These decisions make a big difference on the size, shape, and type of pistol you choose. Think long and hard about whether or not you could ever pull the trigger on another human. It may seem like a good idea to pull the gun out without shooting to scare a criminal off. But, more often than not, a gun escalates the situation, and will make things much, much worse if you’re not willing to shoot it. [1] X Research source

If you’re too low, try a lighter gun. Too high, you might want something heavier. If the handgun is pointing high or low, this can be compensated for with practice. For example, almost everyone who has never used a Glock before has a high point-shoot location by 6–10 inches (15. 2–25. 4 cm) at five yards. But with practice, you will find that you can compensate for that quickly. Sample a variety of guns whenever possible. You want the one that feels comfortable in your hand when shooting, or a “more accurate” model might not do you any good.

Also called “combat pistols” or “duty-pistols. " Most people will have greater success shooting a full sized pistol, as the recoil and fit often lead to a more comfortable shooting experience. The 1911, Glock 17 or 22, and Beretta M9 are all good examples of popular combat pistols. [2] X Research source

Conceal-carry guns have a length of 4. 5-6 inches and are light and small. Often sold as “compact,” “snubnose,” or “conceal-carry” pistols. The Glock 26 or 27, Kahr PM9, and the Colt Mustang XSP are all highly rated conceal-carry guns. [3] X Research source

Smaller calibers mean less recoil, which in turn means faster and more accurate follow-up shots, but generally less energy and force. A good starting point is . 380 ACP caliber bullets, common in smaller pistols. [4] X Research source Larger calibers inflict more damage per bullet, but are harder to squeeze multiple shots off quickly. Try out . 45 ACP, 10mm, or . 357 sig for a autoloader or a . 357 Magnum or . 41 mag for a revolver.

Penetration is extremely important. If a bullet does not penetrate deep enough, vital organs and the nervous system are less likely to be damaged. In the late ’90s the FBI conducted extensive studies which suggest a bullet should penetrate at least 14–16 inches (35. 6–40. 6 cm) to be reliable. This allows for bullets to enter a body at less than optimal angles and still have enough energy to reach vital organs or the spine. Permanent cavity is the resulting “void” in a fleshy target where the majority of a bullet’s energy was transferred and tissue was destroyed. The larger the permanent cavity, the greater the chance of vital organs or central nervous system being destroyed. Recoil is something that is often not talked about in bullet ballistics because it is a very subjective and weapon-specific characteristic. Low recoil allows you put place more shots quicker and more accurately. Each person will have a different feel for the recoil of a bullet, and each handgun will transfer the recoil to the user in different ways. Bullet energy is an over-emphasized feature of a round. In handguns, energy of bullets is extremely low. “Knock down power” is a fable born of Hollywood action movies scenes. People shot with a . 22LR in non-vital areas have fallen down because they assumed being shot is synonymous with falling down and possibly dying. [5] X Research source

9mm Parabellum is the most common pistol caliber. Its relatively low recoil allows for quick, accurate follow up shots. The magazine capacity is usually much greater than other larger rounds. Cost is low and availability is excellent, making the 9mm an attractive choice for extended practice. Finally, there are excellent higher pressure (+P rated) loads available, producing excellent self-defense characteristics (make sure your handgun is rated to shoot +P loads before you use them). . 45 ACP uses heavier, wider bullets than the 9mm at somewhat lower velocity. The caliber lends itself to use with sound suppressors due to the fact that a standard round (230 grain) is subsonic under almost all circumstances. The permanent cavity (on ballistics gel) of a JHP . 45 is about 40% larger than JHP 9mm. Recoil is more severe than the 9mm, and magazine capacity tends to be much lower. Most law enforcement officers will say (referring to a point-blank gun fight), that if you don’t hit them in the first three bullets, you aren’t going to hit them. So a large capacity magazines mean less than you might think. . 40 S&W is another common caliber with performance characteristics somewhere between the 9mm Para and . 45 ACP. It has gained a large following in law enforcement agencies and elsewhere. Among other benefits of the round, the flat nose of the round has shown to create larger temporary cavities and also to allow the energy to transfer at a quicker rate create a sizable permanent cavity. . 38 Special, . 357 Magnum, and . 44 Magnum are common revolver cartridges. The 357SIG (a 9mm bullet in a necked-down . 40 cal casing) and 10mm Auto are also somewhat prevalent autoloader calibers. The 5. 7x28mm is designed to defeat Class III body armor with appropriate ammunition. Such steel-tipped ammunition is not widely available to civilians, but the advantage of the round as a very low-recoil, high-velocity round cannot be denied.

Soft-tip JHP is a vague description for any type of JHP which has a filling in the hole (it may be polymer or other hard material). This allows the bullet to pierce some objects or to travel through soft things (like clothes or flesh) for a period of time before opening up, allowing for deeper penetration. There are alternate names for such bullets, like ballistic-tip or V-Max. This is arguably the most versatile bullet. It will easily penetrate heavy clothing while retaining its ability to expand in a soft target.

Federal Hydra-shok is a bullet which looks like a standard JHP from many angles, but inside the front cavity there is a “spear”. This allows the bullet to open up and still pierce through some things. When it was first created this design led the industry, but most will say that improved standard JHP designs have since caught up. Reverse-tapered hollow point is a unique kind of bullet. The hole in the bullet increases in diameter as it descends through the bullet. The design allows for some penetration through hard objects without opening. When the bullet does open it folds open into separate sections which are held together by the jacketing.

A light 9mm bullet would be 100 grains. And a heavy bullet would be 147 grains (though 124/125 gr. is more common). A light . 40 would be 135 grains, and heavy . 40 would be 180 grains. A light . 45 would be 165 grains. But a 230 grain would likely be better for almost any purpose in a . 45; even heavier bullets such as 250 grain are also available. [8] X Research source

A separate hand-held light can do most of what an attached light can do.