Handgun Considerations For SHTF

Handguns are like cars in many ways, everybody has one they like for looks... and another they like to drive.  Just recently I was at my annual opencarry.org meet and eat, and just looking down our table I probably saw near 20 different handgun models/calibers/and configurations. This is a testament to the argument that No handgun in particular is "the best". Unfortunately within this same line of though many shooters see whatever handgun they have as "the best". While taking hours of careful research into any handgun purchase one could come out thinking that they have a superior firearm and are willing to take on the world. This Is totally misunderstanding the place of a handgun.

I can remember when I was 12 sitting at the library reading a Gun encyclopedia it had a primer section on handguns... Suggesting that handguns while often sighted for up to 90 yards are not nearly effective or accurate at that range except in the hands of a well seasoned shooter. This is very much so the reality of handguns. Most of us now days see shooters like Hickok45 on youtube shooting his 85 yard 16" plate with a commander sized 1911, or a baby Glock and think "man I could do that too". All it takes for the newer handgun shooter  is to try this feat. Like any weapon system the handgun has its quirks and takes time to learn.

All this to lead into the point of this Article; there is a newer school of thought in the Survivalist crowd that is turning some heads for the past 2 years or so. It is the Idea of being the "Grey Man", this Idea that you can walk around like Denzel Washington in "The Book Of Eli" and look like a normal person but conceal all of your weapons. While In Theory this sounds like It would make sense these people forget something. The point of all your preparations is not to go out like some sort of big budget action movie star, but to SURVIVE, to provide for your family and ensure their safety. Granted this means walking around like a mall ninja is totally out of the question, this on the other hand doesn't mean we allow ourselves to be vulnerable. The way I see it is like the Old west, you keep a carbine for the road and a Handgun while in town.

Because in the event you go grey man out in the woods/desert/boonies you will be in the territory of the guys with carbines and rifles. If human nature is indicative of anything some of those guys are going to shoot first anyways. And In that situation I would not want to be engaging a rifleman with an AR, an AK or something else with my sidearm. The Idea is to remember that A sidearm is a secondary weapon, to be used in place when a rifle is either unavailable or not practical. It stays on your hip until such a time.

With That I have some Criteria that fits how I would choose a sidearm for this purpose. One of the major factors to remember here is that this weapon is NOT A PRIMARY. So things like Weight, and capacity have a little more leeway than they normally would. Also the idea here is that we will not be concealing this weapon. We want people to know we are armed and that our weapon is accessible to us.

What we want is:

-A Full Sized Handgun
-A Minimum of 7 rounds capacity-wise
-The ability to easily carry 2 reloads at all times
-Must be reasonably customizable (weapon lights, lazers, night sights, grips, ect.)
-NOT a racegun/competition weapon
-Something that you can shoot adequately in a high stress situation
-Reasonably easy to find ammunition
-Weapon must have adequate barrel length to make optimal use of the cartridges ballistics (usually 5"+)

With this list I open Things up to weapons I would not normally consider for a concealed weapon but certainly fit the bill for Duty carry as it is. Normally you will hear the geardo's throw out a lot of decent handguns because they aren't "high speed, low drag" enough for them. This opens the Sidearm catagory up to more personal preference and allows the user to make use of a sidearm in its natural environment. Remember that while Concealed carry weapons are light and compact they often negate a lot of what makes certain handgun cartridges useful. So I will list Several popular pistols that I think meets the "Go to War Gun" Qualifications that I have specified above.

So first Id like to Recommend something like a Colt Rain Gun 1911, any similar 1911 will do. what we are focusing on is the ability to add a weapon light, grips, and night sights. The reason that A full sized 1911 makes sense as a secondary is simply that .45 acp is a proven man stopper. Im not talking "superior firepower, simply that this weapon has proven itself. The 5" barrel on this weapon is around the minimum needed to acheive decent velocities from the .45. Realistically anything shorter than this is not taking advantage of the cartridge properly. 8+1 round mags and this weapon is adequate as a fighting weapon.

Second I would like to Touch on the Beretta M92A1, the difference between the M9 and the M92FS that this handgun sports are some obvious changes like the weapon rail. But what makes this a weapon to consider is that the 92A1 can now accept the Trijicon or Meprolight Night sights. Otherwise this weapon is nearly as customizable as the 1911. It is in a similar weight class to the 1911 being a full sized steel pistol. Standard capacity for this weapon is 15+1, but this weapon can also be outfitted with 17 and 32 round magazines. This weapon is only available in 9mm, while there is a M96A1 (.40 S&W) parts are less common and magazines are not interchangeable.m

Next we will look at Sig Series Pistols; Sigs offer the Benefits of Multiple Calibers in a similar format. Unfortunately Sigs differ between 9mm/.40 s&w/.357 sig models and .45acp models. The 9mm/.40/.357 models come in double stack magazines and the .45 models are single stack magazines. While this allows sigs to maintain reasonably the same form factor with similar double/single action triggers it is definitely a detraction to some. These handguns are all capable of being outfitted with common accessories (lights, lasers, night sights,grips, ect.). They however do not have a wealth of higher capacity magazines.

You will hear me sing the Praises of Glock Often, and usually because they make such a great utilitarian product. Glocks are nearly meant to be used in the aforementioned format as a duty gun. They are compatible with every imaginable accessory and nearly every auto-loading pistol caliber for full sized pistols. The tendency with Glocks however is to either leave them totally stock or to go way overboard in customizing them. Realistically as a duty gun any of the full sized Glocks is more than Adequate. Suggested addons for these weapons are: Aftermarket Barrel Preferably threaded(allows you to shoot lead bullets safely), a weapon light, and Night sights. Many of the other accessories or addons are really left up to preference. Glocks however have more to be desired in terms of grips as they are molded plastic. The Gen 4 Models allow for replaceable backstraps... but this only goes so far in terms of comfort. Although if you notice comfort was not on the list of desirable features. Every Glock caliber is compatible with some form of high capacity magazine that is interchangeable with all Glock models of the same caliber.


Any of these weapons are great choices for a duty sidearm, and while some may be asking why I didn't Include XD's or M&P's it was simply because they are knockoffs of something aforementioned above. Granted either of those are decent choices they would simply of been redundant as they share the same characteristics as either a Glock or a Beretta. On the other hand Revolvers would of been nice to add into the equationhere, but I could not find a reasonable Revolver other than the Chiappa Rhino that was capable of mounting a weapon light stock. even then they lacked the ability for night sights.

Realistically I think Glocks here are the obvious choice for easy customization, but I would also be hard pressed for the Beretta. Again, don't take my Word on this. Get out to the Range and shoot a few of these find out what you like the most and get to work on that weapon.