Beretta Blog

I suppose that any pistol you have handy during a personal defense emergency is a perfect carry pistol, right?

Technically speaking, any handgun that shoots reliably can be a carry pistol. Large or small, mouse gun or big-bore caliber, double-action, single-action, or striker-fired. The usefulness of a concealed carry tool depends more on the skills of the user than on the hardware. However, assuming that one’s commitment to training and practice comes first, there’s nothing wrong with finding a pistol that’s optimized for concealed carry. In fact, the right features can provide a significant advantage to the skilled user.

So, what defines a perfect carry pistol?

There’s a lot more to handgun sights than meets the eye. OK, so that little play on words was entirely on purpose, but it’s true. While sights seem simple and even mundane, there’s quite a bit of thought and sophisticated science put into the design of effective handgun sights.

What do police officers' attitudes have to do with you? The nature of police work requires a careful balance between proactive action and de-escalation procedures. As an armed civilian, your mission if very different and with few exceptions, a "de-escalation" mentality will generally serve you well. Read on to learn why I take a different approach to confrontations when carrying a gun.

If you carry a defensive pistol, you should really consider making it a habit to shoot a practical pistol (USPSA) match on a regular basis. Here are ten reasons why this is so.

I live in a rural section of south Florida. I constantly see signs by the freeway exit ramps that advertise concealed carry permit classes for ridiculously low prices. On one hand, I understand how money (or the lack thereof) can affect buying decisions, but when you're choosing a firearms instructor, you are choosing someone to teach you how to potentially save your life and the lives of those close to you.

I think some issues, preferences, and beliefs just get passed around the gun community with few stopping to consider and evaluate what they really mean. You know, things like “The batteries will just run out of your laser or light when you need it most!” Or maybe, “It only takes one .45 ACP bullet to end a fight.” You know the drill and have probably heard dozens of such nuggets of wisdom passed down.

Laser sights get a bad rap from gun know-it-alls. You’ll hear pithy and condescending comments like these…

• Laser sights are a crutch.

• Lasers are only for people who can’t use iron sights properly.

• Laser sights are slower.

• What are you gonna do when you’re laser battery runs out in the middle of a gunfight?

• Lasers are delicate and will break at inopportune times.

• Serious shooters don’t need them.

Those folks are missing the point. Completely. Lasers add capabilities to your existing knowledge, skills, and equipment without taking anything away. Who wouldn’t want that type of tradeoff?

I visited a local gun shop this week and was glad to see that business was booming. I was happy for the shop owner, the people browsing and buying, and for the industry. But my brief moment of euphoria was rudely interrupted by three instances of sloppy gun handling - two by customers and one by an employee of the business. As an instructor, range safety officer, and former police firearms instructor, my instincts kicked in, and I wanted to grab the guns and point them in a safe direction before anyone got hurt. That was three instances of pointing a loaded gun at people within just a few moments.

If you own a handgun, you need to know how to draw from a holster. Even if you don’t plan on carrying your handgun concealed, you’ll need a holster if you ever plan to attend a training class. You're planning on that, right? A good holster is also a handy, and safe, accessory that you can use at many outdoor shooting ranges. If you do plan to carry a handgun for defensive use, then it’s imperative to know and practice proper holster use.

Even though aggregate crime rates have been trending dramatically down over the past two decades, the world feels like a dangerous place. Maybe you’re thinking of getting a gun for self-defense. Whether you intend to use it to protect your home or to carry it on your person (being careful to follow your state’s laws on the matter), there are some other things you’ve got to have.

Here are the top five things that you need besides the gun itself.