Massad Ayoob – Women and Guns

We found this insightful, no nonsense post over at Town Hall Patriots and they’ve graciously agreed to let us share a bit of it with you. Be sure and check out the entire post linked below. There’s much more where this came from!

In a time when what used to be called “the women’s liberation movement” has achieved many of its goals in terms of equality and empowerment, the concept that guns are somehow evil icons of male brutality has managed to survive as the longest-standing relic of the old “Suzie Housewife mentality.” Political enfranchisement? Of course! Entry into previously male-exclusive job markets? A done deal, for the most part. Economic power and self-determination? You bet.  But defend yourself and your loved ones against a deadly criminal, by resorting to a gun of your own? “OMG!!! You’re just surrendering to the brutal male mentality!”

Aggressively forward stance helps the slender Jacqueline Smith, at right. She follows her training in an LFI qualification and leans farther forward than 160-lb. male author, left. Final score proved VERY close…

The Attitude Part
In almost thirty years of teaching female armed citizens, and longer than that teaching female cops, I’ve come to the conclusion that once you get past old-fashioned cultural predispositioning, women may actually be better and more decisive students of the gun.

You don’t jump up on a chair and shriek when you see a mouse in the kitchen? You don’t exclaim, “I declare! I do believe I have a case of the vapors coming on,” and faint when there’s trouble? Good–indications are that you’re on the way to getting past the cultural canard that women are supposed to be helpless and totally reliant on men to protect them.

Most firearms instructors agree that women have a faster learning curve than men in this discipline. They tend to have better fine motor coordination, as a rule, and pulling a trigger without deviating the muzzle off target is most definitely a fine motor skill. Their biggest advantage is that they are not born believing that because of their gender, they automatically know how to do something masculine. I’ve found that the female student more than the male wants to know, not just “how do you do that?” but “why do you do it that way?” With a proper explanation, she follows instructions, finds the results good, and moves on. With some of the males–not all, certainly, but some–the reaction is, “Ungawa! If Mongo do what instructor say, Mongo become ‘beta’ and instructor become ‘alpha.’ I, MONGO, am alpha! Mongo must keep doing it Mongo’s way! Ungawa!” It’s like de-programming cult victims sometimes…

There is a misperception that women won’t have the intestinal fortitude to pull the trigger when it’s necessary. That’s only true with an armed female who has bought into the “jump-on-the-chair-when-you-see-a-mouse” mentality. The female of the species, once she understands the situation, has no illusions that she’s supposed to kick the knife out of the attacker’s hand, or knock him unconscious with a right cross like the Lone Ranger. She’s less likely to hesitate. An outdoorswoman who is hunting to feed her family is not going to break down in weepy-eye flashbacks to Walt Disney’s film Bambi when the venison is in her sights; she’s going to hold her aim steady, and smoothly press the trigger back.

As I’ve watched women train over the years, I’ve seen other differences compared to the men. When the guys shoot a qualification, there’s (usually good-natured) teasing. “Hey, Buddy, ya dropped a point there! I’m ahead of you so far!” When the gals do the same, particularly in an all-female class, the difference is stark. The theme is mutual support: “You’re doing great, Sylvia! You’re only one point down! You go, girl!”

The Hardware

Most guns were designed by men, for men. The “pull” measurement (the distance between butt and trigger on a rifle or shotgun) will, in standard models, be designed for an average-size adult male. That means they may fit a tall woman. A lady of average height, or one of more petite proportions, will have to lean back off balance to hold it to her shoulder to aim.
The gunstock can be customized by a gunsmith (or by an individual who is really handy with tools and really knows the gun in question). Or, in many cases, it can simply be ordered with a “youth stock.”

Why, you may ask, don’t they ever call it a “women’s stock?” Ah, a topic opens here. We are a nation that tries to put racism behind it, and can’t quite achieve that. We are a nation that would probably like to put misogyny behind it, but can’t achieve that, either. Historically and culturally, the gun has been perceived as a “male only” object. And frankly, in many respects, a male-only totem. How many young boys with even a hint of machismo about them would want a first-time hunting rifle or shotgun with a “women’s stock” for Christmas? On the other hand, many slender women have grown accustomed to buying practical jeans in “boys’ sizes,” and more women have purchased sneakers or boots in “youth sizes,” too.

