When Zombies Attack...

What should your personal gun vault look like if you want to prepare for a zombie attack?

Glock 9mm

One of two “no brainer” guns in my Zombie gun locker is a Glock 9mm, and it doesn’t really matter what model.  The beauty of the Glock obtains in its modularity and ubiquity.   Any 9mm magazine works  in any 9mm model of a smaller capacity, so a G17 mag will fit in a G19 or G26, but not in reverse.  If a trigger breaks in the G19, I can cannibalize an old and broken G17 for a replacement.  Parts are wildly interchangeable across multiple platforms.  And, virtually any cop has a Glock on his or her hip, so finding Glocks should be as simple as finding a police station in Zombieland.  Stock up on 9mm, grab as many big mags as possible, and shoot for the head.

An alternative would be to find a G37, 38, or 39 in .45 ACP, but those guns are MUCH more rare than the 9mm models.  The G22, 23, 24, 27, and 35 should be in greater supply, and .40 S&W ammo is nearly as plentiful among LEOs in Zombieland, but the 9mm is my first choice.

Remington 870

Shotguns and Zombies go together like coffee and doughnuts, so when the Zombies start knocking on my door, I’ll have my Remington 870 knocking right back at them.  The Remington 870 pump action shares many of the same qualities as the Glock in a great Zombie-gun.  You can feed it anything, it rarely breaks, and if it does, replacements are everywhere. 

Slugs, double ought, or birdshot; the 870 feeds on virtually any shells and keeps on going.  If you hear a click instead of a bang, just pump the 870 and fire again.  With fewer moving parts to fail, and rock solid simple engineering, the Remington 870 performs like Old Faithful.  If you break a stock or bend a barrel defending yourself from a crazy Zombie, a new 870, or at least some replacement parts, are as close as your local Walmart Sporting Goods department.  More than 10 million 870’s have been produced, and it holds the record for the bestselling shotgun in the history of the world.  That kind of availability makes the Remington 870 my choice in Zombieland.

You might be tempted to use a semi-auto bird gun for the extra speed.  Remember, Zombies aren’t usually fast, just plentiful.  Semi-auto is great when you are tracking a brace of fast moving ducks or pigeons, but pump guns are just fine for Zombies.  Also, with semi-auto actions come more moving parts and a higher failure rate of equipment.  I will stick with the unglamorous but eminently reliable 870 pump action.

AK-47

In the real world, I’m a total  AR-fanboy.  I have a terrific Rock River DEA gun that I’ve tricked out with the EOTech holosight, a Surefire LED flashlight, a new Magpul grip and a Magpul CTR adjustable stock.  It’s a pimped out nail driver to 200 yards, and I can score solid hits to over 500 yards any day of the week. 

But, in Zombieland, I need to remember that the AR platform needs cleaning, shoots the intermediate 5.56mm cartridge, and has tight tolerances that don’t always benefit from the rough and tumble fight against the Zombie hordes.  I’ll trade the distance and general accuracy of the far superior AR platform for the looser tolerances and harder hitting cartridge of the AK.

There’s a reason that most certified gun nuts and retired Special Forces guys still put the AK at the top of their list of battle rifles.  It fires the 7.62 x 39mm round, a .30 caliber rifle cartridge with far superior stopping power and terminal ballistics of the intermediate 5.56mm cartridge in the AR.  The AK was built commonly of stamped parts to looser tolerances, and the gas system accepts virtually any ammo.  My AR, as good as it is, still suffers from ammo related issues.  Reports indicate that the piston ARs, which run cooler and cleaner, can be even more finicky with ammo than the direct-impingement gas guns.  Not the AK.  You can feed it any .308 out there, and she’ll run.  Finally, the AK beats even the Glock for ubiquity.   They are literally everywhere, and have become the most immediately recognizable global icon for a rifle.  When the chips are down in Zombieland, I’ll leave my AR in the safe and grab any old AK for comfort.

Scout Rifle

Once the power runs out , the freezers at Walmart run down, and all the meat in the fridge spoils, hunting will become more important for the few of us survivors to keep well fed.  I will channel my inner Jeff Cooper and reach for my Scout Rifle instead of the AK.  Cooper thought that rifles in the late 20^th Century varied only slightly from arms created nearly a century before, and argued that if one could have only one gun, it should be a general purpose bolt action rifle with sufficient capacity and power to work equally well at hunting and fighting.  His rifle musings became the Scout Rifle, the latest generation of which from Ruger holds true to Cooper’s concepts.

The Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle is chambered in .308, has a bolt action, comes equipped with M1 style fixed sights, but also a rail system mounted ahead of the chamber to accept a scope for more precision shots.  The box magazine holds 5 or 10 rounds giving it sufficient capacity to handle deer or the odd Zombie found in the woods.   With M1 style sights or a mounted optic, the Scout tackles zombies or game out to bolt rifle distances.  Best of all, it shares ammo with the AK, so I won’t need to hoard too many different calibers for my gun safe.

