What is the Best Handgun for Personal Protection?

I frequently get emails asking, “What is the best handgun for personal protection?”  My answer is simple: The best handgun for self defense is the one you have with you. 

Guns used 2.5 million times a year in self-defense. Law-abiding citizens use guns to defend themselves against criminals as many as 2.5 million times every year — or about 6,850 times a day.  1 This means that each year, firearms are used more than 80 times more often to protect the lives of honest citizens than to take lives.

Of the 2.5 million times citizens use their guns to defend themselves every year, the overwhelming majority merely brandish their gun to scare off their attackers.  An armed citizen kills or wounds an attacker Less than 8% of the time that they produce a firearm in a self defense situation.

So any gun is better than no gun.  Get training. Get your concealed carry permit and get a handgun that you will never leave home without.  If you’re not going to carry the gun, it’s not going to do you or your loved ones any good.

I suggest installing a simple but secure gun vault lock box in your vehicle to store your handgun before entering any”gun free zones”. 

If you are a first time gun buyer, do some research.  There are tons of excellent personal defense handguns available for $400-$500. Price will vary depending on where you live and what retail outlets are in your area.    If you live in an area that has Academy Sports and Outdoors, check them out for good selection and very competitive prices.  Bud’s Online has a good reputation with some of the most competitive prices found.  But keep in mind that the gun will have to be shipped to an FFL for processing.  The FFL transfer fee usually runs between $24-50 for online transfers.

We live in the golden age of handguns.  If you are overwhelmed and just can’t decide, I’m comfortable recommending a Glock Model 19 9mm. safe action pistol (any generation) as your first handgun.  It’s a versatile handgun that comes with two standard 15 round magazines in most states.  It’s a mid-size handgun, which is technically a compact model that falls between the full size Glock 17 and sub-compact Glock 26. 

Any Striker fired pistols similar to the Glock 19  would make a good choice for a self defense handgun.  I recommend that every gun owner have a striker fired 9mm handgun in their inventory.  Glock striker fired handguns are similar to Smith and Wesson M&P pistols , Springfield XD pistols ,  the Ruger SR9 series and my new favorite compact 9mm handgun, the Walther PPQ .

If you are looking for a sub-compact self defense pistol , I highly recommend the M&P Shield 9mm.

If you are looking for a concealed carry revolver, check out the Ruger LCR line up.

I prefer the fire power of a semi-auto pistol for self defense, but there is no denying the simplicity and reliability of revolver.   If you are on a budget, check out the improved Taurus revolver line up.

I didn’t mention Sig Sauer, also known as Sig Arms, which is an excellent firearms manufacturer.  There used to be two kinds of gun guys, either Glock guys or Sig guys.  Basically, it was a “striker fire” or “hammer fire” preference.  Today, many gun owners own both Sig and Glock handguns along with many other manufacturers, including Beretta . As I mentioned earlier, we are living in the Golden Age of Handguns.

Sig Sauer makes excellent premium firearms .  I’ve found that a striker fired pistol is usually the best choice for shooters with limited training and experience.  But if you are a traditionalist, who wants a hammer fired handgun, you may want to check out Sig Sauer.  The most popular premium models, start around $700.  Sig is now manufacturing an entry line of hammer fired pistols ( P250’s &  SP2022 models). I don’t have any experience with those models.  I’ve seen them in north Texas Academy Sports and Outdoors for $430/$460.

I don’t recommend single action, 1911 style pistols as primary self defense “fighting” pistols for new shooters and those with limited shooting experience.  However, 1911’s are still great guns. The original Model 1911 was invented by John Browning in 1911. They are as popular as ever, more than 100 years after being introduced as the classic American .45ACP pistol.  Every American gun owner should consider adding a modern 1911 to their firearms inventory.

I enjoy shooting modern 1911 pistols, which are some of the most accurate pistols you will find.  But 1911 style single action pistols require more training and care than revolvers and safe action striker fired pistols.

I don’t recommend buying a cheap semi-auto pistols.  Any firearm that comes with only a one year limited warranty is junk.  Sig Sauer, Glock, Ruger, Springfield, S&W, Beretta, Walther all offer Limited Lifetime Warranties that cover just about anything that goes wrong with your firearm.  All of these major manufacturers have excellent customer service and will fix the problem should your gun have one or develop one in the future. Guns are machines and like any machine they can break. 

