Purchasing a concealed carry pistol is a huge decision. But those who want to be able to protect themselves at all times know that concealed carry is our best option. This article includes a few tips so that you can make the right decision when choosing your own concealed carry weapon.

Concealed Carry Pistols: Cheaper Isn't Always Better

When I was purchasing my first concealed carry pistol I didn’t have a lot of knowledge on the subject. All I saw was the price tag. A friend of mine told me to check out the Bersa Thunder .380.  I read reviews online and I liked what I saw, but what I liked most was the price.

At the time, I thought $200 was plenty for a concealed carry pistol that I would rarely use. I liked the size, it fit great in my hand, and it didn’t look too bad either. Being a mom of young children, I also loved the safety options. I thought it was perfect for me. However, my husband had warned me about buying something so cheap.

“You get what you pay for,” he often said.

My husband tried to get me to spend more but I was confident with the reviews I read and the number on the price tag so I told him it would be fine.

“It’s your gun, so it is your choice,” he said.

Confidence is Key

I had just received my concealed carry permit and was excited to be able to start toting a gun with me. To ensure I knew exactly how to use my concealed carry weapon, I took the pistol out in the desert and started shooting. I was quickly frustrated that I couldn’t make it through a magazine without it jamming up.

I wondered if I was doing something wrong, so I had my husband shoot and it did the same thing with him. We tried different ammunition, knowing that sometimes cheap ammo can be a problem. As much as I wanted it to work out, I just didn’t trust the pistol. I know there are many people who love this concealed carry weapon, but it just wasn’t working for me.

I learned a valuable lesson that year: If you don’t have confidence in your concealed carry weapon, it is useless. You need to be able to trust that your firearm is going to function properly because you cannot put a price on your life.

Now, this doesn’t mean you need to drain your bank account, but if you need to spend a little more to get the best protection then that's what you should do. If you make a good purchase and care for it properly it should hold its value a lot longer than a cheaper weapon.

Function Trumps Looks

Before purchasing a concealed carry weapon, it is important to think about the most important features you want your pistol to have.

At first, I worried about finding a small pistol that wouldn't feel bulky when I carried it. However, realistically I would never be carrying it on my person. If I ever took it anywhere, it was in my purse. It doesn’t hurt for a concealed carry pistol to look the way you want it to, but in the end that doesn’t matter as much as the actual function of the gun. A concealed carry pistol should fit your hand well so make sure the grip works for your hand size. In the end, reliability is everything.

Enjoy Your Weapon

As you can probably guess, I sold the pistol and bought a Glock 42 .380. It is a little bulkier than my first purchase and twice the price, but that is something I can live with.

The Glock 42 .380 is more enjoyable to shoot and also fits well in my hand. It is a little larger than the Bersa Thunder .380 but that is an advantage because I have less recoil and gained accuracy. What I like most about my new concealed carry weapon is that I am confident that it will function properly instead of only getting one or two shots out before it jams up.

I hate to admit it, but my husband was right on this one. The only problem I have with the concealed carry weapon I have now is that my pistol has turned into “our” pistol.