Recommendations
Quite often, I am asked what ammunition I would recommend for self defense handguns, or what holster should someone use or what gun to buy.
I'm going to make my recommendations here. Please be advised
that these are what work best for ME. Your mileage may vary.
Handguns: This is the one category where I will not make a blanket recommendation. A personal defense handgun MUST fit the shooters hand. We each have different needs, carrying methods and of course, different sized hands. *I* carry a Glock. A Glock 23, to be precise. I wholeheartedly recommend Glock pistols and would be hard pressed to carry something else. They are more rust resistant, longer lasting, more lightweight and have a higher capacity (with pre-9/13/94 magazines) than comparably sized handguns. And they work and work and work. Give the Glock a try. If it fits your hand, it might be the gun for you.
Ammunition: I carry Remington 165gr Golden Saber in my Glock. It is accurate and combines velocity and bullet weight nicely. The Golden Saber bullet design is excellent. *And* this ammo has VERY low muzzle flash.
Holsters: I've carried a gun for self defense for a long
while now and all of us who have done so for any length of time have
accumulated a box of unused, disliked holsters. I want to
remind everyone that a good BELT is needed to support your
holster. The belt might very well be more critical than the
holster. A good belt will make a bad holster tolerable, but a
bad belt will make the best holster unusable. With that said, I
typically carry a handgun in one of four ways. The best holster
I've found in each category is listed below. Also, contact any
of the three manufacturers listed and inquire about a good belt.
Inside the Waistband: This is how I usually carry a pistol and the best IWB holster I have ever worn is the Executive Companion (Model EX) made by Milt Sparks . The gun sits lower in the pants than it does in the average IWB and this help with concealability. The extra leather around the gun makes this the most comfortable IWB holster I've ever worn.
Belt Holster: This is the way I typically carry a pistol on the range and sometimes on the street. By far, the best of this breed is the horsehide Belt Scabbard by Kramer Leather. It is sturdy, well molded and so firm that no retention device is necessary. A very nice holster and fits tightly to the body, so it conceals well.
Paddle Holster: For those of us who go in and out of 'firearms restricted buildings' on a regular basis as well as those of us who don't wear belts (I wear suspenders when 'dressed up'), a good paddle holster is essential. There is no better paddle holster than the horsehide MSP (Michigan State Police) Paddle, also from Kramer Leather. The best part of this holster isn't the holster...it is the paddle. It is also made of horsehide and is much more comfortable than the plastic paddles out there and more sturdy than the suede paddles. Also, the bevel-edged welt REALLY holds the holster in place, even without a belt. However, if you are wearing a belt, a detachable belt loop is also provided.
Ankle Holster: For a backup handgun or when an ankle holster is all that you can conceal, there is no better ankle holster than the one from Alessi Holsters (716-691-5615). It is as comfortable as they come and well made. Lou Alessi can also be reached via email at LFAlessi@cs.com.