| When you decide that you will carry a concealed | | | | - Your firearm must be legal to carry in your part of |
| handgun for self defense, selecting the right carry | | | | the world. There is no point in investing your money |
| gun is one of the most important things that you will | | | | in a .22 handgun with a holster and other accessories, |
| do. Because each handgun is as different as each | | | | only to learn that you may not legally carry that |
| person, another permit holder’s preferences | | | | caliber. Do your research before you buy, as this will |
| might not work for you. These tips will help you | | | | save you a lot of time, money and frustration. |
| figure out which gun is right for your holster, purse or | | | | There are many discussions about which caliber you |
| pack. | | | | should carry. One person will highly recommend .45 |
| - Any gun that you carry should fit comfortably in | | | | ACP, while another will insist on 9mm. You should |
| your hands. If you cannot securely grasp that giant | | | | spend some time at the range with different calibers |
| semi-auto with the double-stack magazine, then you | | | | to see which ones are best for you. Find a caliber |
| need to consider a different carry gun. A firm grip is | | | | that is affordable, comfortable to shoot and |
| vital to accurate shooting, so be sure that your | | | | effective for the job that you want it to do. |
| firearm of choice fits you well. | | | | Ideally, you should test a particular model before you |
| - Concealed carry works best when your chosen | | | | buy it. If you are, for example, thinking of carrying a |
| firearm is easy to keep out of sight. Your body type, | | | | Taurus 1911, then you should test-fire a Taurus 1911. |
| chosen carry method, and the gun that you choose | | | | Shooting ranges often rent guns, so give your local |
| are all factors in the ability to easily conceal. Your | | | | ranges a call to see if they can accommodate you. |
| wardrobe also affects concealment if you carry on | | | | This is well worth the rental fees because you could |
| body. Consider and test all of these factors when | | | | very well avoid buying a gun that does not work for |
| you’re figuring out which firearm to carry. | | | | you at all. |
| - You should be able to safely and easily operate any | | | | Putting a box or two of rounds through a potential |
| firearm that you carry. Be sure that you can safely | | | | carry gun before you buy it will help you figure out |
| load and unload the gun, rack the slide (if you buy a | | | | that model’s pros and cons. You will have a |
| semi-automatic), manipulate the safeties and clear | | | | chance to discover how that model’s recoil |
| misfeeds and other malfunctions. Some guns are | | | | affects you personally; how easy it is to manipulate |
| more user-friendly than others, so take this into | | | | the safety features, and how comfortable that gun |
| consideration when you go shopping. | | | | is in your hands. Trying a gun for yourself before you |
| - Carry guns should be mechanically sound and reliable. | | | | buy is the best way to confirm that this firearm is a |
| Look for gun reviews by reputable writers. These | | | | good fit for you. |
| people should honestly tell their readers exactly what | | | | Because carrying a concealed handgun is serious |
| is good and bad about each gun they review. | | | | business, you should invest your time in research and |
| Knowing these things will help you make a better | | | | testing before you make a purchase. This will ensure |
| buying decision. Remember, though, that some things | | | | that you make the right decision about which gun |
| are matters of personal opinion. A review writer | | | | you will carry. This is important enough to be worth |
| might hate a certain manufacturer’s trigger, while | | | | your time because that firearm could possibly save |
| you love it. | | | | your life. |