Self Defense Firearms

 

Firearms are tools; we hunt target practice and defend ourselves with them. But there are facets to these tools in terms of self defense that need to be examined to better utilize the right tool for the given environment.

Concepts:

First before the rifle, shotgun handgun argument begins let me explain my reasoning. The world’s best shotgun and or rifle is less likely to be with you when the unforeseen happens. A hand gun is easier to transport and is more likely to be with you. The problem with this fact is the handgun is harder to master and requires practice and consistent practice for the tool to do its job. Buying a pistol and then carrying it around is a bad idea. Without the practice time you will not get the benefit of a handgun and you will still have the liabilities. For it is possible to trip and shoot yourself with a pistol where falling and shooting yourself with a rifle or shotgun is less likely.

I have heard it said that a handgun is the weapon that a person uses to fight their way to their rifle / shotgun. This is naïve because gun fights start suddenly and end quickly if you are moving through enemy personnel you had better be a soldier in an army. For us civilians the exchange of fire in self defense will be loud fast and finished. You will not have time to fight your way to your rifle / shotgun.

Types of handguns:

I divide handguns into four groups. Pocket pistols (Small auto-loaders 22 to 380) camping revolvers (22 to 38 special) Fighting pistols (45 acp, 10mm 40 S&W, autos 45 colt 44 special revolvers) magnum revolvers (357, 41 and 44 mag). Personally I see two areas of usage: in town and in the country. When in populated areas I like 40 S&W and 45 ACP in the country I like 41 magnum and 10mm.

With in town ammo I like both the 180 1000 fps S&W 40 as well as 200 grain 900 fps 45acp both in hollow points to reduce penetration. In the country I like 600 ft. lbs. loads min. 10mm at 180 grains flying at 1250 fps is my standard load. I have some 300 grain jacketed soft point for my 41 magnum and I load it to 1000 fps both of these loads exceed 600 ft lbs slightly. Both hit with authority and ending the exchange quickly is the whole point.

I am not against smaller calibers I just like the batting average of 40 cal at around 200 grains flying at 1000 fps. I would not want to be shot by a 22 short for that matter however I would not place my life behind one either.

Another area to consider is in a hallway in your home or in your car going down the road. Any handgun will function in these places where a long arm would be problematic. Turning and firing 180 degrees is easy with a handgun while it is difficult to impossible to do this quickly with a long arm. The handgun can be carried close to the body with the empty hand extended into the darkness to feel your way. A long gun does not give you this option. I had a friend question me about this feel your way approach to exiting a building. I told him if something grabs my free hand it will tell me by the way it pulls me which way to shoot.

The last reason to generalize and stay with 40 cal handguns is dangerous game. The smaller calibers don’t do as well on dangerous game as the larger ones do. The hunting crowd will tell you - you need more power than 10mm or 41 magnum and they are right - for hunting. For self defense 15 rounds of 10mm which is a fast shooting gun is a better choice to me than a 454 causal which will go bang once and then leave the shooter recovering from recoil rather than putting lead on the target.

In the end the weapon must be matched to the task. For the task of self defense I believe the 40 something at 600 ft lbs is a strong choice. The weakness in this choice is it takes practice, practice, practice. The FBI liked 10mm but the lawyers and file clerks couldn’t learn to control it. AKA they didn’t want to practice, practice, practice.