Back Up Gun

If the AK gums up, and the Glock trigger spring fails, and I can’t find a shell for my 870 or the Scout rifle, I’ll want to have a drop dead reliable wheel gun as a back up.  I’d pick the Ruger LCR in .357.  It’s light, dependable, and can fire the .357 or .38+P rounds.  I can put it in an ankle holster, hide it in my pocket, or tuck it in a backpack for safekeeping.  In the end, with just 5 rounds in the chamber, it won’t keep me safe against a Zombie horde, but I will have enough capacity to take out at least 4 of the monsters before using the last round to avoid becoming a Zombie’s Happy Meal.

Forget all of your exotic calibers, your expensive rifles, your Hollywood handguns.  In Zombieland, only the toughest, most reliable, and most available guns make sense.  Remember, when the Zombies come stalking, the lights dim, and the factories close, you have only what you can build or scavenge to survive.  Choose well.

Would I Still Buy a Glock? Final Thoughts...

So, for the past week or so, I've posted several reviews comparing new polymer pistols competing with the Glock, and highlighting some of the new features available to shoppers interested in a new handgun today.  All in all, these comparisons show that Glock really has been a bit late to market with new features for its pistols.  Unlike a lot of manufacturers, they haven’t updated their factory accessories.  They still offer only one integrated holster for concealed carry.  Glock didn’t add accessory rails to their pistol until nearly every other manufacturer updated their model lineup for the “lights and lasers” craze.  Glock was the last manufacturer to update their ergonomics for interchangeable back straps to accommodate shooters with smaller or larger hands.  They only recently started offering  a range of sight options for their pistol, which is one of the first changes most Glock owners make on their guns.  Where most manufacturers offer pistols, revolvers, and rifles or carbines, Glock has remained true to the area of their supreme mastery, the semi-auto pistol.

But, and it’s a qualified “but,” I am not sure that I need any of that stuff.  I still use my Glock factory holster for concealed carry, so I don’t need a new retention class holster in my “gun system kit.”  I don’t use a light or laser on my handgun, so an accessory rail lacks purpose for me.  I have never experienced an ammunition failure in my pistol, and I’m very familiar with the slap, rack, and fire technique in the case of a problem, so the “second strike” capability falls flat for me.  I upgraded my sights to excellent TRU-GLO night-sights, but I never found the original sights from Glock as terrible as the press suggests.  Moreover, I’m really accurate with my G19, and cognizant that all of these new features have marketing value, but perhaps little else. 

But, and here’s the qualification that I promised, I do find the standard grip on the Glock to be slightly oversized for my hand. I would like a slightly smaller grip, and the thought of having increased capacity but a shorter barrel to carry and conceal does interest me.  The thing that keeps me from carrying the G27 more frequently is the strange feel of a too-short grip in my hand when I’m called to draw and shoot the gun.

So, I’m glad that with their Gen4 pistols, Glock finally made it to that party, and I remain a Glock fan.  If I were in the market for my first handgun, I would absolutely consider a Springfield XD-M just for the 19 round capacity on the shorter 3.8 barrel frame, which is the only feature on any of the new generation of polymer pistols that seriously intrigues me.   I think consumers are the lucky ones because as manufacturers race to "out-Glock" the Glock, all of the new pistols offer a wider range of features that we would have expected.  Every consumer can find a feature on a pistol that fits their needs and their budget.  For me, I’m sticking with Glock, but I do envy the choices that new pistol shoppers get today.

Would I Still Buy a Glock Today, Part 4

Today's installment covers the final two guns in my polymer pistol review, each of which offers new features for the polymer platform, and compelling options for shooters.

Beretta offers a wide variety of top quality handguns, including civilian versions of the US military’s M9, but their recent developments in their x4 Storm brand most fit the development in the polymer pistol format.  Their Px4 Storm platform offers a modular, hammer fired, polymer frame pistol in multiple sizes and calibers to maximize options for home defense and concealed carry.   The PX4 Storm includes accessory rails, individual grip sizes like the M&P pistol, and adjustable sights. 

When Glock introduced multiple frame sizes, they stared full size, then compact, and finishing with a sub-compact designed for the best concealment.  Beretta shifted the deployment to take advantage of the strong consumer demand for a sub-compact frame, so the most recent PX4 Storm is the mid-sized compact frame in 9mm, .40S&W, and .45ACP.  All of the pistols are offered with a range of Beretta accessories, as aftermarket options haven’t caught up with the newest pistols. 

Personally, I find even the 9mm model in any frame size to be too big for my hands.   Compared to other pistols, the Beretta has a more substantial, even beefy, profile, the bulk of which positioned in the grip.  I can’t comfortably wrap my hand around the PX4 Storm, and remain confused by such a deep grip for a normal capacity double stack magazine.  The XD-M uniformly increases capacity without adding bulk to the grip face compared to the PX4 Storm, so I’m not sure of the ergonomic decisions made by Beretta.

