The "I want a handgun" question.

[GigaBuist]

I get this one from time to time... and I'm not really qualified to answer I guess. I often get it from people that just want "A" gun -- and they want a handgun.

I responded to such an email today and it would have been 5 pages long if printed out. He wanted a simple easy to use gun... so I suggested some wheel guns but mentioned that I'm totally unqualfied to recommend a wheel gun since I don't own one (yet!) -- but they're next on my purchase list. I've shot my fair share of them though, and I listen to my fellow gunnies so even my uninformed opinion is better than what he'll get from a gunshop commando I guess.

When I get these questions I make a few points and elaborate on them:
- Get a .22LR first, or at least WITH your 1st "real" handgun. I elaborate on why, and why I was STUPID for not doing this.
- Wheelgun if you don't want to learn much. They're simpler and easier to learn.
- DAO reolver vs DA/SA revolver vs SA revolver vs DAO auto vs DA/SA auto vs SA auto. Condition 1 vs Condition 2. Probably HEAVY stuff for a new person, but imporatnt.. and the bulk of my email.
- Overview of CZ and Glock lines... they're my favorites and I tell them I'm biased.
- Promot the 1911 design and the BHP also... explain a bit of history perhaps and why thy're good.
- Touch on Sigs -- usually out of the price range of people that just want "A" gun.
- Hi-Point pistol mention if it's a college kid.
- Marakarov mention again if it's a college kid... and ammo costs.

- Breakdown of .38/.357/.380/9mm/.40/.45/10mm/.357sig ammo performance with a heavy bias towards "good enough" for the lesser calibers against bi-podal hairless apes. I inform them when there's conflcting opinions on the .38/9mm/.380 rounds and where I lie with that... again informing them that is'my OPINION that they're "ok" and "better than leaving it at home."

Any other major points to cover? I really think I should put together a FAQ for this kinda thing because I seem to get asked it a few times a year.

 

[mete]

First you should ask WHY ? Then you might be able to narrow it down. A 22 is always a good start since you can learn the basics if trigger control and sight picture without having to deal with recoil. And if you want it simple you could always get a single shot 22. In the old days [ 1800s ] there were many of them....Other than that it's a question that you could write a book about !! You might assemble a bibliography of books and articles so they can learn what it's all about first.

 

[Zundfolge]

I would agree that if you want to become a better target shooter then you should get a .22 as a first gun ... however 99 times out of 100 when I"m asked by a non-shooter what handgun I would recommend for them as a beginner, self defense is one of the reasons they are buying.

If they can't afford both a self defense pistol and a .22 then I suggest people get a good 9mm (if they want an auto ... or a .357mag if they want a wheelgun). But I also tell them to go fondle as many guns as they can as everyone's hands are different.

I recommend 9mm because its inexpensive and easier to shoot then something like .40S&W and despite what some of the .45 fans seem to think, is an effective man stopper. If they like the idea of a revolver then I recommend .357mag so they can start out with .38spec and work their way up to full power .357 mags (oh, and I recommend a 4" gun since its the most versatile size)

If CCW is part of the reason then I tend to push people toward a Kahr ... as simple to operate as a revolver, accurate, well made and concealable.

 

[c_yeager]

A lot of people just want "a gun" to toss in the sock drawer. While i firmly believe that a person should practice regularly and be proffecient witht heir firearms i'm not going to tell that person not to get a gun. I usually recomend a that they get a nice little wheelie and a box of good hollowpoints of any reputable manufacture. I also suggest that they get a CHP "just in case they need one".

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd guess the vast majority of firearms in the United States aren't shot from one year to the next.

How very sad!

