Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Understanding How Your Pistol Works
• Method 2 of 4: Buying different calibers of weapons
• Method 3 of 4: Choose the Right Bullets
• Method 4 of 4: Pistol Accessories
• Tips
• Warnings

Police, military and interested citizens should be careful about choosing a pistol that will suit their needs. The decision may not be easy - the long list of pistols does not have a perfect model with the perfect caliber and bullets. The main thing is that the pistol fits well in your hand and is comfortable, and does not seem perfect to you. Holding and firing comfort is far more important than the “correct” caliber or bullet.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Understanding How Your Pistol Works

1. 1 Consider your personal defense needs. Pistols are almost always used for self-defense. Consider why you need him, where you will walk with him. Do you plan to always have it with you or leave it at home? Do you need something that will stop people and deter the perpetrator, or do you want something powerful to end the conflict decisively?
   • These decisions greatly influence the size, shape and type of the gun chosen.
   • Think carefully if you can shoot the other person. Seems like a good idea: grab the pistol without firing to scare off the criminal. But more often than not, the pistol will exacerbate and greatly worsen the situation if you are not ready to shoot.
2. 2 Determine your base target point on the range before purchasing. Find out how comfortable you are with aiming with a pistol before purchasing one. Take an unloaded pistol and with your eyes closed try to aim at a makeshift target, but do not put your finger on the trigger. Open your eyes, the hand with the pistol should be aligned the way you like. At a distance of 4.5 meters, the deviation should not be more than 5 cm from the center of the target.
   • If you are too short, try a lighter pistol, if vice versa, you can choose a heavier model.
   • If the pistol is pointed higher or lower, this can be corrected with practice. For example, almost everyone who holds the Glock for the first time will aim a little higher - 15.2-24.4 cm. But with practice, you will find that this will quickly compensate.
   • Always try different pistols. It should be comfortable to shoot, and "more accurate" models may be useless.
3. 3 Choose large pistols for high accuracy and range. They are more accurate than smaller models due to their fit to the hand, weight (reduced recoil feeling) and a longer scope. However, they are more difficult to hide and carry, and the extra weight can make aiming and maneuverability difficult for some people.
   • The so-called "combat" or "service" pistols.
   • For most, more successful shooting with a full-size pistol, recoil and good posture often results in good shooting results.
   • The 1911, the Glock 17 or 22, and the Beretta M9 are good examples of the popular combat pistols.
4. 4 Choose a smaller pistol if you want to carry it with you. It's easier to hide and carry, but you have to compromise on precision and power. However, smaller pistols are easier to aim, especially for short people.
   • For concealed carry, pistols with a length of 11.5-15.2 cm are suitable - small and light.
   • Often called "compact", "shorty" or "secret" on sale.
   • The Glock 26 and 27, the Kahr PM9 and the Colt Mustang XSP are the leaders among the concealed pistols.
5. 5 Remember: when choosing a pistol, caliber is as important as size. The caliber of the bullet is not proportional to the size of the pistol. Each has its own pros and cons, you need to find the right one, not the biggest one you can find. Beginners are better off starting with smaller calibers.
   • Smaller caliber has little recoil, the next shots will be faster and more accurate, but with weak force. A good start is the 380 ACP caliber for small pistols.
   • Bullets of large calibers do more damage, but are more difficult to fire fast, frequent shots with them. Try .45 ACP, .40 S&W, or .357 Magnum for a revolver.
6. 6 Be aware that revolvers are considered more reliable and simpler than semi-automatic. They're easy to load, aim and shoot, and have been around for decades. They are easier to maintain than semiautomatic devices. The main thing when buying a pistol is comfortable holding and shooting.