Finally, Taurus offers a selection of polymer pistols including several new additions in their concealed carry and slim line dimensions.  For the purposes of this examination, the Taurus 24/7 model offers the best comparison.  It’s a full-size, polymer frame, striker fired pistol in multiple popular calibers, as well as accessory rails, manual safety, and site options.  While not technically in the same family, Taurus offers different sizes of this platform as the Millennium and Millennium Pro models for more compact carry guns.

The latest generation of 24/7, the G2 models, offers interchangeable back-straps and a trigger safety similar to Glock and other manufacturers while still preserving the thumb activated safety.  Grip geometry reminds me of the venerable H&K USP, another top quality semi-auto pistol.  The 24/7 G2 continues the Taurus tradition of “second strike” capabilities, rare for striker fired pistols that allows the user to pull the trigger again on a round if there’s a misfire in the chamber. 

Much print in gun magazines has been spent on the relative merits of this feature.  No shooter likes to hear “click” when they expect to hear “bang,” so on the surface, this feature should have some value.  But, with modern factory ammunition in such uniform high quality and misfires relatively rare, the actual incidence when this second strike capability comes into play is probably not noticeable.  Why I like the feature is that I can practice mag changes, target and sight alignment, and dry firing repeatedly without racking the slide after every “click.”  It’s a nice feature to practice dry-firing, which is the shortest path to mastering a new pistol.

Would I still buy a Glock today, Part 3

Today, we'll take a look at FN-Herstal's impressive FNP and FNX series as Glock competitors. 

Fabrique Nationale, FN for short, simply means national factory, but when it’s included with Herstal, as in FN Herstal, it represents one of the premier firearms and weapons technology manufacturers in the military, law enforcement, and civilian markets.  In addition to innovative rifles and PDW class guns like the SCAR and P90, they make one of the best new tactical pistols available to consumers, the  FNX system of handguns.  Like the others, FN offers the FNX in a variety of calibers, but so far only in a mid-full sized frame.  Still suitable for concealed carry, these weapons are still serious full size tactical weapons with the highest quality tolerances.

The FNX platform differs from those described above in that they are all hammer-fired pistols in the Browning tradition, and include an ambidextrous decocking lever and thumb safety.   The double action/single action format needs a strong first shot, followed by a racy 3-4 LB single action follow up shot. 

The FNX-9 and -40 remain largely identical, but in .45, FN changes the game.  The highest level of innovation for the FN platform, the FNP-45 Tactical, was developed for the Joint Combat Pistol Program, a competition to replace the M9 pistol currently in service, and to see the innovations available for .45ACP ammunition since the Army retired the 1911 in 1985.  The FNP-45 Tactical offers the same rails and back straps as the other fine FNP models, but the geometry of grip alignment looks and feels more consistent with the venerable Colt 1911 geometry.  Built with accessories in mind, the FNP-45 Tactical includes fully ambidextrous controls, and modifications for suppressor compatibility.  Designed with special operators in mind, the FNP-45 Tactical includes a threaded barrel for suppressor attachment without modification, as well as high profile combat sights designed to function with or without a suppressor attached to the gun.  Finally, the stainless steel slide is built to accommodate micro-dot and red-dot optics without modification, setting this pistol apart from all of the competition.  The pistol appeals to shooters interested in competitive shooting events like IDPA and IPSC, right out of the box.

Would I still buy a Glock today, Part 2

Given all of the new features offered on the latest wave of polymer pistols to compete with the Glock platform, would I still buy a Glock today if I were shopping for my first handgun?  In our last installment, I looked at the various benefits of the Springfield Armory XD-M.  Today, I look at the S&W M&P platform.

Smith and Wesson responded to the Glock pistols originally with their Sigma pistol beginning in 1994, one of the first direct competitors to the Glock polymer pistols.  In fact, the pistol was such an obvious copy that Glock sued the manufacturer for patent infringement, which S&W settled out of court for undisclosed sums and a promise to change the pistol.

However, the genie was out of the bottle, and S&W continued to evolve designs for the polymer platform.  Today, the modest Sigma is sold alongside the far superior M&P platform, which has been adopted by several law enforcement agencies, and is available to civilians.

Like the Glock, the M&P platform is available in different sizes and most popular calibers including 9mm, .40S&W, .45ACP, and .357Auto.  Some manufacturers may offer a sub-caliber kit to their pistol to convert it to fire 22LR ammunition, but S&W will soon offer a training version of the M&P handgun in .22LR on the full size frame.  Owners will be able to practice their fundamentals with the same trigger, sights and frame, but at a fraction of the cost of defensive quality ammunition.

The M&P also offers the Springfield style package of a carry case, molded holster and mag carriers, gun lock and loader with the pistol purchase.  S&W also offers versions of their M&P in the popular Flat Dark Earth (FDE) frame to suit operators in more arid environments.  To the best of my knowledge, though, the M&P hasn’t been adopted by serious military assaulters or foreign military units, so this feature is most suited to individual consumers looking for an alternative to the typical “black pistol” options.

