Which Pistol to Choose
Okay, so you have my opinion on revolvers. Let’s move into the semi-automatic world and see what’s available. Since there are so many of these pistols on the market, it is impossible to cover all of them. I’m also going to put the 1911 in as a brand, which will cause purists to have a fit since it’s a type of pistol and not a brand, but I think you need to know about it, since it is a particularly popular type of gun.
What should I know, in general, about semi-automatic pistols? First off, they can be very finicky as to the type of ammunition you feed them. Some pistols like certain brands of ammo better than others. You should shoot at least 200 rounds of the ammunition you want to carry on the street through your pistol with good quality, i.e. factory, magazines. However, I recommend firing at least a hundred rounds of less expensive practice ammo through the gun first. I'm old school and think a gun needs a break in period to set itself into a groove.
Next, you need to know that semi-autos need additional training because their actions are complicated, or at least more complicated than a revolver and they may malfuntion. You need to be able to fix those problems, under stress, or your gun will be useless to you.
You also need to know, that despite what others may say, all firearms are a machines, and must recieve proper maintenance. I learned this because a supposedly "never fail" gun, failed. Luckily, it was at a range and not on the street. I didn't clean it after my last trip to the range and it gunked up on me. So, when I hear someone extolling a 50,000 round torture test that was performed on a particular brand as proof it will never fail, I know better than to listen to that hype. All that means is THAT pistol went 50,000 rounds before breaking, it doesn't mean yours will!
What caliber should I get? The three primary calibers for Law Enforcement and self defense are the 9mm (Sometimes called 9mm Luger, 9mm Parabellum, which is Latin meaning “For War” or it is designated 9x19 to differentiate from the Russian 9x18 pistol round), the .40 S&W (Smith and Wesson developed the round from the 10mm, which was too hot for pistols, or so the FBI found out), and the .45ACP (ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol). If you have trouble with these, you might consider the .380 caliber, which I think is underpowered, but can be used with the right ammo. There are also .25ACP and .22 caliber semi-automatics. They aren’t recommended, unless you just can’t stand the bigger calibers. The .25ACP is particularly notorious as pathetic round, but because there are a million cheap .25 caliber pistols on the market, they are included in this essay.
What are the pros and cons of each caliber? The US military adopted the .45ACP in 1911 along with their new Semi-Automatic 1911 Pistols manufactured by Colt. The bullet was developed specifically for this new gun by John Moses Browning and was used by the US military for over 70 years, and indeed, is still being used by some groups within the military. 2011 will mark a full century of use by both Law Enforcement and the Military. The .45ACP is a fat bullet and relatively expensive, but very common. Most guns that use this bullet are heavy and of “low capacity”, or only having a few bullets, although some gun manufacturers have hiher capacity than others, but a 9mm or a .40 pistol will still have more bullets if they are of comparable size. The .45 ACP is a very good round, all in all, which is why it’s been around for two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Granada, and even today in Afghanistan and Iraq by elite units. Do not confuse the .45 ACP with the much newer .45 GAP (Glock Automatic Pistol), which isn’t as popular and only works in Glock Pistols. The .45 ACP has been adapted to many different guns by different gun manufacturers, including Glock because of its popularity.
In the 1980s, to replace their worn out 1911 pistols, and to standardize with their NATO allies, the US Military switched to most popular semi-automatic pistol round in the world, the 9mm. The 9mm was developed by the Germans, I suppose for their Luger pistols, and was picked up by their allies and even their enemies, like the British during WWII. If you go to a foreign land (I mean outside of the US), the police and the military will likely use the 9mm, unless you’re in a former Combloc nation. That being said, the 9mm has a bad reputation amongst gun enthusiasts in the US as being underpowered, and indeed the US army was considering going back to a .45ACP pistol, but have suspended the program. Apparently the 9mm rounds aren’t as effective for military use as the .45ACP due to their smaller size. However, it must be pointed out that militaries are restricted in the type of ammo they can carry by the Geneva Convention articles. Civilians and police have access to more effective ammo than the military. If you buy a 9mm, you’ll need to buy some +P Hollowpoints for street carry to compensate for the small bullet.
