Some thoughts on DEFENSE guns and gear...and some 22s as well...

this page content focuses on smart, simple solutions for defensive tools.

Defensive Handguns and getting started in shooting - the simple truth

Why is there constant confusion about what to have in a self-defense semiauto handgun?

Above are examples of popular (tiny: often sales-pitched) handguns in several calibers.

Why would one use or expect a loved one to use a .25, .32, or .380 auto when it is clear

that a 9mm or .40 in a larger framed, easier-to-control handgun is truly advantageous?

For those who insist on "tiny is good enough", consider a motivated, aggressive attacker

ARMED with knives/guns and has caught you unaware in your home or confined space.

Now envision that attacker (or several) bent on taking your or other people's lives.

How effective is that tiny, stress-induced-forgot-how-to-use-this-cute-gun going to be?

Get a simple medium framed 9mm as a minimum caliber, get around progressive and

professional environments of true training and avoid stagnant and excessive plinking.

What is a simple semiauto? One where you insert mag, rack slide, and it is ready for use.

No external hammers, decocking levers and/or safety levers, two different trigger pulls.

Conveniently, simple is very attainable between $500 to $700 (Kahr, Glock, XD, M&P).

Guns that have two different trigger pulls, decocking levers, safeties, sharp edges,

short frames that risk pinching skin on every magazine change and so on - WHY?

Beretta pocket pistols (in .22 & .25) and Walther PPK variants (in .32 & .380) are frequently pitched at more shops nationwide than you'd believe. Salespeople will use misleading and unethical ideas. Too small for best control when accessing in high stress situations / from locations on body, and not best caliber to bet one's life on in life-threatening situations. And, these types do not aid in psycological deterrence.

Kahr handguns (in 9 & .40) and Glocks (in 9 & .40) are much better choices. These have much simpler operation than types on right, provide much better control during presentation, manipulation, firing. 'Tiny' calibers in 'cute' pocket autos still recoil. Also, often forgotten - is how much .25, .32, .380 ammo costs compared to 9mm or .40 - and there are more variations of 9mm or .40 caliber ammo available.

(shocking) Costs of ammo, Balance of practicality and power

- updated 7/01/2010   Selling prices of ammunition may vary in your area -

Suggested retail:   25acp: $21.79  32acp: $23.39  .380auto: $19.19   9mm: $16.39

regardless of manufacturer, this is typical (shocking) price differential 25 auto to 9mm.

therefore, with most home defense plans or carry defense in legal locations, why again

25, 32, even 380 auto? many quality, proven handguns in reasonable, controllable sizes

are available in 9mm that employing 25 and 32 auto pocket pistols are nearly pointless.

Sugg retail: 9mm $16.95, 40cal $24.95, 45acp $30.95: caliber to price comparison from one manufacturer; note the reality of price jump from 9mm to .40 cal.	Proven track record handguns; med to lrg frames in respectable calibers make more sense vs handguns in small calibers with questionable stopping power.
Interesting comparison in sugg retail for .38 special: Blazer $21.95,  Fed Eagle $24.95,  Win USA $23.90 Gee, I wonder why so many are now accepting of Blazer, Magtech or similarly priced ammo? Many were not in favor of such brands 5 years ago...	For home defense AND enjoyment when practicing; which of the above is a more controllable revolver? Which also builds confidence the more you shoot it; instead of causing more flinching and pain? Larger frame handguns provide more firing comfort.
Suggested retail comparison for some .380: BrnBear HP$21.95, Magtech $19.19, AmEagle $25.95 Brown Bear is steel cased; I've run hundreds of BB and Magtech thru KelTecs and LCPs; no failures. Many demanding Fed, Win, Rem, go for value now.	Both are .380 caliber; tiny Ruger LCP has more movement & less control during firing. Beretta 85F has a smoother firing characteristic and less recoil. No mystery why; larger handgun, more mass, taller frame to fit the majority of hands securely.
Suggested retail comparison for a few types .22 LR: Blazer $3.90, Federal Game Shock copper plated $4, Fed Gold Medal $5.70, Wolf Match (German) $9. Blazer is often sold out nationwide. It was not desired 22 ammo 5 years ago. Now everyone wants?	Both are .22 LR; yet the best choice for introducing handguns to those interested in learning firearms, target shooting, building confidence - Ruger MK III is a versatile and smart choice. Beretta 21A is too small. It honestly can not fill the role of a target gun.

What really is practical and effective for target shooting; for defense use?