The notable innovation of the M&P involves their approach to ergonomic options.  Instead of changing the grip size with a simple back strap, the M&P offers modular grip fittings that adjust size and circumference for a more customized fit.  With their grip system, the M&P provides the widest and most comfortable options for virtually any shooter’s hand size.

My biggest concern about the M&P is the long heavy trigger.  I had a hard time controlling the trigger and the inconsistent slack.  It felt sloppy to me, but I didn’t spend a lot of time training with the pistol.  Ergonomically, though, it offers one of the best grips in the business, great sights, and is easy to bring on target.

Would I still buy a Glock, today? Part 1

While H&K created the original polymer pistol with their VP70, in 1982 Glock’s G17 made the option for a polymer pistol a mass-market reality.   For a time, Glock led innovation in the industry with new calibers, compact and sub-compact models, and compensated models for competition and tactical shooters.  Recently, though, Glock seems to be late to the game with the type of features consumers most demand, like accessory rails, integrated holsters, and ergonomic grip options. In light of all of the new products in the market, I find myself asking the question, “If I had to buy my first handgun today, would I still pick a Glock?”

Today, nearly every manufacturer has their version of a Glock: a polymer frame, striker fired, semi-auto pistol in multiple calibers and sizes.  Springfield Armory, S&W, FN, Berretta, and Taurus all offer quality guns in the format with Smith and Springfield getting most of the recent press.  Glock’s newest Gen 4 pistol also includes the newest development of ergonomic back straps and revised grip textures to improve grip purchase and handling.

Springfield Armory offers the most compelling Glock alternative for my purposes.  The XD-M is an evolution of the XD platform imported originally in 2002from Croatia.  The XD-M improves on the XD frame by adding a match barrel, increased modularity, better ergonomics, and an upgraded slide design.  The XD-M is available in all the popular calibers (.45ACP, .40S&W, and 9mm), and in full or compact sizes.  The gun has two levels of safety without resorting to an independent safety actuator.  The Glock style trigger looks just like my G19 trigger, and ensures that the gun will fine only when an affirmative trigger grip is used.  The XD-M also integrates a grip safety similar to those on the iconic 1911, which requires a full grip on the pistol for operation.

With top quality sights, excellent ergonomics, a 4.5” barrel, the full size XD-M offers competition quality accuracy.  In 9MM, the gun handles 19 rounds in the magazine, giving the shooter the highest capacity pistol with a standard magazine.  The newest model in 9mm and .40S&W makes a new spin on the compact frame.  With a 3.8” barrel, the XD-M compact pistol closely matches the size of a Glock G27, and includes a 13 round flush-fit magazine.  Springfield’s innovation came from their modular grip frame that integrates a full 19 round magazine (in 9mm) with a grip extension that gives the compact frame pistol the same grip area as the full sized pistol. 

Glock originated this feature on their sub-compact frame guns, but Springfield has improved on this feature and offers in my opinion the best grip options with a small or sub-compact frame pistol.  In the XD-M Compact, a consumer can comfortably carry the pistol with the flush fit magazine and not worry about printing the gun under their clothing.  A quick switch to the X-Tension magazine offers the shooter all of the ammunition and grip area of the full sized pistol.  It’s one of the industry’s best innovations for compact carry pistols.

Like all XD type pistols, Springfield includes a complete system with the purchase of the pistol.  A molded carry case, fitted holster, magazine holder, mag loader, and gun lock are included in the XD and XD-M purchase.  It’s a full-service option that leaves few accessories for a new owner to purchase.  With dovetailed sights and an accessory rail, the XD-M leaves options to the owner to upgrade to various sights and optics, as well as rail-based light or laser systems to suit their defensive shooting needs.

Next time - the S&W M&P...

Shoot, Don't Shoot. That is the Question...

I killed someone today.   I didn’t mean to.  It just happened. 

I was alone at the office, and I heard noises from the lobby where the elevators empty to our hallway.  I didn’t expect anyone, and the building had a break-in on the 3^rd floor.  I was freaked out, but I had a gun in my laptop bag, and I drew it.

When the delivery guy came around the corner, I just fired before I recognized his uniform.

Blam!

Of course, no innocent delivery guys were harmed in my virtual experience, but it also wasn’t a video game.  At least, not a typical video game.  I spent a few hours at the new Gander Mountain Academy in Lake Mary, Florida, a state of the art firearms training facility just north of Orlando.   In addition to their live fire ranges, Gander Mountain Academy has three terrific virtual ranges that present all sorts of training options for new gun owners and experiences shooters alike.

On the virtual range (V-Range), shooters have the option of shooting a Glock G22 or an AR 15 on a virtual range with a wide choice of targets and training courses.  The guns are all air powered, but offer shooters realistic weight, trigger and recoil experiences.  I’ve shot the G19 for almost 15 years, and I was suitably impressed with the virtual G22 experience.  The weight and trigger pull perfectly matches my G19, and the recoil on a full air cylinder fairly mimics what a .40 S&W round feels like to shoot.

