Notes: Handgun Selection and a Passing
While online recently, I saw that “Hickok45” had a short video on his “Talks” channel on YouTube. It was “Handgun Choice Made Easy,” where he raised the argument that we so often overthink handgun selection. He’d narrowed it down to defense handguns, but he didn’t really have to. It’s a common issue as there are so many choices.
I found it appropriate that he singled out caliber and capacity for examination. Too many delve into “caliber commando” territory, deluding themselves into believing that centerfire handguns (not “rifle-caliber pistols”) have little in the way of power and simply “poke holes.” This is a riff on the Clint Smith line about relative ballistics of handguns, rifles and shotguns (the shotgun within its useful range).
He’s right, of course. Ammo cost and availability (related variables) dictate which centerfire semiauto caliber to select and there’s one standout these days. As to capacity, he correctly notes that “five or six” is more the baseline in interpersonal confrontations. Extended fights are thankfully rare.
If the mission is home defense, do you prefer the thicker G19 (left) or the more discreet, thinner G48? If you’re more likely to carry the G48 all the time when you’re home, the smaller capacity isn’t so big an issue. Having the gun always available is more critical.
On size, we might quibble. He notes that handgun size for home defense is less relevant than it is for discreet carry. I believe that the purpose of the handgun is to stop fights, something I got from Jeff Cooper. For that reason, that protection handgun should be of a size that you can wear it all day, all the time, everywhere – especially at home.
Opening it up to “I just want to own a pistol” broadens the view. To learn to shoot a rifle, the difficulty of the pistol makes it a great training ground for riflery. If you can consistently hit well with a handgun, a rifle’s easier – though differences in technique do exist.
Handguns are great fun for shooting – casual plinking, precision target and, for those who are quite skilled, for hunting.
Hickok45 is one of the “citizen journalists” of firearms media. In a not insubstantial way, people who are pursuing that course in video presentation can be great ambassadors of the industry to the general public. 22Plinkster is another, with his trick shooting and general shooting videos.
I’m glad we have them.
It was just last week that I found out that another Shootist had passed on. Part of the “regular firearms journalist” corps in firearms media, John Taffin enabled formation of The Shootists, a group of enthusiast experts that included Hal Swiggett, John Linebaugh, Brian Pearce, Paco Kelly and others, in 1985. Other members, also gone, include Terry Murbaugh and Jeff Quinn.
Jeff had invited me to a Shootists Holiday some years back as a representative of media – sadly, I was unable to attend. John Taffin was the Chairman Emeritus. Members of the Board included Mark Hargrove, Jason Cloessner, Bobby Tyler, and Boge Quinn.
John was an author of long standing in GUNS and American Handgunner, and the author of several books – one on Kindle now with at least one more in print. He preferred large calibers, revolvers and lever guns.
I imagine he still has material in for publication at both magazine titles. Subscribers should keep their eyes open for them. He was one of the greats. A storyteller who got all the technical parts right, he had the knack of drawing readers in like Skeeter Skelton did; the style wasn’t the same, but the skill was right there.
Do yourself a favor – if you’ve not read his material, do so. If you have, go back and relive some of those stories. As long as someone is reading his work, he won’t really be so far away.
I only got to meet him once in all the years I’ve been in this business. He was personable and treated me like a colleague, standing I’d not attained then.
Our condolences go out to his family, friends and associates.
— Rich Grassi
