CHAPTER 1
THE POINT OF THE GUN
First time gun buyers are surging in numbers in the United States as individual citizens take advantage of their Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. The increase in the number of new gun owners is attributed to a handful of factors, such as recent terror attacks perpetrated by individuals or small groups of religiously radicalized men and women. While crimes involving firearms have gone down, an overall increase in violent crime has prompted many citizens to become their own first responders. Consequently, new gun owners have made the wise and courageous decision to arm and protect themselves and their loved ones.
Fortunately, it's not just first time buyers purchasing new guns; many long time gun owners see ominous writing on the political wall. They are apprehensive of legislative efforts that would expropriate their natural and 2nd Amendment rights.
If you are reading this firearm self defense primer, you have made the decision to arm yourself for personal and home defense and you want practical guidance on just which gun to choose. You are ready to buy a gun for everyday carry (EDC) and you want to learn how to use it correctly, safely, and responsibly.
Where do you start? How do you sift through the volumes of information and opinions on guns and calibers to make the right decision for you personally? Guns are not one-size-fit-all and choosing the right one for you is a decision that demands careful consideration.
How this book will help you
If you want a gun for self defense, or if you simply want a practical, fresh perspective (maybe you are a lifelong .45 caliber 1911 type and you are ready to try one of the "new" plastic guns) the information in this book is for you. We intend to simplify the decision-making process without skipping important details specific to your needs. We will break down the key elements of your decision-making to help you arrive at The Point of the Gun.
How this book is different than other firearm self defense books
The philosophy behind The Point of the Gun (TPOTG) offers that the best gun and caliber combo for self defense is the one you shoot accurately, consistently and with confidence- and the one you have with you when you need it. You don't need a classic 5 or 6 shot .44 Magnum revolver hand cannon to defend yourself against 2-legged threats (no offense, Inspector Callahan). Neither must you have a high capacity semi-auto, but that doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't have either one. Both are excellent options.
Our recommendations and the information we share comes from a combined 70 years of buying, owning and selling thousands of guns. This includes guns for our personal use as well as the thousands of customers we've consulted and students we've trained. Additionally, we've done tests on hundreds of guns, the vast majority of which are firearms geared toward personal defense. These tests aren't the type where a manufacturer sends a gun in for a favorable review; these are guns we've owned or shot extensively and we've given an honest assessment as to their quality, reliability, and functionality. We've received no compensation for the tests or reviews but we've been rewarded with invaluable first hand knowledge and experience.
We don't believe a self defense firearm should be complicated or unnecessarily accessorized. We view firearms as self defense tools, designed for a specific, crucial task. While we enjoy and promote sport shooting, this book is focused on practical self defense firearms so we provide information and recommendations to help you select the right tool to protect yourself.
We encourage you to always have a gun with you whenever possible-this means concealed or open carry, in a purse or hip pack, or at least with you in your vehicle, even when you are just running errands. In spite of the understandable but often irrational fear of a loaded gun in today's society, there are very few things more useless than an unloaded gun, the exception being a loaded gun at home when you are a targeted victim elsewhere. If you don't have your gun with you when you most need it, what is the point of your gun?
According to legendary American firearms expert Jeff Cooper, "The purpose of the pistol is to stop a fight that somebody else has started, almost always at very short range." The venerable Mr. Cooper knew that to defend yourself with a firearm, you need to have that firearm with you.
In the pages that follow, we'll go through the gun selection process with you, offering tips and suggestions for your consideration. We'll provide detailed descriptions of the types of handguns from which you will choose-revolvers and semi-autos. We'll go over the anatomy of each gun, the basic mechanics of how they work, the advantages and perceived disadvantages of both. We will provide a basic overview of ammunition calibers but we won't engage in a "best caliber" discussion because caliber selection is dependent upon numerous subjective factors personal to each shooter.
We'll discuss firearms for home defense. Whichever gun you choose for everyday carry (EDC) will also be an excellent choice for home defense but we'll also explore the advantages of long guns-shotguns and the often misunderstood "evil black gun," the AR carbine.
Hang around a gun shop or shooting range long enough, and you'll hear someone say, "The purpose of a handgun is to fight yourself to your long gun." This is the paraphrased wisdom of American firearms expert Clint Smith and alludes to the power and accuracy advantages of a long gun versus the handgun for home defense. We believe handguns and long guns are equally integral and wholly complementary to a home defense plan.
