What do you tell new shooters/gun owners looking for their first handgun?

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albanian

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What advice do you give to newbies regarding handguns? I am not an expert but if someone asks, I will try and pass along any thing I have learned from my shooting experience. I know that my take on things will not be right for everyone but it is better than having someone go to a gunstore compleatly green.

When someone asks what handgun they should get for self defense, I often recommend the semi-auto pistol instead of the revolver because most newbies can shoot the semi-auto better. If it is for CCW, I will recommend the snubbie because it is reliable and simple but for all other uses, the mid to full-sized semi-auto seems better.

I assume that they are going to take the time to get to know how the gun works and train with it, if I don't think they will ever shoot it after the first day, then maybe a revolver is a better option. Most of the people I know that are/were newbies, were not the type to just buy a gun and throw it in the dresser until they needed it. They were just starting out in their shooting lives and wanted some advice.

9mm is my top choice because ammo is cheap and people can afford to shoot more of it. More shooting means more practice and more practice means better shot placement. 9mm also has less recoil than .40 or .45 and is not as hard to get over the recoil issue. The .40 is the worst, I still have issues with it and I never warmed up to it. 9mm is good because most guns have a 9mm chambering so there are lots of guns to choose from. There are also many 9mm loads to choose from also.

When it comes to actions, I recommend DA only or DA/SA with a decocker and no safety. Keep it as simple as possible. SA guns are not the best choice for most beginners IMO.

SIGs, the Ruger decocker pistols (esp. the P-95), Kahr, Glock and several others seem to make the most sense.
 
My advice is usually, 'get a .22 lr and learn how to shoot'. Inexpensive guns, inexpensive ammo, focus on shooting basics/aim/hold and not on recoil, learn about proper gun handling, and finally, if you can take down a .22 semi, you can take down anything.
 
The .22 is good in theory, but alot of people get interested in shooting when they realize they need a real weapon. In that light, yeah a .22 is better than nothing, but a baseball bat would probably be better still. Furthermore, many beginning shooters are reluctant to drop several hundred bucks on a gun just so they can buy a real gun later.

Other than that, it is driven by personal preference and aptitude. Some new shooters can work up to a .45 or even 10mm on the first trip to the range and are off to the races. Others are put off by .38 Special target loads. Alot of it just depends. In general, though, my thinking is full sized in 9x19 or .38 Special to start with.

I actually think the idea that single-action guns are too tricky for beginners is just overblown. They are very intuitive:

-Hammer back= can shoot
-Hammer down= can't shoot

Also, because the trigger pulls on SA guns don't suck as much as most DA/SA guns out there, they are actually hitting the target sooner.
 
Before GIVING advice, I ask a few questions, like "How do you plan to use it?"

If the intended use is concealed carry, I recomment a .38 Special/.357 Magnum with a 3 to 4 inch barrel. The Ruger SP 101 is a good example of a gun of that type. Revolvers are inherently safer for newbies than auto pistols -- you can SEE if a revolver is loaded, you can unload it by swinging out the cylinder (and not forget a round in the chamber), and it has fewer controls.

If the intended use is home defense WITHOUT doubling as concealed carry, I recommend a shotgun -- usually a pump, 12 gauge.

If the intended use is plinking, or woods carry I recommend a .22 LR. Here, the difference between revolvers and auto pistols is less critical, and there are plenty of fine auto pistols available.
 
You are correct, a buyer needs to have an idea what the intended use of the gun is for.

I then state, anyone recommending a specific gun to you is FOS. Guns are very subjective, and what works for me may not work for someone else. An autoloader may not seem intuitive to some, a revolver may have too hard a trigger pull to be accurate, a Glock may not fit their hand properly, a 1911 may be too big, etc. They need an idea of what they want, then they need to actually try a couple to determine what suits them.

My suggestion would be explanations of calibre (cost, speed, weight, types,availability), actions (SA, DA, DAO, DA/SA), safeties(active/passive), platforms( metal:1911/M9s/ect -vs- Polymers:Glock/etc), size (full, compact, sub) and recommendations of various models to try once they have an idea of what they are looking for.

