What handgun will make me a better shooter?

1911 guy said:

Start with one that fits your hands.

Loads of people are too quick to recommend their favorite handgun to everyone else. Personally, I can't stand Glocks. But when a friend was shopping, he found the Glock fit his hands the best. I recommended he get it and he did.

Research handgun fit, then go shopping. What everyone else likes doesn't mean jack if it doesn't fit your hands.

Once you find several models that fit, choose one of those that has a decent trigger and sights. Everything else is gravy.

Click to expand...

Pretty much all that needs to be said about gun selection. Gun that fits me doesn't mean it fits you.

After that, spending money & time on ammo & range time.

Then spend more money with professional training to develop better techniques.

Don't laugh, but I would say a "toy". A quality airsoft handgun (these aren't at WM) in the form of the handgun you would like to gain proficiency with. Make/buy a simple pellet trap and practice in your basement, garage, or outdoors (if allowed by your municipality). Get an extra mag for reloading drills. The airsoft should fit (or be close to fitting) pistol holsters of the real firearm. You can practice your draw, sight picture, flashpoint, doubletaps, and any other practice drill. The biggest differences from the real thing will be the trigger pull (lighter), the recoil (negligable), and the ability to make a mistake without injury. Gas airsoft guns are not perfect, but if it's hard to get to the range, it's $200 well spent.

whatever said:

What handgun will make me a better shooter?

Click to expand...

Honestly?

The one you spend the time with learning how to shoot.

I think what hes looking for, is what one gun will help him be a better shooter overall, with any of them.

Theres really nothing better for that, than a DA revolver, fired DAO. Once you have that down, which really isnt a big deal or large amount of time, you shouldnt have trouble shooting pretty much anything else.

No gun will make you a better shooter. The best thing you can do is pick one you like, that fits your needs, and get good with it using dry fire practice, range time and seeking professional instruction.

Certain guns are better than others for learning to shoot well with anything you might come across. Others are not.

Learning on a SA gun does nothing to help you with shooting a DA/DAO , where reverse is not true.

Once you have DAO down, you tend to worry less on what the trigger is doing, and focus on what you should be focused on, the sights, and holding the alignment during the stroke and until the trigger breaks.

Not a handgun but.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/42...reech-lock-single-stage-press-anniversary-kit

Start reloading, and you will shoot all your guns more.

whatever said:

I dont think the gun will make me better. I do, however think that practice with the right gun will make me better than practice with the 'wrong' one.

It is true in most other sports hobbies. A bad golfer is bad with all clubs, but can be sbetter with correctly fit ones. A good golfer is good with all clubs, but is better with properly fit ones. The right softball bat can make a good hitter even better...and make bad hitters better too.

I certainly am not on the search for a gun that, simply by owning it, makes me a better shooter. I am loking for a gun that I can get the most efficient practice with. I hope that makes sense.

Click to expand...

Makes perfect sense. I know what you're saying and surely even the folk that are saying "there's no magic gun" know what you're saying to...

Anyway, learning the correct way to grip (thanks 9mmEpiphany) and dry firing all of my guns has helped me immensely. Much better than wasting ammo at the range. (dont get me wrong, I like to waste ammo at the range too)

Lots of dry fire. Pull trigger again and again until your front sight stays perfectly still all the way through. Repeat.

Spend your money on professional training instead of a new gun.

In my quest to be a very good handgun shooter using dummy rounds in a stock Glock has helped more than anything. The Glock as most of us know has a rather long, gritty trigger. When totally focused on the front sight, taking your time, squeeze the trigger. When the striker falls on the dummy round that front sight should not move at all. This is easy to do at home with an unloaded gun but another matter at the range with live ammo.

The point is Glocks are difficult to shoot accurately. After I mastered the Glock trigger everything else is easy.

Ya know, in normal times I'd say the .22 since one can shoot more for less money. BUT, right now is not the time to buy a .22. Not a round of ammo in the state of Texas unless you wanna camp out at the Walmart loading docks and wait for a few boxes to come in.

Actually, I started very young, about 8 years old, with a benjamin pump up air pistol. It was the era of the one hand shooter. I learned in classic bullseye form from my Uncle, taught myself from there on. There weren't shooting schools back then, not like now days. But, I turned out a decent shooter through reading about technique and lots of practice (I like .22s and also handload), not Jerry Miculek, but above average I think.

Oh, I grew up in the country shooting. I've moved back to the woods now, shooting range in my back yard and my yard is littered with .22 hulls now. I just wish I could buy 'em when I want 'em.

I start w/ my .22lr and work my way up to my 1911 and
357mag. Works really well for me.

No handgun will magically make you a better shot, practicing and mastering the fundamentals will make you a better shot. This is like in the rifle forum, when guys ask which rifle is more accurate, a stock savage or some custom jobby precision rifle, when they can't yet shoot a Winchester 94 to its potential. Get some instruction, then shoot, shoot and then when your are done shooting, spend a bunch of time dry firing and then go shoot some more, and when you are done with that, shoot some more. Nothing will make you a better shot other than learning proper techniques and practicing them, you may find you shoot one pistol better than another but that doesn't mean you are a better shot.