Things to consider when choosing a handgun...

I know there are a lot of things to consider when looking at a handgun purchase - especially your first one! I started with a Beretta 92 FS (9mm) and moved to a Glock 23 (.40). I started with the 9 mm based on it's availability and cost effectiveness, but later moved to the more expensive .40 as my skills matured. I don't think that you can over-think your purchase, though I do think you need to avoid paralysis by analysis. There's a point where you simply need to "pull the trigger" and get something, knowing that you may sell it and move to something else later on. (Handguns are like tattoos: the first one is a bit scarey, but then once you have it, you're always thinking about the next one.) :)

A friend of mine came across this .pdf at FirearmsTactical.com (which I think he said he found threw the Glock Talk Forums). I don't know anything about them (I'm loyal to my Front Sight Team), but the document is really interesting. It's an F.B.I. study called "Handgun Wounding Factors and Effectiveness." It objectively weighs out the pros and cons of several different calibers and gives you some of the science behind them, so even if you've already settled on size, you'll still find this something for your brain to chew on.

Having given you that, even with all the great information available in that study, the bottom line is this - a bit of wisdom given from Dr. Piazza: "Any gun will do - if you will do." Whatever weapon you choose, you need to also choose training and practice. I can't give enough kudos to Front Sight and their training. I did the Four Day Defensive Handgun Class. Check out some of these Front Sight testimonies!



If you're not gonna get the training, if you can't afford to practice regularly, if you're not gonna take this seriously, I'd encourage you to go to the hardware store and get a claw hammer instead of a handgun.

At least claw hammers are cheap, they're easily replaced, they don't fire due to negligence, and they don't need to be kept locked up. In fact, you can leave a claw hammer laying on the table near your kids all day long. However, if you're gonna spend the money and purchase a weapon, please understand that with that kind of purchase comes A LOT of responsibility. If you're not up to it, don't even start it. If you're up to it, you owe it to yourself and the rest of us to get training and keep your proficiency honed!