition.   Hollowpoint ammo contains a cavity in the front  of  the
bullet  that  causes the soft lead slug to expand in  fluids  or  body
tissue.   This  expansion increases the size the bullet, and  prevents
over  penetration  of the target.  The advantages  are  more  reliable
stopping of the attacker, and diminished danger to bystanders  due  to
over   penetration.   Some  semi-autos  have  trouble  operating  with
hollowpoint ammunition and these particular semi-autos should  NOT  be
considered as suitable self-defense weapons.

Ammunition  manufacturers, in an effort to provide ammunition  capable
of  reliable man-stopping power, have created many variations  on  the
hollowpoint design.  Brand names such as "starfire", "silvertip",  and
"golden  saber"  are  simply  variations  of  the  hollowpoint  design
incorporating  different  materials  and  shapes.   These   types   of
ammunition  are  certainly suitable choices for a self-defense  round,
but  conversely  you might be just as well served  by  a  conventional
hollowpoint design.

Even  more exotic defense loads are available.  "Glaser Safety Slugs",
and  "Magsafe" are two brands which incorporate a bullet  intended  to
fragment  once  it  penetrates  it's target.   Besides  the  increased
stopping  power,  these ammunition are also less likely  to  penetrate
walls,  making  them  the  choice for some  apartment  dwellers.   The
downside  of  this  type  of  ammunition  is  that  some  find  to  be
disorientatingly loud, and it is also quite expensive.

Before utilizing a particular type/brand of cartridge for use in  self
defense you must first take it to your firing range and "test"  it  in
your  self-defense firearm.  This test should focus on how  accurately
and  comforatbly  you  can  fire  this  round.   You  must  also  test
"reliability."  With a brand-name ammunition and a well made  revolver
this is hardly an issue.  With a semi-auto however it is a requirement
that  you  "function test" your ammo.  This function test consists  of
fully  loading the magazine and ensuring that for each and every  shot
the  firearm  functions flawlessly.  Specific things to look  for  are
failure  to  load  a  new round, ejected cases getting  stuck  in  the
mechanism,  failure  to  fire the next round, or  anything  else  that
compromises the use of the gun.  If you do encounter problems  with  a
specific type of ammunition, then try a different type.  If many types
of  ammunition fail to reliably work in your gun then that gun is  not
suitable for self defense use.  One expert recommends a minimum of 200
rounds  fired  for  function testing, which can  add  up  to  be  very
expensive.   200  is  not a magic number, If your  firearm  fires  190
consecutive  rounds without a hitch, chances are that this  ammunition
is  acceptable.  But "chances" are not what you want to take  when  it
comes  to defending your life, so it is up to the individual  to  make
the    determination   whether   that   particular   firearm/ammuntion
combination is acceptable for reliable protection.

THE FINAL CHOICE

The handgun you choose will have to meet a combination of requirements
unique  to  your situation.  Having an idea of what's out  there  will
help when you first enter your local gun shop.  Don't be afraid to ask
questions, and if you don't get the service you want or need, then  go
somewhere  else.  Check to see if there are any ranges  in  your  area
that  rent guns, this is a good way try different designs and  models.
If  you  have any questions, feel free to send me E-mail, or  post  to
rec.guns.   Newbie questions to the bboard always result  in  numerous
helpful and informative replies.