Choosing the Right Pistol

Choosing the right pistol can be tricky because there are so many choices. Your decision should be influenced by several factors, including your skill level with a handgun, your reason for wanting a pistol (your intended purpose for it), and the caliber and firepower you prefer. A wide variety of pistols are available, and it’s important to make the right choice. Here are a few things to consider when you’re trying to choose the right pistol:

1.    Have you owned and used a pistol before? If you’re an experienced, accomplished user, you have a much wider range of pistols that would be safe to choose from. Novices should not, for example, choose a semi-automatic handgun without first taking a series of appropriate firearms instructional courses.

2.    What is your intended purpose for the pistol? Do you want to keep it stashed in your nightstand for self-defense purposes, or do you intend to carry it on your person or in your car’s glove compartment? Maybe you just want a pistol you can take to the shooting range for a little target practice? Different types of pistols will be appropriate for each of these purposes. While almost any type of pistol could be used for target shooting or kept in your house for self-defense, you might prefer something small and discreet like a single-shot Derringer or pocket revolver if you want to carry a pistol in your pocket, purse or briefcase. And don’t forget, carrying a concealed weapon on your person or in your car requires a different permit (with more stringent requirements) than simply having a handgun in your house.

3.    What type of ammunition do you prefer, and how many rounds do you want to be able to get off before you need to stop and reload? Depending on your intended use for the pistol, a small, easily concealed, .22 caliber or single-shot Derringer-type pistol might be appropriate. A full-sized semi-automatic could be more suitable for other purposes, including legitimate home- and self-defense. Large-caliber pistols, like extremely powerful 460 and 500 magnums, can even be used for big-game hunting.

No matter which pistol you choose, make sure you have the skills necessary to handle, maintain and shoot it safely. If you’re a novice, take some firearms instructional courses before you even load up. If you’re an accomplished shooter, visit the target range frequently so you can keep your skills finely honed.