The .40 S&W is the new darling of police and self-defense gurus. The FBI in the 1980s opted for a 10mm gun, but the round is hot and tended to punch holes in people and the bullets continued on their merry way hitting whatever, or whomever was behind the perp. Not good. The 10mm also broke a lot of guns. I think Glock was the first to build a pistol capable of handling the 10mm, but it's been awhile and I may not be remembering correctly. From the 10mm came the the .40S&W (.40 inches = 10mm), a cut down 10mm round. The guns that shoot it are high capacity, and the round has a good reputation for being a man-stopper. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this caliber at all, if you carry hollow points.
The .25 caliber pistol is not a favorite of mine. It is popular because they are small and cheap. Because its small it can be stuck in your back pocket or carreied easily in an ankle holster. Some people use them as backup guns, which I suppose is better than nothing. If you want a .25, then stick with the better manufacturers and avoid the $50 junk guns.
Slightly better is the .22 semi-auto pistol. I use a .22 for target practice and I would carry a small one for back up. As with all small caliber guns, your accuracy better be very good, because shot placement is critical.
The .380 is the smallest caliber I personally would consider for primary carry. Some claim that it is better than a .38 special out of a 2" barrel. I don't know if that's true or not, to be honest. But with the right ammunition, it becomes viable.
So Which brands of ammo do I recommend?
.22 Long Rifle – The same as in a revolver, the CCI "Stinger" 32-gr. or Remington "Yellow Jacket" 33-gr. Hollow points
.25ACP First, I would recommend the Hornady 35-gr. XTP-HP round. But if it causes your pistol to jam, try using a 50 grain FMJ round from Federal, Remington, or Winchester.
.380 Any of the manufactures I listed before make decent ammo in this caliber. The Remington 88 Jacketed Hollow Point is known to be very reliable, but the Cor-Bon and Hydro-Shok rounds are more effective, but reliability beats effectiveness if you have to choose between the two.
9mm - In the +P 9mm loads, I like the Remington 115gr +P JHP because it feeds without any issues (its loaded in my 9mm now). The Cor-Bon 155gr +P JHP is considered by many to be THE 9mm pistol round. You’ll have to see what you like and what your gun will shoot reliably.
For standard pressure 9mm(not +P), I would use Federal 115gr JHP, Federal 124gr Hydro-Shok, or the Winchester Silver Tip 115gr JHP. If your gun won’t digest these bullets, you’ll have to go to FMJ ammo, also known as “ball” ammo. Again, you accuracy will have to very good for straight 9mm ball ammo, or you might experience the same problem the U.S. Military has been experiencing.
.40S&W - Statistically, the 135gr bullets seem to work very well. Try the Cor-Bon 135gr JHP or the Winchester Silvertip 155gr JHP. When last I looked, I couldn’t find any +P ammunition in this caliber. Someone probably makes it, but it really isn’t necessary. If you go with a bullet heavier than 155gr, your felt recoil be greater.
.45ACP - This is the only caliber I've discussed of which I would carry FMJ, or ball ammo, if nothing else was available and feel okay about it. The .45ACP is a very good round, and was designed to deal with tribes in the Phillipines who tended not to be stopped by the smaller .38 pistols being used at the time. That being said, I do prefer hollow points and I also know that no pistol caliber will ever be a 100% effective. What I have loaded in my .45 pistol right now, however is Federal 185gr JHP. The Federal 230gr Hydra-Shock is good, too. There is a lot of good ammunition out there besides what I mentioned here. As long as it feeds reliably, any good quality ammunition should be okay. That said, +P ammo for this caliber can be a bear when it comes to recoil, and I would stay away from any specialty loads, like Glaser Safety Slugs and such, until you become an accomplished shooter and know what to expect of those types of rounds.
Have you told us about every caliber that's available to carry? Oh Heavens, no. Not by a longshot. What I've done is addressed the most common calibers, and thus usually the cheapest and easiest to find.
Why did you start with the caliber first and not the pistol brands? Because I wanted you to know what pistols to look for, you see. Many pistol manufacturers like Glock, have pistols in several different calibers. I'm not trying to sell you a pistol, so I don't have any stake in what you buy. The guy at the gunshop who's been sitting on a Glock 10mm for four years because nobody wants it, may try to talk you into the "Greatest Man-Stopper ever", when really the 10mm is expensive and not at all popular or really effective as a self defense round (although small, the 10mm fan base a solid one).
In my next post, I will cover the brands of Semi-Automatics that are considered first class pistols.
