Most accurate handgun platform...for noobs

[.38 Special]

A .22 rimfire hands down. If there is simply no way to get one, then something like a .32 or .38 with wadcutters takes a distant second place.

I prefer a DA revolver for a beginner. It is the simplest of the common handgun actions, with no hidden cartridge to catch out a tyro. I also have found that some people are distracted by the snapping slide and flying brass, and so it's easier to begin without the added distraction.

Recoil makes the whole thing much, much more difficult. Trying to teach with a full power defensive cartridge will slow the learning curve by a factor. Trying to teach with something like .45 hardball is simply nuts.

 

[Russ57]

It seems like a simple question but it isn't. For some, accuracy is the about shooting the smallest groups (Olympic Pistol/2700 Bullseye). For some it is about how more times my gun can hit that beer can than yours (Plinking). Then we have the Action Shooting crowd that is all about hitting a given size target as many times as possible within the shortest time frame.

Most would agree the Olympic pistols have the best mechanical accuracy and the ergonomics to take advantage of it......provided one is shooting standing with one hand only (and time isn't a factor). Expect to pay around $2,500 (and up) for a pistol in .22 LR.

A lot of the 2700 crowd makes do with less expensive options like.....S&W 41, High Standard, or even Ruger MarkX. The 1911 platform generally accounts for the other 2/3rds of the match. It will cost a good deal more to make a 1911 as accurate as a target grade .22 pistol.

 

[.38 Special]

It seems like a simple question but it isn't. For some, accuracy is the about shooting the smallest groups (Olympic Pistol/2700 Bullseye). For some it is about how more times my gun can hit that beer can than yours (Plinking). Then we have the Action Shooting crowd that is all about hitting a given size target as many times as possible within the shortest time frame.

Most would agree the Olympic pistols have the best mechanical accuracy and the ergonomics to take advantage of it......provided one is shooting standing with one hand only (and time isn't a factor). Expect to pay around $2,500 (and up) for a pistol in .22 LR.

A lot of the 2700 crowd makes do with less expensive options like.....S&W 41, High Standard, or even Ruger MarkX. The 1911 platform generally accounts for the other 2/3rds of the match. It will cost a good deal more to make a 1911 as accurate as a target grade .22 pistol.

For my money, the foundation of all handgunnery is "sights and trigger". Those need to be mastered before just about anything else can follow, regardless of a fellow's goals. The question, then, is "What is the best gun for teaching/learning those fundamentals?" In my opinion, it's the one with the least distractions - recoil, manual of arms, difficult trigger, crummy sights - which actually makes the answer pretty simple.

 

[derek45]

spend the money on good training

find a USPSA / IPSC GM lever shooter and take a class

 

[WVRJ]

When bullets for my long range rifles became scarce and expensive,I decided to work on my pistol shooting.I could make a pistol work,but didn't go much beyond that.I became friends with a pistol shooting master who mentored me and helped me out more than I can say.We shot different pistols,usually 22 or 9MM loaded light at first.He kept it very simple.One of the drills was 3 shots at 7,10,14 and 21 yards all on the same target.At each yardage,we would go to the target,talk about those three shots,mark them with a colored felt tip and go to the next yardage.His reason for doing it like that was simple.There's no point in shooting a bunch of rounds and not looking them over to try and see what can be done to improve the shooter.I agree with others here who have said that the exact platform isn't as important as what the shooter is doing.I'd have to say that a 22 would be hard to beat.But if all you do is blast away and not try to learn a little something from every shot,you're just wasting ammo no matter what you shoot.Shoot a few,look at them,try to make the next shot better.Work at it right and you won't be a noob for long.

 

[Idahou]

Thanks for all reactions, i just point on that it should be more technical aspect disscusiion

I dont look for gun what will make me better shooter - it just led me to think about current most prominent platform and diffrent approach to handgun design.

So lets do this - your are big head in your army and you got task to choose new handgun (even nonexisting if you can put it together with toadys technology and presented limits) for recruits wich never used gun, it have to be gun which can be mass produced for reasonable amount of money (not a trash budget gun, but also not a race or custom gun) in calibre with power close to 9mm (so no .22LR) and because BS politicans - your recruits have to get highest posible accuracy per shot or per fast fired group of 5 or combined in first day without invidual training (meaning one instructur per group ppl and so) - if not, your budget will be cut off. Minimal capacity is 5 rounds and gun size must be in service handgun cathegory.
What platform or handgun will you choose or what you will design in order to met said critteria?

 

[someguy2800]

Thanks for all reactions, i just point on that it should be more technical aspect disscusiion

I dont look for gun what will make me better shooter - it just led me to think about current most prominent platform and diffrent approach to handgun design.

