Recommended Handguns

I tend to shy away from making recommendations unless directly asked as the number of good guns now on the market is legion, and the personal preferences of all individuals has no limit.  However, if pressed to answer, I have a surprisingly short list of top recommendations, despite the great deal of available gear. 

My top concern regarding defensive gear is, of course, reliability.  My second concern is, does the gun fit the hands and needs of the individual?  Third, I prioritize aftermarket support. 

We then must break things down further by category, because a single gun will not suit all occasions or needs for most users.  Are we discussing full-size guns for home defense or small, deeply concealable, pistols? 

For the majority of people who are not shooting enthusiasts, but want to have a pistol in the home for protection, or to carry concealed, a striker-fired auto is typically the best option, having a simple manual of arms and low maintenance requirements.  An enthusiast may choose a single-action 1911 platform, or a double-single action Sig, etc…, but striker fired guns are, generally, advisable for the non-enthusiast who will not prioritize maintenance or training. 

Therefore, my go-to recommendations are the Glock and the Smith and Wesson M&P.   These are the two most proven platforms pertaining to reliability and longevity, and they also have the most aftermarket support for magazines, spare parts, and holsters.  I would also argue, adamantly, that 9mm is the only cartridge that should be discussed for the non-enthusiast, unless hand strength is an issue and a larger sized 380acp is more appropriate. 

These two brands remain my top recommendation in each category of need: 

Full Size Pistols

For a full-size gun to defend the home that is unlikely to be carried concealed, get a Glock 17 or duty-size Smith and Wesson M&P: 

Compact Pistols

For a gun for home defense that may also get carried, the Glock 19 or M&P Compact 2.0 prove do-everything pistols.  This is the most versatile size gun, that can adequately serve almost every purpose, and the Glock 19 and M&P Compact 2.0 are the two kings of this category: 

Sub-Compact Pistols

For something fairly small to carry, yet still very capable, the Glock 26 or Smith and Wesson M&P Sub-Compact are, essentially, truncated versions of the full-size variants, so they remain full-fame in width, but shorter, and can take the full-size magazines of the larger guns.  This class of pistol provides close-to-duty-size capability, yet they are much easier to carry:

Micro 9mm Pistols

If you need something smaller and slimmer than even the compact or sub-compact pistols, it is hard to beat the M&P Shield Plus.  The Shield Plus, in my opinion, is the best of all “micro 9mm” pistols.  It is noticeably larger than the ubiquitous Sig Sauer P365, which ushered in the “double-stack micro-9” class of guns, but it is the best shooting of this class, in my opinion.  This is my foremost recommendation to anyone who wants a very small 9mm for concealed carry:   

380 Pocket Guns

I, personally, am not into this class of gun, as I believe there is much to be gained in upping the size to a 9mm micro gun, but if you want something truly small, that can be concealed in almost anything, and you prefer a small auto pistol over a small revolver, then the 380 acp pocket guns might be your thing.  In this category, the new Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 is the absolute king of the hill, as of this writing.  It has the best ergonomics and, so far, proves quite reliable for this class of gun.  My second recommendation would be the Ruger LCP Max.  These guns both pack a whopping 10 rounds of 380 acp into the flush-fit magazine of a very tiny package:

Mid-Size Revolvers

For the non-enthusiast who prefers a revolver for home defense, and there is much merit to that choice, my recommendations are Smith and Wesson or Ruger.  For a revolver for the home, a Smith and Wesson 686, or a Ruger GP100, with a three-inch barrel, is hard to beat.  Both guns can be had in seven-round cylinder versions, which would be my choice.  Load them with 38 Special and even recoil-sensitive people can handle it:

Deep Concealment Revolvers

For those who want a small concealment revolver, I think the obvious candidates are the Smith and Wesson 642 or 442, or the Ruger LCR platform.  When going to guns that are truly small enough to pocket carry, or ride easily as a backup gun on an ankle, the small, light-weight revolver variants are extremely versatile and the most reliable option at this size: 

While none of these recommendations are exotic or exciting, they are well-proven and predictable.  I would submit that predictable and boringly reliable is what we want.   

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