When considering what handgun would fit you best in a survival situation there are some weapon capabilities you need to consider. Some basic functionalities include the weapon's range, functionality, stopping power, and handling capacity. Given you will be in a long term survival situation, you will also have to consider the availability of ammunition. If you pick an obscure weapon that takes a very specific ammo you may not be able to secure any while you are on the move. Also you need to consider the maintenance requirements of the weapon. How easy is it to break that weapon down while on the move and clean it? How is it going to stand up to various weather conditions?

​

L. Douglas Hogan has some recommendations for individuals who have not settled on a specific weapon yet. If you are an avid shooter now, chances are you know exactly what weapon you are taking with you if you have to walk out that door and you have your own very good reasons to do so. If you are not an avid shooter now, you may find the handgun choices mind boggling and hesitate to purchase a weapon because of the confusion. These recommendations are for you:

 

The Springfield Armory XDM 9mm pistol is Mr. Hogan's first suggestion. It has a large carrying capacity, 19 rounds in the magazine, and the 9mm ammo is available in wide margins. This weapon is very easy to disassemble and it has large parts that are easy to clean. Its ability to stand up to the various weather conditions and simplicity of cleaning make it a weapon you can depend on in a survival situation.

 

Mr. Hogan's favorite handgun is the Glock 22 or G22 .40. This weapon system has more stopping power than the 9mm but the ammo is also a very common round. It has big parts and is easy to disassemble. This pistol does not have a traditional safety but rather a safety mechanism that is built into the trigger removing the extra step to make sure the safety is not on when the weapon is needed. Its magazine holds fifteen rounds. It is a comfortably handled weapon that is easily pulled and pouched.

 

Mr. Hogan rounds out his top three with a revolver: the Smith & Wesson Governor. This gun is not going to jam and takes a .45 ACP round. Unfortunately it only holds 6 rounds but it is super easy to disassemble and clean. It's reliability puts it in the top three choices.

​

The most important thing to remember when choosing a weapon system is that you need to be comfortable with the weapon. A .22 caliper handgun is worth mentioning here. The .22 is a lightweight handgun that is easy to handle. The ammo is the most common ammo available and it's lightweight design allows you to carry an abundance of this round. But, the round is small and if you choose it you better be accurate and ready to fire a lot of bullets into your target. 

 

Speaking of abundance of ammo, it is also worth noting that "good guys" may have to partner with law enforcement and the national guard in order to maintain order. Given this, it may be a good idea to know what type of ammo they are carrying so you can obtain ammo from these sources if the situation called for it. Law enforcement generally gets to choose what type of weapon they would like to carry. Many officers carry the .40 caliper Glock because of its reliability. The military is generally carrying both .45 and 9mm options.

 

You also need to consider what you are going to be going up against. If you are in an urban environment it may be people or small game but if you are in a rural setting, shooting a bear with a .22 is only going to make it very upset and is not recommended.

 

In addition you need to be able to break your gun down, clean it and reassemble it with your eyes closed. Get a cleaning kit for your go-bag and make sure it is always available. If it is not, any type of oil will do but remember a little goes a long way. You will also want a toothbrush for cleaning plus a dental or nut pick also works well for cleaning tight places. You may want to think about having extra parts for your weapons systems. After a societal collapse you won't be able to run down to the local store if something on the weapon system fails. Plus, these parts could make potential bartering items.