While you are shopping for the right gun for the job, you need to determine what that job is, and how you anticipate utilizing your particular gun of choice.
*Are you looking for something to carry with you every day, in a concealed manner?
*Are you interested in daily carry, but also a higher round count than a smaller pistol may offer?
*Or are you looking for something strictly for home defense?
First, some ladies prefer to keep the larger sized, higher round count gun for use in home defense situations. This is not to say you can't carry this gun as well, but not everyone is going to be comfortable toting a full size M&P, or a Glock 17.
For daily carry, something with a slimmer line may be more appropriate and easier to carry during a long day. In these instances, you may wish to handle guns such as the M&P Shield, Glock 42 and 43, Khar CW9, Khar CW380, or the Ruger LC9s, and LC380.
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| Glock 43, 9mm. Image from Glock |
Second, we need to touch on grip and fit a bit more. Everyone's hands are sized a bit differently, making fit and placement challenging. When you initially pick the gun up, take note of the following things:
- Can you reach the controls (safety, slide release, magazine release) without breaking your grip?
- If the model you are looking at has finger grooves built in, do they place your hand properly, or is your hand sitting too low?
- Do you have your middle, ring, and pinky fingers of your trigger hand on the grip securely, or just middle and ring? If the latter, can you control recoil comfortably for a follow up shot?
- As you grip the gun, are your wrist and forearm in a straight line, or is there a bend in that connection?
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| Wrist in line. Allows for proper control. Image from Google. |
Last but not least, a bit more on holsters. In my last post, we briefly touched on retention and I was asked what that meant. The simple answer is retention is what keeps your gun holstered when not in use. Various holsters and manufactures have different styles and levels of retention. You may opt for a holster with no additional retention (other than what is provided by your belt,) or you may choose a high level of retention. Some levels of retention are set up so that as you draw your gun, your index (or trigger finger) must push a button to release the gun. This works well in two ways- for one it keeps your trigger finger off of the trigger until you are ready to shoot and two it snugly locks the gun in place so that it can not easily be removed by others. Others require the gun to be moved in a certain way to be released. Still other styles are an external screw style, which as the screw is turned, pressure is placed on the gun, giving a very snug fit inside the holster.
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| Blackhawk holster. Image from Google |
At the opposite end of the spectrum and holsters with absolutely no retention at all. These tend to be made from soft materials, in a general size, that do not conform specifically to your guns size or make. These all purpose holsters have their place- in fact, I use one to store my 1911 in when I am not actively carrying it. But I do not carry my gun in one. When you have no retention at all, not only is it too easy for your gun to fall out of the holster as you move, it is also much too easy for someone else to access it.
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| Soft holster- no retention. Image from Google |
*Quick side note: as much as we teach and talk about being aware of your surroundings, understand that all the awareness in the world is not always going to protect you from an ambush. Predators will often wait until you turn your head in the other direction to ambush you from the side or from behind. Having a holster with a stronger measure of retention will buy you time to retain your gun and put it to use, rather than the Predator using it against you.
I've mentioned belt twice now, and here is why a good belt is so important. Not only do they help maintain the position of your bottoms, but a proper belt will help you secure your gun in the correct position. In some cases, it will also provide an extra layer of that vital retention, keeping your gun safe and snug against you.
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| 5.11 belt. Snug fit, gun in proper secure position. Image from Google. |
Flimsy, pretty, decorative belts are a great fashion statement, but the chances of them securing your gun where it needs to be are quite poor. The goal is to have a sturdy platform for your gun to be secured with. This does not mean you are now limited to only a tactical 5.11 belt in black, flat dark earth, or olive drab. It means you need to examine your wardrobe a bit closer and opt for something a bit wider (about an inch to an inch and a half,) with double layers of construction and a sturdy buckle. Coupled with a good holster, you will avoid your gun drooping and flopping about. Not only is that unsightly, it is unsafe and uncomfortable.
Until next week, follow these wise words from Yoda:
~Shannon and the Range Crew
Patrick's Indoor Gun Range
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