Bought my first CHL gun today
Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:58 pm
I own two FEG PA-63 handguns (Hungarian manufacture, 9x18mm Makarov chambered) but I don't trust them to defend my life with, so I did exhaustive research into what I should get for carry.
I started with the cliched "what is the best handgun" search on Google. While there is obviously no one-size-fits-all answer to that question, the hits it pulls up, if you are willing to read through hundreds of pages, are enlightening. I learned about guns that I did not know existed, if nothing else, by doing that type of research.
The second step was to pare down the dizzying list of options to a few choices that seemed to be what I am looking for. Well, actually, I suppose the second step is decide what I'm looking for in a handgun for concealed carry purposes. I want it to be small enough, but not too small to fit my hand, lightweight enough not to noticeably droop my pants when I'm carrying it, have adequate firepower (this is the most controversial decision, and many arguments arise from it), and adequate capacity of ammunition (depending on if you carry reloads or not).
I wanted something in a "service caliber" ( a new term I learned in my Google searches during Step 1), so 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP were all a good choice for me. My personal tastes dictated that it be any of these three, but not lower.
Luckily for me, about 10 days after I first started looking into the topic of which gun I should get for everyday concealed carry, a gun show came to a nearby town. Guns shows aren't always the best place to get a good price, but my intention was to use it sort of like a "gun catalog come to life". I can walk around, look at many different types of firearms that may fit my needs, handle them so see if they fit well and balance well in my hand, inspect their quality, and get a sense of what price these guns sell for.
After my Internet research, my debates with myself about what I would or would not feel comfortable with if the situation ever arose that I needed to defend my life with a handgun, and my time spend handling the firearms that were on my short list (with the goal of making my short list into one singe choice), I mulled it over for another two days, then made my choice.
I went to my local gun store (I researched the gun stores in my area to get a sense of which one would likely be the best in terms of location, price, service, and knowledge) and placed my order. $541 later, including taxes, shipping, and such, my Glock 23 in .40 S&W will be here tomorrow.
My short list, in case you are interested, consisted of the Glock 23, the Glock 19 (9mm), the Smith and Wesson M&P 40c, and a Kel-Tec P-11 (9mm subcompact). I really liked the M&P, but found it to be heavier that the Glocks. I still like the KelTec P-11, and I may even buy it for a backup gun for those occasions that in-the-waistband carry would be impossible (I'd carry the KelTec in my front pocket, in a pocket holster). I may pocket carry one of my PA-63s on those occasions until I get a KelTec. If Ruger made an LCP in 9mm, I'd get that instead of the KelTec. I can't see myself paying for a Kahr, even though I know they are quality firearms.
The Glock 23 will be my main carry, once my permit arrives. I've got some practicing to do!
I started with the cliched "what is the best handgun" search on Google. While there is obviously no one-size-fits-all answer to that question, the hits it pulls up, if you are willing to read through hundreds of pages, are enlightening. I learned about guns that I did not know existed, if nothing else, by doing that type of research.
The second step was to pare down the dizzying list of options to a few choices that seemed to be what I am looking for. Well, actually, I suppose the second step is decide what I'm looking for in a handgun for concealed carry purposes. I want it to be small enough, but not too small to fit my hand, lightweight enough not to noticeably droop my pants when I'm carrying it, have adequate firepower (this is the most controversial decision, and many arguments arise from it), and adequate capacity of ammunition (depending on if you carry reloads or not).
I wanted something in a "service caliber" ( a new term I learned in my Google searches during Step 1), so 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP were all a good choice for me. My personal tastes dictated that it be any of these three, but not lower.
Luckily for me, about 10 days after I first started looking into the topic of which gun I should get for everyday concealed carry, a gun show came to a nearby town. Guns shows aren't always the best place to get a good price, but my intention was to use it sort of like a "gun catalog come to life". I can walk around, look at many different types of firearms that may fit my needs, handle them so see if they fit well and balance well in my hand, inspect their quality, and get a sense of what price these guns sell for.
After my Internet research, my debates with myself about what I would or would not feel comfortable with if the situation ever arose that I needed to defend my life with a handgun, and my time spend handling the firearms that were on my short list (with the goal of making my short list into one singe choice), I mulled it over for another two days, then made my choice.
I went to my local gun store (I researched the gun stores in my area to get a sense of which one would likely be the best in terms of location, price, service, and knowledge) and placed my order. $541 later, including taxes, shipping, and such, my Glock 23 in .40 S&W will be here tomorrow.
My short list, in case you are interested, consisted of the Glock 23, the Glock 19 (9mm), the Smith and Wesson M&P 40c, and a Kel-Tec P-11 (9mm subcompact). I really liked the M&P, but found it to be heavier that the Glocks. I still like the KelTec P-11, and I may even buy it for a backup gun for those occasions that in-the-waistband carry would be impossible (I'd carry the KelTec in my front pocket, in a pocket holster). I may pocket carry one of my PA-63s on those occasions until I get a KelTec. If Ruger made an LCP in 9mm, I'd get that instead of the KelTec. I can't see myself paying for a Kahr, even though I know they are quality firearms.
The Glock 23 will be my main carry, once my permit arrives. I've got some practicing to do!
If history is any indication, it won't be your only one. I'm shopping for my second now!
) and I found it immediately accurate at distance and comfortable. 40 S&W should be comforting enough. I like that cartridge.