The virtual range let me shoot two hundred rounds without having to reload magazines or pay for targets and ammunition.  I fired three qualifying courses for various marksmanship drills.  I tried my hand at different targets and different distances in the comfort of an air conditioned facility.  Best of all, the support staff are nearly all law enforcement instructors, so you get great tips and training advice from a pro.

But, the real fun and best value of the Gander Mountain Academy lies in their simulation ranges.  With two immersion style environments, shooters can train more than marksmanship on a paper target.  The simulation ranges provide action drills, IPSC and IDPA style match practice, moving target simulation, and tactical drills.  Best of all, several tactical scenarios test a shooter’s decision making ability, not just marksmanship.

It was on that range that I killed a delivery guy and got blown away by a burglar, but with a quick tap on the touch screen, I could replay the scenario and adjust my decision making.  The Gander Mountain Academy simulation ranges let me test my reactions and decisions in stressful scenarios without the risk of being in a real gunfight.  On the simulation ranges, I can train with holsters without shooting off my toes.  I can change my tactics and practice new strategies for dealing with high stress scenarios.  I can spend my time dedicated to practice and decision making, not changing targets, reloading magazines, or cleaning pistols.

As much as possible, the simulations use live actors, not computer generated cartoons, to promote realism in the various scenarios.  I was struck by just how shocking it was to realize I failed the “shoot/don’t shoot” test and “killed” a civilian.  It really stopped me in my tracks.  My instructor walked me through different drills and tests to help me make better decisions, find time to assess the situation better, and avoid another mistake.  I feel much more confident that if I’m put in a life or death position again, I’ll behave better.

Gander Mountain Academy isn’t cheap, but considering the cost of ammunition, it’s a better value than a lot of ranges in the area.  They offer live fire ranges for $25 per hour, and they really are the best live fire ranges in Central Florida.  I spent $30 for 30 minutes with a coach on the virtual range, and $40 for 45 minutes on a simulation course.   For that expense, you get unlimited firing and a ton of free coaching.  In 30 minutes at my gun club, I can fire 50 -75 rounds, but I spend 10 minutes reloading magazines.  On the virtual range, all of your time is spent shooting and working drills.  All in all, a very good value for the money.

Virtual ranges and air-powered shooting isn’t a replacement for live fire with your personal handgun, but there’s no safer or better way to train in real-world scenarios than at the simulation ranges.  To reproduce the range of marksmanship drills, a shooter would have to cart around tons of gear or belong to multiple types of ranges or clubs.  And, with most clubs or ranges prohibiting holster work, or shooting on the move, I don’t have to go to an expensive tactical school for that kind of practice.

I’m a fan.  I’ll still put a lot of real lead downrange at my gun club and practice with my personal handguns and rifles, but for tactical practice, safe holster work, and IPSC or IDPA style practice, I can’t do better than time on the virtual ranges at Gander Mountain Academy. 

Why Not a .380? I'll tell you why not...

The market for small, easily concealable, sub-compact or micro pistols has exploded in just a few years.  All the typical outlets, website, magazines, and online forums, proclaim that these pistols tap a consumer need for a comfortable and concealable carry gun.  These same outlets have nearly uniformly praised the Ruger LCP in .380, the Bersa Thunder, and the new Diamondback as terrific guns for concealable personal protection.

I have a different theory.  I think that the only reason that manufacturers released new .380 pistols is in reaction to the challenge of finding 9mm and .45 ACP ammunition, and now that ammunition is both more readily available and less expensive, the .380 guns are going to disappear.

Here’s why.

Most of these guns are utterly useless.

That’s just my opinion, mind you, but what good is a gun that might be easy to conceal, but fires a round without much stopping power and has a barrel too short to be very accurate at safe distances from an assailant? 

Really, this class of .380 micro-compact weapons nearly always have the semi-auto equivalent of a snub-nosed barrel that seems barely longer than the already short bullet.  The anemic .380 round can barely muster any muzzle velocity to do much damage to a watermelon let alone a crack-addled attacker.  Of course, that’s only if you can hit someone by shooting instinctively, since the ultra-short barrel length of this class of guns offers too little sight radius to be effective in anything more than a point-and-shoot scenario.

I’d be hard pressed to carry any of these guns confidently, and I really see no reason to bother.  Since Iraq started winding down, I haven’t had any trouble finding ammunition in 9mm or .45 ACP.  And, that’s the issue, I think.  While we’ve always had .380 handguns available, the latest tidal wave of product was developed during a period of extreme ammunition shortages in 9mm and .45 ACP.  With most production in those calibers going to resupply various military buyers, little was left to the civilian market.  Many distributors and select buyers hoarded their supply, creating wild inflation in ammunition prices.

With 9mm and .45 ACP in steady supply and prices returning to normal, if slightly inflated, prices, the need for a .380 handgun doesn’t seem as vital.  I wonder if we’ll see such a wide variety of manufacturers still building these guns in a year or two.