Since the point of the gun is to have it with you when you need it, we'll discuss methods of carry-holsters, purses or anything else that will keep your firearm close at hand at all times. A quality holster will be comfortable to wear, distribute the weight and size of your firearm, and thus encourage you to carry your firearm daily until you feel naked without it.
Part of a good holster or carry system is a good belt. A regular old belt just won't do-you need a belt built and designed to carry a gun. Beyond the belt, holsters can be worn on the chest, shoulders, and ankles. We'll concentrate on the best holster/carry options for defensive purposes, open and concealed.
For the ladies, we'll discuss purses. Yes, there are purses specifically designed to hold a firearm-in a dedicated compartment so that a gun will never get lost in the bottomless pit of a woman's purse. All joking aside, you can't afford to fumble in your purse, getting tangled with lipstick, compacts, cell phones and keys when you need your gun to defend yourself. A dedicated firearm compartment is not just for ease of access; it also keeps the gun cleaner, and is fundamentally safer.
We'll provide tips on shooting stance, grip ergonomics, operation and the ever-important maintenance of your firearm. Whichever gun you choose, it's important to note that it is a tool-nothing more, nothing less. Yes, guns can be romanticized as easily as vilified, but they are inanimate objects made animate only by the person pulling the trigger. Guns are manufactured parts of steel and polymer designed to accomplish a mechanical function. Like all tools, guns require basic maintenance to ensure they are in reliable, working, safe condition.
We want you to feel comfortable with your self defense guns; if you feel comfortable and confident, you'll practice shooting more and you will be better prepared if you ever need to use your gun in defense of you or your loved ones.
Over the course of years of consulting with new shooters on the purchase of firearms for self defense and instructing them how to use them, we've identified a few key commonalities that formulate the Point of the Gun approach:
The best firearm for self defense is a.) the one you have with you when you need it b.) the platform (revolver or semi-auto) you carry comfortably and thus consistently and c.) a size, weight, and caliber with which you can quickly, repeatedly and confidently hit your target- both in practice and under duress.
We will frequently reiterate one important Point of the Gun truism; simplicity. For self defense purposes, when the use of a firearm could literally mean the difference between your life and death, you cannot have any complications. Ease and proficiency of use will be facilitated by proper training, but also through the use of an unmodified firearm. This means that we will not advocate tacticool modifications-anything that unnecessarily accessorizes and does not markedly improve the defensive practicality and dependability of the gun.
Tacticool modifications include trigger jobs, expensive laser sights or optics, magazine extensions, etc ... Yes, certain modifications like a trigger job can help enhance accuracy, and magazine extensions or tritium sights might improve one's grip, ammo capacity or sight/target acquisition. But as a rule, we staunchly promote the K.I.S.S method (Keep It Simple Shooter) when it comes to outfitting defensive carry guns.
Beyond straightforward, unaltered operation, a crucial argument for a stock firearm relates to the legal implications of using a weapon in self defense. In short, any modifications to a stock configuration firearm open the door for an anti-gun lawyer to argue that your modifications prove premeditation, that "you must have planned and therefore wanted to shoot someone." We know that's hogwash, but it's a troubling reality in today's lawsuit-crazed society.
We are not opposed to all aftermarket modifications of guns. Part of being a shooting enthusiast is the enjoyment of accessorizing your various guns to enhance your enjoyment for recreational purposes. However, self defense is not recreation. Therefore, unless you have a disability that prevents you from using a firearm in its stock configuration, your daily carry gun should not be modified in the same way you might build out a competition handgun or a long range target rifle. A self defense gun will most likely be used in very close proximity to an attacker, often within arm's reach, but almost certainly within 20 feet. This defined range is a critical consideration in the legally defensible use of a firearm in self defense.
This book is NOT a legal resource and should not be construed as offering legal advice. Learn your local and state laws and consult with an attorney if you want legal advice.
Jeff Cooper famously said "Owning a handgun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician." His point is that one must prepare both physically and mentally, learning and shooting at the range as well as preparing your mind for the circumstances that might require you to use your weapon and lethal force in your own defense.
The mental preparation is more important than the physical act of shooting, and there are no limitations preventing you from diligent mental preparation and awareness. This doesn't mean "looking for a reason" to use your firearm. It simply means cultivating an awareness of your surroundings in an effort to avoid being in the position of needing to use your firearm in self defense. That said, if trouble does come looking for you, you will be prepared.
