The most important thing when picking a handgun for self-defense is that it fits you. By this I mean that the handgun must be your choice. While you may not know much about firearms, you probably know someone who knows everything about firearms. This person can help you; however, you must choose the handgun that fits you. If you purchase a handgun that does not fit you well, then you will not practice with it. In fact, you may not even use it at all. This means that the final decision on what handgun you purchase is yours.
So how do you pick a handgun that fits you? First off, it needs to feel good in your hands. Your hands should fit comfortably around the grip, and your fingers must be able to reach and operate the controls of the gun. If it is a semi-automatic you need to be able to pull the slide all the way back. Once you have found the size of gun that fits your hands well, find a range that rents similar guns. Start with some of the smaller calibers such as.38, 380, or 9mm and shoot them on the range. If you do not have much experience shooting or do not feel comfortable shooting the rental guns, find a firearms instructor or range employee who can help you. You should fire as many different varieties of pistols as possible. While some people may tell you “the larger the caliber the better”, it is most important that you are comfortable with the recoil (kick) of the gun. Keep in mind that the caliber is not the only thing that affects this. The smaller the gun or lighter the weight the more the gun will kick. For example a small 380 may recoil much more than a larger 9mm. When you find several guns that fit well in your hands and you are comfortable with the recoil, start considering the size you want. Of these guns that you have found that feel comfortable, you should pick one that’s size fits your individual situation.
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About the Author
Utah Firearms Instructor, NRA Instructor, and ASDI Certified Firearms Instructor