Method 2 of 4: Buying different calibers of weapons

1. 1 Consider the pros and cons of each type of bullet. Many people who study ballistics and tactics come to the conclusion that the caliber of the pistol is of little importance, and the size of the bullet is more important than the caliber. Each cartridge has its own characteristics, and knowing what caliber you are looking for will help you get the most out of your purchase.
   • Penetration - very important.The smaller it is, the more likely that vital organs and the nervous system will not be damaged. In the late 90s, the FBI conducted a study, and it was proved that for reliability, a bullet must penetrate 35-40 cm so that, fired at an unsuccessful angle, it could reach important organs or the spine.
   • Permanent cavity - this is the final hole in the body, where the main impulse of the bullet acts on the tissues, destroying them. The larger it is, the higher the risks of destroying vital organs or the central nervous system.
   • Recoil - it is often silent about it in bullet ballistics, since it is a very subjective and specific characteristic of the weapon. Low recoil allows for more accurate and fast shots. Everyone feels it differently, and each pistol has its own recoil.
   • Bullet energy - This is an overrated property of the shot. In pistols, the bullet energy is very low. "The Power to Knock Down" is just a fairy tale invented for Hollywood action movies. People who were shot with a .22LR without damaging important organs fell, thinking that being shot was synonymous with falling down and possible death.
2. 2 Understand the caliber of the most popular pistol bullets. There are many of them, and they are different, so it is difficult for a beginner to figure out what to buy without basic knowledge:
   • 9mm Parabellum is the most popular caliber. It is characterized by low recoil, which allows you to shoot quickly and accurately. Magazine capacity is usually larger than that of analogs. The low price and availability makes the 9mm caliber attractive for in-depth practice. In addition, excellent higher pressure (+ P tolerance) offers superior self-defense performance (make sure your pistol is rated for + P load to fire before using it).
   • .45 ACP uses heavier and wider bullets than 9mm at a lower velocity. The caliber is used with sound suppressors because the standard charge (14.6 grams) is very loud under all circumstances. The permanent cavity (in ballistic gel) of the JHP .45 is 40% larger than the JHP 9mm. The recoil is stronger than the 9mm, and the magazine has a lower capacity. Many law enforcement officials say (based on experience with gunfights) that if you don't shoot someone with the first three bullets, you won't shoot anyone. Therefore, a large store is not as important as it might seem.
   • The .40 Smith & Wesson is another common caliber that comes close to 9mm Parabellum and .45 ACP. It is widely used in law enforcement agencies and other departments. Among the advantages is the flat top of the bullet, which makes larger holes and an enlarged permanent cavity.
   • The .38 Special, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum are popular revolver cartridges. 357SIG (9mm bullet lowered in .40 case) and 10mm submachine gun, there are several common automatic calibers.
   • .5.7x28 mm - designed to defeat class 3 armor. Steel-tipped cartridges are not common among civilians, among the advantages of the shot is very low recoil. High speed cannot be achieved.
3. 3 Don't think about "knocking power" when buying a pistol. This concept is just a fiction. Newton's Law says: "Action is equal to reaction", that is, if your bullet hits the target, then it should knock you down too. One bullet does not guarantee that a person will fall faster from one bullet than from another; it's all about who you shoot, where you shoot, and what is in that person's mind. The place of impact is much more important than the size and energy of the bullet.

Method 3 of 4: Choose the Right Bullets

1. 1 Use sheathed expansion bullets (JHP) for self defense. They are versatile and are considered the best ammunition for protection. The EFMJ and Cor-Bon DPX projects also performed well. The trade-off is that the bullet creates a large temporary and permanent depression, but does not penetrate deeply.
   • JHP Soft Tip is a general description of all JHP types that have a cavity filled (resin or other hard material).The bullet can penetrate or pass through soft tissue (clothing or body), creating a deeper wound. These bullets are also called V-Max or ballistic-tipped bullets. This bullet is one of the most versatile. Easily penetrates thick clothing and expands into soft tissues.
2. 2 Try Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) bullets for better target penetration. These bullets have no problem with losing energy, they quickly pass through obstacles, while retaining the ability to deeply enter the body and reach the vital organs. The permanent dimple is smaller than the JHP bullets, but this is a feature of each bullet. FMJs are often used for shooting practice.
   • "Federal Hydra-shok" - Bullet similar to regular JHP, but with a small tip at the end. It opens and penetrates even deeper into the tissues. After its first appearance, this standard became an industrial standard, but since then JHP has improved and caught up.
   • Reverse bore bullets are a unique variety. The hole diameter increases along the entire length of the bullet. The bullet passes through solid objects without expanding. During the opening, it is divided into rays, which are wrapped and remain connected by the shell.
3. 3 Examine the weight of the bullet. In general, light bullets have a higher velocity than heavy bullets. Therefore, their trajectory is flatter at distances up to 70 meters. The problem with light bullets is that when they hit a soft target, they lose energy with less resistance than heavy bullets. It has been proven that very light bullets can be stopped even with clothing.
   • A light 9mm bullet will weigh 6.5 grams, while a heavy one will weigh 9.5 grams (8.35-8.99 grams is more common).
   • A light .40 will weigh 8.8 grams, and a heavy .40 will weigh 11.67 grams.
   • A lightweight .45 will weigh 10.7 grams, but 14.9 grams would be better for any .45 caliber purpose. Bullets with a weight of 16.7 grams are also available.
4. 4 Be aware that loading gunpowder can alter bullet ballistics and weapon feel. A standard quantity is always recommended for most guns. Some models, such as the Glock and H&K, can fire with a "hot" load. Most H&K pistols come with a two-stage spring recoil to cope with recoil and shock for internal components. H&K can fire + P (hot load) and + P + (very hot load) without any problem. Other weapons may require spring replacement or other changes. The hotter the load, the stronger the muzzle energy and velocity, and the greater the reliability that the spool will snap into place with additional energy (less chance of jitter or smoke).
5. 5 Don't waste the ammo you are going to use for self-defense - it can be too expensive. You will have to make many queues to accurately determine the firearm cycles. Some pistols do not fit all JHP bullets. To reduce the cost of mainstream practice cycles, use cheap FMJ bullets of the same weight and load (Standard, + P, and the like), because the fire cycle can vary with the weight and load of the bullets.

