Self Protection Under the Trump Reich

With the thousands of hate crimes committed by racist Trump followers since the election, it has become increasingly obvious it is up to minorities to protect themselves.

Here are a few good choices for concealed carry weapons.

SCCY CPX-II

This is the SCCY CPX-II. It is relatively new to the market. It carries 11 rounds in a 10+1 configuration of 9mm ammo. It is also one of the more inexpensive guns in his class. What I like about it is there are no exterior bumps or controls to snag on a holster or in your pocket in an emergency, and the 11 round capacity. In general, “carry” pistols are not very accurate. They are designed for close range, no more than 10-15′. The large capacity makes up for that. This gun does not have a safety, and to compensate for that it has a heavy trigger pull (9 lbs). The recoil of a 9mm in this small frame may be a bit much for smaller women.  This is an American made quality pistol perfect for self defense. (And ladies, it comes in 3 colors – black, pink, and purple). Price – around $350.

 

Beretta Nano

The Beretta Nano is one of the best designed pistols on the market for concealed carry.No protrusions on the gun to snag, and a reliable frame make this a contender as best in class. It comes with two magazines, one a 6 round, one an 8 round. Meaning it can be carried in a 6+1 or 8+1 configuration. The frame and rail system make this one of the few compacts which will survive extended range use. It has an internal safety. Cost is about $500. The gun itself is less than 1″ wide, making it 1) easy to handle for people with small hands, and 2) easily concealable in a waistband.

Bersa Thunder 380

The Bersa uses a 380 round, which is slightly smaller than a 9mm. The recoil is easily managed by most women. The 380 round is not as devastating as the 9mm but packs plenty of power. The gun is operable in singe or double action mode, and includes an external safety. It includes an internal lock down system, completely disabling the gun for storage at home (and to keep the kiddies from firing it accidentally). It also has a trigger guard designed to allow the shooter to use the gun even if wearing gloves. At slightly less than 23 ounces, it is lightweight, and not going to wear you out carrying it around. It is a reliable weapon for about $350. The gun is made in Argentina, and is a loose copy of the famous Walther PPK. Suggest carrying it in a 6+1 configuration instead of the full magazine capacity of 7 rounds.

For “Wheel Gun” fans, I recommend the Smith and Wesson 642. This design has been around 75 years, and has stood the test of time. Have no fear in buying one of these used. My personal favorite is a “44 Bulldog” using the 44 Caliber Round. The new guns frames are aluminum, with a steel barrel and cylinder making them substantially lighter then the old all steel guns. The hammerless design means no snags when you draw it, and along with the low profile sight makes this an excellent choice. I have one of these which used to be called “Airline” models which after 911 were converted to the “Airweight” Model. The 38 round is actually a more powerful round than the 9mm, which isn’t necessarily a good thing as the 38 is high velocity meaning it likely will go though a target. As to hitting anything beyond about 15′ – forget it. These are designed as close in defense weapons. There are a number of models, and these can be bought new from about $320 and up based on caliber and extras.

To stay away from?

The small Glocks. Now the Model 47 Version 3. The reason there are multiple versions of this gun is the safety, which had a habit of disengaging on draw…Resulting in a number of users ending their family plans with what we euphemistically call a “Hillbilly Vasectomy”. I generally don’t like Glocks due to less then stellar accuracy, first round jamming, and handling. When I go to the range, I outshoot even supposedly “expert” shooters with those with my relatively antique (designed in 1930), slightly modified Browning Hi-Power all day long. When I upgrade I plan to buy a Sig Sauer P229 in 9mm, which flat out is the best off-the-shelf gun in that caliber out there (Stay away from the 40 Cal and Sig 357 in this gun!). Not cheap at over $1000, but worth it.

I will do another on large frame guns at another time.

Lastly – Why 9mm?

9mm is one of four calibers, including 22, 38, and 45 which are extremely popular and thus are made in mass quantities. You can almost always find any of the four in your local Walmart as well as your local country hardware store. The 9 mm is used by the Military – meaning the are billions of those floating around, So, in the event of a “Zombie” or Trump apocalypse, unlike the less popular rounds (10 mm, 357, 40 Cal, etc), these will be available for a long time.