Small Pistols, An Alternate Perspective

I am not sure quite how I feel about this one. Some folks tend to write/ post things only when they absolutely approve of the ideas conveyed and these ideas fit into some sort of a cohesive vision. For better or worse I don't roll that way. Sometimes my opinions change when confronted with new experiences, concerns or perspectives. Other times I just have a thought and post it. This post is somewhere between a cohesive thought and a Devils Advocate position on just about everything commonly said about handguns for personal protection.

Here are a couple observations I have recently made:

1. If carrying a handgun is more than mildly inconvenient most people will not do it, at least with any consistency.

2. Far too often the 'experts' make factual comparisons of ballistics and such that show the obvious superiority of bigger more powerful cartridges. These are at least in part to show that only old women, the feeble and confused would carry anything less than the aforementioned big powerful cartridge. What these comparisons completely fail to take into account is the indisputable superiority of smaller pistols over harsh words or a right hook.

3. A lot of the what we do and don't believe about pistols for self defense was written down long ago. Saying that a bullet needs to be really big to stop a goblin would be like saying that a car needs a huge V-8 to have good performance. That big bullets stop goblins and cars with huge engines tend to be fast is accurate that does not mean that only big bullets stop goblins only cars with huge engines can be fast. In the arena of pistols for anti personnel tasks modern high quality self defense ammunition has made much of what used to be fact into baseless stereotypes.

I have come to think that maybe there is more of a role for smaller pistols than I have previously imagined. For those whose budget, small living space, personality, etc leave them in a place where they will own just one pistol (yeah I hate bringing that discussion up) it would be wise to have it be one they can and will carry regularly. Even if your budget allows for a few more choices it is still wise to have a pistol that you will carry regularly.

Yes, I know that you carry a full sized 1911 with 5 spare mags and a Ka Bar all day long every day, good for you but most people can't or simply won't do this. If they are convinced that the only guns you should own are large caliber full sized handguns there is a very realistic chance of them being in an encounter where they need a gun and (though they have several full sized handguns) are unarmed. Just as you always seem to get in a wreck very close to home, I imagine violent encounters happen the same way. You will get mugged at the corner store when you run in to grab a quart of milk not when you have to go to the bad side of the tracks loaded for bear to pick up a friend whose car broke down at 2 am. A small gun that is with you when that punk sticks a knife in your face is a lot more useful then a full sized handgun stashed in the night stand or glove box.

I intentionally did not mention exact sizes, models or calibers in this post. I suppose I will let you draw your own conclusions on that one. To slightly modify some great advice I have heard before "get the largest gun you can shoot well and will carry all the time".