Method 4 of 4: Pistol Accessories

1. 1 Choose a night sight for concealed carry or a service weapon that you intend to use in the dark. It will help you aim at a target in low or no light conditions. The problem with any night sight is that in dusk or dawn conditions, when there is not enough light, it is difficult to see the white rims and aim. But in the dark (when most of the gunfights take place), night sights are clearly visible ..
2. 2 Consider purchasing a tactical, attached flashlight. It can not only illuminate an entire room, but also blind intruders for a short period. The problem is that it will add weight to the pistol and possibly upset its balance. There is an opinion that the flashlight makes you a good target for a bandit (but to be honest, just try to look at the light for a few seconds - he may see where to shoot, but he won't see who).When buying a cheap flashlight, be prepared for it to break after a while. For a service or concealed pistol, it is not required, and when protecting a house, it will help to identify the target before firing.
   • A separate handheld flashlight can handle most of the functions of an attached one.
3. 3 Consider tweaking the trigger for faster aiming. For this, its strength is facilitated or the length of the thrust is shortened. This is handy for aimed fire or match shooting, but less than 1.2kg force makes the pistol unsafe if you carry it around a lot. It will also help to further shoot faster and more accurately. The change can only be made on pistols with a heavy or long stroke.
4. 4 Consider a new rubber grip for convenience. For people with big hands, this moment is obligatory so that it fits well in the hand. There are problems with the handles. They can slide, which affects accuracy and require constant position adjustments. Most tactical pistols have grooves and depressions in the grips that provide a secure grip for even sweaty hands; the rubber in a sweaty hand will slip a little. Additional maintenance may be required if sweat and dirt gets under the rubber, it will need to be removed and washed.

Tips

• Always clean the gun correctly and frequently.
• Rapid fire isn't everything. Controlled fire rate is the correct term. If your target is out of range of an outstretched arm, you must be able to balance speed and accuracy.
• Following: Learn to better handle weapons by putting your skills into practice.
• The right gun is the one that works perfectly for you. Even if someone doesn't like it, the best pistol you can use is “your” pistol.

Warnings

• Make sure where you shoot. Bullets can fly for miles or bounce and ricochet in an uncontrolled direction.
• Keep your weapon in a safe position. Firearms can be very dangerous without proper care. Use a pistol or other firearm if you are experienced in shooting, or an experienced shooter is looking after you.
• The gun can cause serious injury or even death. Always make sure you aim correctly and never point your pistol unless you intend to shoot. It is VERY easy to aim the gun incorrectly. Calm down and focus on what's in your hands.
• All practice must be carried out at shooting ranges in compliance with all safety rules or in legal private property with an unloaded pistol (cartridges can be replaced with "dummies").
• All firearms must be used safely and legally. Be aware of and adhere to local state firearms laws regarding the use and transport of firearms. The laws of different states can vary greatly and vary from county to county or city to city.
• Pistols are rarely the best choice for combat. Rifles and shotguns do more damage. The pistol is good if the distance to the target is 0-9 meters, the gun is 2-46 meters, and the rifle is 4-915 meters.