National Carry AcademyHow Do You Know If You’re Using The Wrong Handgun?
August 4, 2016
I first became a concealed handgun carrier, when I finished school. I did not have to buy the handgun because my father gave me his .22 to protect myself. The first place I lived in was in a questionable neighborhood. My Dad taught me to use my new handgun by taking me to a shooting range every weekend until I became comfortable with the gun and my marksmanship.
In the back of my mind, I first thought that my Dad just gave me his .22 handgun because he didn’t really shoot it anymore. But, as we continued to shoot at the range, my father finally told me, “I knew it would be the easiest one for you to hold and get comfortable with. Same thing happened with your mom when she went shooting for the first time with your grandpa back in the day.”
Since my Dad already knew which handgun would be best for me, I never had to shop around and evaluate all the different models. I still have that .22.
As much as you might feel you did a pretty good evaluation when you choose your gun, you might feel down the road that you need an upgrade. How do you know when you need a new handgun? Here are a few signs that you are ready for an upgrade:
Accuracy
Using the wrong gun can affect your accuracy, even if you practice at a shooting range regularly. A gun that is too big or heavy or that has too large of a caliber can cause a malfunction in point shoot or a lack of sighted accuracy. You want to strive to find a gun that is suited for your individual needs and characteristics.
Bullets & Accessories
You will want to take into consideration your bullets’ shape, weight, energy, penetration, distance, projection etc. Each type of bullet has its advantages and disadvantages and is important in choosing the right firearm for you.
Caliber
The caliber, or the internal diameter of the barrel, of the gun determines the force or penetration. Larger calibers mean more force and penetration, thus inflicting more damage. Smaller calibers, however, mean less recoil so they tend to be more accurate and faster. Each person has a different preference as to what type of caliber they use.
Maintenance
Properly maintaining a handgun is essential for safety and effectiveness as well as ensuring a long life to your gun. Some guns require more disassembly and cleaning than others. If you are finding it difficult to maintain your handgun, perhaps it is time to look for a lower maintenance model. All guns, however, require maintenance. This Wiki article provides you with the steps to keep your gun functioning at peak performance.
Recoil
Adjusting to a gun’s recoil is difficult for almost every handgun user the first time they shoot. Over time, you should become accustomed to the recoil and be able to quickly recover and make accurate follow-up shoots. If this is not the case, you may need a smaller handgun.
Size & Feel
Make sure that you are comfortable holding, gripping, and shooting your handgun. Many people like a big handgun as bigger pistols are more accurate because they have less recoil and the sight plane is longer. However, a bigger gun can sometimes be too heavy and hard to carry or conceal. In this case, a smaller gun might be easier to hide and use because it weighs less and is easier to carry and shoot.
Upgrading or downgrading your firearm doesn’t mean you are not a competent marksman or that your weapon is too small or is faulty. Sometimes, a gun owner just needs a handgun that fits better in the hand, is more accurate or is easier to conceal. There are a myriad of reasons to change up your gun. Just so you find the handgun that suits you best.
Nancy Thorne is founder and principal of Thorne Business Research. With more than 30 years experience as an information research and writing professional in small business, trade associations and large corporate environments. She has expertise in writing blog posts, articles, newsletters and reports for a diverse group of clients in a wide variety of industries. Prior to becoming an independent writer and information professional, Ms. Thorne held research and analytical positions with Bank of America and Citicorp and was a licensed teacher of English.
How Do You Know If You’re Using The Wrong Handgun?
August 4, 2016
I first became a concealed handgun carrier, when I finished school. I did not have to buy the handgun because my father gave me his .22 to protect myself. The first place I lived in was in a questionable neighborhood. My Dad taught me to use my new handgun by taking me to a shooting range every weekend until I became comfortable with the gun and my marksmanship.
In the back of my mind, I first thought that my Dad just gave me his .22 handgun because he didn’t really shoot it anymore. But, as we continued to shoot at the range, my father finally told me, “I knew it would be the easiest one for you to hold and get comfortable with. Same thing happened with your mom when she went shooting for the first time with your grandpa back in the day.”
Since my Dad already knew which handgun would be best for me, I never had to shop around and evaluate all the different models. I still have that .22.
As much as you might feel you did a pretty good evaluation when you choose your gun, you might feel down the road that you need an upgrade. How do you know when you need a new handgun? Here are a few signs that you are ready for an upgrade:
Accuracy
Using the wrong gun can affect your accuracy, even if you practice at a shooting range regularly. A gun that is too big or heavy or that has too large of a caliber can cause a malfunction in point shoot or a lack of sighted accuracy. You want to strive to find a gun that is suited for your individual needs and characteristics.
Bullets & Accessories
You will want to take into consideration your bullets’ shape, weight, energy, penetration, distance, projection etc. Each type of bullet has its advantages and disadvantages and is important in choosing the right firearm for you.
Caliber
The caliber, or the internal diameter of the barrel, of the gun determines the force or penetration. Larger calibers mean more force and penetration, thus inflicting more damage. Smaller calibers, however, mean less recoil so they tend to be more accurate and faster. Each person has a different preference as to what type of caliber they use.
Maintenance
Properly maintaining a handgun is essential for safety and effectiveness as well as ensuring a long life to your gun. Some guns require more disassembly and cleaning than others. If you are finding it difficult to maintain your handgun, perhaps it is time to look for a lower maintenance model. All guns, however, require maintenance. This Wiki article provides you with the steps to keep your gun functioning at peak performance.
Recoil
Adjusting to a gun’s recoil is difficult for almost every handgun user the first time they shoot. Over time, you should become accustomed to the recoil and be able to quickly recover and make accurate follow-up shoots. If this is not the case, you may need a smaller handgun.
Size & Feel
Make sure that you are comfortable holding, gripping, and shooting your handgun. Many people like a big handgun as bigger pistols are more accurate because they have less recoil and the sight plane is longer. However, a bigger gun can sometimes be too heavy and hard to carry or conceal. In this case, a smaller gun might be easier to hide and use because it weighs less and is easier to carry and shoot.
Upgrading or downgrading your firearm doesn’t mean you are not a competent marksman or that your weapon is too small or is faulty. Sometimes, a gun owner just needs a handgun that fits better in the hand, is more accurate or is easier to conceal. There are a myriad of reasons to change up your gun. Just so you find the handgun that suits you best.
Nancy Thorne is founder and principal of Thorne Business Research. With more than 30 years experience as an information research and writing professional in small business, trade associations and large corporate environments. She has expertise in writing blog posts, articles, newsletters and reports for a diverse group of clients in a wide variety of industries. Prior to becoming an independent writer and information professional, Ms. Thorne held research and analytical positions with Bank of America and Citicorp and was a licensed teacher of English.