If they want a full size 9mm, I may suggest Glock, Beretta, Sig, H&K etc... (and explain general pricing eschelons) and steer them towards more proven platforms built by reputable companies.
 
I suggest buying what fits. Wants/needs/uses for the firearm. If possible, I steer newbies away from big calibers and single actions and semi-autos. Basic and simple controls in revolvers and small calibers is where to begin. The RULES is where to START. If a newbie finds a Beretta to fit because they had one in the service, fine. I feel the same way about the Colt 45 auto.
 
What Sean Smith said, verbatim. People, by and large, don't buy guns for recreational purposes (at least, at first). People buy guns because they need defensive tools.

DAO guns are more difficult to shoot than SA guns. They can be shot well. They can be shot *very* well, but when starting off a SA crutch is invaluable. Just like using plugs and muffs.

Surprisingly, IME a lot of people warm up to 1911s rather quickly. Regular .45s have a different recoil profile than other guns, and some people take to the slower push more readily than the annoying yap'n'snap on the 9mm. If that's the case, then I suggest a 1911 .45 and a lot of 185gr wadcutters. :D
 
One word: "Used K-Frame .357 or equivalent, 4 inch bbl.". (Wait a minute, that's a bunch of words. Oh well.) Then I tell them to buy as much .38 ammunition as they can afford. And a cleaning kit.

If they insist on a semiauto, I recommend a Ruger or Browning .22.

If they are a complete newbie and want to start out with a Glock or a 1911 I try to discourage it.
Furthermore, many beginning shooters are reluctant to drop several hundred bucks on a gun just so they can buy a real gun later.
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Sad but true, Sean Smith, sad but true.
 
Hmmm.

Generally I listen more than I talk, for awhile anyhow. Why does the person want a gun? What kind of experience have they had with guns? How much money do they have to put into it, and how likely are they to practice? Do they have big, medium, or small hands? Do they have arthritis or carpal tunnel problems? If they want a gun for self defense, have they thought about the ethical, legal, and moral consequences of using deadly force? If they want a gun for defense, is it for home defense, or for concealed carry? Do they have children -- and if so, how old -- and if young, how do they intend to keep the gun away from the kids until the kids are gun proofed?

Depending on the answers, I might steer them to a Ruger Mark II (.22), a full-size, mid-size, or baby Glock in almost any caliber, a .38 or .357 wheelgun, a Beretta with a tip-up barrel -- or toward nothing at all, urging them instead to really think about the consequences of having dangerous hardware around the house or making the commitment to use it if necessary.

If someone had tried to discourage me from starting with a Glock, chances are I would never again have scraped up the cash at the same time I had the interest in learning to shoot, and I'd've ended either with a generally poor-for-defense .22, or nothing at all.

On the other hand, I agree that a .22 makes the learning curve easier for a new shooter, and that the cost of ammo should be figured into the ultimate cost of the gun (thus, an equally-priced .45 is more expensive than a .22, all other things being equal; an important point, maybe even a decisive one, unless the beginner needs a defense weapon right now. In which case the .22 is too expensive no matter how cheap it is.)

It is tempting to come up with one-size-fits-all (or none) answers to questions like this. "Everyone should start with a wheelgun!" "No one should try to shoot a larger caliber until they have mastered a .22!" But people are different, with disparate problems and needs, and should be treated as individuals.

Oh, some of the rest of what I tell new shooters can be found at http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=74078 ;)

pax

I always advise people never to give advice. -- P. G. Wodehouse
 
I agree that the best way to give advice is to ask questions.

Why do you want it?
How do you plan to use it?
Where do you have available to shoot and what can you shoot there?
How does that feel to you?
If you pick it up and point it are the sights lined up without you having to adjust your grip?
Do you think it would be fun to shoot that gun?
Do you like how it looks?
Can you rent it?

etc . . .
 
I understand the "start out with a .22" thinking ... and I agree that in the long run it will make you a better shooter, but 99% of the people who ask for my advice on a first gun want a gun for self defense, plus target/plinking.