So lets do this - your are big head in your army and you got task to choose new handgun (even nonexisting if you can put it together with toadys technology and presented limits) for recruits wich never used gun, it have to be gun which can be mass produced for reasonable amount of money (not a trash budget gun, but also not a race or custom gun) in calibre with power close to 9mm (so no .22LR) and because BS politicans - your recruits have to get highest posible accuracy per shot or per fast fired group of 5 or combined in first day without invidual training (meaning one instructur per group ppl and so) - if not, your budget will be cut off. Minimal capacity is 5 rounds and gun size must be in service handgun cathegory.
What platform or handgun will you choose or what you will design in order to met said critteria?

CZ 75b and I would contract CGW to put their defensive carry trigger package in all of them.

 

[Russ57]

Very different question. Accuracy is far less important than reliability. Also the pistol chosen is often different for a officer than a special ops group. IIRC USA uses close to a dozen different ones. Regardless here are a few to consider.

1) Glock 17/17/34. Same gun different barrel/grips. As reliable and idiot proof as it gets. Dirt cheap. I don't like them but many do.
2) Browning Hi-Power. Like the 1911, a proven gun used for decades by many different countries.
3) CZ 75 (Phantom). CZ makes very good guns with great ergonomics.
4) HK U.S.P. A gun designed from the ground up to be a service pistol. Effort was put into recoil reduction. Would be high on my list.
5) FN Five-Seven. Designed to share ammo with the FN P90 PDW. Designed to defeat soft body armor. Holds 20 rounds. Low recoil, along with accuracy and trajectory to be a viable 100 yard solution. Expensive though. If I felt the FN P90 PDW was a good choice for my special ops guys I would certainly consider the Five-Seven.
6) MEU/SOC 1911. Yup, I'm that guy. Love my 45's.

 

[bearcreek]

What platform or handgun will you choose or what you will design in order to met said critteria?

Glock 19 or CZ P10c.

 

[Varminterror]

Instructing new handgunners both one on one and through basic and defensive handgun courses and concealed carry courses, I have come to offer the same advise over and over to dozens on dozens of new handgunners for the last ~15yrs: your first handgun should be TWO handguns; whatever primary handgun you want for whatever purpose you want it, AND a target style semiauto like the Ruger Mark series, Browning Buckmark, S&W Victory (or M41!), or Beretta Neos.

Target style 22’s are all upside, all advantage, and no downside. Low recoil, relatively low report, good heft for stability on target, good sight radius, friendly triggers, inexpensive and broadly available ammunition, and reliable accuracy to let the new shooter hold themselves to #noexcuses when shooting. They can shoot fast or can shoot slow and precise. Most are also easily adaptable to accept various types of sights, whether iron/patridge type, open red dots, closed tube dots and prisms, or magnified telescopic sights.

Development of handgun marksmanship is much faster with these target style 22’s than with more handicapped models with shorter sight radii, heavier/longer triggers, or higher recoil. These fundamental skills are immediately transferable to other handgun types, allowing new handgun shooters to build upon a fully developed, solid foundation. These target style 22LR pistols retain value thereafter to allow the shooter to maintain and expand their foundational skill set.

 

[mavracer]

I'm going to reprise my earlier answer sure a 22 target gun will be the easiest gun for a noob to shoot so that's probably what they'll shoot the best.
But they'll probably still suck because it's a hardware answer to a software problem.
To fix the software problem get a lightweight snubnose DAO revolver fitted with Crimson Trace grips and dry fire it until you can stroke thru the trigger and hold the laser still.
Get good at it where you can go from a low ready to putting the dot on a light switch quickly and stroke thru the trigger 5 times without the dot leaving the switch plate.
When you can do that you'll be able to shoot most anything someone sticks in your hand fairly well.
For a real cheap solution you could substitute a toy or BB gun with a cheap laser pointer as long as it has a long and heavy trigger.

 

[JR24]

For a new shooter on a single range trip? Some type of target 22 will probably yield the most satisfying results.

For a new shooter looking to get better?

Then I say it doesn’t matter what they shoot, training and dry fire practice will be far more useful to range results than swapping guns.

Something like the ITarget Pro makes dry fire a little more fun and works on fundamentals.

 

[DDDWho]

If you miss with this thing it’s your fault not the gun. S&W 41

 

[Tallball]

A common 9mm pistol that people with small hands and extra-large hands can both manage to hold and shoot.

I have a lot of service pistols. They all have similar accuracy... if they fit your hands okay.

Having replaceable grip panels in different sizes would doubtless be way too complicated for such a large organization.

 

[JERRY]

I'll chime in for the ruger mk2

 

[Scrapiron45]

OP guidelines :
Reasonable price .
No 22s.
High accuracy .
Limited training time (one day) .
5 shots at speed.
Group training.
Service handgun category .

