Daily I get asked, what's the best option for my everyday carry?

Daily I get asked, what's the best option for my everyday carry?

There are so many guns/calibers sizes, shapes and colors available, what is the best gun for me?    There is no one size fits all answer to this question. It's all going to hinge on you and your needs.

Some people may opt for the full size 1911 in .45acp but that isn't a viable option for the wife with 3 kids in tow. She may lean more towards a .380. It's going to always be a matter of what you believe your needs are. Not everyone needs the Wilson Combat 2011 for self-defense.

While some of us demand the best. Others are on a budget and need what they can afford. Whether that be a Hipoint or an SCCY. It's all a matter of your individual perspective on the topic.

As always, I'm not here to tell you how right or wrong you are. I'm just sharing what I know and feel about the topic at hand.   When you've decided to buy a firearm I suggest you get with a trusted friend that actually knows and not just the guy who plays call of duty. While he may know everything about the gun in the game. He knows jack squat about guns in real life.

I suggest going to a paid range where you can rent some guns to shoot prior to making your purchase.  This will help eliminate buyers remorse later if you end up not liking it for whatever reason.

Going to a reputable  store will also benefit new buyers as the people working the stores generally are very knowledgeable about the products they sell and have no problem talking and answering questions. And if they do have an issue with answering questions ... go to another store, but let them know why you are leaving. The clerk should be able to size you up with something just by looking at you. But remember, they are there to sell guns, so remember your trusted friend should have some input as well. If you're a 5'2" woman, I doubt your looking for the Sig Legion, lol. Same if you're a 6'9" man you're not interested in the M&P Bodyguard.  Finding the pistol that fits your hand, in a caliber that will be comfortable to shoot is the goal.

A stay-at-home mom may not be able to handle the recoil of a 10mm Glock, but will be right at home with that 9mm M&P. Again, going to a place where you can try some guns out before buying is a huge benefit to the buyer.  When making your purchase, you will want to ask about ammo cost and availability. If you go with a common caliber like 9mm, .40, .45, .380, the availability shouldn't be much of an issue, unless there is a run on it.

The cost will vary from caliber to caliber and store to store, but if you stay in the common calibers cost shouldn't be too hateful. Unlike if you end up with a 5.7 Caliber pistol, or even a 10mm pistol. Due to there not being a huge demand for that ammo, the manufacturers make less of it, which drives the cost up. If there were a run on ammo, and you happen to have an odd caliber, you could easily see yourself paying 2x and up to 4x the normal cost.  For the person who wants to play it safe, if you don't have a trusted friend that can help you, if you stay in the 9mm caliber, and go with either a Sig Saure, Glock, or M&P brands, you can't go wrong. All three companies offer micro carry options for people who need smaller guns, and all three brands produce full size pistols for the larger folks out there. All three options have had military, and Law Enforcement contracts around the globe so any of the three will provide you with a lifetime of reliability, along with customer support that isn't going anywhere anytime soon. There are ample amounts of aftermarket upgrades available as well. 

It's time to wrap this up, I'm starting to ramble. The moral of this story is to buy a gun, learn to use said gun, and keep said gun with you at all times. When seconds count, police are minutes away. I know it's corny, but it's the truth. You are your own first responder. Never be a victim due to lack of return fire-

Written By Paul Riley of Therapy Range