So I always recommend either a 4"-6" .357mag/.38 revolver, or if they prefer an auto go with a mid size or full size 9mm (I usualy recommend a CZ75 ... if they are going to CCW I recommend a steel Kahr).

For an auto, I recommend 9mm because its a good enough defense cartridge, but practice ammo is freakin' cheap!
 
Well, from the new folks that I've seen start shooting, they (the majority) have improved their shooting skills at a much faster rate than those that had started off with even .38 Spec and 9 mm. The centerfire shooters do indeed improve over time with much practice, but at a slower rate than the .22 starters.There are exceptions I have seen where the new shooter was simply a natural but that is in the minority of what I've seen.

The best I've seen was one new shooter (entire new) go from 7-8" down to 2" (3" consistantly) at 7 yards in a couple hours. (First couple/three shots were actually about 12-15" but I figured it was just nervousness and overcompensation of the recoil he had never felt before.) I've never seen a new shooter do that with a .38. best I've seen was down to ~6" (consistant) in 2-3 hours at 7 yards.

Certainly .38 is much better than .22 in self defense and if in dire need of such a weapon, go get it. Otherwise, take your time and learn to shoot.
 
I'm surprised none of us have yet mentioned a .22 Conversion kit. I have two -- a Ciener on a Fed Ord frame, and a Colt Service Ace on a M1927 Argentine frame.

If you're going with an autopistol, a .22 conversion kit has a lot to recommend itself.
 
Yes -- but a Mark II is not the same as your carry gun. You can get conversion kits for many different auto pistols, and the Ruger MK II only duplicates one, the M1911A1, and that not very well in my opinion.

I want a gun that fits in the same holster, has the same drills, and so on.
 
I reply that I don't know everything. I advise them that they should come to this sight, register, read, ask, and compare input...more than listen to me as one individual. Yes, seriously.
 
I tell folks to slow down and not get in a hurry. I also invite them to an IDPA and/or an IPSC match where they can try various guns and talk to other shooters.

If a person asks me for my personal opinion, I tell them 1911 or Glock in that order.
 
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I recently went through this, and I myself was the "I need a guy" guy about 2.5 years ago.

A revolver was never suggested to me really. My "instructor" was all about 9mm high-capacity guns at the time and I can't blame him for that. He was collecting them himself and having been issued a Beretta in the service he was fond of them as a starter gun. I wasn't interested in a revolver either really, it's just not "tactical" enough. Hate to admit it, but I wanted a "cool" gun!

Well, the guy I just helped purchase his first pistol was in the same boat. Liked the idea of having 10-15 rounds "on call" if need be. Knew it was unecessary, but still liked the idea of having it there. Fair enough. "We" went with a Springfield XD9 as his first pistol. He's happy with it, and I'm happy with it too. I like the bugger and might get myself one!

Anyway, I agree that your 1st time pistol buyer that is going to a "gun guy" for advice is looking for a defensive caliber. They do not know that they'll take this up as a hobby... and they might never. Now, if they KNOW they're digging this as a hobby and will be at the range a couple of times a month then a .22LR is a good idea. They'll want to become a great shot. Most of them though want ONE pistol that'll be cheap to practice with and capable of defense. In the case of my last "new shooter" experience he also wanted the ability to carry it. While the Springfield XD9 is certainly totable he'd already admitted that he'll probably buy a smaller gun for carry. I did the same thing.

The 18-26 crowd right now has grown up with auto loaders all over the silver screen. When we want a defensive handgun we gravitate toward that. Is it wrong? Yes. I admit that. After my recent trouble with a P3AT I -know- I need a snub-nosed .38spl now. It took time to get to that point though. My first firearms purchases were all based on "Wow, neato!" factors. Given that I associate with a large number of "tech geeks" that's likely to be their first impluse too.

I can suggest a .22lr to start with ... but I don't have one for them to try.
I can suggest a wheelgun to start with ... but I dont' have one for them to try.

I will fix that, trust me... but new shooters today are part of the "Wonder nine" crowd... myself included.

