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