| Preparing to buy your first handgun can be | | | | |
| quite daunting. They aren't cheap, new | | | | Semi-Automatic |
| handgun prices range from $250.00 to | | | | |
| 2,500.00. And to complicate the matter even | | | | Semi-Automatic pistols fires a single |
| further there are many different manufactures | | | | cartridge each time the trigger is pressed. |
| and choices. I tell people in my carry | | | | It automatically extracts the spent casing |
| permit course that there are as many | | | | and prepares to fire another round. A |
| different types of handguns as the | | | | semi-automatic is sometimes called automatic, |
| manufacturers can talk people into buying. | | | | the difference being that in a true automatic |
| And what is probably the most confusing to | | | | can fire multiple rounds per trigger press. |
| someone new to this field, is the fact that | | | | This seemingly small difference can cause |
| for every make and model of handgun there are | | | | tens of thousands of dollars in fines and |
| 3 gun magazine writers telling there readers | | | | years of time in federal penitentiaries, so |
| that that particular brand or caliber or | | | | be sure to know the difference. A |
| gizmo is the best, and 4 others saying that | | | | semi-automatic holds its rounds in a single |
| the gun in question will get the reader | | | | device a magazine (it is possible to offend |
| killed. | | | | some hard-line gun enthusiasts by calling a |
| | | | magazine a clip). This magazine is normally |
| Yesterday I was asked my opinion about Glock. | | | | inserted into the grip of the handgun. These |
| I said that what I thought didn't matter; it | | | | handguns are the most popular, and they are |
| wasn't my money or my safety on the line. My | | | | that way for many reasons, some of the most |
| preferences do not matter in the decision to | | | | recognized reasons are: |
| buy your gun. My wife likes Glocks; I feel | | | | |
| the same about revolvers. Our preferences | | | | · Holds many rounds compared to a |
| differ, and as long as you know your gun, why | | | | revolver. Normally a semi-auto magazine |
| you chose it, and it fits your needs then | | | | holds 8 to 10rds, but there are magazines |
| it's the best gun for you. Now, that being | | | | capable of holding 15 to 30. |
| said lets discuss the benefits and drawbacks | | | | |
| of the two main types of handguns, | | | | · Faster reloads. |
| semi-automatics and revolvers. | | | | |
| | | | · Due to popularity, there is a wider |
| Revolvers | | | | choice of accessories such as holsters |
| | | | available. |
| Revolvers are a type of pistol that has a | | | | |
| rotating cylinder containing a number of | | | | · Easy carrying of spare ammunition via |
| firing chambers. They typically hold 5 or | | | | preloaded magazines |
| six rounds, each held in its own firing | | | | |
| chamber. They are generally cheaper to | | | | · Easier to conceal due to thinner action |
| purchase than a semi-automatic, with a new | | | | than a normal revolver. |
| one from a major manufacturer such as Taurus | | | | |
| or Rossi being in the neighborhood of | | | | It is due to the amount of rounds easily |
| $250.00. The major benefits of this type of | | | | carried upon ones person in magazines, and |
| handgun include: | | | | the amount of rounds in the pistol that |
| | | | caused the semi-automatic to replace the |
| · ¨Easier to learn to manipulate, | | | | revolver in the arming of our nations police. |
| because there is generally fewer functions | | | | What has kept it there is the different |
| than a typical semi-auto. | | | | features that are possible in a semi-auto. A |
| | | | police force or a private user can decide the |
| · ¨Easier for weaker handed persons to | | | | type of safety devices or modes of operation |
| operate. This is due to the lack of a slide. | | | | that they want in a firearm and buy a brand |
| | | | that has those features. While this is a |
| · ¨More reliable | | | | benefit it also can become a drawback, the |
| | | | reasons for this are: |
| · ¨More choice of ammunition | | | | |
| | | | · Very training intensive. Before one |
| · ¨Not as training intensive as a | | | | begins to carry a self-defense semi-automatic |
| semi-automatic pistol (more about this | | | | it is recommended that the user fire 2 or 3 |
| later). | | | | thousand rounds of the type of ammunition |
| | | | they intend to carry in their firearm in |
| I prefer revolvers for home defense, as a | | | | order to fully understand the function of |
| home protection weapon will be stored loaded | | | | their firearm. |
| for an extended period of time. This is | | | | |
| because they have fewer moving parts, which | | | | · More complex. That means more prone to |
| in turns makes them less sensitive than | | | | failure. While modern firearms and |
| semi-automatics to a lack of cleaning and | | | | ammunition can fire thousands of rounds |
| maintenance. I also recommend them for | | | | without malfunction, it can and does happen. |
| someone who is not going to train as | | | | |
| intensively as recommended, because this type | | | | · More expensive than a revolver. |
| of handgun has fewer functions to remember. | | | | |
| In order to manipulate a revolver, one only | | | | · Harder for people suffering from |
| has to operate the trigger and the cylinder | | | | arthritis or of weaker stature to manipulate |
| release, whereas a semi-automatic pistol | | | | slide. |
| generally has a trigger, a magazine release, | | | | |
| a slide lock, and at least one safety lever. | | | | · More sensitive to ammunition type. Some |
| | | | types of semi-automatics are more prone to |
| Revolvers do have disadvantages, and it is | | | | jam with certain types of ammunition, which |
| because of these disadvantages that police | | | | is another reason it is suggested to train |
| departments around the county have changed | | | | with the type of ammunition you intend to |
| from them to semi-automatics. These | | | | carry. |
| disadvantages should be understood if the | | | | |
| reader wishes to make a decision, therefore I | | | | The semi-auto type of firearm is very well |
| will list them: | | | | represented in the world of guns. Because of |
| | | | this sales popularity there are many |
| · Slower to reload than the typical | | | | different functions and characteristics. |
| semi-automatic. | | | | Comparing this is like comparing pickup |
| | | | trucks to cars, there are many brands of |
| · Sometimes harder to conceal, due to | | | | pickups (revolvers), but generally they all |
| width of cylinder. | | | | are basically the same. In the car |
| | | | (semi-autos) world, they have sedans, sports |
| · Normally not as many rounds (5-6rds | | | | cars, wagons, convertibles, limousines, |
| compared to 8 or 10rds in a semiautomatic.) | | | | economy class, and luxury designs. You can |
| | | | buy a vehicle or a firearm based only upon an |
| Because a revolver contains separate chambers | | | | arbitrary reason such as looks, what the |
| for each round, to fully load a revolver the | | | | marketing hype in a gun magazine tells you, |
| operator must put a round in each chamber (6 | | | | or popularity. You may also buy a tool such |
| actions for 6 rounds). To fully load a | | | | as this by deciding your needs and weighing |
| semi-automatic the operator has to insert a | | | | your options. I don't know what you need so |
| single magazine into the pistol (one action | | | | I cannot tell you what to buy. |
| for multiple rounds). | | | | |