Buying Your First Handgun & 10 Recommendations
Buying your first handgun can be an overwhelming task mainly because of all of the options available on the gun market today. This article will be a helpful resource on your mission of buying your first handgun and at the end, I will give some recommendations. Hopefully, after reading this you will be able to choose the right one for you.
So you finally decided to make the leap and join the firearms owner community. This is a good step in your life and you are about to enter the wonderful world of guns. For many, this can be a good thing but it does come with some minor “side effects.” I call them side effects because this is probably the start of a new hobby for you and it is an expensive one. So be warned.
Everyone has different reasons for becoming a first-time gun owner (self-defense, social pressure, political climate, curiosity, or if you just want to exercise your constitutional rights). You are about to travel down the rabbit hole and believe me when I say it goes deep.
Disclaimer
A lot of people will have different preferences on this topic. I try to give you the resources and knowledge to help you decide and figure out what handgun is right for “you”. There is no one size fits all and something that works well for one person may not work for another person. I do state my personal opinions and recommendations and my thought process on this topic. Here is what you need to know before buying your first handgun.
The two types of handguns
Semi-auto and revolvers are the two types of handguns. Each of these has their benefits and their downfalls. Some people might have different reasons for buying their first handgun and might like one better than the other for personal reasons. Here are some features of both types:
Semi-Autos:
More round capacity
Option of safety
Higher chance of jamming
Slimmer
Revolvers:
Less round capacity
No safety
Very reliable
Bulky
handgun Primary philosophy of use
Like many things in this world, some tools perform specific tasks better than others. Trying to use a “one to do them all” approach isn’t recommended when making a purchase. Handguns come in all shapes and sizes, different safety features, and different calibers.
Usually, a pistol is designed for a specific purpose to fulfill a certain role. Here are three main uses to take into consideration and what you should know as a new gun owner.
Top 3 reasons for buying a handgun
- Conceal Carry A good carry gun needs to be the appropriate size to comfortably carry on your person. You need to be able to carry it all day every day without becoming fatigued due to the fact that it is too heavy or too uncomfortable. If it isn’t comfortable than you will end up leaving it at home in the safe and it defeats the purpose of having a CCW or CCL (concealed carry weapon / concealed carry license) These conceal carry type guns tend to be smaller and lighter, hold fewer rounds, and have more felt recoil making it harder for some shooters to be accurate. (this can be fixed with proper training which we will talk about later)
- Home Defense A handgun that is going to be your “nightstand gun” or your home defense gun can be a lot more forgiving. You will have a lot of options when it comes to these types of handguns. They are larger and easier to shoot, come with higher round capacities, and larger calibers can be used.
- Range Gun This type of handgun can be pretty much anything. Lots of options here, this can be something to go to the range and just throw some lead downrange. A range gun can be used to start out with and work on some of the basic fundamentals and familiarize yourself with a handgun and learn the safety principals.
Follow the four rules of firearm safety
Handguns and firearms, in general, are very dangerous. If you are not careful and don’t respect them, you or someone else can be severely injured or even killed. Treat them with respect at all times. Alcohol and guns don’t mix!
Also when someone buys their first gun they tend to have the urge to show it off to their friends (this is very common and you will do it, trust me). Before you hand a gun to someone always make sure it is unloaded and if they are acting stupid with it (i.e. pointing it in an unsafe direction, waving it around, dry firing it, pointing it at their own head which I have seen people do) Immediately take it out of their hands.
Being a gun owner means being responsible!
Follow these four rules at all times with any firearm
- Treat all guns as if they were loaded
- Point the muzzle in a safe direction at all times
- Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire
- Know your target and what’s beyond it
Know the laws before buying a handgun
There are some things that you need to know before buying your first handgun for concealed carry.
To start off make sure you are following all of your state and federal laws (city and county laws in some places). Many states require you to have a permit in order to carry a firearm concealed so make sure you get one before you do.
This sometimes requires taking a class and passing a test which is normally pretty easy. Illinois is the state that I live in and we have one of the most extensive processes and waiting times probably longer than any other state. It is your responsibility to know your local laws so make sure you do your own research.
