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.

Sig Sauer P239 SAS .357sig Conversion

If you read the forums, you won’t find too many .357 sig fan boys.  You may even be lead to believe that the .357 sig is a passing fad.  H&K quit making a .357 sig model.  I believe the primary reason the .357 sig is the least popular self defense round is the cost of the ammo.  Its the most expensive, hardest to find and most difficult to hand load of the most common handgun rounds (.380 through .45).

Many gun owners don’t realize what a great defensive round the 357 sig is. The ammo is expensive, which is why I think the larger agencies have stayed with .40 caliber. Federal Air Marshals, the Secret Service and Texas DPS carry this round in their standard issue pistols because it spreads out considerably more than the 40 S&W when penetrating a target.

We purchased the P239 before I retired from DHS HSI. It was not approved for carry back then but last year DHS, decided to purchase Sig P229 DAK pistols as their standard service weapon.

We purchased a .357 sig barrel from Sig Sauer and dropped it in our P239SAS.  I’ve shot the SIG SAUER P239 in .357 sig with only 200 rounds so far. The SIG SAUER P239 (henceforth called the P239) is a single-stack, semi-auto pistol with classic SIG SAUER features, including a hard coated anodized aluminum frame and a stainless steel slide. It comes in the DAK, SRT, or DA/SA trigger. My model is a DAK trigger version, originally sold as a .40 S&W model.

This gun has performed without a hitch having fired over 1,000 rounds of .40 S&W before converting to .357 sig.  The P239 is a smaller and slimmer version of the P229 and the SAS model comes out of the Sig Custom Shop.  SIG SAUER uses quality components like hardened roll pins and full-length slide rails. The barrel and chamber of the P239 (and the P229) are markedly reinforced compared to most compact handguns.  This suits the .357 sig round, which is loaded considerably hotter than the .40 caliber round.

The DAK trigger is a smooth double action trigger that gives the user the same pull all the time if the shooter allows the full reset.  There is no decocking lever on DAK models. After the pistol fires and the trigger is released forward, the trigger has an intermediate reset point that is approximately halfway to the trigger at rest position. The trigger pull from this intermediate reset point is 38 N (8.5 lb). If the trigger is released all the way forward, this will engage the primary trigger reset and have a trigger pull of 29 N (6.5 lb). To engage the intermediate reset, the trigger must be held to the rear while the slide is cycled, either manually or by the recoil of a round being fired.

The .357 SIG cartridge was designed to mimic the .357 magnum in an auto pistol. It is a bottleneck cartridge, which means the bullet has a narrower diameter than the base of the cartridge. In this case, the bullet diameter approximates a 9 mm bullet and the base of the cartridge approximates a 40 caliber cartridge.

The .357 magnum had a reputation of excellent performance in ballistic gelatin tests, especially after barrier. That is, one fires through tempered glass into ballistic gelatin to test one aspect of bullet performance. There are several factors including the weight retention of the recovered bullet, the amount of expansion and what it actually does inside the gelatin.

FBI tests resulted in the .357 SIG cartridges generally duplicating or exceeding the 357 magnum performance, except in heavier bullet weights. It appears that the nominal bullet weight for the 357 SIG was about 124 grains, simply because the 124 grain combinations were more accurate and tore up the gelatin.  The 357 SIG gave after-barrier performance, which could only be described as remarkable.

SIG SAUER has a reputation for design ergonomics in their handguns, which are more expensive than most of the other major manufacturers.  The P239 should fit a variety of shooters comfortably, especially the grip angle, which tends to absorb the recoil of this cartridge. The inherent design advantages of the 357 sig cartridge are perfect for this handgun. I am able to shoot a superior cartridge that feels like a +P 9mm in a handgun package small enough for comfortable concealed carry.  The carry weight (7+1) of my P239SAS is just over 2 lbs.

Another reason to carry this gun in .357 sig caliber is its accuracy.  Using duty rounds, I consistently hitting 4’ steel plates at 50 yards during my first test.  The only handgun that I consistently shoot more accurately than my P239 is my single action S&W 1911SC series E .45 ACP pistol. 

Here’s a good video on the Sig P239 SAS from my YouTube buddy Tom at Weapons Education

“The great object is that every man be armed.” and “Everyone who is able may have a gun.”
Patrick Henry

Update on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 2:35PM by Bonzer Wolf

By the way my carry ammo is .357 SIG Winchester PDX1 Defender Bonded JHP. Here’s an Ammo Test video from  TNoutdoors9 on YouTube.  TNoutdoors9 regularly posts very informative ammo tests on many differnet brands and calibers of ammo. I find them very useful in helping me decide what ammo to carry. 