My advice, buy a compact or subcompact 9mm and a good quality holster that keeps the butt of the pistol from showing.  Join a club or visit a range and practice good shooting techniques.  Using an empty gun, practice drawing the gun from a holster and finding your sights.  Follow those steps and you will put bullets on target dependably in a crisis scenario .   You don’t need a smaller gun and a smaller round to stay safe on the streets.  Just a good holster and some practice.

But, of course, that’s just my opinion.

Best First Semi-Auto

For anyone interested in purchasing their first gun, be wary of going into a gun shop and asking “what’s the best gun to buy?”  Though gun shop owners love to roll their eyes at such questions, they also generally don’t give the best answers.  Too often, a gun store “commando” tells you what gun he would buy, but doesn’t take the time to ask you important questions to help you make your best choice.

We’ve spent time in the first article in this series exploring the benefits of revolvers for first time gun buyers.  For gun owners without much experience with firearms, revolvers are easy to load, unload, shoot, and clean, so they represent the easiest entry into the gun market.  All are confidently shootable, which makes it more enjoyable to practice with the gun.  Since practice yields the best results if you are called on to use the weapon for defense, revolvers lend themselves easily for new gun owners.

But, revolvers have their limits for personal protection.  Revolvers offer limited capacity.  Most of the revolvers used for personal and home protection load only 5 or 6 shots, and reloading can be time consuming even for experienced shooters. 

Revolvers don’t generally conceal well, as the cylinder bulges substantially.  The most concealable revolvers are short barreled 5 shot stock that limit accuracy and capacity simultaneously.  A two inch barrel for a .38 Special round is accurate only to a few feet, and if you miss, you have only 4 or 5 additional changes to get on target.

Revolvers can be heavy.  With most revolvers built in all steel configurations, typically revolvers are heavier than their semi-automatic counterparts.  The extra weight may give a slight advantage in recoil and returning to target after a shot, but could make it more difficult for a new shooter to shoot accurately through a full 5 or 6 shots of ammunition.   Some manufacturers are starting to build small frame revolvers with polymer parts to reduce weight, but those guns will be a topic for a future report.

Semi-automatic pistols offer several advantages to gun owners seeking a concealable gun for personal protection that can easily be used for home protection.    Semi-autos are among the most popular type of pistol available to guy buyers, so the range of options, calibers, styles, and features exceeds what you’ll typically find among revolvers.

Semi-automatic pistols, like revolvers, fire one round for each pull of the trigger until the ammunition is exhausted.  The most recognizable difference between a revolver and a semi-automatic pistol is the way in which the gun receives or chambers ammunition.

A revolver holds a cylinder of 5 or 6 chambers each holding one bullet.  The chamber cylinder spins or revolves one position with each trigger pull to put a bullet in line with the barrel of the gun.  Semi-automatics by contrast, have only one chamber and barrel, and load a bullet into the chamber for firing before ejecting the empty cartridge and loading a new bullet.

So, where you have to unload empty rounds from a revolver before replacing the ammunition, for a semi-automatic pistol, the pistol unloads the empty rounds after each bullet is fired, and reloading is done by replacing a full magazine of bullets into the gun.

Semi-automatic pistols usually hold more bullets than a revolver.  Some modern handguns load as many as 20 rounds of 9mm or .45 caliber bullets, which gives the gun more capacity to shoot before reloading.  The extra capacity gives someone using a gun for personal or home protection more bullets to fire in defense, and a quicker reloading time if the situation can’t be resolved quickly.

Semi-automatic pistols look and behave differently than a revolver.  Where a revolver spins a chamber cylinder to prepare to fire a bullet, a semi-automatic pistol uses a mechanical slide to push a bullet from the magazine into a chamber to prepare to fire.  Semi-auto pistols have more moving parts and are more complicated to use than revolvers, but any new shooter or gun owner can quickly learn to operate a semi-auto pistol easily and safely.

Virtually all law enforcement agencies and military units world wide replaced their revolver handguns in favor of semi-automatic pistols to take advantage of  the increased ammunition capacity and the reliability available in modern semi-automatic pistols.

For the purposes of this article, we will examine semi automatic pistols most suited to a first time gun owner seeking a good gun for personal and home protection on a modest budget of about $550.  That’s a typical profile for someone new to shooting sports or gun ownership, and a very common goal for new shooters.

The number of pistols that fit those criteria, however, can be overwhelming.  A quick check on www.gunbroker.com lists dozens of brands and literally hundreds of pistols, so we need to limit our choices quickly to a manageable number.

First, we’ll look only at 9mm handguns to start.   The 9mm caliber is the most popular center fire handgun cartridge commonly available, is inexpensive to shoot frequently for practice, widely available in discount and sporting goods stores, and offers a range of personal protection bullets fully capable of competing with larger calibers. 

Guns chambered for 9mm ammunition are easy to use and limit the recoil often felt with larger rounds like the .40 S&W or .45 ACP rounds.  Gun experts argue widely about the “stopping power” of various rounds, but for new shooters those arguments don’t carry much weight.  If a new shooter cannot handle the larger recoil and power of a .45 caliber round, they risk missing their targets.  The 9mm round has adequate stopping power when used with the right bullets, and offer a new gun owner a milder shooting platform on which to learn and train.

