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The Pros and Cons of 9mm Handguns
Aaron Spuler is a firearms enthusiast and recreational shooter. Follow more or his work at The Weapon Blog
mage Source: Flickr
The 9mm handgun is one of the most popular types out there. However, popularity should not be the determining factor when you decide on what type of weapon to invest in. When considering the pros and cons of a handgun, you always have to bear in mind your own personal needs and wants.
And when you try to decide if a weapon is right for you, also consider your level of expertise when handling it. You should be as critical as possible about your skills. Before choosing a weapon, make sure you have a good grasp on the basics of firearms.
Pros
There are many reasons why you’d want to consider buying a 9mm handgun, whether it’s because you’re concerned about your personal safety or you just want to have some fun out on the shooting range. Even the police have realized the merits of 9mm ammo, even though they had shunned it for almost thirty years. These are some of the reasons why 9mm handguns make such good weapons for personal use.
It’s Small and Easy to Carry
Because they’re so small, 9mm handguns are very easy to carry and conceal. This makes them the ideal weapon for self-defense. It’s also a great weapon to have around the house since it’s very easy to keep out of reach if you have children. Its small size also makes an ideal weapon when you’re in close quarters. It’s very maneuverable as well since it is much lighter than larger caliber guns, so there’s less room for accidents.
Perfect for Beginners
Because it’s so lightweight and doesn’t really pack a punch, this is a very good weapon for beginners. Its recoil is not as strong as that of more powerful guns, so it’s the perfect weapon to take out to the shooting range and get used to the feel of a handgun.
It’s slightly more powerful than a .22mm handgun, which means you get the best of both worlds. You have a light, easy to use gun, with little recoil, so you don’t have to worry much about handling it. But at the same time, it still feels like a gun, so when you move on to a more powerful weapon, the difference is not as jarring, and you’re going to find it easier to adapt to the stronger recoil.
Relatively Large Magazine Size
The 9mm handgun can hold up to 15 rounds, which is quite impressive, given its relatively small size. It’s also very easy to reload, compared to other weapons of similar description. The large number of rounds it can hold make it a very good emergency weapon when you don’t have a lot of time to fiddle with ammo. Combined with the fact that it’s very easy to store, this is the ideal home-defense weapon.
Easy to Find Accessories and Parts
Because this caliber is so popular, maintaining and finding accessories for your gun is a quite easy. This may or may not come in handy in the future, but it’s certainly something worth considering. It’s quite likely you won’t have to go to great lengths to find the replacement parts you need and that’s always a plus.
Cons
Image source: Public Domain Pictures
Even though they are so popular, these types of guns have some drawbacks. You should consider whether or not you are willing to put up with these cons before investing in a 9mm handgun.
It Has a Lot of Moving Parts
Unlike other guns, the 9mm caliber one has a lot of moving parts. This is one of the reasons why it’s so prone to jamming in the first place.
Shooting it is not going to be as easy as just pulling the trigger. You need to know how to handle slide, the slide lock lever, and the external safety lid, if your model has one, before you can hope to use it efficiently. On the other hand, it’s easier to replace parts that don’t work since it’s not just one solid thing.
Can Jam Easily
This is the one major con of this type of weapon. 9mm handguns are known to jam quite often. Of course, this is something that often happens to other types of guns as well. But if this is the weapon you’re going with to start your firearms training, you need to learn about jamming, and how to fix this issue on the go.
It’s also something you have to account for if you this your emergency gun. Each weapon is unique, and when it comes to jamming, you need to know your weapon very well. Some individual handguns are more prone to jamming than others. So if you want to avoid any unwanted surprises, you should train with your set of guns as often as possible, to learn all of their specific peculiarities and quirks.
It’s Not Very Powerful
Even though it’s more powerful than a .22lr caliber handgun, the 9mm is still relatively weak. It’s definitely not the sort of weapon you’d use to hunt down big game. Still, some could consider this a plus, in certain circumstances. And it’s definitely intimidating enough to deter any assailant. A recent Gallup poll showed that most gun owners cite safety as the main reason for owning a gun, not hunting or other similar activities. This would explain why the 9mm is such a popular weapon, in spite of the fact that’s not very powerful.
The debate about the ideal handgun is probably never going to end because there’s no formula for determining what the perfect gun is. It all depends on personal needs and preferences.
After graduating from Boston University, Mike Jones decided he wants to be a professional writer. He is now pursuing his dream by sharing his knowledge and opinions on important matters such public safety, guns and gun laws.
Source: http://www.weapon-blog.com/2016/12/the-pros-and-cons-of-9mm-handguns/
