How choose most accurate / comfortable?

[RugerSAFan]

I am trying to re-focus my carry choices. I am not looking to make a new purchase. I just wish to decide which sidearm in MY safe I should spend the most time practicing with.

I recognize that I am "Jack of all, master of none". I wish to change that.

There are seven handguns that are CONCEIVABLE for daily carry (I'm eliminating the 9 1/2" and 7 1/2" barrel revolvers from practical consideration.) There are both wheelguns and autos. I have holsters for all.

Calibers: .380, .38, .38/.357, .40, .45lc, .45acp.
Makes: Ruger, Keltec, Taurus, Colt, Glock, S&W.

I an trying to identify which sidearm I (not you) SHOOT the best for personal self defense purposes. (The others will become hobby/fun guns). I recognize that some are stictly pocket carry and others are IWB/OWB.

I am going to bring all seven (7) handguns to the range. What is a recommended practice scenario for choosing? (My range does not allow drawing from a holster / concealed position.) What distance? How many rounds per handgun?

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks.

John

 

[Oro]

I am trying to re-focus my carry choices.

There is an old joke about the "First Rule of Gunfighting". The first rule, of course, is to have a gun.

The corollary of that is you will need to make sure the gun you choose to carry is one you can and will carry all the time. If you find yourself leaving it at home because it doesn't work well with shorts, w/o a sweater, etc., you've just violated the first rule. If you shoot a 1911 best, but you find it annoying to lug around concealed all the time/in all weather conditions, it's not likely the best choice.

I'd suggest your method of choosing is extra carry, not extra range time. Find out which ones you can do so reasonably comfortably and easily. Then practice with that gun. I shoot a 1911 most accurately and comfortably, but I carry a snub-nose revolver because it's the most practical.

 

[j1133s]

I am going to bring all seven (7) handguns to the range. What is a recommended practice scenario for choosing? (My range does not allow drawing from a holster / concealed position.) What distance? How many rounds per handgun?

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Shoot them at 7-25 yards and see which ones you like; add some limp wristing and see which one always jams; then shoot 1 handed in strong and weak hand. Then take the finalists to an action pistol match and shoot them there and see if that'll narrow down some more.

I pick my carry gun based on your accuracy and confort and additionall based on reliability and based on my judgement of the "stopping power" of the ammo. The gun must first for foremost be always reliable under different shooting conditions.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i think what you need to determine is which gun you can shoot best (placing accurate shots on target) with under stress...this might not mean the gun that feels best in you hand, but the gun you can hit with.

i would take all the guns out to the range and bring/borrow a timer.
1. shoot the "Bill Drill" with each
2. disgard the ones that you aren't accurate enough with
3. shoot the remaining ones again and see which one you are fastest with while maintaining the required accurracy

oops, forgot to add the description of the drill for those who don't already know. it is traditionally shot from the holster...or from under a concealing garment if intended for carry...to include the comparison of the difficulty of establishing a good initial grip, ybut you'll just have to do what you can to comply with your range.

1. at 7 yards
2. on an IPSC target
3. 6 rounds in 2 secs
4. all hits must be in the "A" zone (try an 8x11 piece of binder paper) for the time to count

this time includes drawing from the holster and guns either hammer down (DA/SA, DAO) or cocked and locked (SAO)

 

[mrt949]

My daily carry seecamp 32. but practice with my beretta 21 a .cheap practice point and shoot .or up your nose.

 

[Glockman17366]

Make sure it's a gun you'll carry (for me, small and light weight..there's always a pistol in my pocket (holstered))
Make sure it's reliable (me...normally a snubby revolver, but sometimes a Glock 19)

Accuracy isn't too important (as long as the gun is good for around an 8-10 inch spread). If I ever need to use my carry gun, odds are I'll be within 10 feet (or less) and I'll probably be point shooting. Also, I'm only looking to stop an assailant (which may or may not be lethal).

 

[dave from mesa]

deleted cuz I sounded like a jerk