Winter Is Coming: EDC Pistol Selection

With the Fall season reaching it's prime and October being right around the corner, Alaska is about to dive right into Winter. This will entail us getting snow, very little light, and generally undesirable living conditions. With this seasonal change, it is time for me to think a little bit about my daily carry system in terms of weapons, clothing, etc. I will run you through my method for selecting the firearm I use and why.

CALIBER DECISION

In my experience and understanding, winter in Alaska causes people to put on more layers. For this reason, it is likely that your will need something that can penetrate thick clothing and still achieve terrific terminal performance. For this, I like to go with .40S&W since it seems that it is hard to find an ammunition that does not expand and deliver good terminal performance through heavy winter layers. I think my testing speaks for itself that even the good old generic hollow point bullets of the .40S&W are completely effective against barriers.

I am sure there are alot of people out there that will prefer to stick with the 9mm all year around. Everyone has to make their own choices, but I am not limited by funds or fear of recoil and I am shooting the biggest caliber that has the largest capacity I can reasonably expect in a firearm to date. The most important thing for someone making a selection is to be honest about whether they have the skill to use their chosen caliber with great precision or not. After all, there is pretty much a lawyer behind each bullet when you are looking to carry to protect yourself or others.

A MATTER OF SIZE

When winter comes in full swing, I am going to have to be responsible with my wardrobe choices. This means that I will most likely be choosing items of clothing that will have some slack in them enough to conceal a full size pistol. Some people do not see the point in carrying a full size pistol, which is fine for them, but there are plenty of reasons to go full barrel in the winter.

First reason to go full sized in the winter is because you can. Why not carry a larger pistol just because you can? As long as you shoot it well, I see no harm in carrying a full size pistol that conceals well under your warming layers. Second reason is because full size pistols are going to give you a bit of a longer barrel. That is right, I am looking at improving the velocity in a time where yourself and the firearm may be dealing with temperatures far below zero. Granted there are certain pistols that have 4" barrels and small capacities, but why not just grab a full size pistol, right? Personally, I want a barrel length that maximizes the velocity potential of my carry ammo. If you have a carry ammo that will get more velocity out of a 5" barrel, logically, I would choose something with a barrel length in that range such as a Beretta 96.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

When it comes to choosing your pistol in winter time, the design of the pistol will absolutely make a difference. You have so many options on the market as far as pistol layouts and designs. I personally have had alot of different pistols over the years and only recently found new homes for most of them. In my experience, the cold plays games on your fingers, so having a full size pistol that is able to be drawn and fired while in the extreme cold is an advantage and an asset. However, don't knee-jerk and think I am saying I prefer a striker fired single action pistol.

If you think about the stresses of having to fire your weapon, you will find that trigger travel distance and weight can actually save you from a premature discharge, even if you are highly trained. As emotionally responsive creatures, we tend to combine actions for a more rapid result. This is basically where the shooter pulls the trigger as they extend out, while only thinking they were TOUCHING the trigger. Usually stress causes an individual to supply an overwhelming amount of pressure with their fine motor skills, which is counter-intuitive for those wanting to apply precision under pressure. I like to think of the double action as a way of mitigating this problem and allows me to be sure of my intention to pull the trigger.

The last design to cover is the presence of a manual safety. Whether it is a safety put on a DA/SA or single action striker fired pistol, the reality is the same. In winter time, I don't typically wear gloves, but if I were to wear thin gloves on a hike, I have found that a manual safety can be a pain for my short fingers. This is not something I can just train out of my system when it has to do with anatomical shortcomings. Therefore, in order to maximize safety and efficiency, I choose a double action pistol with a trigger distance that allows me to get a greedy hold of the trigger, regardless of using gloves.

Aside from the trigger and safety considerations, you want a firearm that can withstand the strain of the low temperatures without incurring some reliability and durability issues. For this reason I have a couple of pistols to choose from. The Beretta 96A1 and the H&K USP40 are both renown for their durability and reliability. The Beretta does not feel that great when you load it with really hot ammo, but the frame is designed for the types of pressures and forces delivered by the .40S&W. Either one will work, depending on which one suits my fancy more.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

I just wanted to run through how I decided on my winter carry gun. It is a task that I take very seriously because having to use a firearm is a very serious issue that you don't want to be a minimalist on. Therefore I want the ammunition to expand a good amount while also penetrating as deep as possible. With this, I want a pistol that is reliable, durable, easy to shoot, etc. I know that I live in a state that gets more extreme weather in the winter, but I would hope that I am not the only one that thinks of these types of things as the seasons change. In the end, the choice is yours.