Must-Ask Questions Before Buying a Gun

We may have some fights break out here in a minute. Hold off on your judgment and violence until the article is over. It’s time to really talk about what matters in a handgun, let’s settle this, kind of, and go back to trolling ISIS on twitter. What are we driving at here? It's an old fashioned stand off between the .45 and 9mm. Who wins? Well, there are two fundamental questions we need to ask before buying a gun to know that!

The .45 ACP round was designed to have a different purpose than the 9mm round. It’s simple logic, or else they’d be the same round and we wouldn’t be here having this discussion. Now we’re not going to take sides here, as your handgun of choice is your business. But, we are going to ask a few questions that you should pose to yourself before purchasing a handgun or throwing things at your computer screen.

Question 1) Why do you want/need a handgun?

Certainly, your 2nd amendment guarantees you the right to have one and we fully support that. We’re not saying you don’t need one, we’re asking you to think about what specific purpose that firearm will serve. Is it going to be kept in the home? Are you going to conceal carry? Are you proficient enough to conceal carry? Ask yourself these questions before you purchase. That should relegate some of the firearms to the do not purchase list. If the firearm doesn’t suit your needs, why buy it?

Question 2) What specifically are you asking the round your handgun is chambered in to do?

The .45 ACP was developed to stop a determined attacker in the early 1890’s. Are you going to find yourself up against drugged up attackers? Maybe the .45 ACP is right for you. The question isn’t always about the caliber, but about how you intend to use it. A tugboat has the awesome power to push boats around in a harbor, but nobody here plans on taking a tugboat luxury cruise across the Atlantic. Your handgun and the round should fit its purpose.

“Owning a handgun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician.” -Jeff Cooper, the father of modern handgun technique

He’s right, you know, and having a .45 or 9mm or whatever new sexy gun is all the rage right now isn’t going to make a lick of difference if you can’t hit your target. So many people get all worked up over the caliber debate but forget the most quintessential part of owning and using a firearm. Hitting your target. It’s a pretty big deal and nobody cares that you’ve got a badass Kimber 1911 if you can’t hit shit with it. To quote the United States Marine Corps, some of the most ferocious marksmen on this planet. “What counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit.” You need to be training. Doesn’t matter what your caliber of choice is, shooting well is a perishable skill. If you’re not getting at least some basic range time in on a monthly basis you’re not doing anyone any favors. Just remember nobody cares what caliber you’re messing with.

The Bottomline:

Can you accurately, effectively and reliably hit what you’re shooting at? If you’ve got a .45 and your answer is yes, great! If you’ve got a 9mm and your answer is yes, great! We’re asking you to drop your pride and ego and pick a firearm that makes the bad guys go bye-bye. Now, back to talking shit to ISIS on twitter. No, really. We love it, too.