How To Choose a Handgun?? Wadda ya think?

REDCOAT,

I would add CONSIDER THE RECOIL!

My wife had trouble shooting her GLOCK 19 after arthritis set in with her wrists. She has been able to shoot my BERETTA 92d Compact model and does pretty well with it. On the other hand, I have seen many people buy handguns and rifles which are too unpleasant for them to shoot, so they either shoot badly or don't shoot at all.

If the person is new to shooting, start with a .22 rimfire. Either a revolver or pistol, but at least medium size, never start with a snub nose or micro pistol. If you want to skip the rimfire, a mid-size .38 Special like the S&W model 10 or my preference, a S&W model 15. Start with light recoiling ammo like the 148 grain wadcutters or the 130 fmj Air Force load.

For an auto, start at the GLOCK 19 size or larger like the BERETTA 92 and use standard velocity ammo. +p or NATO 9m.m. ammo will have more recoil than needed.

Once they develop familiarity and confidence, they can choose their own preference in revolver or semi-auto.

I would always recommend trying like a gun rental at a range or using a friend's gun before buying.

Jim

You may have written your article by now, but I always tell all new gun buyers that I encounter to take a safety course and if possible get some one on one training with a shooting instructor.

And despite all, one is going to eventually buy a gun that simply does not fit ones own perceptions.
If you can’t shoot it first don’t buy it.
How many of us buy a vehicle with out a test drive.
I’m assuming the topic of this thread is intended for the novice gun buyer, not the multi-gun owner.

Pat Riot said:

You may have written your article by now, but I always tell all new gun buyers that I encounter to take a safety course and if possible get some one on one training with a shooting instructor.

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First thing I tell people who ask is, don’t do what I do. It won’t work for you cause you aren’t me; you’re you. You’re going to have to find what works for you and the only way to do that is to try a bunch of different things until one feels right. Second thing I tell folks who ask is, don’t start thinking I’m any kind of expert just because I got a lot of guns and do a lot of shooting. I’m not and really not one of them claiming expert status is one. Goes back to you being you and what works for each of us. Once the air is cleared there we can get into the purpose and reasonings and such. But that’s another topic.

Hangingrock said:

I am pragmatic. With that said part of being pragmatic is being adaptable thus the life of being left handed in the right handed world.

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Being pragmatic would be 1st choosing a left hand gun, if available, as that should lead to the same or better results in less time, effort, and expense and then 2nd would be to adapt or modify the least in order to achieve the results.

Thankfully, there are people like you in the military who are willing, determined, and able to execute option 2 due to lack of option 1.


For the OP, 'fit' pretty much tops my list.

Taken to the extreme, the rest of the other stuff wont matter much if thier finger can't reach the trigger or, the other extreme, can't fit inside the trigger gaurd.

For for illustrative purpose, Wilt Chamberlin with a LCP or little Bearcat or Tom Thumb with a .50 Desert Eagle or N frame will likely never be as proficient as they would be with a well fitting gun. If they were ever to become close to he same proficiency, it would come with a greater cost of time, effort, and expense.

Fit to me is " does the gun naturally point at what I'm looking at." When I pick it up I better not have to shift my grip. 1911s and my Remington Model 51 and the newer R51 all are natural pointers. I'm assuming it's the angle of the grip/bore. I'm pretty big -275#s at 6' 4" with big hands but for some reason like the single stack pistols better. The 1911s are a bit too heavy for everyday carry. Although I do own two 380s, a 9MM is about as small as I normally carry. I like to keep the weight at around 28oz or less. My 9s fit that and also my 45 XDS Springfield. Last is EZ of racking to load a shell. I just bought a 9MM Springfield Hellcat and I'd like to sell it. The grip being a double stack is too thick for my liking and it's too hard to rack [ I'm 75 - it's hell getting old ]. Right now I'm waiting on a 9MM Walther - think it's a CCP model. My friend has one that came up nice, wasn't too heavy, and he said recoil was cut down because of a blow back piston in it. Also was easy to rack. We'll see. I guess to sum it up- pointabilty, weight, hows it feel, recoil, and EZ of racking.

