HANDGUNS, PISTOLS, AND REVOLVERS
Choosing the Right Pistol or Revolver Caliber
There are way too many different calibers available for a pistol to list
them all, but we will list some of the more popular and more widely
available calibers below. It’s important to pick a pistol that is a
common caliberso that it is easy to find ammunition for it, and the
ammunition won’t cost more than it already does. It’s important to
think about where and how you will be using your pistol to make sure
you get the perfect size for what you are doing.
As an example, if the pistol is for both home protection, and additional protection when you are rifle
hunting for grizzly bear, you would not want a small caliber, as that pistol could mean the difference
between life and death. It also needs to be a trusted name brand, for the same life or death reason. You
need to be able to count on your pistol working perfectly when you need it the most.
Pistol and Revolver Action Types
There are several different types of
action that you can find for a pistol,
and a revolver. There is a break
action pistol, semi automatic pistol,
single action revolver, and double
action revolver.
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Break Action Pistol
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Semi Automatic Pistol
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Single Action Revolver
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Double Action Revolver
Break Action Pistol
A break action pistol is where you push a switch or lever on the pistol, or bend it down to break it open,
depending on the model, and the barrel swings open on a hinge exposing the breech so you can load
and unload the pistol.
Semi Automatic Pistol
A semi automatic pistol is where you manually chamber the first round by pulling back on the top of the
pistol, with the clip in, to chamber a round. When you fire the shot, the next round is chambered
automatically and ready to shoot again.
Single Action Revolver
A single action revolver is where the hammer is manually cocked, usually with the thumb of the firing or
supporting hand. If you want to fire another shot, the hammer must be manually cocked again. It’s called
"single-action" because the trigger only performs a single action, which is to release the hammer to fire
the shot.
Double Action Revolver
A double action revolver is where pulling the trigger generates two actions. The hammer is pulled back
to the cocked position, which simultaneously rotates the cylinder to the next round, followed by the
second action where the hammer is released, striking the firing pin to fire the shot.
Features To Look For When Buying A New Handgun
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Handgun Weight
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Handgun Size
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Handgun Finish
Handgun Weight
When considering the weight of a pistol or revolver, the important thing to consider is what you will be
using it for. The larger the caliber, the larger the gun, the more the gun weighs, the heavier it will be on
your side in it’s holster.
Handgun Size
The size of a pistol or revolver is also important. If you have a concealed carry weapons permit, and you
want to be able to conceal a pistol, you would want a smaller caliber, smaller profile pistol. If you use the
pistol as a life safety backup gun for hunting grizzlies, you would want a large caliber pistol or revolver so
that the first shot counts, which could save your life. Larger pistols and revolvers are big and bulky, so
the size should carefully be considered so that you buy the right gun for your unique situation.
Handgun Finish
The finish on a gun is really important to some people, and much less important to others. A nice fancy
expensive finish and beautiful shiny engraving on the pistol or revolver look really great in the uplands
and on the target range. But if you are hunting deer, elk, or other big game, with a pistol or revolver on
your side, a duller, less expensive finish may be a good choice as it will be more exposed to the
elements, and more opportunities to be scratched or damaged.
Choosing the Right Caliber Pistol or Revolver
Choosing the right rifle caliber is important. You want the right caliber for the type of shots you take,
whether it’s short range or medium range. Each caliber has it’s own purpose, and each size has it’s own
fans. For life safety situations, the a medium to large caliber is a good bet.
Common Pistol Calibers
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.22 Pistol
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.357 Magnum
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.38 Special
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.380 Automatic Colt Pistol
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57 Ruger Pistol
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9mm
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.40 Smith & Wesson
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10mm
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.44 Magnum
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.45 Colt
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.454 Casull
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.460 Smith & Wesson Magnum
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.500 Smith & Wesson
22 Caliber Pistol
The .22 Caliber pistol shoots a low caliber round that produces almost no recoil. It still packs a small, fast
punch to do some damage, but is more for target practicing, or a first gun for a child to learn with when
they first start target shooting. The bullets are much cheaper than other caliber rounds, which makes
this a fun addition to your target shooting lineup. Not recommended for a backup gun while hunting
dangerous game, or for home protection, though it will do the job on many predators, it won’t affect a
bear, and for defending your life from a violent home invader, it may take a few more rounds as
compared to some of the larger calibers.
