Let us begin with this simple truth. A handgun is not the ideal defensive weapon. A handgun is, at best, a
marginal fight stopper. I have seen people shot, who in turn ceased their hostile actions. I have seen
more shot, and in some cases shot in critical body parts, who continued to live and could fight. Having
said that, the handgun does excel in portability, concealability and ease of storage. So we shall proceed
on the notion that you, the reader, has decided a handgun fits your needs and will be the proper tool for
the job.
The first consideration is handgun type. For defensive purposes, we will focus on either a pistol (a semi-
automatic handgun which is fed from a magazine) or a revolver (a handgun with a cylinder that is
loaded/unloaded with ammunition). For most people I recommend a semi-automatic pistol. They
generally have a higher capacity, and if you have spare magazines, they are much quicker to reload. The
drawback for the semi-automatic pistol is that the slide needs to be drawn back to initially load the
firearm. For those with diminished had strength, this can be a challenge. In those cases, I refer people to
a revolver. The revolver needs only to have the cylinder swung out, the rounds loaded (which can be
accomplished quicker with “speed loaders”) and it is ready to fire. Go to a gun store and examine both
types. If you can work the slide on the semi-automatic, I would strongly encourage that style of
handgun.
Next we have the discussion of caliber. For most people, I recommend a 9 millimeter semi-automatic.
The ammunition is fairly advanced in terms of it’s lethality compared to the 9 millimeter of days gone
by. It is inexpensive compared to other calibers and the recoil is such that most beginning shooters will
not be put off by it.
If you have settled on a revolver, I would encourage a .357 magnum. They are versatile and will allow
you to shoot lower recoil, less expensive .38 special ammunition. Should you decide to move to full
power loads, you can find well regarded .357 magnum ammunition with ease. And .357 magnum has a
good track record as a fight stopping round, at least as handgun rounds go.
Finally, we are left with a discussion of the gun in particular. Do not take my suggestions as gospel. Nor
are they an endorsement for any particular product. The smart shopper will handle several
makes/model and see which fits them the best. For a semi-automatic pistol, my number one suggestion
is the Glock 17. If you want something more compact, then get a Glock 19. Functionally they are
identical, differing only in size. The Glocks usually run reliably, are relatively inexpensive, and are well
supported with magazines, holsters and aftermarket sights etcetera should you decide you want such.
If you want a revolver, my first recommendation is a Ruger, GP100. These are available in California with
a variety of barrel lengths. They will accept .357 magnum as well as .38 special ammunition. The Ruger
revolvers are extremely tough guns with a well-earned reputation for durability.
There are a great many other excellent choices available. However, to avoid decision overload, I would
strongly suggest starting by looking at either of these two models.
About the writer
27 years experience as law enforcement officer. 19 years SWAT including sniper, assaulter, team sergeant.
FBI certified firearm instructor. MP5 and Sub Machine gun instructor. Defensive tactics instructor. Police Academy instructor.
13 years US Army with multiple overseas deployments. Airborne, SOTIC, PSD, SRT, small arms armorer, various other military schools.
Faculty member, California State University, Northridge. Faculty member, Ventura College.
Hobbies include outdoor sports, hunting, competitive shooting.
