Guns 101, part V: Which type?

Part I: "Evil Guns"
Part II: "Why?"
Part III: The Law
Part IV: The 4 Commandments

Before I delve in to the plethora of firearms readily available, there are a few things to keep in mind. For starters, what do all of those fancy terms mean (i.e. double action)? As with anything, there is some jargon and terminology that comes with owning a gun - using words like "thingies" and "doo-flotchies" will get you a wary glance from anyone in the immediate vicinity, even if that person knows nothing about firearms. One of my favorite gun sites has a good glossary that covers over most of the terms, acronyms, and jargon associated with all things firearms.

Looking at this from a self defense standpoint, there are three main types of guns to get familiar with:

• Rifles - two-handed, shoulder-fired, generally used for hunting purposes because of their accuracy and higher calibers, though there are a few (carbines) that are shorter and shoot smaller handgun caliber bullets. A good place to start kids or timid beginners is on a .22 rifle - no kick, little noise, and cheap, cheap, cheap.
  
• Shotguns - two-handed, meant to be shoulder fired, good for hunting, though possibly best used for home defense. When fired, it shoots several pellets that expand with more distance; while not very effective over a distance, devastating at close range. Another good starting point, and probably the best starting point for someone that can't make do with a pistol.
• Handguns - two-handed or one, available in a myriad of sizes and calibers from big to small. Probably the most popular weapon for self defense and home defense due to concealability and how quickly you can have it ready vs. shotguns or rifles.

The rest of this post will be referring to handguns. Much of what you learn with them can be applied to the other two. First off, a few hardware definitions for you:

• muzzle - this is the "business end" of the barrel, the part where the bullet leaves the gun.
• hammer - located at the back of the gun near the grip, pulling the trigger drops the hammer on to the firing pin, which then hits the bullet causing it to discharge. Some semi-automatics, like the Glocks, have an "internal-hammer" that you can't see.
• chamber - the area at the other end of the barrel, opposite of the muzzle. When a bullet is chambered, it is ready to be fired.
• safety - mostly on semi-automatics, this is a switch or lever that when active, prevents the weapon from being fired. There are also internal safeties that prevent a gun from going off when dropped.
• action - this describes what occurs in the weapon when the trigger is pulled; single action pistols must have the hammer in the cocked position in order to fire (think cowboy guns) and take very little pressure on the trigger to fire the gun. On a double action pistol, pulling the trigger will cock the hammer and fire the weapon.

Two types of handguns, the first is the revolver (pictured right), sometimes referred to as a "six-gun" or a "wheelgun" because most hold 6 rounds in their cylinders (the round area just above the trigger). Mechanically speaking, it doesn't get much simpler than a revolver - when the trigger is pulled, the cylinder rotates and the hammer is drawn back and then dropped on the round. Easy to clean, simple to load/ unload, easy to fire. Those that are new to guns or not mechanically inclined should consider this no muss/ no fuss type. The only real drawbacks are 1) they're double action, so the trigger pull is heavier (makes it a little difficult for those with weaker hands) and 2) at the most, only 7 shots (in a true self defense caliber). I recommend anyone to have at least one good revolver in their nightstand, though for when something goes bump in the night - they're just that reliable.

The second type and probably most popular is the semi-automatic (sometimes called semi-auto or just auto, pictured to the right). What these weapons lack in some firepower (vs. revolvers) they make up for in volume, lots of volume - most semi-autos chambered for the world famous 9mm can hold upwards of 15 rounds. They have a slimmer profile (easier to conceal) and can be loaded quicker if the magazine is already loaded (the magazine fits in to the handle). When fired, the slide is pushed back by the force of the explosion ejecting the spent casing and when returning forward chambers a new live round; the slide also recocks the hammer, therefore after the first shot is fired in double action*, the remaining shots will be fired in the shorter and lighter single action mode. However, drawbacks a plenty:

• More mechanically complex than a revolver. Cleaning involves stripping the entire weapon down (or taking apart), then reassembling; a daunting task for someone that's not so inclined or if they lack the hand strength.
  
• Prone to jams. On every semi-auto there is a break-in period of up to 500 rounds before you should put your life in it's hands, and that's only shooting cheap target practice ammo. Once you get past that point, it's recommended that you put between 200 and 300 rounds of your chosen self defense ammo, which should be a hollowpoint of some variety (in contrast, revolvers may be loaded with whatever kind of bullet you want straight out of the box). I'll talk more about ammo choice later.
• Working the slide on most guns takes a fair amount of strength, and is something that must be done constantly (when you load a new mag, to clear a jam, etc.). This makes it somewhat not ideal for some ladies, though many can work at it long enough to get past it. Still, the last thing you'd want to do in a crisis is to have to fidget with the slide.

* there are now several semi-autos on the market that have a lighter double action trigger pull on every shot (no single action). This is a pretty good compromise as most of those require only about 7 to 8 lbs of force as opposed to 12 or more for a traditional DA pull (most single action triggers are around 4 to5 lbs.).

So, of the two different types of handguns, which is right for you? The one that fits your hands, both your left and your right. Get out to a range that rents guns, go to a store or even a gun show and put a few in your hands. If the grip is right, you'll be able to deal with the recoil a lot better than if it's too big/ small. As for the decision between revolver or semi-auto, I've developed a few criteria; for a revolver you need to be able to...

1. Load and unload the weapon.
2. Clean the weapon.
3. Safely draw and fire and hit what you're shooting at.

For a semi-auto...

1. Load and unload the weapon, including the ability to put a round in the chamber or safely remove one by working the slide.
2. Field strip and clean and lube the weapon.
3. Safely draw and fire and hit what you're aiming at.
4. Clear a jam (this is critical).

That's all for this one. Up next will be a discussion of caliber and bullet types.