Are All Handguns Created Equal?
We experience a tremendous amount of preconditioning daily.
In every movie or game, there are certain guns that are displayed and used.
As such, you tend to make associations that may not be correct.
Western movies employ revolvers. You see the hero shoot people on screen and may begin to associate cowboys and revolvers with reliability.
The question you should ask yourself is what if the western gunfighters had access to reliable semiautomatic handguns? Would they choose them over revolvers?
The thing about revolvers is that they’re older technology. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing and the fact that they’re still around is a testament to their usefulness. However, the semiautomatic handgun is a relatively new development. It is modern technology.
During the early years of semiautomatic pistols, they suffered from growing pains as the manufactures and engineers sorted out design flaws that caused unreliability. What you have today is a refined version of that early concept. Unfortunately as is often the case, the horror stories from those research and development years are still heard from time to time.
A parallel concept can be drawn with cars and trucks. Not too long ago, all models had carburetors. Then fuel injection came along. As with semiautomatic handguns, there was a learning phase where fuel injection was somewhat unreliable.
Today, nearly every vehicle is fuel injected and it is a far superior technology when compared to old-school carburetors.
Since this is a delicate topic at best, it is important to realize that no mechanical device in existence is foolproof. Anything can and will fail, given the right circumstances.
An assessment of what you expect in those circumstances will ultimately lead you to the right gun purchasing decision.
Author C.R. Williams makes some well founded declarations on this matter in his article “Contrary Revolvers: Why I hate Revolvers” on USConcealedcarry.com. Here is a thought provoking excerpt:
“I have no problem with an emotional attachment to a thing, idea, concept, tradition, philosophy or anything else, unless it interferes with you having the best possible chance to win a fight for your life. However, if emotional attachment, tradition, convenience or laziness gets in the way of survival — and I think these reasons sometimes do where the choice between a revolver and a semi- is concerned — then I get worried about it.” (Read more about potentially unreliable handguns here)
Begin with an honest assessment of your own biases and their roots. Then consider an analysis of the circumstances you may have to use your firearm in. Both will help you arrive at the best possible choice.
At the end of the day, one thing is sure. You will be better off carrying than not, and no matter what handgun you choose, make sure it’s on you at all times.