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Browning Buck Mark Field
Target Micro Semi Auto Rimfire
Pistol
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Ruger SP101 Double Action
Revolver with Adjustable Sight
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Ruger LCR Double Action
Revolver
357 Magnum Revolver
The .357 Magnum Revolver is a popular choice with law enforcement, and personal protection
enthusiasts. Specifically, the Model 686 Plus is an L-Frame, Smith & Wesson® Double-Action Revolver
that has a medium-heavy frame that will hold up the to prolonged use with full power .357 magnum
loads, as well as any .38 Special ammunition. This revolver is a 7 shooter, unlike the standard 6 shooter
you typically see, giving you one extra shot. It’s stainless steel construction provides corrosion resistance
which is great for prolonged holster carry when out in the field, or while camping in the backcountry. The
Smith & Wesson Model 686 Plus Double Action Revolver has really great balance that helps to provide
superb accuracy. It is a great revolver for hunting, home defense, law enforcement, and target
competition.
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Smith & Wesson 68 6 SSR Pro
Double Action Revolver
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Kimber K6s DASA Revolver
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Smith & Wesson 686 Plus
Double Action Revolver
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Smith & Wesson Model 686
Double Action Revolver
38 Special Revolver
The .38 special revolver is short nose pistol best known for home protection, and for concealed carry.
The Smith & Wesson® Model 642 CT Airweight® has a streamlined, lightweight, no snag design that
makes it an ideal concealed carry double action revolver. The Crimson Trace® Lasergrip activates
automatically when when you grip the gun, which allows you to place shots precisely in any lighting
conditions. The 642 CT is a double action revolver which makes it an extremely fast defensive handgun
to deploy in dangerous situations, as there is nothing to remember to do except point and pull the
trigger.
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Smith & Wesson 642 CT
Airweight Double Action
Revolver
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Smith & Wesson 637 Airweight
Double Action Revolver
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Smith & Wesson J-Frame
Centerfire Revolvers
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Ruger SP101 Double Action Revolver
380 Automatic Colt Pistol
For the .380 automatic colt pistols, our top choice is the Browning® Black Label® Medallion® Pro 1911
380 Semi Automatic Pistol. It is a scaled down to 85 percent of the size of a Model 1911 in .45 ACP, which
makes it a more compact pistol for concealed carry. The grip is long and wide enough to allow for you to
have much greater shooting control than is offered by smaller .380 ACP pistols. The housing has a nice
textured pattern to help in providing a sure grip. This pistol comes with two 8 round steel magazines and
a black ABS gun case.
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Walther PPK/S Semi Auto Pistol
in Stainless Steel
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Browning Black Label
Medallion Pro 1911-380 Semi
Auto Pistol
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Kimber Micro Bel Air Semi
Auto Pistol with Night Sights
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Browning 1911-380 Black Label Pro Speed Semi Auto Pistol
57 Ruger Pistol
If you are looking for a pistol that is just fun to shoot and target
practice with, the 57 Ruger is a great choice. It has an easy-reach
trigger and a secure action™ fire control system. It is ideal for new and
seasoned shooters alike. It is very durable and ready to handle years
of service. The Ruger 57 is an ideal target and plinking handgun that's
a real blast to shoot. FN Five-seveN Semi Auto Pistol Ruger 57 Semi
Auto Pistol.
9mm Pistol
The Sig Sauer® P229® Legion Compact Semi Auto Pistol is finished in a proprietary Legion gray PVD
coating, providing a great look and design. It has a nice compact design that is perfect for concealed
carry with a perfect balance to deliver major firepower when you need it. The Sig Sauer P229 Legion
Compact Semi Automatic 9mm Pistol is an accurate and rugged pistol for personal defense.
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Sig Sauer P229 Legion
Compact Semi Automatic
Pistol
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Kimber Aegis Elite Custom 9
mm Pistol
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Springfield Armory 1911 EMP
Semi Automatic Pistol
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Smith & Wesson SW1911 9mm Pistol
40 Smith & Wesson Pistol
The .40 caliber pistol is a good size. It’s a step up in caliber size and power from the 9mm. It is perfect for
having on your side in dangerous situations, and as a backup gun for big game hunting.
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Smith & Wesson Performance
Center M&P M2.0
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GLOCK G23 Semi Automatic
Pistol
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Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0
Full Size Pistol
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Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0
Compact Pistol
10mm Pistol
The 10mm pistol is a much more powerful self defense round compared to the 9mm or .40 S&W. The
10mm bullets are larger in weight, and have superior ballistics. It is a better option for hunting than the
9mm for that reason. With more power comes more recoil, so it does take a little practice to shoot well.