It’s a marketing thing.
If we can just set that part of it aside, the main point we take from it is: “youth stocks” fit smaller-statured people, among whom are a lot of women. Therefore, youth stocks are extremely useful for adapting shotguns and rifles to female shooters.

To read the entire post (and you should because it’s awesome) click on this link:

https://thpatriots.blogspot.com/2011/08/massad-ayoob-women-and-guns.html

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Massad F. Ayoob is an internationally known firearms and self-defense instructor.

Massad Ayoob has authored several books and more than 1,000 articles on firearms, combat techniques, self-defense, and legal issues, and has served in an editorial capacity for Guns Magazine, American Handgunner, Gun Week, and Combat Handguns.

Massad Ayoob was former Vice Chairman of the Forensic Evidence Committee of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), and is believed to be the only non-attorney ever to hold this position.

https://massadayoobgroup.com/

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It’s good to live in a society where you can dial 911 when you need help. You know that at some point, law enforcement, an ambulance or the fire department will show up ready to assist you in whatever ways they can. The only question you may have is, “What do I do until help arrives?”

Sometimes, you only have a few seconds to decide what you are going to do in an emergency situation, and those few moments can
mean the difference between life and death. In some life-threatening situations, you have the ability and responsibility to protect yourself, and you should take full advantage of your own right to safety and survival. There are many people who will be completely willing to take advantage of you if you let them. You need to be prepared for self-defense. Gun ownership and training in the use of that gun can be your answer.

Natalie Instructing a First Time Shooter - Photo By Jack Nischik

First, where do you start the search for the right gun? Don’t forget that one of the most important items to have in your personal arsenal is knowledge. Think about your goals and reasons for purchasing a firearm. Are you looking for a gun for yourself or your significant other? Some guns will fit a man better than a woman and vice versa. What do you want to accomplish if you have to fire your gun? Do you want to stop an intruder or attacker in his tracks? If that’s the case, you will want a gun that is accurate, a trait found in larger pistols. Do you want to carry your gun with you? If so, a smaller gun will be lighter in weight and easier to conceal, but remember that you will also need to acquire a concealed carry permit. Another issue to consider when purchasing a gun is the reliability of the firearm. You need your gun to work for you whenever the moment arises. Be open to arming yourself and your spouse differently so that you both feel comfortable using a gun. A great place to find guns for men and women are online auctions. It’s nice to know that someone has used the gun you are considering purchasing because they can give you the particulars and history before you buy it. Some auctions cater to both men and women, realizing that they will have different needs.

Another consideration when choosing a gun is the caliber. A smaller caliber will usually be faster and have greater accuracy in repeated firing, but will suffer in energy and force. A larger caliber has a tendency to damage the target more severely. When firing in self-defense, you will want to stop your target by inflicting enough damage. Keep in mind that some bullets do a better job of penetrating further into the target than others. It may be helpful to purchase your gun from a source where you can also purchase the needed ammunition. Again, go to an auction for a terrific selection in guns and ammunition. You will find variety and pricing that fits your needs and budget, and you will have the opportunity to shop on your own time and for your own needs.

After you’ve found the best gun for you, get the appropriate training. A great gun that fits you well cannot compensate for lack of training in how to use the gun at the right time and in the right place. Your gun can give you security once you’ve taken the time to learn about it. Don’t skimp on knowledge. You want your gun to save your life when you need it to, not get in the way. When you remember that your gun is for your protection and you are the one who is accountable for its use, you will be much closer to your goals of being a responsible gun owner who is capable of self-protection.

Photo By Jack Nichik

About the Author: Tammy Anderson is a wife, mother, school teacher and gun enthusiast. She lives in Texas with her family.

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Watch out Lady GaGa, there are new “Little Monsters,” and they’re all mine!   Yes, I’ve turned my two daughters into little monsters… shooting monsters that is!  Shooting isn’t something that kids do in our neck of the woods. We live in a suburb of New York City, and firearms are, for the most part, a taboo subject.