My advice to them, when they're set an autoloader is simple: Glock, Sig, H&K, CZ, Beretta, Ruger -- pick one that fits your needs and fits your hand. Go 9mm to start with because it's cheap. Other brands exist that are OK and if you want to go .45 that's reasonable. Even .40 is okay but you should shoot my .40 to see how it feels first definately. If you buy Lorcin, Jennings, or Davis I'll thwack you upside the head. I've heard Hi-Point is "good enough"... if you want to go cheap, go that route.
 
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I can suggest a .22lr to start with ... but I don't have one for them to try.
I can suggest a wheelgun to start with ... but I dont' have one for them to try.
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Good Lord, man! You're suffering severe firearms deprivation! You need to stop squandering your money on frivolous things like food, clothing and medical care and buy some more guns.:D
 
It's sort of like teaching a pig to sing; it wastes your time and generally annoys the pig.

Relatively few people approach this with any logic; it's more like an itch that has to be scratched, and the selection process (such as it is) is usually guided by current centerfold pictures in the gun rags.

This seems to operate from the micro to the macro level, from kids with fuzz on their cheeks to NATO.

Just about anything anyone needs to know on the subject can still be found in Elmer Keith's classic book, "Sixguns" for those ambitious enough to read it. It's dated, but not so much that it matters.
 
I agree with most of what's been said here...

As to the actual guns I recommend often, if someone just wants to get into shooting in general without much regard to self defence, a Ruger Mk II has probably been my number one suggestion. If folks (men, women or both) want a good gun for home protection and eventually to be able to carry the same gun, my first suggestion is a Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum with a 3" to 4" barrel, used if possible and would start them with 38 of course. For guys that are set on a pistol, I used to recommend the Taurus PT92/99 quite often as it seems to satisfy what many younger guys want a gun to look like (hey, it worked for John Doe in Seven, right?) but lately I've been moving more towards CZs or EAAs at a slightly lower price point... More ergonomic and generally just as reliable.

I've also recommended and sold a few P32s but with a stern warning about absolutely getting to know it before relying on it.
 
rent or find a friendly gun enthuesiast who will let you shoot his/hers

no way to know if you are going to like a firearm until you shoot it
 
My response is either "Go shoot some" or "I have some, let's go shoot". I do not buy a car without a test drive, or buy shoes without trying them on either. He/She has to be comfortable with it. Not intimidated, or overly confident.
 
"I reply that I don't know everything. I advise them that they should come to this sight, register, read, ask, and compare input...more than listen to me as one individual. Yes, seriously."

Good point. I tell them to check this and other gun web sites and research any gun before they buy. I tell them that but most of the time they are not "gun nuts" just yet and they don't have that level of interest. I find that many people won't research or read about something until they are very interested in it, most people don't get really interested in anything until they do it. I have not met many people who buy one gun and never want/need another one but I have met many people that don't see why they need the first one. Gun nuts are made not born. :D

The typical guy that I have met that wants a handgun, wants one for self defense. Sometimes they intend on carrying it but most often they want it handy at the home or in the car. Of course it depends on what they like and all that but there are certain types of guns that I start suggesting and if they don't like them, I move on to others. I wouldn't let someone buy a gun unless they at least have handled it a few times, it is much better if they can shoot it first but that is not always the case. I have a wide range of guns that I can let them shoot first to see generally how they react to revolvers, autos, small, large, ect. so if they like my Beretta 92FS but think my Bersa is way too small, I have a better idea of what they want out of a gun.

I really enjoy helping new shooters and taking them shooting. It is great to be able to share something that I have learned and to pass along any info I may have. I try to stick to the facts and not let my biases get in the way. I don't like Glocks because they are too chunky for my hand but I know that many new shooters really take to them so I don't discourage them from a gun I don't like. I will discourage them from a gun that I believe to be of poor quality (Jennings, Bryco, Kel-Tec, ect.) just so they don't buy a gun that turns out to be a turd. Nothing will end a new shooter's shooting and gun owning career faster than being hosed on their first gun. If they spend good money on a gun and it turns out to be a jam-o-matic or it breaks and costs them more money, they might just give up right there. I have known people that this has happend to and it is sad. Sometimes they come back to the fold after a few years but not always.
 
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