If you buy a gun from Academy Sports and Outdoors, they wills ship it back to the manufacturer for warranty work at no cost to you.  Most of the manufacturers will send you a pre-paid shipping label for warranty repair if you contact their customer service.

You need to train and practice with your handgun.  A concealed carry handgun class is not sufficient training for new and inexperienced shooters.

If you decide to join the growing group of licensed concealed carry handgun permit holders, who carry a firearm for self defense,  I recommend that you:

1.) Beef up your ammo reserves. “A lot more rounds are being exchanged in today’s gunfights than in the past. Carry more ammo. Consider having both a primary and a backup gun.  I can’t express how quickly your firearm will go empty when you’re shooting for real. There’s no worse feeling than pulling the trigger and hearing it go ‘click’.”

2.) Practice head shots. “When you fire multiple ‘lethal’ rounds into an attacker and he keeps going, you don’t have the luxury of waiting 20 or 40 more seconds for him to die while he can still shoot at you. Don’t waste time arguing the relative merits of various calibers. No handgun rounds have reliable stopping power with body shots. Pick the round you can shoot best and practice shooting at the assailant’s head.

Growing the Gun Culture in Honor of Bob Costas

What’s the best way to remember the Bob Costas “Curb the Gun Culture” Football Night in America lecture? Take that 90 second message and turn it into a lifetime firearm purchase!

Merry Christmas to me ———>

Today I drove to Academy Sports and Outdoors in Burleson, Texas and purchased a Beretta Cx4 Storm 9mm Carbine.  I wasn’t the only member of the north Texas gun culture who decided to purchase a firearm today.  During my less than 30 minutes at Academy Sports, four other law abiding citizens purchased firearms.  Five new firearms in less than half an hour.  Now, that’s what I’m talking about!

I already own a full size Beretta Px4 Storm 9mm pistol, with lots of high capacity magazines, which are the same used in the Cx4s Carbine.

My daily concealed carry is either a .357sig, .45 ACP or .40S&W caliber pistol.  But if you need to rapidly fire a lot of rounds at multiple targets, nothing beats a 9mm for accuracy in my opinion. 

A Beretta CX4 Storm is a long gun that carries its own spare ammunition on board, comes out of vehicle in a hurry, and readily takes tight corners inside buildings.  It’s a light package that operates easily with one hand, has high magazine capacity, light recoil, commonality of caliber and magazine with my full size PX4. I’ve been told the Storm has excellent accuracy with the ability to customize for each individual user’s needs.

The Storm is a very handy 16.6-inch carbine that uses a simple and reliable straight blowback action in a lightweight polymer stock and receiver, and Beretta’s design team has incorporated several useful features into the CX4.

With an overall length of 29.7 inches and an unloaded weight of 5.7 pounds, the compact carbine carries, handles, and maneuvers through cramped confines quite well. Sights are amply protected from impacts inside substantial polymer “ears,” with the front post adjustable for windage and elevation using a tool supplied with the carbine, and the rear adjustable for short and long range by flipping up the appropriate “S” and “L” aperture. Both front and rear sights can be folded down completely for use with any optical sight that can be installed on, or adapted to, the standard full-length Picatinny rail on top of the gun.  There are other short rail options available from Beretta for side-mounted accessories besides the standard retractable fore-end rail under the barrel.

The Storm carries its magazine Uzi-style, inside the pistol grip, where it’s a natural hand-meets-hand orientation for quick reloads in any lighting without having to divert the eyes from more critical things like threats, moving to cover, and so on. The CX4 carbine comes in three calibers, 9mm, .40, and .45ACP, and accepts Beretta magazines from the 92/96, Cougar, and PX4 series.

The main controls, including the safety, magazine release, cocking handle, and ejector are reversible for lefties, and takedown is a matter of pushing the latch pin out and sliding off the front part of the carbine for access to the internals. The carbine also features four sling attachment points, a cross bolt safety, a rubberized stock cheek piece, and a rubber recoil pad with removable stock spacer.

Add a laser and light to make the CX4 Storm a great home defense gun that all members of the family can comfortibly and accurately shoot.   I’m told it’s very accurate to 25 yds. with a red dot 1X sight. There is little recoil and the cool factor is off the charts.  I can assure you that Bob Costas hates it and Hickok45 likes it.