Showing posts with label Private Investigator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Private Investigator. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
What Type of Pistol Should I Carry? Pt 2
What type of ammunition should I buy? You should buy American made ammunition. Our ammo is the best in the world, bar none. There is a great deal of quality difference among non-US manufactures, so be careful. There is a confusing plethora of ammo on the market. The +P ammunition tends to be much better than standard loads. This is why I recommend you buy a pistol manufactured after 1985 by a first class pistol manufacturer, they will be able to handle the +P loads. If you do not like the extra bang when you fire a hot load, then I recommend you stick with standard loads. Note: You can buy cheaper ammo for practice and you’ll be fine. Just make sure you are carrying quality ammo on the street. Winchester “white box” usually bought at Wal-Mart is the go-to ammo for practice amongst the gun enthusiast crowd. Also, make sure your ammo says JHP, or Jacketed Hollow Point, if you want to carry it for protection. FMJ, or Full Metal Jacket, is fine for practice and will be cheaper. Don’t buy any ammunition that doesn’t have a metal jacket, or you’ll spend a lot of time cleaning the lead out of your gun. Oh, if you want, you can use reloaded ammo, which is recycled ammo, for practice but never, ever, ever carry it for personal protection.
What are the quality ammunition manufacturers? Federal, Remington, Winchester, Hornady, Cor-Bon, or CCI/Speer are all good manufacturers, although their product line varies and you many not find a particular brand in the caliber you want.
My ammo recommendations for Revolvers:
.22 Long Rifle - CCI “Stinger” 32 grain (grain refers to the weight of the bullet and is abbreviated gr. It can also refer to the amount of powder in the bullet, but that’s not relevant for this discussion. The boxes will be marked with the bullet weight, not the powder measure.) or the Remington “Yellow Jacket” 33gr ammo. Any ammo made by Federal, Remington, Winchester, or CCI of 37 grain or less.
.32 H&R Magnum – Federal 85gr Jacketed Hollow Point. I personally would prefer a .22 Long Rifle over this round. It’s not very common really, and not very good for self defense, but I thought it should be included.
.38 Special – For guns with a 2” barrel, I would use either Federal Personal Defense Nyclad 125 Grain Hollow Point ammo or Winchester Silvertip 110 grain JHP for standard loads. For ammo that is hotter, I would use Federal 129 grain +P Hydra-shok JHP or Remington 125 grain +P Golden Saber HPJ.
If you want to carry a gun with a 4” barrel, you can use Cor-Bon .38 Special +P 125 grain JHP, but, be warned, it’s a hot load.
.357 Magnum – If you have a 2.5” barrel, or you don’t like a lot of recoil, then I would recommend Remington Medium Velocity 125 grain Semi-Jacketed Hollow point and the Cor-Bon 110 grain JHP. If you want more punch in your 4” gun, then you should try Federal .357 Magnum 125 grain jacketed hollow point or Remington full-power 125 grain semi-jacketed hollow point.
.44 Special – The most recommended round for this gun is Cor-Bon 180 grain JHP followed by the Winchester Silvertip 200 grain JHP.
.44 Magnum - Cor-Bon's 180 grain or Federal's 180 grain medium-velocity JHP are acceptable, but this is a powerful handgun and not really suited for concealed carry, despite what Dirty Harry says about them.
So, what kind of person chooses to carry a revolver in this age of high capacity semi-automatics?
Revolvers are for people who carry a gun for the same reason they carry car insurance, they don’t plan on using it, but it’s there if they need it. Automatic pistols require more training to use because they are a more complicated piece of machinery so knowing how to clear a jam or fix a malfunction under stress is a part of the combat training. With a revolver, if it doesn’t go bang the first time, you just pull the trigger again and it will be ready to go. If you don’t think you need 18 rounds of ammo loaded in your Glock 17 9mm, then a revolver can be your new friend and be very happy together.
What are the quality ammunition manufacturers? Federal, Remington, Winchester, Hornady, Cor-Bon, or CCI/Speer are all good manufacturers, although their product line varies and you many not find a particular brand in the caliber you want.
My ammo recommendations for Revolvers:
.22 Long Rifle - CCI “Stinger” 32 grain (grain refers to the weight of the bullet and is abbreviated gr. It can also refer to the amount of powder in the bullet, but that’s not relevant for this discussion. The boxes will be marked with the bullet weight, not the powder measure.) or the Remington “Yellow Jacket” 33gr ammo. Any ammo made by Federal, Remington, Winchester, or CCI of 37 grain or less.