When my husband and I applied for our pistol permits back in 2008, I think my girls may have been a little freaked out.  In our county, pretty much all you can apply for is a “Sportsman Residence” license which allows you to target shoot, hike and hunt.  CCW’s are rarely granted because the judges who issue them make you prove “need.”  Yes, it’s a violation of my 2nd Amendment Rights, and I am preparing to petition the Judge assigned to my license for conversion to a CCW, but I digress… that will be a whole other blog entry down the road.

Back to my girls! It all started a few years ago when we went with friends up to a cabin in Upstate New York for a day of shooting. My husband, who had shot competitively on the New York State Junior Rifle team when he was young, hadn’t shot in years after losing the end of his trigger finger in a lawn mower accident when he was 14. (Yeah, I know.) My friend’s dad, who owned the cabin, was a World War II hero, Army 82nd Airborne, retired from the Sheriff’s Department, worked for the FBI, Firearm Instructor… I could go on and on about “Pop” but first and foremost, he taught us about firearms and safety that day, and what a blast we all had.  My girls at the time were 10 and 12, and with his guidance, they shot several types and calibers of rifles and revolvers.  It was a great foundation for us all, and the beginning of what has become a passion of mine!

My 14½ year-old daughter had the opportunity to join me at the range when I earned my ProMarksman NRA rating.  School was still in session, but winding down, and she had an afternoon full of nothing at school, so I took her out early, deciding that not every lesson in life was learned in the classroom.

Me and my Browning.

We were joined at the range my buddy Bob, who usually emailed me before heading to the range because he knows I’m not yet comfortable being there by myself.  Bob has lots and lots of “toys” and usually brings quite a nice assortment of firearms for us to “play” with!  I brought along my Browning Buck Mark Camper .22 pistol, and my newly acquired Savage Mark II (NRA limited edition!) .22 rifle that I purchased from the widow of a club member who passed away last year.

This would be Beth’s second time to the range. She participated last Fall in our Club’s annual Turkey Shoot, where she was the hit of the group going from member to member trying out their .22 rifles – seems everybody wanted Beth to try their rifle.

Beth takes aim.

She had a blast, and it was her first time shooting since she was 10. Bob is an excellent instructor and he’s great with kids. He’ll likely head up our newly formed Jr. Club, since we now have “juniors” who are interested!  Beth shot everything from both of my firearms, to a .38 carbine rifle, to a .357 Magnum, (he loaded the first 2 chambers with .38s so she’d get a feel for it, then the rest with .357s, she did great and loved every second.) She spent the next few weeks of school pleading for me to take her out early, so we could go shooting! Yes… Monster #1 created.

Kristen, my 16-year-old, had all her hard classes in the afternoon, so there was no early dismissal for her. She had to wait until school was done and testing was over, but we found an opportunity last week when she had a day free of testing. We’ve tried to take her to the range before, but something always got in the way. When I got a call from another club member, Mike, letting me know he was going down to the range, we loaded the truck and headed out.

I started her on the .22 rifle since Mike was practicing for the upcoming Bulls-Eye shoot from 25 yards.  I figured rifle might be the better option and placed her targets at about 15 yards. She got used to the scope quickly, and had some nice groupings for her first day. (Obviously, she takes after me.) When Mike was done, we moved outside and she played with my Buck Mark a bit.

Kristen's turn.

She couldn’t decide whether she liked the pistol or the rifle better, so she shot both. I didn’t get a lot of practice in, because she was just having too darned much fun! After a while, Mike left and it was just her and me.  She was much more relaxed having just me watching her, and she really began to shine.  I took her in close to the target and showed her some basic tactical shooting… well, clearly this was her favorite, and she did well. Yes, Monster #2… created!

As of Thursday, the girls testing will be finished and another school year will be successfully in the books. This frees us up for a summer at the range, which we’re all looking forward to! Being self employed, I have the flexibility to work when convenient; if it’s a beautiful day, I can up and leave my home office and hit the range for a while. (I call it “group therapy.”) One of these times, we’ll even let my husband play… poor guy is stuck at work all day (hey, somebody has to pay for the new toys, right??!!).

