Choosing Your First Concealed Carry Firearm

By Josh Gillem

You’ve made the decision to get your license/permit to carry a concealed firearm, so … what do you do now? The next logical step would be to decide which gun is right for you (unless you’ve done so, already). We’ve put together some guidelines to help you pick out your first concealed carry handgun so you are better prepared to navigate this purchase.

Here are some ideas to keep in mind whenever you’re in the market to buy a new gun:

Shoot As Many Guns As Possible:

The first thing you’re going to want to do, is shoot as many different guns as you can to find out what works best for you. There are a couple reasons why you should shoot as many different guns as you can before you decide. First, there are hundreds of different firearms for you to choose from, and you need to know which one works best for you. From the way it fits in your hand to the ease of operation, your gun needs to fit you.

Second, there are a lot of things going on with the operation of a firearm that you need to be able to do correctly if you are to ever use your gun in self-defense. If you cannot operate your chosen concealed carry handgun, you won’t be proficient to stop an attack. Let’s take a look at some of what you need to be able to do with your chosen gun, before you buy it:

— Pulling back the slide on a semi-auto:

Did you know that some firearms are easier to rack than others? If you have weak or small hands, you may find that some semi-automatic pistols won’t work for you because they can be difficult to operate. If you cannot pull back the slide (and lock it open), it’s not going to work for you. There are some out there that are easier to operate than others, so keep testing them out until you find one that works.

— Pulling the trigger:

I actually like to use the term “squeeze” the trigger, but we can get to that in a future article. For now, you need to be able to actually fire the gun, accurately. Some of the worst advice I’ve ever heard given was to buy a double action only (DAO) revolver for a woman who has never before fired a gun. Do you know what the result was for that husband? He carries that snubby .38 special now because his wife cannot manipulate the trigger properly. She lacks the finger strength.

— Recoil management:

There is a lot that can go into this one, which I suppose will also be covered at some point in the future. But for now, what you need to know is, can you manage the recoil for the firearm you are about to trust your life to in the event of a critical incident where your firearm is needed for self-defense? If you cannot handle the recoil and muzzle rise enough to shoot accurately, then you may need to look at a different handgun.

— Safety:

Many newer shooters want to buy guns that have a manually operated thumb safety. There is nothing inherently wrong with this as long as you train with your gun, flipping off the safety before you fire. More than that, though, some safeties are easier to get to than others are. Some are low-profile or hard to reach, others stick out and can rub into your skin. If you pick a gun with a thumb safety, make sure you can easily swipe it on and off before you bring it home.

I do want to say here, however, that the best safety isn’t one that flips on or off. It’s one that is always on, and it’s called your brain. You are the safety tool every time you handle a gun. Always pay attention and follow the rules.

Conduct some research:

The next thing you’re going to want to do, is research the guns you liked from your time shooting them. What you want to do is find out if each gun is actually a reputable firearm in the industry. In other words, not all guns are made the same. While it would be great if you could pull a gun out of the box and have it run flawlessly, it may not.

It’s absolutely imperative that you find out what the best firearms available, are. That way, you don’t end up coming home with a lemon. That doesn’t mean that you read a list of the best 9mm handguns and run to the gun store to buy one. Instead, take the knowledge it has given you and compare it to what you’ve learned at the range so far with your various favorite guns.

And, if for some reason you haven’t fired any of the guns mentioned in the research you conducted, make sure you go rent any that you haven’t tried at the local range to see if they meet your expectations.

Also try to keep in mind that if you happen to land on one of those “best gun lists” that they aren’t tailored for everyone, but are more of a set of guidelines to help you on your way. Remember, the goal here is to make sure the guns you’ve chosen from your time shooting are, in fact, reputable guns that are generally reliable.

Take what you hear at the gun shop with a grain of salt:

I may offend some well-intentioned gun store employees and that’s not my goal. But, I’ve heard some pretty bad advice given from the guys behind the gun store counter. While that person may or may not have more gun-knowledge than you, never under any circumstances believe that the person you’re talking to is an expert on guns.

In fact, anyone who tells you that they are an expert on guns is likely full of crap and you should run for the hills because I can tell you with certainty that anyone worth anything in this industry will tell you they are a student.

Anyway, I digress …

Also try to keep in mind that the guy behind the counter is going to try and sell you a totally different gun than the one you came in for unless he has the one you’re looking for in stock. If you’ve already made up your mind and know what that gun is supposed to cost, don’t budge on it. You’ve made up your mind based on research you’ve done and actual test firing, and you should stick with your plan.

He’s just trying to sell you a gun he has in stock because he wants to make a sale on something he already has. However, this is your first concealed carry handgun that you’ve been to the range to test, and have conducted hours of tireless research to reach the conclusion you have.

Don’t let him sway you.
I’ve seen it many times … A guy or gal walks into the store with one thing in mind, and walks out with something totally different. You won’t know if you like it or not until you fire it, and most gun stores don’t allow returns on guns. It’s your choice, and trust me when I say that they would rather order you the gun you ask for than let you walk out of the store and into someone else’s.

Don’t buy a gun because you like its look:

This is one area where I tend to stand at odds with some people. Guns are not meant to look like toys. When they do look like toys, they are more enticing to little kids who don’t know any better (because their parents don’t teach them). And, let’s face it, kids should know better.

I know it sounds like I’m talking just to you ladies, but I’m not. There are plenty of fellas out there who are lining up to buy guns that look like toys, with multi-colored inserts and frames. It’s not the best idea, unless you never have kids around or only have highly trained children.

Get training:

One thing that you need to do is at least take a basic pistol class from a local instructor. Now, not all instructors are created equal, but most of them are decent. Look for one in your area and vet him/her to the best of your ability.

How? Look at reviews online, ask around, etc. Don’t just take the instructor’s word that he can teach, because he might not be able to. Also, look at credentials. Having more than one credential is usually a good indicator that he/she is at least a lifelong learner. And, lifelong learners often make the best instructors because they are constantly learning new techniques.

Conclusion:

That about does it this time around. What did you look for when you bought your first concealed carry handgun? Let us know, below.

For more quality content about firearms and the self defense lifestyle visit our friends at Down Range Daily.