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Update on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 12:21AM by Bonzer Wolf

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Beretta® PX4 Storm 9mm Full Size High Capacity Pistol

Built around Beretta’s latest PX4 modular technology, the Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm Full Size High Capacity Pistol delivers large frame firepower that can be customized for different shooters. Utilizing Beretta’s strongest pistol action, the PX4 Storm’s unique rotating barrel and locking system reduces felt recoil and muzzle rise by releasing recoil energy radially. The gun’s chrome-lined barrel resists corrosion and requires less maintenance. Beretta keeps the PX4 Storm light with a corrosion resistant, fiberglass-reinforced polymer frame that includes an integral Picatinny rail for rapid attachment of tactical lights and laser aiming devices. Ambidextrous manual safety lever is positioned on both sides of the slide for easy access by all shooters. Bruniton™ non-reflective black coating provides superior corrosion and wear resistant finish. White 3-dot sights provide quick acquisition of the target. Weight: 27.7 oz. Capacity: 17+1 and 20+1 round magazines

We’re a big fan of compact and sub-compact larger capacity (.40 S&W, .357SIG, .45ACP) pistols for every day concealed carry.  But for the Zombie fighting, insurrection, defending a home invasion against multiple targets or any prolonged firefight, we favor the large capacity 9mm pistol. See two of my favorite TV Shows Strike Back and The Walking Dead for details.

Mrs. Wolf has a Glock 19 for these situations and suprisingly, the old gray Wolf has chosen the PX4 storm as my firefight sidearm of choice.  This is a good gun for anyone from the novice shooter to the professional. In SA mode trigger is crisp and light. The trigger action is smooth with very light recoil. This pistiol is the upgrade for the 92FS, which is carried by most members of the U.S. Military.

From The Tank Guy: Advantages Ease of use, Performs well, Quality, low recoil ★★★★★

“PX4 Storm. 9mm. This is an excellent handgun. It takes 17 round or 20 round magazine plus one in the chamber. It has proved accurate and in single action is capable of 1-2” groups when double tapping. The DA trigger pull requires a break-in to smooth it. The SA action is excellent. Trigger break is good in both modes and kick is minimum. Magazine release is smooth and clean. The gun with the decocker off can be safely carried in a good holster which covers the trigger. The gun has three safeties - the decocker if on disconnects the trigger, with the decocker off the firing pin is blocked/not aligned the gun will not fire, and the third safety is the gun will not fire unless the DA trigger is pulled. The DA trigger pull is sufficent to make the gun as safe as any DA only pistol. Night sights are adequate. Front and Rear sights are both adjustable in windage or removable. Has a built-in Picitinny rail in front of the trigger guard. Recommended for a full size 9mm semi-automatic pistol. # rounds fired ~2000”

It’s a fun gun to shoot at the range in multi-target and in rapid fire situations.  You can find the full size Px4 for around $500 in all the usual places. Here’s Hickok45’s YouTube review:

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April Fools Day at the Range - .357 Sig Preview

Mr. Wolf received a few emails inquiring about yesterday’s post.  No, it was NOT an April Fools Day joke.  We posted on April 1st because that is the first day of Confederate History Month. We’re very serious about honoring Confederate history month.

By the way, today is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich day. We hated PB&J as a kid but like it now.  This was breakfast.

Charter Cable went down early yesterday afternoon and was not restored until this morning.  The incompetence, laziness and poor quality of Charter Cable customer service never ceases to amaze me.  When it works, Charter is the fastest WIFI in north Texas but the outages come too often and repair crews are NEVER dispatched on weekend. If electricity and water was as sporadic, there would be a lot of dirty people taking to the streets to protest.

Went to the range yesterday with the Mrs.  We shot the classic S&W Model 60 (first all stainless steel revolver ever made by Smith and Wesson), Ruger SR22, Sig P238, Beretta Px4 Storm (full size). 

We’ve run 500 flawless rounds through the Beretta Storm.  The more I shoot this pistol, the more I like it as my choice for a full size 9mm (21 round maximum capacity).  The Double Action/Single Action (DA/SA) trigger system is smooth as butter.  This is one very accurate, extremely controllable pistol.  We can put a lot of rounds on a multi-targets very efficiently. 

The Px4 Storm is not on the national radar and we’ve found this pistol to be readily available at many local gun stores and online.  Can’t say the same about any Rugers and most popular Sigs and Glocks.

We’re still waiting on a Sig .357 conversion barrel for our Sig P239 SAS.  The ammunition is already here; hopefully the barrel and .357 Sig magazine arrive this week.  According to numerous reports on the forums, the .40 S&W magazines works just as well, but for CHL carry I decided to shell out the $45 for the .357 mag. 

