Autism and gun ownership (Another one of PennSilverTaco's BS threads)

The main thing is to get a gun that FEELS good and FEELS right in your hand because if it does not, you likely will not like shooting it.

And, if you don't like shooting it, you likely won't practice with it. That will mean you likely won't be able to shoot it well, especially under pressure, and you won't hit your target assuming you even carry it in the first place.

So, go to gun stores and fondle guns. Get one that feels good.

Get a good holster and dress around the gun.

Get more than one gun of different size so you can wear more than one set of clothes and get good concealment.

Oh, and caliber is less important than getting good center of mass hits because those are the ones that stop attacks.

 

I am a big fan of little guns. I’ve never worried too much about caliber, I’ve just kind of started with the gun I like. Now if deciding between a Glock 26 (9mm) and a 27 (.40), then I guess it is the only deciding factor, but I just bought both

 

This^
I would avoid 45 in a conceal handgun though due to restrictions in magazine size.

 

Feds did a study and decided on 9mm
Basically, the main handgun carry calibers all do roughly the same tissue damage, but 9 mm handgun’s can have a capacity.
Good 9 hollow point will do the trick

 

380 because easily concealed for carrying on me, that and most likely if I ever needed it we're going to be within spitting distance. Vehicles usually have either a 9 or 40

 

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you are probably not a good candidate for concealed carry. Go with your dad and have fun.

 

Ruger LC9s for me, Ruger LC380 for my girlfriend.
Reason for me is just because I love the compact size of the LC9s. Also love that it’s striker fired and has a safety. I like to keep one in the chamber, but not without a safety.

 

I still want a handgun for recreation and home defense though...

 

That expands your options beyond what's considered "conceal carry" size....which is generally the compact and sub-compact lines. I'd recommend full size if it's going to be a range/home gun. Much more enjoyable to shoot.

 

9mm for me in compact and full size carry options. I have also carried a .40 for a while as well.

Reason for staying with 9mm:

1. Cost / availability of good defensive ammo. .40/.45 as a preferred caliber is dying so its much easier to find Federal HST, etc around here and for for a decent price in 9mm.
2. More capacity in a given size. For the average guy, "active" marksmanship isn't as astounding as you standing staticly blowing holes in paper at the 7 yard line, so more bullets is more better.
3. 9mm performance is materially the same as .40 and .45 these days so given points 1 and 2, it is arguably a disadvantage to carry bigger.
4. Recoil (generally speaking) is much less in a 9mm platform vs larger caliber platforms

 

And still reasonably concealed-carryable with a good holster.

 

Absolutely.

 

When I was starting out I was carrying pistols in .45ACP, but over the years I've switched to 9mm. Mainly because with modern bullet technology, the two calibers are pretty equal and shooting .45 with a wrist that was broken 40+ years ago is getting a bit sore. These days, I mostly run a Glock 19 with a Trijicon RMR.

 

Also, concealed carry is a broad term; I don't feel like carrying a gun everywhere, but I was merely asking what the most comfortable gun to carry on one's person. For home defense, I would go with a Glock 17 or any number Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-autos. The first 9mm I ever fired was a Smith & Wesson M&P belonging to a friend, and I liked the feel of; It also didn't have a big recoil like the Walther 9mm I fired that day, but it was still light and compact enough to be a good carry weapon yet powerful and dependable enough for home defense.

 

Glock 19 then would be my vote. Fun on the range, small enough to carry, big enough to defend the castle, and inexpensive.

 

But which Gen?

 

Haven't regularly carried in 20 years, but .40 for me. Found it a good balance between 9mm & .45 & can comfortably be carried in a waistband holster. Seems from reading this thread there have been advances in 9mm tech. Oh well, I like my .40s. What's important is what works for you. You've likely checked out your dad's hardware. Go to a good gun shop & test some out & if you have opportunities to fire some on the range avail yourself of that option.

 

You’re talking two totally different applications here.

CCW I prefer 9mm because I can carry a smaller gun with more rounds and plenty of stopping power. - Sig P365

Range use and home defense I prefer my full sized 45. Its more comfortable in my hands, more fun to shoot, and has more stopping power for when things go bump in the night. - HK45 Tactical

I can’t say I’m crazy about my Glock19 as a carry gun. It’s still on the big side for IWB carry. I mostly shoot it at the range. Sure plenty of folks do carry them, hell plenty of people carry 1911s but it doesn’t mean I want to.

best thing you can do is go rent a handful of different things (or shoot other friends guns) and figure out what you prefer. Personally I LOVE how 45 ACP shoots. Anything 9mm and above is fine for CCW and home defense applications.

 

Feds have done multiple studies, and multiple agencies have done multiple studies, all with different results. 35+ years ago, the military went with 9mm. 30+ years ago, the Fibbies went with 10mm. After that they went to .40 S&W, and the Secret Service went with .357 Sig. Now everyone is back to 9mm, except for certain LEO agencies that may still have .40SW or .45. Point is, going by what the Feds do changes as the Feds change.
And yeah, I know one of the reasons moving to 9mm is due to performance in light obstructions like car windows, but that took some major bullet (and to a lesser extent powder) structural changes that haven't moved over to the larger calibers yet. When they do, they might change their minds again

 

Nothing

Been eyeing a certain revolver, but not for EDC tho.