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Before examming a pistol - 1. Gun is loaded. and hands off/fingers off trigger. 2. drop magazine, and apply manual safety. 3. pull slide to check rounds in chamber;
There are many basic rules of gun handling
1. Always assume the pistol is loaded, sofinger off the trigger, until you're ready to fire
2. Point gun at the (safe) direction you want, looking down the barrel is NOT one of them
3. When ready to shoot, think about what's behind your target. Bullet pass through objects easily.
Checking out the gun (watch TV shows - cops handling weapon found in suspect vehicle)
1. Figer off the trigger, and point pistol at a safe direction,
2. Switch "safe" mode - if the manual safety is available
3. Drop managzine,
4. Check the "loaded" chamber indicator, pull slide to eject rounds in chamber. slide it couple times, if you want to do it like the police do.
A good pistol should:
1. A pistol fit your hands, comfortable to handle, good grip
2. Trigger has a "clean break"; It's hard to describe, it's like knowing where edge of cliff is.
3. Pistol takes pretty much any ammo without "failure to eject, FTE, failure to load, FTL, or failure to Fire FTF).
Choosing a pistol platform
1. The larger caliber usually generate higher recoil. Some guns produce less recoil than others with a same caliber ammunition.
2. The muzzle velocity and bullet weight determines the target "impact force". The basic physics says F=1/2*m*v^2; Where m = weight of bullet, Each caliber ammunion offers different bullet weights; for example: 9mm ammo are available in 115, 124, 147 grains, and light bullet usually have higher muzzle velocity. Blazer ammunition, 9mm Brass, 115 weight = 1,145 ft/s, and 124 weight = 1090; velocity. They have nearly the same "energy, in ft-lbs".
3. Public opinion, or con 9mm ammo seems to offer the best balance between minimizing recoil, and generating adequate "energy force".
Choosing an ammo type
1. Most of +P is for home defense, but it is not intended for all pistol. +P usually indicate high pressure, higher velocity rounds.
2. Target shooting - Round nose
2. Hurting/killing/causing tissue damage - hollow point
3. Lighter bullet typically equal higher velocity - improving accuracy over longer distance. The bullet drop is significant over 50 yards for slower ammo. The bullet drop difference within 15 yards is insignificant.
"Force" - comparison of various caliber and weight
In comparison (Blazer Brass);
9mm 124 weight, Muzzle velocity = 1090 ft/s, - yields 327 ft-lb
40 S&W 165 weight, Muzzle velocity = 1050 ft/s yields 404 ft-lb
40 S&W 180 weight, Muzzle velocity = 985 ft/s, - yields 388 ft-lb
45 ACP 230 weight, Muzzle velocity = 830 ft/s, - yields 352 ft-lb
Some of 9mm home defense ammunitions are loaded with powerful explosives,
Hornady Critical Duty Ammunition 9mm Luger +P 135 Grain - 1110 ft/s, 369 ft-lb
Winchester PDX1 Defender Ammunition 9mm Luger +P 124 Grain 1200 ft/s 396 ft-lb
Cor-Bon DPX Ammunition 9mm Luger +P 115 Grain 1275 ft/s 415 ft-lb
The lighter bullet with higher muzzle velocity - generate as much energy or if not more than a 40 S&W round.. The draw back is that no all pistol is designed to fire +P (high velocity rounds). An firing over rated ammo can cause harm (exploded pistol) to shooter.
Buying and storing ammo
1. Buy less expensive rounds (likely to experience FTE/FTL) for practice, and definitely buy good rounds for home defense or hunting. Failure to fire upon target (intruder), is not a good idea.
2. Find way to keep moisture out of your ammo and keeping them in cool places, if you intent to buy and store for long period of time. Buy an ammo can, or use plastic/air tight container, or use vaccum seal bags to store ammos.
Shooting range
1. Safety - protect your eyes and hear. Goggle and ear plugs. It's loud when entering gun range.
2. Don't load your gun before entering gun range. Most gun range owner don't like that.
3. Don't rapid firing. Sh*t likely to occur when people have too much fun and forgetting safety.
4. Away pointing pistol in the direction of target, not people next to you or behind you.
5. Hands off trigger until you've aimed, and ready to fire.