We will also look only at guns that incorporate polymers in their construction.  These so-called “plastic pistols” are every bit as capable, durable, and shootable as other pistols, but offer new shooters two significant advantages.  The use of polymers in the construction process makes some semi-automatic pistols lighter than most revolvers.  Lighter guns are easier for new shooters to handle and more comfortable for concealment if the owner decides to carry the gun for personal protection. 

Many modern polymer pistols offer better ergonomics “out of the box” than their revolver counterparts, as well.  For the past few years, manufacturers have been updating their polymer pistols with modular grips that allow shooters to change grip profiles with interchangeable inserts to fit any shooting hand size.  That modularity increases the usability of the pistol without increasing the price of costly grip replacements on modern revolvers.

Finally, we will review only guns with recognizable brands, which offer new gun owners a variety of advantages.  While working with a well know and well established brand doesn’t negate the possibility of getting a sub-standard gun, big-named manufactures have quality assurance, manufacturing processes, and a commitment to customer service that make it easier for new gun owners to get help in the event that they need it.  Well established brands are also the best bet for finding qualified gunsmiths to make repairs or cover warranty items in the event of problems.

In the spirit of ‘if it’s good enough for experts, then it’s good enough for me…” my top choice for an affordable first semi-auto pistol is the Glock G19.  This gun is the most popular handgun in general issue among police units around the world.  It was a serious contender to replace the Colt .45 in military trials, and has been considered in more modern trials to replace the Beretta M9.  The Glock 19 is the mid-sized frame 9mm semi auto pistol and carries 15 rounds in the current magazines shipped with the gun.  With a street price of about $450 and many top quality used guns available everywhere, it’s a great choice for a new shooter.

Some buyers might find the early G19 grip a bit too large for small-ish hands, so test fit the grip for good comfort unless you are buying the latest Gen 4 release.  With the newest gun, Glock has changed the grip dimpling pattern to a more “aggressive” texture to improve its fit in wet or slippery conditions.  Also, the latest Gen 4 design includes modular grip inserts to make the size of the grip larger or smaller to fit nearly any hand.

Accuracy with the Glock has never been a problem, but with a 4 inch barrel, new shooters should find no trouble keeping shots on target.  Sights on the G19, like all standard Glocks, are a front post with a white dot contrasted against rear sights with a white highlight outlining the posts.  This setup is adequate for new and experienced shooters.

Glock triggers revolutionized the industry by incorporating a trigger safety integral to the gun.  Glock firearms all include three safeties in their engineering, but no external slide safety to fiddle with if you are called to shoot the gun.  The G19 fires when the user puts their full finger on the trigger and squeezes to fire a round.  It’s just that simple, and doesn’t cause a new owner to learn multiple steps to shooting the gun. 

Glock has been a staple of modern law enforcement and popular shooting since its introduction in 1985, so it’s easy to find dealers and gunsmiths virtually anywhere.  Competition among dealers keeps the cost of the gun relatively low, and the G19 can be found online, at shows, and in stores well under our $550 price target.  New buyers can still afford a few extra magazines and a good gun case for transport.

Glock offers 9mm semi-automatic pistols in a variety of sizes and configurations, but the G19 is my recommendation for most new shooters.  The full sized G17 has a longer slide and larger capacity magazines, but with the bigger gun come more weight making the G17 hard to carry in a concealed fashion for personal protection.  The smaller G27, considered a sub-compact frame, is a very easily concealed gun at just 4” high, but with a short barrel, the recoil increases, making the G27 a better choice for experienced shooters.

As the first widely available polymer gun, Glock has been put through torture tests more than any other pistol.  Glock pistols have been frozen in ice, drowned in water, buried in sand, heated in ovens, and brutalized in many other ways, but still shoot reliably.  Testers have put thousands of rounds through Glocks without cleaning their guns, and typically don’t experience failures after 3k, 5K, even 10,000 rounds.  The most impressive demonstration of reliability came from a Glock test where a representative completely disassembled 10 different , shook up all the parts, then built one gun from parts of different guns.  That gun then fired several thousand rounds without a failure.    In short, you can depend on a Glock G19 to function properly in nearly any condition, which could just save your life.

Other manufacturers offer options in this category, as Glock has many competitors.  In future posts, we’ll consider other options for new shooters, as well as what manufacturers have a chance to displace Glock as the standard for future evolutions of the semi-automatic pistol.

What's the Best Gun?

The question of ‘what’s the best gun to buy…” launches as many gun store conversations as ‘what’s the best caliber to use.”  Literally, everyone has an opinion, and no affirmed “gun nut” is ever shy about telling you their opinion.  On its own, though, the question doesn’t really have an answer.

What is the best gun for what?

For carrying concealed?

For home protection?

For hunting or casual shooting?

For IDPA or IPSC style competition?

For what budget?