Intended purpose first and foremost. Then caliber that meets the need and is manageable for the shooter. The type of handgun within their ability to handle and maintain safely. Last make, model and price.

My personal criteria are:

- The pistol must be serviceable for self defense, even it isn’t primarily used in that role (unless it’s a rim fire)

- Must have a reputation for build quality and reliability

- Aftermarket support is very important to me. Parts, mags, holsters, etc should be relatively easy to procure, not exotic or borderline unobtainable.

- My preference is 9mm or 45, but that’s just me. Nothing wrong with 10mm, 40, 38 Super etc. but I like 9 and 45

- I prefer a simple manual of arms, especially on designated defensive pistols. (Glock, M&P, and even a 1911 is manageable with proper familiarization)

- Black or parkerized finish only for semi autos. Just a personal preference really.

- Never be a Beta tester. Tried and true is tried and true for good reason.

- Buy pistols that fit your needs first, then start on filling your wants.

That’s pretty much it for me.

Key for me is experience level. As an instructor I started them with an air pistol to learn sight alignment and trigger control and the basics of shooting. For more advanced shooters it would depend on hand size, recoil tolerance, intended purpose and preferences as a shooter. I like all types. I like the H&K VP9 as a good all around pistol. It is a nice size, it comes with a selection of grip panels to fit your hand. It is also very high quality with excellent reliability, accuracy and sights. However that quality isn't the cheapest. In cheaper guns I like S&W., Nothing wrong with wheel guns either, Especially for those that don't like racking a slide or leaving magazines loaded for months or years. I don't care for Glock grips or several others. They sell all kinds because some folks prefer certain kinds or like me try a variety.

Maybe I missed it but reliability, after market accessories and customer service from the maker are important considerations, especially for someone and their first gun

Redcoat3340 said:

I'm writing a piece on "How to choose a handgun."

Thought I'd check with the folks here to see if I'm missing any major topics/sections.

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wiscoaster said:

No choice should be finalized until the gun is actually handled, action operated, and if possible dry fired or even rented and shot.

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Spats McGee said:

I'd note that how a gun fits my hand at the counter doesn't necessarily tell me whether I'll like how it fits during firing.

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357 Terms said:

Shoot as many as you can get your hands on.

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whughett said:

If you can’t shoot it first don’t buy it ... How many of us buy a vehicle with out a test drive.

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Over the decades, I have helped many people select handguns and now I use the following process.

After going over basic handgun handling and safety, I have them fire many different handguns and choose the one they can produce the smallest groups fastest consistently. It doesn't matter what caliber, size, material, brand or price. What matters is they can consistently produce smallest groups fastest, especially for defensive pistols.

And when female shooters produce smaller groups faster with 45ACP 1911s, I gently remind their husbands/boyfriends that many male shooters do the same.

When a neighbor's girlfriend wanted a carry pistol, we had her shoot various 9mm/40S&W/45ACP pistols from compact to fullsize and she ended up shooting 40S&W Glock 23 fastest and produced the smallest groups. Neighbor and I were surprised as we thought she would do better with a 9mm pistol.

But holes on target speak volumes and our assumptions don't matter ... That's why I now have people shoot before they make a pistol selection.

And for those looking for competition/target pistols, I have them dry fire while watching the front sight and choose the one that doesn't move the front sight or move the front sight the least. Reason is firing pin/striker release is not an instantaneous action rather sequence of events where various safeguards are overcome with metal-to-metal surface contact - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/trigger-control.834737/page-2#post-11245640

By starting with a pistol that minimize front sight movement out of the box, as the trigger breaks in and smooths out, pistol will be more accurate than other same model pistols that move the front sight more out of the box.