This book is for you, the law abiding citizen ready to make an informed decision in choosing a gun for self defense. You've made the commitment to learn how to use a gun for your protection and that of your loved ones. Or, you may be an experienced shooter and you are ready to reevaluate your current Every Day Carry firearm. You will walk into your local gun shop armed with practical knowledge that will help you make the right choice for you.
You also know, as do we, that your right to buy a gun and exercise your natural, constitutional 2nd Amendment right to protect yourself is under constant threat of being taken away. You know now is the time to act.
And so, we are eager to explore with you the Point of the Gun.
CHAPTER 2
THE REVOLVER
No firearm has been more glorified, admired or immortalized than the revered revolver. Indeed, the revolver is considered the handgun that tamed the American West. History provides images of Wyatt Earp's Smith & Wesson Model 3 American and Billy the Kid's Colt model 1873 single action revolvers from the latter half of the 1800s, proof revolvers were used to great effect on both sides of the law. The revolver's effectiveness and dependability warranted its use as the police duty handgun of choice well into the 1990s. Revolvers are still a viable backup or off duty gun for law enforcement professionals today and remain a sound choice for personal self defense.
Compared to earlier guns of all types, the revolver was a revolutionary design. Revolvers were the first repeating firearm, capable of successively firing multiple rounds without the need to reload bullet or powder between shots. In a revolver, the cylinder "revolves" (clockwise or counterclockwise depending upon the brand) to align each chamber with the entrance of the barrel. Revolvers typically come in "6-shooter" capacity models, but can have anywhere from five to eight round capacity. Certain .22 caliber revolvers have up to 10 round capacity.
The design of the revolver hasn't evolved much since its inception. Even with advances in manufacturing, materials and technology, the revolver remains relatively unchanged and is still known for unparalleled reliability and functionality. It is the easiest-to-use firearm for almost everybody-just point and pull the trigger. For these reasons, the revolver is one of the top considerations for self defense and every day carry.
The revolver is ubiquitous, with various frame sizes and capacity options from which to choose. Revolvers for daily carry range from the small, relatively lightweight .38 "snub nose," to the famed "Dirty Harry" .44 Magnum. Larger, heavy hunting revolvers include the .454 Casull and .500 S&W Magnum. Regardless of the size or caliber of a revolver, the mechanics of each are essentially the same, which makes their operation intuitive for most shooters.
As this book is focused on firearms for daily carry and self defense, we'll narrow our discussion to the lightweight "snubbies" and mid-size frame models in calibers .22, .38, 9mm (relatively new for revolvers), .357, and even .44 Magnum. For self defense purposes caliber is not the main consideration; the ability to accurately hit your target is always the most important factor to consider when choosing a self defense carry gun. This means that when shopping for a revolver (any handgun for that matter), you should handle and shoot a gun that interests you whenever possible. Many gun shops have a shooting range and a gun rental counter that will allow you to compare and contrast your various firearm options.
Revolvers come in three variants; Single Action (SA), Double Action (DA), and Double Action Only (DAO).
In a Single Action revolver the shooter manually cocks (pulls back) the hammer, either with a thumb from the support or strong hand. The strong hand is your dominant hand with which you will hold the gun and pull the trigger. Your support hand is the opposite hand, which provides extra support when shooting two-handed. The hammer is the part of the revolver that strikes the firing pin when the trigger is pulled. The firing pin is what hits the primer of the cartridge (ammunition), igniting the propellant (gun powder) which in turn "fires" the bullet. A single action revolver will not operate just by pulling the trigger; it must be manually cocked for it to shoot.
In a Double Action revolver, the action of cocking the hammer can be done in two ways; manually or by simply pulling the trigger. Pulling the trigger cocks and releases the hammer, so a DA trigger pull (the amount of effort or force required to pull the trigger and measured in pounds of pressure) is noticeably more than that of a SA revolver. This is what is known as a "heavier" trigger pull. So, in a DA revolver, there are two (double) actions that will cock the hammer.
Double Action Only (DAO) revolvers lack the hardware that allows the hammer to be manually locked in the cocked position. DAO revolvers typically have a bobbed or internal hammer. The DAO revolver mechanism means the trigger pull will always be uniformly heavier than a single action. It also means there is no hammer to snag on a pocket, shirt, or other piece of clothing when drawing your weapon. An example of a DAO revolver is the Smith and Wesson (S&W) model 642 snub nose.