.32 H&R Magnum – Federal 85gr Jacketed Hollow Point. I personally would prefer a .22 Long Rifle over this round. It’s not very common really, and not very good for self defense, but I thought it should be included.
.38 Special – For guns with a 2” barrel, I would use either Federal Personal Defense Nyclad 125 Grain Hollow Point ammo or Winchester Silvertip 110 grain JHP for standard loads. For ammo that is hotter, I would use Federal 129 grain +P Hydra-shok JHP or Remington 125 grain +P Golden Saber HPJ.
If you want to carry a gun with a 4” barrel, you can use Cor-Bon .38 Special +P 125 grain JHP, but, be warned, it’s a hot load.
.357 Magnum – If you have a 2.5” barrel, or you don’t like a lot of recoil, then I would recommend Remington Medium Velocity 125 grain Semi-Jacketed Hollow point and the Cor-Bon 110 grain JHP. If you want more punch in your 4” gun, then you should try Federal .357 Magnum 125 grain jacketed hollow point or Remington full-power 125 grain semi-jacketed hollow point.
.44 Special – The most recommended round for this gun is Cor-Bon 180 grain JHP followed by the Winchester Silvertip 200 grain JHP.
.44 Magnum - Cor-Bon's 180 grain or Federal's 180 grain medium-velocity JHP are acceptable, but this is a powerful handgun and not really suited for concealed carry, despite what Dirty Harry says about them.
So, what kind of person chooses to carry a revolver in this age of high capacity semi-automatics?
Revolvers are for people who carry a gun for the same reason they carry car insurance, they don’t plan on using it, but it’s there if they need it. Automatic pistols require more training to use because they are a more complicated piece of machinery so knowing how to clear a jam or fix a malfunction under stress is a part of the combat training. With a revolver, if it doesn’t go bang the first time, you just pull the trigger again and it will be ready to go. If you don’t think you need 18 rounds of ammo loaded in your Glock 17 9mm, then a revolver can be your new friend and be very happy together.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Choosing a Pistol for Private Investigation or Concealed Carry
What Type of Pistol Should I Carry? (Part One)
Among the gun enthusiast crowd this is a topic of great debate (i.e. name calling and personal attacks) and there isn’t any real consensus among them, only the various “camps” who extol the virtues of their favorite pistol.
The first question to be answered is whether you can really shoot someone. You have to know, that even if you are justified in using deadly force, you are going to go on emotional, and possibly legal, rollercoaster ride that will affect every aspect of your life. I would recommend Dave Grossman’s book “On Killing” to further explore the emotional impact of a shooting on someone’s emotional health. Mas Ayoob, a noted expert in the use of lethal force, has books and seminars that will explain what the legal ramifications are in using lethal force. Look for his books and courses at WWW.ayoob.com.
The second question you should ask is, “Do I know how to shoot a pistol?” If you don’t, sign up for an NRA basic handgun class at your local range to get the proper training.
Assuming you want to carry a pistol, and if you are not already a gun enthusiast, you are going to find a bewildering array of pistols available (at least in the U.S.A.) to choose from. What I am going to talk about is a few different types of guns, how they function, and what brands to buy.
My first bit of advice, contrary to most brand champions on the internet spew out, is to find a gun that fits you, and do not fit yourself to the supposedly “most awesome” pistol they advocate. I have large hands, but I grip a thin 1911 pistol better than I do a thick Glock pistol. When I was a cop, I carried a Smith and Wesson Model 66 revolver, and I had a problem with both the small grip and the oversized grip offered by the company. I ended up buying a Pachmayr brand rubber grip with my own money to put on the revolver. Even if it means you carry a gun that is considered a “non-starter” in the world of gun enthusiasts, you need to be confident in your ability to grip the weapon solidly. The best way to learn what gun you like is to rent them at your local gun range.