Good comments here! I always looked at proven designs and manufacturers. Any handgun that you like, show and interest in, has a good reputation, shoots well from a company with good customer service reputation will serve you well! Oh yea, a fairly effective caliber. Now I say this kind of tongue in cheek as anyone can make a bad gun now and then but the better the maker the less likely this is. The list seems long but it comes down to this: If you pick up a Sig, Glock, Ruger, Smith, Springfield, Charter Arms, etc And you like it, buy it, shoot it and practice with it! If you decide you want something better then do so. First one is hard, after that you form all kinds of opinions.

UncleEd said:

In choosing a handgun or any gun,
the human psyche of an individual
must be gauged.

Often the best judge in choosing
a firearm is someone who is highly
knowledgeable about guns but also
highly knowledgeable about the
probable psyche of a person wanting
the gun.

As often as not a person goes to buy
a gun for home protection and doesn't
have really any interest in firearms.
And once gotten the firearm, have
little or no inclination to learn about it
beyond one or two brief classes.

Those people are better off without a gun.

Another part of the equation in judging a
person is how well do they listen or not
listen. I've met a lot of guys who just
want to get to the "shootin' part" of
acquiring a gun. And those guys will
never learn about safety or even
a decent knowledge of how a gun
will work or not work.

You can meet those types at gun
ranges all across the country. You'll
wish they also never touched a gun.

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You sir are hitting the ball out of the stadium, how true you are, been shooting since age ten, father taught me enjoyment of firearms is a lifetime of learning, and ALWAYS keep an open mind.

357 Terms said:

Shoot as many as you can get your hands on.
An inexperienced shooter can look at specs, models, calibers etc.
But renting, borrowing, begging to try different platforms can influence their decision as much as anything.

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Absolutely correct, HOWEVER, in the State of Washington after idiot passage of " billionaires law" ( I-1639 ) if you so much as allow someone to touch or hold your firearm you have committed a felony, ten years in prison plus $250,000 fine including confiscation of all your property reduce crime??? Yeah, only in your wildest dreams, increased 200%, the victims people who voted for passage, talk about justice well earned!!!!

Hangingrock said:

I am pragmatic. With that said part of being pragmatic is being adaptable thus the life of being left handed in the right handed world. Picking up a firearm I adopt procedures that let me operate the employed weapon. There wasn't always ambidextrous operating safeties, slide and magazine releases, etcetera-etcetera. Hand fit is subjective. Ergonomics of the 90 percentile man looks good in the SAE publications! With that said I don't cry out it doesn't fit my hand. I just go ahead and adjust to what is as opposed to what I would like it to be!

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What does your right handed, or maybe ambidextrous, identical twin brother shoot??? Good to know I am not alone in choosing my thoughts on buying handguns, we think alike, good thing to know.

357 Terms said:

Shoot as many as you can get your hands on.
An inexperienced shooter can look at specs, models, calibers etc.
But renting, borrowing, begging to try different platforms can influence their decision as much as anything.

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No greater truth!

It's like buying shoes or underwear!

Needs to fit reeeaaally intimately!

Take a short vacation to Texas, with their massive gun rentals!

Think of it as a jaunt to Disneyland!

wcwhitey said:

Good comments here! I always looked at proven designs and manufacturers. Any handgun that you like, show and interest in, has a good reputation, shoots well from a company with good customer service reputation will serve you well! Oh yea, a fairly effective caliber. Now I say this kind of tongue in cheek as anyone can make a bad gun now and then but the better the maker the less likely this is. The list seems long but it comes down to this: If you pick up a Sig, Glock, Ruger, Smith, Springfield, Charter Arms, etc And you like it, buy it, shoot it and practice with it! If you decide you want something better then do so. First one is hard, after that you form all kinds of opinions.

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Been shooting since ten years old started with SS 22lr bolt action, now have every caliber from 22-44-45, have fired more rnds imagineable, can't believe the increase of knowledge I have gained since reading posts in the High Road Forum, seems most posters are batting 1000%.