But after the burn in period where you familiarize yourself with a 10mm, it’s is truly a great gun, and a
top choice for many hunters.
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Kimber Rapide Black Ice Semi
Automatic Pistol
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Kimber Rapide Semi Automatic
Pistol
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Sig Sauer P220 Hunter Semi
Automatic Pistol
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Kimber Stainless Target LS Semi Automatic Pistol
44 Magnum Revolver
The Ruger® Super Redhawk Alaskan® Double Action .44 Magnum Revolver provides dependable and
maximum protection against large dangerous predatory big game, yet it is still a reasonable sized
sidearm that is manageable to carry all day on your side in a holster. It is designed with an extended
frame that provides extra metal on the critical components so it can handle the powerful big game loads.
Has stainless steel construction that provides corrosion resistance for walking through the woods. The
Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan is the perfect revolver to carry on your side for protecting yourself from
bears while trout fishing, protection when you are camping, or backpacking in wilderness areas where
you may run into predators of all types, and it is a great back up gun to have with you when you hunt
small game and big game alike.
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Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan Double
Action Revolver
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Smith & Wesson 629 Double Action
Revolver
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Smith & Wesson 69 Combat Magnum
Double Action Revolver
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Smith & Wesson 69 Combat Magnum
Double Action Short Barrel
45 Pistol or Revolver
The .45 caliber pistol or revolver is a great gun with a lot of power to knock down whatever game or
danger that you are shooting at. It’s a great gun for home protection. Kimber has many different custom
designs that will set your pistol apart from what others are shooting.
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Taurus Raging Judge Revolver
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Kimber Hero Custom Semi
Automatic Pistol
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Kimber Custom TLE II Semi-
Auto Pistol with G-10 Grips
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Kimber Custom II Semi
Automatic Pistol
454 Ruger Casull Revolver
The .454 Casull Ruger® Super Redhawk® is an extremely durable double action
revolver that gives you the the reliability that you can depend on in dangerous life
threatening situations. It is a perfect revolver for big game hunting. It’s stainless steel
provides for great corrosion reistance to give you peace of mind when out in the field
experiencing bad weather while out on the hunt. The .454 Casull Ruger Super Redhawk
Double Action Revolver is the perfect sidearm to carry for bear protection, for long
range target shooting, and home protection. Ruger Super Redhawk Double Action Revolver
460 Smith & Wesson Magnum Revolver
The Smith & Wesson® M460V Double Action Revolver offers great
versatility for a wide variety of shooting situations. If you want to hunt big
game with a hand gun, this revolver is capable of taking down the largest
species of moose and brown bear. It also shoots a milder cartridge that
has less recoil for use in target practice or if doing rapid fire for protecting
yourself and your loved ones. fers a milder recoiling cartridge for target practice, or the option of rapid
fire for personal protection. The .454 Casull cartridge is perfect for deer hunting, and for hunting black
bear. It’s stainless steel properties provides corrosion resistance if you experience bad weather while out
on your hunt, or wading through streams. Smith & Wesson Performance Center Revolver Smith &
Wesson M460V Double Action Revolver
500 Smith & Wesson Revolver
The Smith & Wesson® Model S&W500™ Double Action
Revolver offers a huge amount of power for hunting the
largest species of big game, for defending yourself from
dangerous game, or protecting yourself in dangerous
situations. The easily removable muzzle compensator
tames the recoil to a more manageable level. The single
action trigger pull is light and crisp for precise and accurate shooting, and the double-action pull cycles
the cylinder smoothly to have the next shot ready in an instant. The Stainless steel construction provides
corrosion resistance so you can carry this revolver longer on your side while camping and hiking in the
backcountry. The Smith & Wesson Model 500 is a reliable and rugged Double Action Revolver that you
can depend on in the most extreme conditions. Smith & Wesson S&W500 Double Action Revolver Smith
& Wesson S&W500 Double Action Revolver with Muzzle Compensator Smith & Wesson X-Frame
Centerfire Revolver
About The Author
Mike Mendenhall is the the founder of Mendenhall Outdoors. This website is
an extension of the Mendenhall family’s lifestyle and passion for the great
outdoors. Everything that they learn, and experience, along the way that they
find may be valuable to our website visitors is on the site for you to enjoy. We
highlight products and services that you might find interesting. We frequently
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