On a serious note, I believe teaching my girls to shoot will be one of the most important things they learn. Besides actual shooting, this sport involves safety, patience, responsibility and self confidence. And lastly, as a mother of two beautiful daughters, I hope that the boys they eventually date have seen their Facebook profile pictures of them shooting big scoped rifles.

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I have been taking a lot of instructor classes lately.  In fact it’s been over a year since I have taken any classes to work on my own shooting skills.   I used to go two or three times a month to the range to practice my shooting, but since I became a pistol instructor I have a new found interest in teaching people, especially women, to shoot.  So, although I have spent a lot of time at the range lately, I have probably fired less than 100 rounds in the last couple of months.  For this reason and so many other good ones, I was very excited about my upcoming Urban Pistol class.  I have wanted to take this class for more than a year but couldn’t find the time to drive to the outdoor range where it was given.  Recently, the Gun for Hire firearms school in NJ started offering this class close by and at an indoor police range, so I finally decided to sign up.

It was probably a good thing I waited, there was no way I was ready to take this class a year ago.  Urban Pistol is a class designed to introduce useful tactical shooting and reloading skills, and shooting on the move and at multiple targets.  To fully engage with your firearm is not the way people usually handle their guns when going target shooting.  Granted, I don’t think that I am ever going to need to reload one handed while lying on the ground behind a garbage can for cover, but hey, you never know.  Another plus to this class is that I get to actually use some of my gear that I bought just in case situations dictate my needing them.

For example, take my holster.  I do not live in a state that issues many CCW permits, so I don’t really need to spend too much time picking out a holster for everyday wear or concealment.  I did buy one though, a really nice leather Fist holster for my Glock and a Galco gun belt.  I have tried it out at the range a few times and I have drawn and re-holstered it in front of my mirror many times to break it in and get a feel for using it.  When I signed up for the class I ordered the required magazine holder and tried it on with my holster/gun and belt to see how it all would work out.  First off, I noticed that the gun belt is now way too big.

Maggie proudly dons her new leg holster for her class.

I bought it a year ago when I was, ehem, a bit heavier.  Not that I was ever very big but apparently all that exercising and eating right really paid off.  I needed to go down a few belt sizes.  So after a half hour playing with the gun and the magazines, I realized that my hips were totally killing me from all the holstering and re-holstering.  I figured I still had time to look into some other holster options.

A drop holster seemed to be the answer and after buying and nixing a few I decided to try a leg holster — police style.  Why I decided to do this, I don’t know, it just seemed like a good idea at the time.  The holster arrived on a Thursday afternoon before my Sunday class. I grabbed the instructions before running out the door to drive my carpool.  After scanning them in the carpool line I shoved them in my pocket before leaving the school parking lot.  When I got home much later that night after many errands, I decided to try the holster.

Hmm, I can’t find the instructions.  After some very brief searching I figure how hard can it be? and I strap it on.  It looks — well, weird.  But I holster the Glock and truth be told, it is kind of fun.  Then I realize that I am not really pushing the gun fully into the holster and when I do, well, it “locks” into place — and won’t come out.  Ok, don’t panic.  I pull and pull and, well, nothing.  So I take it off and text Jimmy, one of the firearms instructors.  He isn’t sure why it isn’t coming out of the holster because he has never used this model and he says don’t be afraid to pull hard.  So I do but still nothing.  My husband is out so I get my teenage boys to help me and while we pull in different directions the gun is still stuck.  Good retention I’m thinking.  But now I’m curious and decide to take the thing apart.  I find an allen wrench and a screw driver and take all the screws out and remove the straps, the back plate and Velcro strips.  Still, nothing doing.  Now my daughter comes in the room and says to my youngest son, “Hey what’s going on?” He is very busy watching TV but manages to tear his eyes away long enough to tell her, “Mommy got her gun stuck.”  So she says “Nice!” and hops up on the couch for a better view of the action.  Lots of support I’m getting here.

