What Firearm Does Ammocles Recommend for Self-Defense?
Firearm recommendations tend to come with strong opinions. One person will explain why their preferred brand is superior, while someone else will give you a list of that same brand’s shortcomings. You can make arguments for and against just about any manufacturer.
Those comparisons can be useful, but choosing a firearm involves more than deciding who makes the strongest argument.
Think about vehicles. Different people have different needs and preferences, and there is no single vehicle that suits everyone. Firearms are similar. Everybody’s hands are slightly different sizes. Grip strength varies. The handgun one person handles comfortably may be difficult for someone else to control or operate.
That matters when we are talking about a firearm you intend to carry or use for self-defense.
Start with the manufacturer
My general recommendation starts with a firearm from a reputable manufacturer. Examples include (but are not limited to) Glock, Smith & Wesson, Canik, SIG Sauer, FN, Kimber, Springfield Armory, and Staccato. That is a list of examples, rather than an exhaustive list of acceptable manufacturers.
There are exceptions to what I would recommend. Hi-Point and SCCY are two brands I generally would not recommend for concealed carry or self-defense. I also generally would not recommend a revolver for either purpose, although I do not consider revolvers inherently bad firearms.
Beyond those exceptions, there is a much more important conversation to have about the firearm you have chosen.
What are you willing to put into it?
I want you to become proficient and knowledgeable with that firearm. That means understanding how it works, how to control it, how to take it apart and clean it, and how to use it safely.
You should understand its functions and be comfortable operating it. Reaching that point takes training and practice, followed by continued work to maintain what you have learned.
Your willingness to make that commitment is a major part of my recommendation.
As you train, you should also be learning whether that firearm meets your expectations. Does it work well for you? As your understanding and ability improve, are you becoming more confident with it?
That confidence should come from your own experience handling and using the firearm. Someone else’s positive experience can help inform you, but you still need to establish your own.
Reliability is the final check
A manufacturer’s reputation is a starting point. You also need to pay attention to the firearm in your hands.
Has it been reliable during training? Does it continue to function reliably as you use it?
If reliability problems keep showing up, they need to be addressed. Feeling comfortable with a firearm does not resolve a recurring problem with its operation.
When someone asks what firearm Ammocles recommends they carry or use for self-defense, my answer comes down to three questions:
- Are you willing to train and become proficient and knowledgeable with the firearm you have chosen?
- As you become more proficient, does that firearm meet your expectations and give you confidence in your ability to use it?
- Has that firearm been reliable, and does it remain reliable as you train with it?
With few exceptions, if you can answer yes to all three and the firearm comes from a reputable manufacturer, that is the firearm I recommend you carry or use for self-defense.