Misinformation about firearms often causes novices to make blunders in choosing the weapon that best meets their needs. We've all seen hundreds of shootings, in movies and on television, and we think we know how a gunfight works, but sadly the reality is very different from what Hollywood puts on. The statistics tell us that a shooting for reasons of personal defense, or of a property entrusted to our surveillance, takes place at an average distance of 7 meters and the average number of shots fired is 3.5.
So those who buy guns with a very iconographic look (the mental image that every amateur has of a gun) often makes mistakes that almost always result in a return to the gunsmith, who takes the gun on consignment, thus translating the inexperience of the novice in a modest personal gain.
The basic criteria for choosing a short weapon
- Caliber (stopping power)
- Dimensions (portability)
- Revolver or semi-automatic
Caliber
Big guns do a lot of Inspector Callaghan but they are difficult to manage. They make a bang that can damage eardrums. They have a recoil that can hurt your wrist. They make a flash that in the dark can blind you for a few tens of seconds. The bullets are so powerful that they can easily puncture a wall and do damage where it was not intended.
There is also the legal aspect: it is better to hurt than to kill. In the second case, the accusation of excessive self-defense is triggered ex officio.
Small calibers instead it means small guns, easy to wear and maybe hide from the sight of the bad guys. But they give little stopping power and are less reliable (jam more).
For many US defense experts the 9 x 17 mm bullets give barely acceptable stopping power. The European police, on the other hand, consider the 7.65 x 17 mm ammunition already sufficient.
Dimensions
For the needs of a security guard it is better to have two weapons on: the service one in evidence in the holster and another hidden from view. This is because the security guard is often attacked by surprise, easily losing the first weapon. In this case, having a back up gun can save your life.
Revolver or semi-automatic
Here we enter the field of personal preferences and also of philosophies. Let's see the objective advantages and disadvantages of the two solutions.
– The revolver has little range of fire (few bullets in the magazine and laborious reloading).
- It is more reliable (it practically never jams).
- Has a greater choice of calibers available.
- Safe handling is easier.
- The first shot is faster to fire (double action)
– The semi-automatic has more cartridges in the magazine and you can change the magazine directly by removing the empty one and quickly inserting a spare one. In this way the autonomy of fire is much higher than a revolver.
- It is a more modern weapon, with less recoil and higher firing speed.
- For the same caliber it can be lighter (polymer barrels).
- Handling and cleaning operations are much more complicated than a revolver.
- It is more likely to jam.
In conclusion
Assuming that the service weapon will be a semi-automatic 9-caliber (Beretta, Glock and Smith & Wesson of this caliber not surprisingly are used by almost all the police forces in the world) the second short weapon it could be a good brand .38 caliber revolver, with a 2 or 3 inch barrel. Quick to extract, quick to fire the first shot and very reliable. All fundamental qualities for those who need a tool to which they can entrust their safety in critical situations. Even those that don't end up in Hollywood movies.
Legal note: obviously the discussion is only academic, because Italian law prohibits GPG from carrying more than one short weapon. However, the general principles of utility and functionality for the normal operating procedure of a security officer or a security guard, of any nationality, remain valid.
Sources: All4shooters.com