Well, I manage to get the gun out — pure luck I find out later.  And I contemplate putting it back in to the holster.  Throwing caution to the wind, I mean no one wants their gun stuck in a holster right?  I try again and you guessed it — stuck.  This time when I manage to free the gun I decide to put the holster back together and head down to the firearms school the next day for some help.  But I am still thinking, Where are those instructions? My husband thinks maybe I dropped them in the children’s department at Nordstrom earlier that evening.  So I call up and get Julie, a long time Children’s Wear employee who was actually helping me earlier.  She says she thinks she saw something like I was describing but she gave it to someone from receptacle removal or something like that (does that mean the garbage collector?) and she puts me on hold to chase him and his rolling cart down the aisle.  I just love the service at Nordstrom, you can’t beat it.  She comes back breathless and says, “I have it!  It reads, Uncle Mikes Law Enforcement Holster, does that sound like what you are looking for?” Um, yeah.  She asks my name and says she’ll hold it for me behind the counter.  After ten years of shopping there I have a feeling Julie will never look at me the same way again.

So the next day I go down to the school, with my son who is turning six that day, and I get some help from Rob fitting the holster. Since I am petite – OK short – I have so much excess strap material on the holster Rob helps me take off what isn’t necessary and remolds the straps to fit me better.  Later at home I secure everything with black electrical tape.  Then I learn how to remove the gun from the holster.

We're thinking Maggie and Sarah would probably be good friends. Minus that whole Skynet thing.

You just twist the butt of the gun towards your leg and bingo, it releases.  But after much practice I realize that doing that causes the grip on the Glock to rip up the skin on my hand.  No time to buy any kind of softer grip so I decide to go Michael Jackson style and wear my fingerless weight lifting glove on my right hand.  Yeah, it looks strange but I’m all about comfort, not style anyway.

The weekend goes well, until late Saturday.  I come down with some kind of miserable infection.  I manage to reach my doctor who prescribes me some antibiotics.  When I ask her if it will impair any of my faculties, she is lost.  So I say I’m taking an advanced shooting class tomorrow, will I be drowsy?  She says, “Can you repeat that?”  So I do.  Then, after a pause, she says I should be fine.  Now I’ll just check that doctor’s office off my list as another place that will never look at me the same way again.

Sunday morning I wake up early for one last dress rehearsal before I pack my range bags.  My youngest son is watching me from the bed, stopping me every now and again to remind me of how to twist the gun from the holster.  He is also very amused apparently by the “faces” I’m making when I draw the gun and aim.  He keeps saying, “Do it again mommy,” but I have no idea what he‘s talking about so he decides to jump down and join me — obviously using his “pretend” gun.  We stand in front of the mirror jumping around and drawing, aiming and re-holstering.  When I look at his face in the mirror I can’t help laughing.  If that’s what I look like, well, it is a good thing I found out about it now.  We play around a bit and then I ask him how he thinks I’m doing.  He says, “Very good, but with only one problem”.  What’s that, I ask.  “Well the straps on the leg holster make one half your butt look bigger than the other.”  Gee.  Thanks.  I’m so glad I asked.  And by the way, no more watching iCarly or Disney Channel for you.

On that note, I pack up my range bag and head out.  I get to the range early and as the students arrive I notice, not surprisingly, that I will be the only female in the class again today.  It doesn’t really factor in for me like it used to anymore.  I am here to have fun.  I can’t imagine many women take Urban Pistol anyway, but it does leave me wondering (although granted not too seriously) what that says about me.

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I will admit, I was a bit nervous going in as, based on the course descriptions, these were going to be way beyond anything I had ever encountered in my gun experience. Just reading about Garret’s background made me think, “OK, what am I signing up for?”, but when we spoke on the phone, he assured me that I wouldn’t be the weakest link and that I would have a lot of fun.