***Just to reiterate, you must find the gun that works for you. I like a full sized 1911 pistol in .45ACP. You on the other hand may pefer a small Beretta .25ACP, even though I don't think much of the .25 caliber cartridge. If the .25 works better for you, then the .25 is the best gun for you.***
Okay, do you choose a revolver or a semi-automatic? The revolver has been phased out of Law Enforcement here in the States, for all intents and purposes. Revolvers, also called Six-Shooters or wheel guns, hold 6 bullets in a cylinder (smaller ones hold 5 bullets) and the reload time is longer than a semi-automatic pistol, which is why Law Enforcement went for the semi-autos. But for PIs or private citizens, a revolver still has several advantages. First, they are very reliable guns and very simple to operate. You put the bullets in, either one by one or with a speed loader (recommended), close the cylinder and pull the trigger. Revolvers are a lot less finicky about the ammunition they fire and because revolvers are simpler mechanically than semi-automatic pistols, they are inherently more reliable and simpler to operate. Also, speaking strictly from statistics, the odds of firing more than two shots in a self defense event is very, very low, even if you are in law enforcement. They also come in small packages making them easier to conceal and more comfortable to carry.
Here is a link to a YouTube video showing a revolver being fired.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTO0A_ZyHNA
But what caliber should I get? The common self defense calibers are, in roughly their order of power are, .22 Long Rifle (usable, but underpowered), .32 (still underpowered), .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special, and .44 Magnum. My opinion is you should go with either a .38 Special or a .357 Magnum (but remember what I said above about the pistol fitting you). The .38 was a very common police and military round until the .357 Magnum came about, and then that became the most common law enforcement caliber until the switch to semi-automatics. Here’s a bit of trivia for you, the .38 special bullet is not actually .38 inches in diameter, it is .357 inches in diameter. The .38 should have been called the .357 or the .357 Magnum should have been called the .38 Magnum (I don’t know why they weren’t). A .357 Magnum pistol will shoot both .38 Special ammunition and .357 Magnum ammunition, but a pistol chambered for .38 Special ammunition can only shoot .38 Special ammunition.
.44 Specials and .44 Magnums are fine guns, but are big, have strong recoil, and more expensive to shoot than the ever present .38 and .357 Magnums. If you are in bear country, then a .44 Magnum might be worth considering, but it’s really too big for every day concealed carry. There are other calibers, but they are niche calibers and not meant for self defense. (Edit: My old Chief emailed me to tell my the .41 Magnum might be a niche gun, but it was meant for self defense. He is right, but I'm still not including it because it is a niche gun.)
How long of barrel should I get? I would recommend a 2 or 4 inch barrel. Longer barrels are more accurate, but most gunfights happen at spitting distance.
What brand should I get? My favorite wheel gun manufacturer is Smith and Wesson, after that I would pick a Colt, and then a Ruger. Ruger is the cheapest of the three and Colt is the most expensive. Unless you are an experienced shooter, I’d stick with these three brands. (Edit: I'm getting some heat for this, many Ruger owners prefer them to Colts. I probably shouldn't have put them in my order of preference,)
What else should I know? Make sure you buy a double action revolver. That means when you pull the trigger, the hammer cocks itself and then falls forward to fire the gun. The first revolvers were all single action, which means the hammer had to be cocked with the thumb and then the trigger pulled. Because of the popularity of Cowboy Shooting Sports, there are a lot of single action pistols on the market, but you definitely want a double action gun.
Also, in the attempt to increase the stopping power of smaller bullets, like the .38 Special, some ammunition will be marked +P, which means that it has extra powder and will have a bigger bang than regular .38 Special ammo, so make sure of what ammo you’re buying as +P ammo can damage a gun not rated for it.
Among the gun enthusiast crowd this is a topic of great debate (i.e. name calling and personal attacks) and there isn’t any real consensus among them, only the various “camps” who extol the virtues of their favorite pistol.
The first question to be answered is whether you can really shoot someone. You have to know, that even if you are justified in using deadly force, you are going to go on emotional, and possibly legal, rollercoaster ride that will affect every aspect of your life. I would recommend Dave Grossman’s book “On Killing” to further explore the emotional impact of a shooting on someone’s emotional health. Mas Ayoob, a noted expert in the use of lethal force, has books and seminars that will explain what the legal ramifications are in using lethal force. Look for his books and courses at WWW.ayoob.com.
The second question you should ask is, “Do I know how to shoot a pistol?” If you don’t, sign up for an NRA basic handgun class at your local range to get the proper training.
Assuming you want to carry a pistol, and if you are not already a gun enthusiast, you are going to find a bewildering array of pistols available (at least in the U.S.A.) to choose from. What I am going to talk about is a few different types of guns, how they function, and what brands to buy.
