AboutGCH Expertise I CAN answer questions related to defensive use of firearms, tactics, prudent modifications of firearms, utility of certain types of firearms. My greatest knowledge is in the area of handguns.
PLEASE READ BEFORE SENDING QUESTIONS:
I CAN NOT identify antique guns or those that are old and out-of-production. I CAN NOT tell you the value of your firearms. I CAN NOT tell you the history of your guns. I CAN NOT supply information about cheap, inherently unsafe firearms (e.g. Jimenez, Jennings, Lorcin).
Experience Primary Instructor, F2v (armed and unarmed self-defense); NRA Certified Instructor; NRA Distinguished Expert, Handgun; International Defensive Pistol Association certified Safety Officer; IDPA classified Expert, Stock Service Pistol Division; Multiple graduate, Practical Firearms Training, Tactical Carbine and Advanced Defensive Handgun; Blackwater Training Center, Advanced Skills Handgun; Insights Training Center, Defensive Folding Knife; Integrated Defensive Fighting Systems, Unarmed Defense and Fixed Blade Knife; Range qualified with local police department, handgun and shotgun; Kukkiwon Ildan Black Belt, ETS certified Self-Defense Instructor
Organizations National Rifle Association, International Defensive Pistol Association, Virginia Citizens' Defense League; Integrated Defensive Fighting Systems; Personal Defense Group
Publications Tactical Journal
Education/Credentials Bachelor's and Master's degrees; Graduate Practical Firearms Training, Handgun levels 1, 2, and 3, and Tactical Carbine; Kukiwan certified Ildan black belt.
Awards and Honors Multiple trophies from various tactical pistol competitions.
Question hey whats up im vinnie iam soon going to try and get a conceal carry permit and then off to picking a pistol, i have two small problems one is iam in a wheelchair and i need a small gun that wont dig into my side i want it to be a pretty powerful but small semiauto pistol, the other problem is that i dont know exactly what kind of semiauto would fit me good i was looking at both the new and old versions of smith & wesson snub nose pistols, all mini glocks, and all compact calib .45s. i just dont which is the best for me if u could help me in giveing me ur opionion on which would be the best that would help me much.
vinnie
Answer Vinnie,
It is not possible for someone to pick a gun for another individual. Anyone who tells you what you should buy is doing so because they have something to sell.
That fact that you are in a wheelchair could work greatly to your advantage with regard to concealed carry, since you are not restricted to carrying something on your body, but can in something like Wilderness Products "Boonie Packer" attached to the chair.
Choosing a pistol is most profitably done when following these criteria and in this order:
1) Choose from among quality: Glock, SIG, H&K, Kahr, Beretta, Kimber, Springfield are all good quality guns. Stay away from makers such as Charles Dailey or Rossi. The intitial draw of their low price tag will soon be clouded by disappointment with their malfunctions.
2) Check with the clerk regarding action types. Are these guns single action, double action, "double-action-only," "Safe-action"? Can the be configured in more than one way? Then determine your comfort level for carrying a particular gun.
3) From among those choices, handle all of those guns (be sure to do so with a correct firing grip), to see which one fits your hand best (I like the H&K USP pistol a great deal, but I don't own one because it just doesn't fit my hand properly). A "good" fit, feels good (comfortable), and all the controls are easily accessible.
4) See if you can rent or otherwise fire your top choices. As a good rule of thumb, go for the largest caliber that you can reasonably handle firing fast double taps.
Lastly, be sure to get self defense and tactical firearms training. Shooting to save your life is a good deal different than shooting at stationary bullseyes. The minimal firearms instruction required by most state for obtaining concealed carry permits is inadequate training for someone who thinks he or she may really need to count on that gun to save one's own life.