We’re looking forward to comparing the .40 S&W and .357 Sig barrels at the range. 

The .357 Sig conversion kit is simply a drop-in barrel replacement into a .40 S&W pistol, although, the pistol must be built strong enough to handle the effects of a 40,000 psi as opposed to the .40 S&W’s 35,000 psi pressure limits.  The 357 Sig and .40 S&W can easily co-exist and be used interchangeably based on application needs.

The .357 Sig caters to the lighter bullets and the .40 S&W caters to the heavier bullets.  We expect the blast of a full power 124 grain 357 Sig round to compare to the full power 135 grain .40 S&W round. 

Both of these supersonic pistol rounds are reportedly similar to shoot, although currently, the 357 Sig has superior penetration and accuracy capabilities, according to the reports that I have read.

The United States Secret Service, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Delaware State Police, to name a few, use the 357 SIG caliber.  I’ve heard that Texas DPS troopers like the 357 Sig because it has produced the highest fatality rate of violent criminals, much better than anything else they have ever been issued (including the .45). The 357 Sig has operated at 100% for every single shooting so far in Texas.

According to the annual shooting review board files, the 357 Sig is working at 99% for the Delaware State Police, which uses 357 Sig Speer GD ammo.  The Secret Service carries the Ranger 125 grain load and report it’s the most effective pistol cartridge the USSS has ever been issued.

Update on Monday, April 2, 2012 at 9:39AM by Bonzer Wolf

The only downside to the  357 Sig is the cost. It’s very expensive with Winchester White Box around $32 for a 50 round box at Walmart.  Carry ammo is over $1 a round.  These are the first “duty” rounds that I’ve purchased.  These are among the most common .357 Sig rounds available in many areas including north Texas.

Wolf Pulls the Trigger on a DA/SA Beretta Px4 F Storm 9mm

I’m a Glock guy. The Wolf was introduced to Glocks on the job.  Never really had a good reason to switch to another self defense pistol.  Shortly before I retired, I purchased a Sig P239 SAS .40 S&W DAK because it’s a beautiful pistol, which I got for a great price direct from Sig. The only other pistol I owned at the time was a Glock 26, first generation. 

After I retired, I purchased a Sig P238 single action (1911 style) .380 pocket pistol.  It wasn’t long before I picked up a Glock 36 Slimline .45 ACP.  Next up was a Ruger SR40c.  Yesterday I purchased a Ruger SR22 AND a Beretta Px4 full size 9mm Storm.  I have a Sig 1911 .45 ACP Traditional Tacops full size (government model) on order.

I still don’t have a “good reason” to switch to another self defense pistol.  My primary concealed carry pistol is a Glock 36.  By the way, a loaded Glock 36 weighs about the same as a loaded Glock 26.  I haven’t sold any firearms that I’ve purchased (going back to 1976 when I purchased my first handgun, a Model 60 Chief Special .38). My next purchase was a S&W Model 66, which I carried as a uniformed police officer from 1978-80. I didn’t buy another hand gun for 30 years!

I put those revolvers away in the early 80’s and became one of those “beware of the man with only one gun guys”.  I shot and qualified with my service weapon at least quarterly for over 30 years.  That was about all the shooting I did.  I was a lot more interested in “working cases” than shooting.  I can’t work cases anymore but I can still shoot!

So while it took me a while to catch the firearms “bug” , I have no plans to sell or trade any of my “children”.  I take care of then and they will take care of me.  I’m enjoying the hell out of all these handguns.  And as you can see,  I haven’t stop buying.

The biggest surprise I’ve had is with the Beretta Px4 Storm that I purchased and shot at the range yesterday.  I can’t tell you how much I like this pistol.

If you are familiar with firearms, you will notice that my purchases have been compact or sub compact concealed carry handguns. My primary interest in handguns has always been a good self defense concealed carry weapon. I’ve carried concealed almost daily since 1976.

A week or so ago, I decided that I wanted a “high capacity” handgun for my primary “home defense” weapon.  I also wanted a handgun that Mrs. Wolf could confidently and accurately use. I decided to get a 9mm caliber pistol. It’s trendy to move away from 9mm pistols these days.  I’ve been following tht trend.  But I trusted a “9” with my life for many years. And if anything the 9mm ammo has become a more effective self defense round.  All things considered, the 9mm is the best all round self defense pistol for the most shooters to handle accurately under stressful conditions.