Ok, let me give you a little background on Garret so you can understand my apprehension.  He’s an Israeli soldier who served with a Special Forces Counter-Terrorism unit named “Duvdevan” in the IDF – which translates to poisonous cherry, as he explained on our way to lunch.  In this role, he was tasked with urban warfare and counter-terror operations in the West Bank.  Um, hello, that’s like the bad-ass Israeli version of Jack Bauer, except for real… Y-I-K-E-S! And here I was, willingly signing up to spend 2 days with Mr. Machine, taking both the Israeli Instinctive Shooting courses he was offering – Basic Pistol and Urban Warfare Tactics!

Don't let his boyish good looks fool you. Beneath that friendly exterior lies an Israeli fighting machine!

I was also worried that I’d be the one woman in a class full of big, burly men that were in special forces or SWAT (or, more likely, thought they were…).  Although in my younger years I had dreams of being a super-spy, this was the first time I was taking any sort of serious tactical training.  Fortunately what I found in the class was a welcoming environment, where Garret treated everyone equally, and a class of people who all had their strengths and weaknesses to work on – whew!

The class itself was wonderful, if not painful.  We began the day with SAFETY!  Pretty much the most important thing when handling firearms.  Not only did Garret ensure our ammo was all locked safely in our cars as we would begin with dry firing, but he taught us how to clear the firearm properly, which we did after every exercise.  This immediately put me at ease.  Part of it was to instill a culture of safety, but also to get us used to doing these exercises to the point where they become muscle memory. I do know that since the course I always clear my Glock the way he taught me.

Garret was also excellent at quickly recognizing my areas of weakness and offering suggestions for improvement.  While going through the various exercises both in dry fire and with live fire, he would yell at me to fix my mistakes or move more quickly… ok, so maybe a bit scary in the beginning, but eventually it went from fear to something that made me want to do everything correctly and as quickly and safely as possible in order to prove to Garret that not only was I listening to what he was teaching us, but I was taking those lessons and putting them into action.  I realize now the reason he did this to simulate, as close as possible to the real thing, a stressful situation that I could find myself in when using my firearm; this actually ended up helping me focus more on the task at hand.  He was also ensuring I would think about everything that had to be done to get from the start of the exercise to slowly clearing the gun.  One of the most important lessons I learned is that speed is not always the most important thing – staying aware of my situation, even it it meant taking an extra half-second to think through it, ensured that I acted in a safe and appropriate manner.

You might be wondering what I learned during these two days of hell training.  On day 1, I learned the ideal body shooting position, drawing from concealed carry, jam correction, proper body positioning for search mode versus distance clearing mode, and even what to do if you fall while shooting, among other things. Day 2 was much more intense and included using cover, how to clear and search rooms, doorways and hallways (which, as Garret explained, any city or location can be viewed in this way), how to shoot as both a driver and a passenger in a car, and much much more.  The photo below doesn’t do it justice, but is a small sample of what I got to do.

Garret demonstrates proper technique for shooting a target through a doorway.

Now, people who know me know that I’m both über-competitive and a perfectionist (yes, I’m a proud Type-A), so I did have to constantly remind myself that when Garret learned these skills and many, many more, he did it over 24 grueling months of training and three years of active duty service.  So the fact that I was good-not-great (-sometimes-bad) was OK by me.  And the best part is that I got both Garret’s book Israeli Security Concepts and his DVD Ultimate Israeli Instinctive Shooting and Pistol Combat Training so I could continue practicing these skills long after he returned home.

It was interesting, near the end of day 2, Garret asked us which was more important – training or experience.  I knew the answer to be experience, but at the same time I think a combination of the two are just as important.  You can have great experience but with no training, you might not be doing things correctly.  So ladies, here’s my advice to you: if you see a firearms course that looks interesting you to, check it out and sign up for it.  Even if it seems too advanced.  If you’re with a great instructor like Garret, he or she will be able to cater the training to yours and others progress, and instill a new confidence in you that you previously didn’t have.  However, if you choose to take one of Garret’s courses or any course for that matter, heed a few pieces of advice:

• You should be familiar with your firearm – you end up putting around 200+ rounds through your firearm each day, so this is not a time to be trying out something new.
• You should be in fairly good shape – I wasn’t the best, I wasn’t the worst, but I certainly have stepped up my strength training so that when Garret comes for the next round of training, I’ll be better prepared physically.
• Speaking of being prepared physically – you need to be strong not only in your arms (which is where I concentrated my efforts pre-training) but also in your legs (which I neglected and therefore suffered the consequences post-training). If you need some tips, we put together a post on exercises for shooting recently.
• Individual courses should be part of a larger training program – as with any pursuit, training and experience are necessary to become even proficient in it, so once you sign up for this or any other firearms training course, make sure you continue to practice what you learned long after the instructor leaves, and continually educate yourself.  This can even be in the form of participating in IDPA – I did so a week after my training with Garret and the women I shoot with mentioned a noticeable change in my ability!

So what was I left with other than a sore body and a few cuts & bruises?  A new confidence when carrying my pistol, skills that I continue to practice so they become “muscle memory” and I’m comfortable using them, a huge appreciation for what the men and women of Israel’s military go through, a stronger sense of the ability to defend myself in certain situations, and in the words of Bridget Jones, let’s face it, a bit of a crush now, actually! 

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If this sounds like something you’re interested in, Garret travels around the country offering various training seminars that are part of the Israeli Professional Tactical Training (IPTT), which is a program under the International Haganah Federation (IHF).  It consists of 21 individual training segments, including the two I took.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t give a great big Texas-sized shout-out to Dan from Austin Self Defense, who coordinates the IPTT training for the Central US region – without his help this never could have happened.  If you’re interested in self-defense courses in general, Austin Self Defense is a great place to do it.  Honestly, if they weren’t located so darn far from where I live, I’d definitely be taking part in some of their regular programs, which include Krav Maga, Haganah, and other fitness; some of the self defense-specific courses they have are hand-to-hand tactics and self defense as well as tactical knife courses.

Garret has plans to be back in the Central Texas area every couple months, and we’re happy to get you in touch with Dan from Austin Self Defense if you’re interested.  His email is dan@austinselfdefense.com and his phone number is 512-918-9999.  If you’re in the Miami area and want to learn more or set up some training, call 954-475-2333, and in New England, 610-888-8212.  If you’re located elsewhere or have any questions for Garret, you can reach him at garretmachine@yahoo.com.  Just be sure and tell Dan & Garret that Katie from GG2G sent you!

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The one question I’m asked more than any other is: “What is the best gun for me?” When asked, I wish I could just tell people about some great pistol that will suit the needs of anyone. Unfortunately, such a gun doesn’t exist. There are way too many things to consider for a quick answer to be given. My intent here is to address a few of these issues so you can have a basic idea of how to start searching for “your gun”. Each of the topics below could easily be expanded into a book. In fact, many have! Gun writers have made a living discussing and debating these things for years.

PROPER FIT

First off we’ll talk about how the weapon should fit your hand. This is an important and often overlooked part of the selection process. You should be able to grip the weapon with your wrist in a straight line with the forearm. With the gun in this position, you should be able to reach the trigger with the last joint of your trigger finger. If you can’t, the gun is too big for your hand. Often, people will adjust their grip on the weapon to reach the trigger. If you do that, you’ll be absorbing all the recoil on your thumb, instead of your hand and wrist. This will make for very unpleasant shooting experience.

Wrist straight: To fit the weapon, hold your hand out in a “V” with wrist and forearm straight, then place the gun in your hand.

Proper fit: When the weapon fits your hand correctly, it will stay in a straight line with your wrist and forearm.

Improper fit: The grip on this weapon is too fat. The shooter has to twist the weapon in her hand to reach the trigger. Notice that the weapon is not in line with the wrist and forearm. This gun is too large for the shooter.

CALIBER

Caliber is the next consideration. Basically, handgun ammunition in general is not the best choice for stopping power. They are used for defense because they are portable. Because they are less than ideal, the common theory is that you should shoot the largest caliber round that you can fire and still manage the recoil. That being said, accuracy is key to success. Shot placement is critical. A well placed shot with a .380 is far better than a near miss with a 45. As a general rule though, unless you plan on your gunfight occurring inside a phone booth, anything smaller than a .380 may not provide sufficient ballistic performance.