The list of follow-on questions can and has filled volumes, as well as innumerable articles in the shooting magazines like Guns and Ammo, Shotgun News, and Handguns.  The simple fact is that unless someone specifies a few more details, there’s just no way to respond intelligently. 

When my boss asked me “what gun should I buy,” though, I didn’t  get to avoid an answer.  I can make some basic assumptions, though, to formulate a better response.    A first time gun owner is probably looking at buying a handgun rather than a rifle or shotgun, and intends the purchase for a mix of home and personal protection.  Unlike a collector or enthusiast, a first time gun buyer probably wants to keep the purchase within a modest budget.    So, to rephrase the question slightly, this article tries to answer the question, “what handgun should I buy for general protection for a budget of up to $550?”

The only good gun for someone who doesn’t want to practice and understand their weapon is no gun at all.  I warn any friend asking advice about buying their first gun that owning a firearm is a responsibility, not a right, and with that responsibility comes the obligation to learn how to use it safely and effectively.   Shooting a gun safely can be fun and rewarding.  But, guns can be dangerous if not used properly, so take the time to learn all that you can about your firearm, practice regularly, and follow local laws about proper storage and safe handling.

For trouble free dependability and simple operation, most new gun owners benefit from buying a basic revolver in an appropriate caliber for home and personal protection.   Revolvers are simpler to use and easier to maintain than most semi-automatic pistols.  There’s no risk of mis-feed with a revolver, and operation is as simple as working the safety and pulling the trigger.

My top choice, the Ruger SP101, is available in a variety of finishes, calibers, and sizes for nearly any shooter.  I recommend the SP101 over Ruger’s other excellent revolver, the GP100, simply because of size.  The Ruger GP100 series is a full sized revolver with 3” to 6” barrels and a full pistol grip.  Ruger’s SP101 has a smaller grip and offers a choice of calibers in the 2.25” barrel, which makes the SP101 slightly easier to carry for personal protection if the owner chooses.

I recommend the SP101 in .357 Magnum and a 2.25” barrel.  The .357 mag round is the same size as a .38 Special cartridge, so the SP101 in .357 mag will also shoot the more affordable .38 Special ammunition.   Owners can practice with the .38 Special ammunition, and use the more powerful .357 Mag round for protection. 

Buyers and owners please take special note.  A gun built to handle the .357 magnum load can shoot a .38 Special bullet, but users should never fire a .357 magnum round in a .38 Special gun.  The .357 magnum cartridge is significantly more powerful than a .38 Special, and will cause damage to a .38 special gun, and could cause injury or death.  That’s one of the reasons that I recommend the SP 101 in .357 Mag, so the owners can shoot either ammunition without concern.  Both calibers are among the most common revolver loads, and offer effective stopping power if you have to use the gun to defend yourself.

The SP101 is comfortable to use.  The grip gives instant purchase and fits small to mid-sized hands well.  The trigger pulls smoothly and consistently, especially important for new shooters.  The front sight is a simple post, and Ruger offers some variety of rear sights.  For the short barrel revolver, natural point of aim becomes more critical than sight or target alignment.    

Ruger offers the SP101 with a Crimson Trace® Lasergrip®, which for new shooters helps significantly with aim.  As your shooting hand wraps around the grip, depressing a noticeable nub on the trip activates the laser, which shines a red dot on the target approximately where the bullet will follow when the trigger gets pulled.  The laser shouldn’t become a replacement for careful practice with the revolver, but does help new shooters identify their natural point of aim and improve their accuracy.

With a street price under $500, plus about $180 for the Crimson Trace® Lasergrip®, Ruger’s SP101 provides a versatile, dependable, affordable platform for shooting enjoyment and personal or home protection.

Smith & Wesson’s K-Frame revolver offers first time gun buyers another top choice.  A quick check of the S&W website shows more than 25 configurations, but the Model 686 Plus offers the closest range of features to the Ruger SP101.  The Model 686 Plus has a 2.5” barrel, a comfortable synthetic grip for dependable purchase and non-slip performance, and a top quality front site for quick target alignment.   The S&W revolver is a 7-shot, two rounds better than the SP101, but those extra rounds come at a price.  The S&W Model 686 Plus weights 34.1 oz empty, about 10oz heavier than the Ruger revolver.   For owners interested only in home protection, those ten ounces won’t matter when the gun is in a drawer.  For owners considering a legal carry permit to carry the revolver for home protection, the extra weight offers a constant reminder right on your hip. 

Smith and Wesson’s Model 60 is a snub-nosed 5-shot revolver in .357 Mag/.38 Special +P, and an excellent choice for personal protection or legal carrying.   It’s comfortable, portable, and has a range of holsters and accessories that make for effortless concealed carry.   Both the Model 60 and the 686 come with Smith and Wesson’s Lifetime Service Policy, so new buyers can be confident that in the company stands behind their products.

Neither the Model 60 or 686 quite fits my $550 budget, but they both represent top quality revolvers for the first time buyer.

Our next article will sharpen the focus to recommend the best semi-automatic pistol for the new gun buyer, and the choices might surprise you.