On Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:18:01 -0600, "RogerN"
wrote:


Any favorites for a concealed carry pistol? A former gun dealer at work
recommended getting an inexpensive gun because he said if you have to draw
on someone, it is likely that the police will confiscate your weapon. He
thought the Ruger 380 Auto would be good.

RogerN


============

My advice is worth at least twice what you pay for it...

It is well to remember that if you are forced to draw/use
your weapon, it is highly likely the perp will be high on
adrenaline and/or drugs, and while one or more center of
mass hits with a 380, even with FMJs may prove fatal in a
few moments, you and/or your family may well sustain
considerable damage in those few moments, for example from a
knife attack.

While the 380, at least in the newer versions is compact,
light, and an easy carry, IMNSHO it has, at best, marginal
stopping performance, particularly with FMJ loads, and if
you carry with expanding hollow-points, be sure to fire a
box or two to verity reliability. I would suggest double
action is a "must," and if you carry locked, the safety must
be easily and instinctively movable with one hand to "fire"
from "safe," and loaded magazine substitution can be a
problem. Suitable quick low light target acquisition [not
target] sights should also be a concern as most
confrontations reported to be in dimly lit conditions.

The least I would consider would be a 9M/M parabellem,
preferably using the P++ loading and hollow points. There
are a number of good value weapons available with quick
action safeties, good low light sights (or laser pointers),
and easy magazine reload. If you are not particularly
sensitive to muzzle flash and recoil a 40 or 45 caliber is
even better, but these have astounding muzzle blast/flash
when fired in low light conditions (which may be beneficial
in communicating to the perp they should be in a different
line of work, even if you totally miss...)

The rimmed version of the 9m/m for revolver use is the 38
special, and Smith makes a 357 chambering on the medium K
frame which is ideal for carry with a 3 or 4 inch barrel.
Again the muzzle blast and fireball from a full pressure 357
in a three inch barrel is quite impressive, but you can use
38 special blooper [wad cutter] loads for practice and/or 38
special hollow point carry rounds if you are especially
sensitive, although in an actual combat situation this will
be the least of your worries. Again low light [not target]
sights/target acquisition may be a concern.

One cheap fix is to paint the front and rear sights with
high visibility white, yellow or orange air plane dope to
make these stand out in low light against a dark background.

Of almost equal importance to the firearm is the holster,
which must be both secure and easily accessible. If you
chose a semi-automatic, I would suggest a suitable rig
should also include secure storage and easy access for two
magazines.

It is worth remembering that in a confrontation with a
criminal, even a 25 automatic is better than nothing, and a
weapon with which you are familiar, comfortable, and in
which you have confidence, is far superior to even the
perfect weapon which is strange, and with which you have had
minimal or no experience/practice.

You need not buy a new weapon, but try to stick to one of
the major brands. In this case function trumps
appearence/status.


--
Unka' George

"Gold is the money of kings,
silver is the money of gentlemen,
barter is the money of peasants,
but debt is the money of slaves"

-Norm Franz, "Money and Wealth in the New Millenium"