CHOOSING A GUN

It goes without saying that the gun market is flooded with options that are dizzying to the new gun owner. The two basic qualities 90% of firearms offer these days is SHOOTABILITY & RELIABILITY. That is all well and good, but for a new gun owner, or someone just looking for something new and functional, we need to look at a few other things that may sway us one way or the other.

REPUTATION

•   Is the firearm new or has it been around and gotten a track record for performance?

• Is the firearm capable of performing for a long time while maintenance is neglected?

• Is its reputation based on competition shooting or military/LE usage?

  • LE tend to draw their firearms a lot but do not shoot too much.

  • Militaries do not shoot a lot of rounds at once, but they neglect to perform preventative maintenance aside from cleaning and lubrication.

  • Competition shooters can keep their guns performing through constant spring changes, despite high round counts.

PARTS AVAILABILITY/COST

• Does the company offer free part replacement?

• Can you purchase the parts easily on the internet or at stores?

MARKET SUPPORT

• Are there additional sight options?

• Are there addition spring options if OEM parts are not available?

• Are magazines easy to find?

  • You will need 2-3 extra for training or spares

• Are their plenty of holster types/companies to choose from?

VERSATILITY

• Can the weapon perform multiple functions

  • Deep concealment in T-shirt and shorts

  • Home defense

  • Duty gun

OVERALL INVESTMENT

• Cost of firearm, holster, critical parts (firing pin, recoil spring, etc.), 2-3 magazines, 1K rounds for an initial familiarization, training/retraining, training course(s)

• Cost above compared to cost & time needed to adapt to weaponry and gear.

SHOPPING BY BRAND

In some cases, you can find brands of firearms that produce rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Many brands have a specific focus towards rifles, pistols, or shotguns. Each brand is unique in their approach to manufacturing, design, and service. Below I am going to list my experience with some of the more common brands of firearms on the market.

HECKLER & KOCH (HK)

• Produces- rifles and pistols

• Pricing- Expensive

• Design- Military and Law Enforcement requirements. VP series is very user-friendly. Ultra-durable/ultra-reliable. HK rifles set performance standard for combat rifles.

GLOCK

• Produces- pistols only

• Pricing: Slightly overpriced

• Design: Easily modified. Most popular for aftermarket accessories. Generally durable in 9mm. Made to have inexpensive parts replacement.

SMITH & WESSON (S&W)

• Produces: Rifles, Pistols, and shotguns

• Pricing: inexpensive to mid-range

• Design: Pistols are very simple and reliable with many user-friendly qualities

BERETTA

• Produces: Rifles, pistols, and shotguns

• Pricing: Moderately expensive for metal frame. Inexpensive for polymer frame.

• Design: Most have unique locking mechanisms. Ultra durable/reliable

CZ

• Produces: Rifles, pistols, and shotguns

• Pricing: mid-range cost to Expensive, depending on firearm purchased and availability

• Design: Pistols heavily based on CZ75 design with a few upgrades in construction to enhance durability and user experience. Generally durable and mostly reliable.

CANIK

• Produces: produces mainly pistols

• Pricing: inexpensive

• Design: Heavily based on the Walther P99/PPQ series of pistols

Too often people neglect to factor in the cost of parts, mags, and ammo to get familiar with the firearm. How about the cost of that class you need to take if you are new to shooting? When discussing the overall investment, I am looking at buying everything as a system. I am not centered on the cost of the pistol. However, I am judging whether the price of the gun is reasonable to what it gives. Often people fall for the saying “you get what you pay for” rhetoric of the gun stores and forums. Often times, guns that cost more than $700 are not giving you performance or capabilities a $400-$500 gun will give you.

PISTOL SELECTION

When shopping for a pistol, you will find that the huge range of brands alone will give you an information overload. Some brands are considered elite or high class, while others are treated with disdain. Each person you talk to will have a different experience and a very personal opinion about the brands.

• Is it DA/SA, striker fired, or some other type of action?

  • Will it require specific training/retraining?

    • Will the retraining result in better performance?

    • How long will training/retraining take?

    • Does the action offer increased capability/safety?

I personally recommend the Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 because they have a great performance record in Law Enforcement and in competition. They are the same size exactly as the Glock 19, are easy to shoot well, handle neglect with ease, and the 4” variants are incredibly versatile. They are inexpensive new, and even more so if they are used. The M&P is common and therefore they are very easy to shop for. Their parts are easy to acquire for free from the manufacturer, if you ever need spares.

ORDER ONLINE VS SHOP IN PERSON

Shopping in person will always be preferred to shopping online, but I am here to tell you that both are equally beneficial. Shopping online may be laced with risk, but so is shopping in person.

ONLINE

• Better prices (Generally)

• Better selection

• Frequent promotions and deals

  • LAW ENFORCEMENT TRADE-INS

  • OVERSTOCK

  • BLEMISHED

  • BUNDLES

***some states heavily restrict internet purchases***

IN-STORE

• Can feel ergonomics and controls before buying

• Can get firearm right away

  • After all required background checks. Check your local laws

• Can build a relationship with employees

Whatever method you use for acquiring a firearm, I highly advise you to do so from a point of logic and rational discernment. Firearms can cost a lot, and they can last a very long time, if you let them. There will never be one firearm that will be good for EVERYTHING, but you can get a pistol that will do a relatively good job at meeting you in the middle, such as a Glock 19-sized pistol that fits the criteria I mentioned earlier. For the times you need a really small pistol, getting something like the Shield Plus would be a great way to round out your pistol collection. But that is just my two cents.