Having an assortment of .22 handguns is fine, but most enjoyable & practical among those in picture above

would be the bottom two: a Sig Mosquito and Ruger MK III. However, the Sig Mosquito has always been

ammo-sensitive, requiring pricier types of .22 while Ruger's offering can take a wider variety of .22 ammo.

In defense situations, solid hits with .22 ammunition is certainly better than misses with any larger caliber...

Forcing anyone to proceed too quickly with abrupt/snappy/heavy recoil/larger caliber handguns for defense

is not a good idea; having absolute confidence and familiarity of the chosen gun/caliber is the right answer.

Ruger MKIII model 22/45 in 4" or 5.5" barrel lengths

Ruger MKIII model 22/45 variants with cocobolo wood grip panels

Ruger MK III 22/45: Still the best deal on a successful semiauto pistol!

You could pay more for other .22 pistols, often getting a gun too small, too ammo sensitive, includes

only one magazine or is the 'newest' on the market and not proven yet. Or you can get one that is proven.

Many will say the Ruger disassembly is too hard; make excuses for laziness in learning disassembly (just ask dealers/salespeople to demonstrate disassembly upon sale & see how they avoid it! heck, avoidance is a

sure sign they don't care to learn it or they simply don't know. Yet I take time to show buyers disassembly.)

But even Browning Buckmark (the only other long-running-successful-track-record-fires-all-kinds-of-.22)

pistols have caveats - one mag, disassembly requires top sight bridge be removed and involves small parts.

Either way, Ruger MKIII 22/45s and Browning Buckmarks are excellent choices for affordable .22 pistols;

they both feed all kinds of .22 ammo, are slim enough for many hand sizes and are truly fun target pistols.

Browning Buckmark URX models with slabside profile barrel, 4" or 5.5" barrel lengths

Browning Buckmark URX: best frame improvement to a popular .22!

The Buckmark has been a very proven .22 pistol since its introduction in 1985, successor to the Browning

Challenger pistol from 1976 (and for firearm history; Ruger MKIII's heritage was the MKI back in 1951!).

Browning's 'Camper' .22 model has been popular till this day - though the frame has been too big for some.

The URX frame slimmed front-to-back dimensions and added the finger-grooved rubber grips, making this

version of Buckmark the best yet! The slabsided barrel versions are slimmed bull barrels and a joy to shoot.

A compact electronic red dot optic can be added for easier .22 target shooting.

Shown above on a Browning Buckmark .22, a Burris FastFire is small & lightweight.

Henry .22 lever action rifle matched with proportional-sized Millet red dot optic makes

it almost 'too easy' for the fun afternoon of plinking. Getting new shooters to enjoy

firearms from the first minute on a firing line is crucial. Always start with .22 caliber.

It may be better to get new shooters hitting targets easily first, then learn iron sights.

If it seems like cheating, so be it! Shown on the popular Ruger 10/22 .22 semiauto rifle,

a scope that magnifies target image and has crosshairs as an aiming point makes sense!

Building confidence and acclimating new shooters with .22 rifles & handguns is smart.

Do that before continuing on to defensive calibers and new shooters build skills faster.

(Smith & Wesson) 4" revolver in .22 then moving on to a same frame/weight .38 special

with a 4" barrel is a better method versus starting off with .38 special or .357 magnum!

Diminutive defense guns should be a minimum of .380, and pocket pistols sure get small.

Balance of defense platform and caliber is often overlooked and sales-pitching commercialism takes over.

Left: Ruger LCP in .380 caliber (lacks the psycological deterrence)   Right: Beretta 85F in .380 caliber

Where is the defense gun to be kept and who would be expected to (know how to) use it?

Left: Beretta 85F in .380 caliber (home defense gun? use 9mm instead..!)   Right: Beretta 92FS in 9mm

Also, the model 85F retails for $750 while the 92FS in 9mm retails $650. Why? That's Beretta's pricing

& don't forget, .380 ammunition has been among the toughest in availability and it costs more than 9mm!

As an important note; these Beretta handguns have controls in their manual-of-arms that

must be understood and operable by the owner without hesitation or second thought.

Beretta 85 has decocking lever that goes upward to lower hammer and select 'safe'.

Beretta 92 has decocking lever that turns downward to lower hammer and select 'safe'.

Another concept in this series of pictures of defense gun choices - both above are .45ACP

and are to scale with the similar format pictures above. Glock 30 and Colt Defender have

similar size & weight, but price, recoil characteristic and maintenance requirements differ.

Glock 30 retails at or under $650 and Colt Defender around $950. Colt is also more complicated in design.