Is the .357sig the Best Concealed Carry Self Defense Caliber?

I converted my Sig P239 SAS from a .40 S&W caliber to a .357 Sig this summer.  My plumber, who happens to be one of the most knowledgeable “gun guys” who I have ever met, changed his EDC pistol to the Glock 33 .357 sub compact. 

My EDC varied based on a number of factors. Lately I’ve been carrying a S&W M&P Shield 9mm around my small town and a S&W 1911SC Series E .45ACP when I venture into the jungle (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington). In the past I reguarly carried either my Glock 36 slimline .45ACP sub compact or a Ruger SR40c.  I still own all four and have no plans to sell any of them.  They are all great concealed carry pistols that I plan on keeping in the rotation.

It’s October and change is in the air.  Hopefully we have seen the last of the days of temperatures in the 100’s and 90’s.  Today I’m putting the Sig P239SAS into the rotation.  I purchased this fine pistol before I retired.  ICE in all their wisdom refused to approve it for duty carry.  Carrying pistols that ICE would not approve is one of the greatest pleasures of retirement!  None of the five pistols above were listed on the ICE/HSI approved list for either duty of off duty carry.

The .357 SIG cartridge was introduced in 1994. SIG executive Ted Rowe had noticed representatives of many departments, which were trading in their .357 Magnum revolvers for SIG auto loaders had appreciated the firepower and shoot ability of the SIGs, but didn’t think any auto pistol would equal the power of the 125-grain .357 Magnum hollow points they’d carried in the old six-shooters. Texas Highway Patrolmen spoke wistfully to Rowe about the “lightning bolt effect” the 125-grain Magnums, with nominal velocities of up to 1,450 fps, delivered on the street in their actual gunfights.

Rowe reached out to Federal Cartridge in hopes of creating an auto pistol round that could do the same, and the .357 SIG was born. Resembling a necked-down .40 S&W (though the construction is actually more complicated than that), the result was a jacketed hollow point that weighing 125 grains and actually delivering 1,350 to 1,400 fps.

Among the premium loads, the 125-grain Speer Gold Dot is by far the most street-proven .357 SIG round. It has long been used by Richmond (VA) Police, Virginia State Police, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. It has amassed an awesome reputation along the way for tactical penetration and for what is colloquially called stopping power. It also has an excellent reputation for accuracy.

All that being said, Mr. Wolf declares October, .357 Sig Month.  Don’t leave home without it!

Sig P938 Update from Big Daddy Hoffman

There are five Sig P238 .380 pistols in the Wolf extended family.  We haven’t had any problems with them and when I screwed up and lost a spring Sig Sauer promptly sent me a replacement for free. The same thing happened when one of the wood grips cracked while I was firing my P239.  Sig sent me a free pair of replacement grips. Shit happens but Sig Sauer customer service takes care of it. 

There have been some reported problems with the new Sig P938.  Sometimes this happens, especially with new models.  Sig is on it and here’s a video report from Big Daddy Hoffman on YouTube. 

We are big fans of the new S&W Shield which cost about half as much as a Sig P238. Smith has done such a good job with the striker fire trigger on the Shield that I don’t plan on purchasing a P938 at this time.  But that’s not to say there is not one in my future.  Enjoy the video and subscribe to  BigDaddyHoffman1911 for some of the most entertaining and informative gun videos on YouTube.  This is Big Daddy’s 300th video.

BigDaddyHoffman1911 on the range showing and shooting the new Sig Sauer P938 Extreme 9mm Pistol after repairs and updates from Sig.

MSRP $823.00
Big Daddy found prices ranging from $699.00 to $799.00 in the North Carolina Area. Academy Sports is selling the P938 Nightmare for $700.

With the introduction of the P938, SIG SAUER now offers the ballistic advantage of the 9mm cartridge in a platform similar in size to the best-selling P238 pistol. A single-action-only trigger, coupled with full-size SIGLITE® Night Sights makes the P938 handle like a much larger pistol, yet is still easy to carry concealed.

With dimensions just slightly larger than its .380ACP counterpart, the P938 packs six plus one rounds of 9mm into an all-metal frame. The cocked-and-locked single-action trigger gives the P938 unmatched accuracy in a pistol its size.

Fans of the 1911 will find the thumb safety, magazine release and slide stop lever in familiar places. An ambidextrous safety makes the P938 easy for left- and right-handed shooters. An extended seven-round magazine will be available separately.

The most compact 9mm in the SIG SAUER product line, the P938 will be available in five configurations.

Extreme: Following in the footsteps of other Extreme models, this P938 has a Nitron-coated stainless slide and black anodized frame. Hogue G-10 Piranha grips in black and grey provide maximum grip and a distinctive look.

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.