DEFENSIVE HANDGUNS

CONTENTS

 

Mental Attitude................................................................................................................ 1

Skill at Arms..................................................................................................................... 7

Handgun "Stopping Power"............................................................................................ 17

Handgun Actions.............................................................................................................. 26

          Advantages of the Double-Action Revolver................................................. 30

          Disadvantages of the Double-Action Revolver............................................ 30

          Advantages of the Double-Action Automatic............................................... 31

          Disadvantages of the Double-Action Automatic.......................................... 32

          Advantages of the Double-Action-Only Revolver and Automatic............ 32

          Disadvantages of the Double-Action-Only Revolver and Automatic....... 33

          Advantages of the Single-Action Automatic................................................. 34

          Disadvantages of the Single-Action Automatic............................................ 34

Revolver vs Automatic.................................................................................................... 36

Defensive Handgun Size................................................................................................. 46

“Cheap” vs Inexpensive................................................................................................... 50

Handgun Sights................................................................................................................. 54

Commonly Used Self-Defense Calibers....................................................................... 57

Shooting Comparisons...................................................................................................... 85

          S&W Snub .38..................................................................................................... 87

          .380 Automatic and 9x18 Makarov................................................................. 92

Compact Semiautomatics................................................................................................ 98

          Glock 26................................................................................................................ 98

          Star Model BM................................................................................................... 101

          CZ-75 Compacts................................................................................................. 102

          Kahr 9mm Pistols................................................................................................. 103

          Smith & Wesson.................................................................................................. 104

          SIG-Sauer........................................................................................................... 105

          Heckler & Koch................................................................................................... 107

          Kel-Tec................................................................................................................. 110

          Taurus................................................................................................................... 111

1911 Pistols:  The Agony and the Ecstasy.................................................................. 120

Handguns for Home Defense........................................................................................ 124

Can One Gun Do it All?................................................................................................. 132

Car Guns........................................................................................................................... 139

The Proper Pistol by Jim Higginbotham.................................................................... 146

          Where the Metal Meets the Meat................................................................. 149

Casual, Serious, or Dedicated?................................................................................... 151

          Casual................................................................................................................... 151

          Serious................................................................................................................. 151

          Dedicated............................................................................................................ 152

Observations of a Firearms Instructor.................................................................... 154

The Customized Defense Handgun.............................................................................. 158

Extra Magazines and Speed Loaders......................................................................... 167

Thoughts on Holsters by Lou Alessi........................................................................... 171

A Quest for a Perfect Carry Package by Richard Oldfield................................ 175

Concealed Carry 101 by Eric Larsen......................................................................... 179

          Environment/Dress............................................................................................ 181

          Climate................................................................................................................. 182

          Weapon Choice................................................................................................... 183

          Body Style.......................................................................................................... 183

          Driving................................................................................................................. 183

          Activity Level.................................................................................................... 184

          Threat Level....................................................................................................... 184

          Concealment Level............................................................................................. 184

          Basic Holster Types......................................................................................... 185

          Cant or Angle..................................................................................................... 187

          Ride Height........................................................................................................ 188

          Spring Clips/Belt Loops.................................................................................. 188

          Snap or Permanent Belt Loops and Loop Spacing....................................... 189

          Open Top/High Back........................................................................................ 189

          Smooth Side or Rough Side Out.................................................................... 190

          Reinforced Open Top...................................................................................... 190

Defensive Handguns for the Handicapped............................................................... 192

Ammunition Capacity.................................................................................................... 197

Frequently Asked Questions...................................................................................... 200

  

FIGURES

 

Figure 1.  1911 Muzzle..................................................................................................... 1

Figure 2.  Kimber Custom Classic.................................................................................. 9

Figure 3.  Bulgarian Makarov Target.......................................................................... 10

Figure 4.  HK P7 Target................................................................................................. 15

Figure 5.  Browning Hi Power Mk III Target........................................................... 20

Figure 6.  Expanded .357 Magnum Bullets................................................................. 24

Figure 7.  S&W Model 27............................................................................................. 26

Figure 8.  FEG PMK .380 ACP Automatic.................................................................. 27

Figure 9.  S&W Model 642........................................................................................... 27

Figure 10.  Glock 27....................................................................................................... 28

Figure 11.  Kimber 1911.................................................................................................. 28

Figure 12.  Springfield Armory XD9......................................................................... 29

Figure 13.  9mm HK P7................................................................................................... 30

Figure 14.  XD9 Malfunction........................................................................................ 40

Figure 15.  Browning Hi Power Mk III 9 mm............................................................ 41

Figure 16.  STI Beavertail Grip Safety.................................................................... 42

Figure 17.  S&W Model 19 and Holster..................................................................... 44

Figure 18.  S&W Model 638........................................................................................ 45

Figure 19.  PP vs Jetfire vs Derringer...................................................................... 46

Figure 20.  1911 Steel vs Aluminum............................................................................ 48

Figure 21.  East German Makarov............................................................................... 50

Figure 22.  Custom Norinco 1911................................................................................. 51

Figure 23.  S&W Model 28.......................................................................................... 52

Figure 24.  Commander Custom Rear Sight............................................................... 54

Figure 25.  Dan Wesson Adjustable Rear Sight...................................................... 54

Figure 26.  Snub Nose Fixed Sights........................................................................... 55

Figure 27.  .25 Hornady XTP Expanded Bullet........................................................ 58

Figure 28.  .22 Magnum Expanded Bullet.................................................................. 59

Figure 29.  .32 ACP Speer Gold Dot HP (expanded).............................................. 60

Figure 30.  Walther PP Target.................................................................................... 60

Figure 31.  .380 ACP Expanded Bullet....................................................................... 61