My first bit of advice, contrary to most brand champions on the internet spew out, is to find a gun that fits you, and do not fit yourself to the supposedly “most awesome” pistol they advocate. I have large hands, but I grip a thin 1911 pistol better than I do a thick Glock pistol. When I was a cop, I carried a Smith and Wesson Model 66 revolver, and I had a problem with both the small grip and the oversized grip offered by the company. I ended up buying a Pachmayr brand rubber grip with my own money to put on the revolver. Even if it means you carry a gun that is considered a “non-starter” in the world of gun enthusiasts, you need to be confident in your ability to grip the weapon solidly. The best way to learn what gun you like is to rent them at your local gun range.
***Just to reiterate, you must find the gun that works for you. I like a full sized 1911 pistol in .45ACP. You on the other hand may pefer a small Beretta .25ACP, even though I don't think much of the .25 caliber cartridge. If the .25 works better for you, then the .25 is the best gun for you.***
Okay, do you choose a revolver or a semi-automatic? The revolver has been phased out of Law Enforcement here in the States, for all intents and purposes. Revolvers, also called Six-Shooters or wheel guns, hold 6 bullets in a cylinder (smaller ones hold 5 bullets) and the reload time is longer than a semi-automatic pistol, which is why Law Enforcement went for the semi-autos. But for PIs or private citizens, a revolver still has several advantages. First, they are very reliable guns and very simple to operate. You put the bullets in, either one by one or with a speed loader (recommended), close the cylinder and pull the trigger. Revolvers are a lot less finicky about the ammunition they fire and because revolvers are simpler mechanically than semi-automatic pistols, they are inherently more reliable and simpler to operate. Also, speaking strictly from statistics, the odds of firing more than two shots in a self defense event is very, very low, even if you are in law enforcement. They also come in small packages making them easier to conceal and more comfortable to carry.
Here is a link to a YouTube video showing a revolver being fired.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTO0A_ZyHNA
But what caliber should I get? The common self defense calibers are, in roughly their order of power are, .22 Long Rifle (usable, but underpowered), .32 (still underpowered), .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special, and .44 Magnum. My opinion is you should go with either a .38 Special or a .357 Magnum (but remember what I said above about the pistol fitting you). The .38 was a very common police and military round until the .357 Magnum came about, and then that became the most common law enforcement caliber until the switch to semi-automatics. Here’s a bit of trivia for you, the .38 special bullet is not actually .38 inches in diameter, it is .357 inches in diameter. The .38 should have been called the .357 or the .357 Magnum should have been called the .38 Magnum (I don’t know why they weren’t). A .357 Magnum pistol will shoot both .38 Special ammunition and .357 Magnum ammunition, but a pistol chambered for .38 Special ammunition can only shoot .38 Special ammunition.
.44 Specials and .44 Magnums are fine guns, but are big, have strong recoil, and more expensive to shoot than the ever present .38 and .357 Magnums. If you are in bear country, then a .44 Magnum might be worth considering, but it’s really too big for every day concealed carry. There are other calibers, but they are niche calibers and not meant for self defense. (Edit: My old Chief emailed me to tell my the .41 Magnum might be a niche gun, but it was meant for self defense. He is right, but I'm still not including it because it is a niche gun.)
How long of barrel should I get? I would recommend a 2 or 4 inch barrel. Longer barrels are more accurate, but most gunfights happen at spitting distance.
What brand should I get? My favorite wheel gun manufacturer is Smith and Wesson, after that I would pick a Colt, and then a Ruger. Ruger is the cheapest of the three and Colt is the most expensive. Unless you are an experienced shooter, I’d stick with these three brands. (Edit: I'm getting some heat for this, many Ruger owners prefer them to Colts. I probably shouldn't have put them in my order of preference,)
What else should I know? Make sure you buy a double action revolver. That means when you pull the trigger, the hammer cocks itself and then falls forward to fire the gun. The first revolvers were all single action, which means the hammer had to be cocked with the thumb and then the trigger pulled. Because of the popularity of Cowboy Shooting Sports, there are a lot of single action pistols on the market, but you definitely want a double action gun.
Also, in the attempt to increase the stopping power of smaller bullets, like the .38 Special, some ammunition will be marked +P, which means that it has extra powder and will have a bigger bang than regular .38 Special ammo, so make sure of what ammo you’re buying as +P ammo can damage a gun not rated for it.
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