Violent crime in the U.S. is out of control. This is one reason why gun ownership among females is on the rise.
In fact, a study from Harvard University shows that 42% of gun owners in the U.S. are females.
Between January 2019 and April 2021 more than 3.5 million women became gun owners.
One such female said, “Unfortunately, the world is not the warm, fuzzy place it used to be.”
And a female gun owner in West Virginia found out just how dangerous our country has become.
One evening, a group of 40 family and friends attended a graduation party in Charleston, WV.
At some point, a man drove past the party where children were playing. Some folks attending the party told the man to slow down since there were children nearby.
The man did not take kindly to that.
Dennis B. returned to the area of the party a short time later. He parked his car and exited with a rifle. Dennis started firing at the large group of people attending the party.
A female, who was attending the party drew her legally carried pistol and returned fire at Dennis. He was struck multiple times and died from his injuries.
Police Lt. Tony Hazelett said, “She was lawfully carrying a firearm and stopped a threat. There was a graduation party and a party with kids so obviously someone just graduated high school and we could have had a mass casualty shooting.”
The female who stopped the criminal with a gun waited for police to arrive. She cooperated with the investigation.
Police did not identify the female but said she had no law enforcement experience.
According to the Lt. “She’s just a member of the community who was carrying her weapon lawfully.”
Now, when it comes to concealed carry, there are hundreds of options for handguns on the market.
But before buying a handgun you should decide what size of pistol is best for your needs.
Of course, a lot of it comes down to personal preference, but different size guns have their benefits and drawbacks.
So, here are a few things to consider when picking a handgun size.
Full-Size:
The biggest handguns are usually considered full-size. These are the ones you see carried by police officers and soldiers, and they are also popular with civilians.
The number one benefit to a full-size pistol is that they tend to have less recoil, so they can be easier to shoot accurately.
A full-size pistol is heavier than other pistols which helps with absorbing the recoil.
Plus, the longer grip on a full-size pistol makes it simple to grab.
The larger size of the gun gives the shooter a greater sight radius to help with accuracy.
Also, full size pistols carry more ammo.
Of course, the drawback to a full-size pistol is that it’s big, and not the best for concealed carry.
If you are looking for a full-size pistol, I would consider 1911-style guns, as they come in many different calibers these days.
Compact:
Compact pistols are a good in-between option.
They are slightly smaller than full-size guns, but aren’t so small that they’re uncomfortable to shoot.
For shooters with smaller hands, a compact gun might be easier to control than a full-size frame.
So, if you have small hands, I would likely start with a compact handgun instead of a full size.
Like full-size handguns, compact sizes can still be relatively big depending on what you want to use them for.
One of the most popular compact handguns is the Glock 19. This is a great pistol and has plenty of accessory and upgrade options.
Subcompact:
Subcompact pistols are one of the most popular size pistols for concealed carry. They are a size smaller than compact pistols and usually have a two-finger grip.
If you want more of a grip you can add magazine extensions. But everything you add will make it more like a compact pistol.
Subcompact pistols have a shorter barrel and sight radius. So, you will feel more of the recoil when shooting the gun compared to shooting a full-size pistol.
Also, with subcompact pistols, you are typically limited to ten rounds in the magazine, while a full size could carry 17 rounds or more.
If you are looking for a subcompact pistol, I would consider Sig Sauer or Smith and Wesson M&P.
Pocket pistols:
Pocket pistols are the easiest to conceal. Most are small enough that they will fit in a pocket when holstered.
Many pocket pistols are chambered in .380 or 9mm.
The drawback to pocket pistols is that they are so small that it can be challenging for shooters with bigger hands.
Due to their small size, they are not the easiest to grip and can have more recoil depending on the caliber.
One thing about pocket pistols is that carrying them in your pocket can be a bit of an adjustment.
You’ll need to practice your draw if you go from your hip to your pocket.
If you are looking for a pocket pistol, consider the Ruger LCP or the Sig Sauer P238 or Sig Sauer P365.
The perfect size pistol is going to be different for everyone.
If you are looking for a pistol to wear open-carry while hiking, then a full-size pistol might be a good option.
But if you want a smaller weapon for concealed carry then a subcompact might be your best choice.
Finally, if concealing your pistol is critical then a pocket pistol is the least likely to be noticed.
If you are going to buy a new handgun, you should go to your local gun range.
Rent a full-size, compact, subcompact, and pocket pistol. You can try them all out and decide which one is the best for you.