 

[Bravo11]

I get this question pretty often also, heres my spill.
I recommend a 9mm because practice ammo is cheap and because
its a good personal defense choice.
I also recommend auto's over revolvers. I know that some people
think that revolvers are better to learn on but I'm not one of them.
The models I recommend are:
Ruger P95, I've never owned one but I know alot of people that do and it seems to be a fine weapon at a good price.
Sprngfld XD.
Taurus Millineum.
Sig Pro or Sig 239

 

[SAMHANE]

My first gun was a Sig P220ST in .45 but I also went to the range and shot various guns and calibers thats probably the best way to go but 9mm isn't bad either I have a P226 in 9mm but thats my primary range gun and my .45 is home defense. And as for Sigs being expensive its true they are and worth it but you can also get a used or police turn in very cheap and they're Sig certified I bought my police turn in P226 for $475 and you'd swear it was new in the box

 

[RUT]

>>Marakarov mention again if it's a college kid<<

My, how times have changed. When I was a college kid (back before many of you were born) I couldn't afford a handgun, nor would I have the time and place to use it!

 

[Nick96]

For such a question, the right answer is almost always a medium sized, steel frame, .38Spl revolver - 3" or 4" barrel. The classic of course is the S&W Model 10 M&P on S&W's K frame design. Such handguns are utterly reliable, easy to operate under stress, are realitivly inexpensive to buy, use realitivly inexpensive ammo, fit most hands well, are not intimidating to shoot - and most any .38Spl round provides a modest degree of "knock down" power if needed for self defence.

IMHO - any auto loader (regardless of caliber) should be discouraged for novices. If they show an interest after using a revolver, then move to an auto.

 

[Dienekes]

This is one of those hypothetical questions that gets thrown out a lot but in truth most people (principally men) are going to disregard or at least heavily discount the best intentioned advice. Why? Because American men already think they know a lot about guns ("I don't need no stinking training") and mainly want you to support their uninformed choice. If they have been reading the gun rags for some time it just aggravates the situation.

A parallel to this exists when every other vehicle on the road is a 4WD. No connection to reality, but there they are. Logic will only get you so far these days. You can tell people but you can't tell them much...

My stock answer is a nice basic .38/.357 S&W or Ruger DA revolver, maybe even a police trade-in. Not very exciting as the modest prices indicate, but certainly adequate.

 

[Zundfolge]

I would never recommend a .38spec revolver for anyone other then collectors who want a .38spec.

There's just no point to them ... the exact same gun usually available in .357mag for only a few bucks more so tell them to get that ... then they can shoot .38spec if they like, then they can work up to full power .357mag loads.

IMHO - any auto loader (regardless of caliber) should be discouraged for novices. If they show an interest after using a revolver, then move to an auto.

That's definitely a prominent school of thought, but I disagree ... if you want an auto, start with an auto. The most complicated gun is still a pretty simple machine.

Anyone who's not bright enough to operate an auto (especialy something simple like a Kahr) really isn't bright enough to be trusted with a wheelgun either

 

[461]

My advice is to get a 4 inch DA .357 revolver and once they shoot 1 thousand rounds of .38 through it then try some .357's. Just go out and shoot it, don't worry about form or trigger control or anything else but keeping the muzzle in a safe direction and having fun. By the time they move on to the .357's they'll know more than anyone can teach them and be ready to worry about basics.

After getting a thorough understanding of a revolver then I'd suggest moving on to an auto but to get a .22 auto to start as they will get a true introduction to malfunction clearing with a .22 auto and become proficient at it before moving up. once they know a .357 and a .22 auto, they can make their own choices.

A .357 revolver is the basic foundation for any shooter. a .22 revolver is ok, but a light .38 load has little more recoil than a .22 and the gun can grow with the shooter and is really all anyone will ever need unless they get into the sport aspect of firearms.

The hardest thing to overcome is the ego created by TV where everyone has an automatic with an endless magazine and shoots better holding the gun in that way cool sideways drill.

There is no magic gun that hits everything everytime. It's about hard work and long hours, everyone who picks up an electric guitar is not Eddie VanHalen, and everyone who picks up a handgun isn't Jerry Miculek.