Figure 32.  FEG Malfunction....................................................................................... 62

Figure 33.  CZ-83 .380 ACP....................................................................................... 62

Figure 34.  .380 ACP Expanded Bullet...................................................................... 63

Figure 35.  Bersa vs East German Makarov............................................................. 64

Figure 36.  Bersa vs CZ-83......................................................................................... 65

Figure 37.  East German Makarov.............................................................................. 65

Figure 38.  9mm Makarov JHPs.................................................................................. 67

Figure 39.  9mm Makarov Expanded Bullets............................................................. 67

Figure 40.  Colt Agent................................................................................................... 70

Figure 41.  S&W Model 042......................................................................................... 71

Figure 42.  9mm Federal 115-gr JHP Expanded....................................................... 73

Figure 43.  9mm PowRball Expanded.......................................................................... 74

Figure 44.  9mm Corbon 125-gr +P JHP Expanded................................................. 75

Figure 45.  Winchester 127-gr +P+ Expanded......................................................... 75

Figure 46.  Remington 147-gr Golden Saber Expanded......................................... 76

Figure 47.  Corbon 180-gr JHP +P............................................................................. 79

Figure 48.  230-gr Hydrashok Expanded................................................................. 82

Figure 49.  230-gr Remington Golden Saber Expanded........................................ 82

Figure 50.  230-gr “Ranger T” JHP Expanded........................................................ 83

Figure 51.  Corbon PowRball vs RA45T Expanded.................................................. 83

Figure 52.  S&W Model 642........................................................................................ 85

Figure 53.  Custom Bulgarian Makarov...................................................................... 85

Figure 54.  CZ-83 .380 ACP....................................................................................... 86

Figure 55.  CZ-83 vs Makarov................................................................................... 86

Figure 56.  Bersa Thunder in Hand............................................................................ 86

Figure 57.  .38 Snub Target....................................................................................... 88

Figure 58.  .38 Snut Practice Ammo.......................................................................... 88

Figure 59.  Taurus Model 431 Ejection..................................................................... 89

Figure 60.  Rapid-Fire Snub Target.......................................................................... 89

Figure 61.  Colt Agent................................................................................................... 90

Figure 62.  S&W Snub with Accessories.................................................................. 91

Figure 63.  Walther PP .380........................................................................................ 93

Figure 64.  Bersa Thunder with Ammunition............................................................. 95

Figure 65.  Bersa Thunder Target.............................................................................. 95

Figure 66.  CZ-83 Target............................................................................................ 96

Figure 67.  Glock 26 and Ammo.................................................................................. 99

Figure 68.  9mm Star BM............................................................................................ 102

Figure 69.  SIG-Sauer P-225.................................................................................... 106

Figure 70.  HK P7.......................................................................................................... 109

Figure 71.  HK P7 Target............................................................................................. 110

Figure 72.  1911 Concealed........................................................................................... 113

Figure 73.  1911 Exposed.............................................................................................. 114

Figure 74.  SIG-Sauer P-220 vs Colt Commander.................................................. 114

Figure 75.  Springfield Armory 1911 with Holster and Magazine Pouch............ 115

Figure 76.  Browning Hi Power MK III and Holster.............................................. 116

Figure 77.  CZ-75 and Holster................................................................................... 117

Figure 78.  S&W Model 19 4”..................................................................................... 118

Figure 79.  S&W Model 19 2.5” with Chronograph Results.................................. 118

Figure 80.  Kimber Classic Custom .45..................................................................... 122

Figure 81.  STI Trojan .45......................................................................................... 123

Figure 82.  S&W Model 28........................................................................................ 124

Figure 83.  Taurus PT-92 9mm.................................................................................. 125

Figure 84.  Colt .38 Police Positive 4”...................................................................... 128

Figure 85.  SIG-Sauer P-225 and P-220................................................................ 129

Figure 86.  Springfield Armory Loaded vs S&W Model 638............................. 133

Figure 87.  SIG-Sauer P-220 vs S&W Model 042............................................... 134

Figure 88.  S&W Model 19 vs Model 042............................................................... 135

Figure 89.  S&W Model 686 vs Model 60.............................................................. 136

Figure 90.  Short 1911s............................................................................................... 137

Figure 91.  Browning Hi Power Mk III vs Bersa Thunder................................... 137

Figure 92.  Browning Hi Power Mk III................................................................... 142

Figure 93.  S&W Mountain Gun in .45 Colt............................................................ 156

Figure 94.  Colt Commander from the Muzzle....................................................... 160

Figure 95.  Browning Hi Power Mk III 9mm......................................................... 162

Figure 96.  S&W Model 19 2.5” .357...................................................................... 166

Figure 97.  CZ-75 and Ammo.................................................................................... 168

Figure 98.  Snub Nose and Speed Loader.............................................................. 170

Figure 99.  Snub Nose and Speed Strip................................................................ 170

Figure 100.  Springfield Armory 1911.................................................................... 201

 

TABLES

 

Table 1.  .380 ACP Average Velocities.................................................................... 61

Table 2.  9x18mm Average Velocities...................................................................... 66

Table 3.  Snub .38 Special Average Velocities..................................................... 68

Table 4.  9mm Average Velocities............................................................................ 73

Table 5.  .40 Smith & Wesson Average Velocities................................................ 77

Table 6.  .357 2.5” and 3.5” Average Velocities................................................... 78

Table 7.  .44 Special 3” Average Velocities.......................................................... 79

Table 8.  .45 ACP Average Velocities (5” Kimber 1911)...................................... 81

Table 9.  .45 ACP Average Velocities (5” Norinco 1911)..................................... 81

Table 10.  Glock 26 Average Velocities................................................................. 100

 

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