04/20/2021
SAFETY & PROFICIENCY:
Which tool is right for me?
As much as we love fi****ms, some are just not the right choice for new shooters or new carriers. Here are four handguns to stay away from when youâre starting out.
Whether youâve just gotten your concealed-carry license or you simply want a firearm for fun at the range and for home protection, youâre in the market for your first handgun. Thereâs a lot of information to consider, and your options feel unlimited, but there are four guns you should stay away from if youâre new to shooting or carrying.
1. A Tiny Gun
I know, it sounds like it makes senseâsmall guns for small people, right? Super-tiny, subcompact handguns, especially when theyâre pink or teal or some other color designed to appeal to women, look like they were made for us. And maybe they wereâbut that doesnât make a tiny gun a good idea for a new shooter.
Why not? Generally speaking, the smaller the gun, the harder it is to shoot well. Short barrels should be reserved for experienced shooters, because they will only magnify any small mistakes in your shooting form. Of course your form isnât going to be perfect when you start out, so anything that amplifies mistakes is a bad idea. Very small guns, although theyâre easy to conceal, are difficult to control and unforgiving when it comes to shooting accurately. Save them for later down the road when youâve got more confidence in your shooting ability.
2. A Super Lightweight Gun
Some guns are made to be lightweight versions of standard models, and some guns are just designed to be as lightweight as possible. Although a light gun is more comfortable to carry, it will be much harder to shoot accurately, for the same reasons listed above. The lighter the gun, the more felt recoil the shooter will experience, and that erodes accuracy quickly, especially on follow-up shots.
A too-light-for-its-size gun can feel snappy and downright painful to shoot, and a gun thatâs no fun to shoot is a gun that you wonât practice with. A gun thatâs difficult to control and painful to shoot is a gun youâll be afraid to use. Speaking of which âŚ
3. Any Gun Youâre Afraid Of
The gun world is full of advice on what caliber is good/better/best for self defenseâand a lot of it is good advice. For example, a .44 Mag (think Dirty Harry) is probably overkill for everyday carry, and a .22 Mag is probably not enough gun in a perfect worldâbut you know what? A .22 Mag that you carry every day has a much better chance of saving your life than a .44 Mag that sits at home in the safe because youâre too afraid of it. (For the record, this is an example. Donât buy a .44 Mag for your first handgun.)
For your first handgun, donât buy a gun that intimidates you. Youâll either shoot it poorly (and possibly unsafely) because youâre anticipating noise and recoil, or you wonât shoot it at all.
So what if the gun that youâre comfortable with is something the self-proclaimed internet experts consider ânot enough gunâ for XYZ application? The best gun to buy is one that you shoot well and can carry confidently.
4. Someone Elseâs Gun
Thereâs nothing wrong with trying out all the guns your husband/boyfriend/dad/mom/sister has and seeing what you likeâin fact, this is a great way to start making your selection, if they have a sufficient variety. But donât buy the gun your boyfriend wants you to buy just because he says itâs the best. Donât buy the gun your mom carries if sheâs been an avid shooter for 30 years. Their needs are different than yours!
Take all advice WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, even if it comes from someone who owns lots of guns or the sales clerk behind the gun counter, and donât buy a gun based solely on someoneâs recommendation of whatâs âthe best handgun out there.â
So, What Should You Buy?
The ideal scenario is to try a bunch of guns, either from a friend or at a gun range that rents fi****ms, so you get a feel for what works for you. A little experience shooting will also help take away any fear or intimidation you might have surrounding guns in general. While you might start shooting with a .22 LR handgun, youâll progress very quickly into more appropriate self-defense calibers, so buying a .22 to start probably wonât be necessary.
The gun you should buy doesnât need to be big, but stay away from sub-compacts for your very first handgun unless you already have a lot of experience. If you plan to carry concealed, look for compact to mid-sized guns. If this is going to be your nightstand gun and you donât plan to carry it, youâll probably find a mid-sized to full-sized gun most comfortable to shoot.
As for calibers, standard self-defense loads include .380, 9 mm, .40 and .45 in semi-automatics, with the 9 mm being kind of the Goldilocks ânot too big, not too smallâ option there. If a revolver is more your speed, .38 Special and .357 Magnum are your most popular calibers. You can buy a .357 Mag and shoot .38 Spl. loads out of it for reduced recoil and maximum versatility. If you go the revolver route, donât buy the lightest one you can find, and avoid what we call snub-nose gunsâguns with very short barrels. Theyâre terrific carry guns, but not necessarily the best option for new shooters.
Bottom line: Your first handgun should be something you can shoot comfortably and confidently. Whatever that looks like for you is your âbest.â