REVOLVER OR SEMI AUTO?

Now comes the semi-auto pistol vs. revolver issue. Both revolvers and semi-autos have positive and negative points. Revolvers have a limited ammunition capacity. Most full size ones hold 6 rounds. They also require a higher degree of training to re-load quickly than an automatic. Opening the cylinder, ejecting spent casings and using speed loaders can be challenging. In my experience, it’s much easier to learn how to remove and insert a magazine. Additionally, if you’re not going to train very often, changing magazines is an easier skill to retain than the unloading and reloading of a revolver.

Revolvers also have a very long, heavy trigger pull when fired double action. This can be challenging to people who do not have a lot of hand strength or small hands. It can also adversely affect accuracy, as it’s hard for some people to keep the weapon still during the long trigger pull.

On the plus side, revolvers are not prone to malfunctions. Unless a part is broken, when you press the trigger, it will fire. This can be an advantage if the gun is stored for a long period, such as being left in a dresser drawer where it collects dust. The accumulation of dust bunnies won’t have as drastic an effect on a revolver as it can on a semi-automatic.

The semi-auto pistol typically has a larger ammunition capacity. Most modern full-size autos can carry at least 10 rounds in the magazine. Removing and replacing a magazine can be done considerably quicker than reloading a revolver, so reloading the auto is faster.

The biggest drawback perceived with autos is the possibility of malfunctions. This is the main reason many gun store employees will steer buyers toward a revolver. Even the most reliable auto will malfunction if it is not gripped properly or becomes entangled in clothing. This is a training issue, not an equipment issue. With some training, you will be able to operate and clear malfunctions reflexively. And of course, if you own a gun for defense, you should train with it.

Trigger press on semi autos varies. For example, single action autos, like the M1911 have a short, easy trigger pull. Double action autos like the Sig Sauer, have a long, fairly heavy first round trigger pull and the subsequent rounds are fired with a shorter, lighter single action trigger pull. I prefer striker-fired weapons. These pistols have a consistent trigger pull from the first shot to the last. Striker fired weapons include Glock, Springfield XD, and Smith & Wesson M&P.

Semi-auto action types: The various action types of semi auto pistols are shown above. From top to bottom, Sig-Sauer P220, M1911, Springfield XD45

With those three choices, you have numerous options to choose from. Each of those guns can be found in multiple barrel lengths, calibers and sizes. For smaller hands, single stack versions are also available. The M&P and Gen 4 Glocks also have replaceable back straps that allow you to actually change the size of the stock to fit your hand.

SUMMARY

So, ready to choose now? I hope the above information gives you an idea of what to consider when you go out to buy that gun. The best advice I can give is to test fire several weapons before you buy one. Even after that, it’s likely that the first gun you buy will not be your last. The more you shoot and train, the more you’ll learn. As that goes on, you’ll find various attributes you’ll want for your gun. Luckily, guns retain their value. You shouldn’t have much trouble selling your first gun to put that money towards a new one.

The information written above is my opinion on the topic. I encourage you to print this article and show it to whoever it is you consider an expert on the subject. They will no doubt have an opinion in favor of or against everything I wrote. Hopefully they will also be able to expand on each of these topics for you and perhaps give you other things to consider. For example, I didn’t even get into carry options, light attachments and a few other things. Listen to advice you’re given, but don’t take it as gospel. Ultimately, it will largely be a matter of personal preference. It’s YOUR life and the life of YOUR family riding on the decision. Don’t let someone else decide for you. Whatever you pick, get training from a qualified instructor on how to use it. Happy Shooting!

John Marrs is a Sergeant and 22 year veteran of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office in California. A prior SWAT operator and Team Leader, he serves as a Firearms Instructor for his agency and a Regional Training Site Basic Academy. He is also the co-owner/operator of Spartan Training Resources. Marrs retired from the California Army National Guard as an Infantry Captain and served as the State Marksmanship Coordinator for California. He can be reached at STRfirearms@gmail.com.

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