I called a local gun dealer to get a quote on a Glock 19 Gen 4. The Glock 19 served me well at U.S. Customs when I worked in the Office of Investigations.  I liked that gun as much as any I ever carried.  So I decided to find a Gen 4 model, which is not only a great home defense pistol, but also suitable for concealed carry.

My local dealer didn’t have any Glocks in stock and asked me if I had ever considered a Beretta Storm.  “What the hell is that?”  I asked.  In case you haven’t noticed, I’m an old guy, but a I’m a “novice” in the gun stroke game. For over three decades there were only three brands of handguns as far as I was concerned, Smith and Wesson, Glock and Sig Sauer.

The gun shop guy told me all about Beretta Storm, which he personally owned.  He said something about a rotating barrel and both 17 and 20 round mags, yada, yada, yada.  He had a couple coming arriving in the next few days and told me I could walk away with one for $500.  I wasn’t really paying much attention. I was thinking about where I would go next to look for a Glock 19.  Thanks but no thanks. Let me know when you have a Glock 19 Gen 4, Cya.

But being a retired guy, I had plenty of time to think about what he said later that day.  I recalled being assigned to a Department of State, Diplomatic Security detail on the first U.S. Ambassador to Vatican City.  I was TDY in Rome for a few months.  Nothing about the Italian police or security services particularly impressed me.  I did remember that they were all armed with Beretta firearms.  Needless to say, that did nothing to peak my interest in owning one.

I soon remembered that the Beretta M9 replaced the 1911 standard U.S. military pistol in 1985, and I remember hearing a lot of complaining about it back then.  The primary complaint I heard was about the military going from a .45 ACP to a 9mm cartridge to comply with NATO or some such bitching.

I was carrying a S&W Model 19 revolver at the time and was happy to have it.  It was the first handgun I ever shot and I learned to shoot it as well as anyone in the academy.  I later mastered the Glock 19 and wasn’t interested in any other “number” handgun until the Glock 26 came along.  

In spite of all this, I went home from the gun shop and started surfing the Web for information about the Beretta Px4 Storm.  Next thing you know,  I had purchased a Storm and was shooting it at the range.  I’ve never been more surprise and impressed by a new pistol.  I didn’t have high expectations for this pistol. I’m most pleasantly surprised by the Px4, which so far, I really like.

 It’s a pleasure to shoot a 9mm high capacity handgun.  I ran 100 rounds of Federal 115 grain FMJ RN and 100 Speer Gold 124 grain GDHP through it without a single problem.  The gun performed flawlessly right out of the box.  Neither recoil nor muzzle flip is an issue. 

The full size Storm is between the Glock 17 and 19 in size.  It’s a full size duty pistol, carried by law enforcement agencies around the world, including the Maryland State Police, New Jersey State Police, and the Providence, Rochester, and Fresno Police Departments in the United States.  But it’s also suitable for concealed carry just like the Glock 19.

Mr. Wolf can hold his own with all the pistols that he owns and carries.  But a Beretta Px4 Storm loaded with twenty one 9mm JHP’s, definitely puts the Wolf in a class with the elite Zombie Killers of south Georgia (See the Walking Dead for details).

I’m not a “video” guy, but CrucibleArms did a hell of a job on reviewing the Px4 Storm.  I agree that the Storm is one of the “forgotten pistols”.  You will probably find it available for about $500 in numerous gun stores and through online brokers. 

It’s getting more difficult to find the a lot of the popular self defense model Glocks, Sigs and Rugers.   I like the Beretta Storm as much as ANY 9mm pistol that I’ve shot, maybe more.  Strong words from a Glock guy for sure!  Will be posting more on Beretta firearms and the Px4 Storm after I run 1,000 rounds through it, which may be sooner than you think. 

Glock “Fan Foy” club president Hickok45 has actually warmed up to the Storm and actually purchased one himself! 

One more thing. The video and my take on the Storm only applies to the Px4 Storm Full Size and Compact version “F” not the “C”. Also, be aware that the Sub-Compact model Storm is NOT the same pistol. It doesn’t have the rotating barrel and has virtually nothing in common with its bigger brother and sister.  If you’re interested in a sub-compact pocket pistol, you may want to check out the Nano , which can be found for around $400 in Texas. Enjoy the video from CrubibleArms.