Canik TP9sa
Glock 19x
Sig 320

Must admit the 320 has the 19x on trigger but I just couldn't put it in front of the Glock. Sorry,

 

[rust collector]

I agree that the 22 rimfire is the best learning tool ever, but in a centerfire I would recommend a very ergonomic pistol such as a Steyr or Caracal. The fewer the distractions, the better the trainee can concentrate on sight picture, trigger squeeze and fundamentals of operation. The design features that make them scarce in our markets (ie they don't look like the pistols we are used to seeing and using) make them better for those not familiar with the 1911 or Glock function and feel.

 

[doubleh]

Since the OP stated plainly no 22 and a minimum of 5 shot capacity in his post I'll go with a 1911 in 9mm or a good quality revolver in 38 special and at least a 6" barrel. Just having fun and thinking good triggers.

 

[JR24]

Since the OP stated plainly no 22 and a minimum of 5 shot capacity in his post I'll go with a 1911 in 9mm or a good quality revolver in 38 special and at least a 6" barrel. Just having fun and thinking good triggers.

Good call, something like a Vaquero or Blackhawk in .38 is accurate and fun to shoot.

Everyone who’s blasted away with my Vaquero has had a lot of fun, even folks who don’t really like guns. Though, a Blackhawk with proper sights would be better.

 

[Riomouse911]

With the OP’s limited parameters (Army gun for newbie shooter recruits, 5 shots minimum, 9mm minimum), and since pistols are usually not primary weapons for soldiers, I would go with a Glock 17 or 19X 9mm.



But I would specify they come with two mods: an Apex flat trigger and steel fiber optic sights for the following reasons:



Not expensive to buy, durable, easy access to spare parts, super simple design makes it easy to train armorers to keep guns running. (This is the administrator in me talking!)

Easy to mass-train non or new shooters on pistols like these due to the simplicity of operation.

9mm has sufficient power to be effective enough yet recoil is not intimidating for beginners.

The gun is accurate enough for combat applications and the additional changes makes shooting them well a bit easier (This goes especially in low light, not a fan of stock Glock sights.)

Training on one system from boot camp to battlefield reduces confusion under stress.

Dead-nuts reliability under just about any battlefield conditions, yet instructors can induce failures with dummy rounds to teach malfunction drills.

Sufficient capacity for combat patrol use yet the gun-ammo combo isn’t too heavy.

There are other striker types that can be swapped for the Glock, I just went with the ones I know myself and have trained lots of others on over the years. YMMV

Stay safe.

 

[doubleh]

Good call, something like a Vaquero or Blackhawk in .38 is accurate and fun to shoot.

Agreed. I really like shooting 38 special in my new model BK and new to me 3 screw BH. Accurate, very little recoil, and thrifty because of the slow load/unload feature.

 

[murf]

a 4" s&w 686

murf

 

[Random 8]

Without reading any of the posts other than the first, my first reaction would be to field some iteration of the CZ75 or Beretta 92 platform with a modern plastic frame. They check all the OPs boxes in the "edit" post. This is what most second rate and some first rate militaries have done in the last decade. Keep some steel frame 75s for training to cheat the test (they're easier to shoot well) and issue the less expensive polymer frame en masse. The single action fire mode will enhance scores on precision fire courses.

The wealthier ones are pushing Sig platforms.

 

[hq]

I may be a bit biased but everyone I taught the ropes with a CZ-type pistol, most commonly a Jericho, seem to have had a steeper learning curve than with 1911:s, Glocks or 92F:s. My issued sidearm in early 90's was FN Hi-Power, which was equally shooter-friendly to those who hadn't shot much or at all before. Most officer candidates shot it amazingly well after only a couple of hours of training.

 

[kidneyboy]

Thanks for all reactions, i just point on that it should be more technical aspect disscusiion

I dont look for gun what will make me better shooter - it just led me to think about current most prominent platform and diffrent approach to handgun design.

So lets do this - your are big head in your army and you got task to choose new handgun (even nonexisting if you can put it together with toadys technology and presented limits) for recruits wich never used gun, it have to be gun which can be mass produced for reasonable amount of money (not a trash budget gun, but also not a race or custom gun) in calibre with power close to 9mm (so no .22LR) and because BS politicans - your recruits have to get highest posible accuracy per shot or per fast fired group of 5 or combined in first day without invidual training (meaning one instructur per group ppl and so) - if not, your budget will be cut off. Minimal capacity is 5 rounds and gun size must be in service handgun cathegory.
What platform or handgun will you choose or what you will design in order to met said critteria?

Still a 1911.