What Pistol should I get?
Ah the oldest question around firearms; “What kind of pistol should I get?” As an instructor of basic pistol fundamentals at www.12gun.com I often teach students who have never even held a gun. I get this question all the time. There are so many different reasons to own a pistol in America and even more types and styles. So that makes the answer is a lot easier than you would think. The answer is you get the one that is right for you and what you intend to use it for. Pretty simple huh?
What is the Intent?
The first thing I do when I am asked this question is ask one back. “What do you want to do with your pistol?” or “What is the intended purpose of you owning this pistol?” Are you looking for something for personal protection in the home? Do you want something that you can easily conceal? Is this going to be just for target practice and plinking? Will you be hunting with this gun or just want to have something as a sidearm while hiking? The response to this question gets you over the first hurdle.
You need to buy one that is right for what you want to do. There’s a big difference in what you would take into bear country and what you would conceal inside the waistband. There is a big difference in what you would want for protection at home and a cheap to fire plinker. Narrow it down to what you want to use it for and then start looking at calibers and styles.
For a pistol you would take into bear country or something to hunt with you will want something bigger. Sure you might be able to use something smaller, but get something designed for it. The ideal pistols for this activity in my opinion are large caliber wheel guns or revolvers. Now could you use a 45ACP or something like that? Yeah you could, but why would you? Get something 357Mag or bigger.
If you are looking for something for personal protection this opens the field back up. There are hundreds of options. Depending on how you carry can narrow that down for you. If you want something small and easy to put in a purse, there are plenty of choices in a variety of calibers.
Maybe you want something with a bit more firepower and you’re concealing under a jacket. Then your options changed to full double stacks in larger calibers. Could be that you aren’t carrying or have no desire to carry and just want it at home. Well then that opens things up too but it typically drops out some of the smaller calibers
Like to go plinking? Get something small caliber and inexpensive that won’t cost you a day’s wage to go shoot at the range. Not to mention if you are just plinking and target practicing smaller really can help you with your technique. When you aren’t worrying about the recoil you can really notice subtle things in your marksmanship.
Ok now we have it somewhat narrowed down to what you need it for. Now you need to start thinking about other factors like ammo availability, caliber, cost, style, and fit.
Ammo Availability
This has become a recent problem that didn’t use to exist. With the full stop on the economy for Covid it put a major dent in production. Couple that with the increased demand as people’s uncertainty grew and that is a recipe for shortage. I personally switched from a .40 cal or a 380 Auto to a 9mm during this time. I was going ammo hunting almost daily at multiple stores and rarely saw what I needed. More often than not saw 9mm ammo though.
Strictly between us (don’t tell Mrs. 12thGun) I wanted a new pistol too! Being diversified is important to me so I like having a lot of different options. Bringing another common caliber into the old armory is never a bad thing.
Caliber and cost
These are next in my mind when choosing a pistol. You want something that is fairly easy to find and common. Uncommon calibers are typically more hard to find and more expensive. Within your common calibers some are still more expensive. 380ACP is significantly higher than a 9mm Luger round. Still not sure why either, because it is smaller all the way around and uses less materials in every aspect.
Style and Fit
Lastly you need to be taking all of the above and putting it into a style and fit for you. Not all pistols fit the same. There are many different grips and sizes that just seem to fit better for each person. I have big old meat hooks with sausages on the end of them for fingers. I need something big and substantial but with shorter meatier fingers I need a closer trigger and a bigger trigger well. You might have smaller hands with longer fingers. It doesn’t mean that there isn’t a gun out there for you. You just need to test drive a couple.
If you get anything out of this article, please take this away from it. Go test several pistols BEFORE you buy one. Ask your friends what they have. See if they like it and ask if you can borrow a couple and go shoot them. Even within the same calibers you will find some shoot way different. Check with your local ranges too. Many of them now rent guns and trust me the rental is less than the pain of being stuck with a gun you don’t like.
Once you buy a gun and walk out with it the gun is now used. Value just went down immediately if you find you don’t like it and want to sell it. Find something that feels good in your hand, fits the intention, and try them out.
Do a little research on your own too. Check out various brands. There are a lot of very reputable manufactures out there to choose from, but sometimes a certain model will just have issues. Don’t just go out and buy that pink 9mm because it looks cute. Try not to walk out with the gun that just fit your budget and was in that tan pattern you like. Put some thought into the purchase and you’ll be glad you did.
Y’all stay safe out there.