Buying a handgun for conceal carry
A good handgun for concealed carry will be a little smaller than most. Compact or Subcompact is what you are going to want to look for. You could always carry a full size but this will be harder to conceal and more uncomfortable.
Decide on the type of handgun you will be most comfortable with. There are two main types of handguns, semi-automatic pistols, and revolvers. Each of these has pros and cons but it is up to you to decide which one is right for you.
Semi-Autos
So I will say that semi-autos are more common and are what I personally would recommend. Some of the benefits are that they usually hold more rounds, can come with or without an external thumb safety, and can be smaller and lighter making them easy to conceal and carry.
Most people have gotten away from revolvers and semi-autos are definitely a more modern type handgun. Get comfortable with them and learn how to shoot with one. Also, understand how they work.
Best handgun caliber for a beginner
There are a huge amount of calibers available and can be customized to fit the person carrying the pistol. First, you need to decide a good caliber to use, and I recommend 9mm for anyone just starting out and looking to buy their first handgun.
It is very common and will be available at any store that sells ammunition, it is also cheaper to buy so you will be able to buy more and practice more (which is good for a beginner just starting out).
Another benefit of 9mm is that is a smaller caliber and has less felt recoil when shooting. Some people argue that is too small of a caliber and I would disagree and say that the military and most law enforcement officers use this caliber in their side arms. I also being shot placement is more important than caliber size.
Another thing too is that ammunition has come a long way in the last couple of decades and a modern hollow point round has enough stopping power in most situations.
buying a Full size, Compact, or subcompact?
Semi-autos have three different sizes, and this is solely up to the person and the environment you will be in while conceal carrying. A person who lives up north and deals with cold weather might prefer a pistol that is larger because they will be wearing more clothing.
This makes carrying a full-size handgun much easier for them compared to someone who lives down south that usually wears shorts and a t-shirt. They might want a subcompact that will print less (printing means how much the gun will show underneath clothing).
what is the best handgun size to start with?
A good medium is a compact size, it’s not too big and not too small. It will have a good round capacity and will still be comfortable to hold and shoot. Also, it will not be very snappy when shooting which a lot of subcompacts tend to be.
New shooters often think that the larger the gun the more felt recoil and that is not the case. The size of the caliber determines how much kick the pistol will have. Newbies often see small “cute” guns and think they won’t have any kick to them.
This is the complete opposite of reality, smaller guns have more recoil because they weigh less and have shorter barrels. When buying your first handgun a medium sized compact or full size will most likely be the best place to start.
buying a handgun with a safety?
Ok just because a gun doesn’t have an external thumb safety doesn’t mean that it unsafe. Modern pistols (from a quality manufacturer) are very safe and will not fire off a round unless the trigger is pulled. So keep your bugger hook off the bang switch and you will never have a negligent discharge!
Most people who have been carrying a while choose to go with no thumb safety because having a thumb safety slows you down, and in a stressful situation you lose the use of your fine motor skills. People will instinctively try and pull the trigger in a self-defense scenario and forget to take off the thumb safety.
People just starting out like having a thumb safety because it gives them some comfort. This is all personal preference and most peoples thoughts on this will change and develop over time when carrying a handgun. I recommend going with whatever makes you feel comfortable.
This leads me into the next topic and that is should you have a round chambered?
One in the pipe?
I would always hear a lot of people taking and giving their opinions when I worked behind the gun counter on this topic. I would sometimes cringe when people would tell me that they carry a pistol but don’t have a round chambered.
You might only have two seconds to draw your pistol and get a round of when being attacked. You might only have one arm available to draw with. We can go over different theoretical scenarios all day but the idea of carrying a handgun that isn’t loaded and believing that you have time to do so is just stupid.
I don’t remember where I heard this but it is an excellent analogy.
“Carrying a gun unloaded and thinking you will have time to load it quickly in an emergency situation, is like thinking you will have time to put your seat belt on in your car before you crash.” – unknown
If you don’t feel comfortable carrying a loaded gun then either you get a different gun that makes you feel more comfortable or just don’t carry one. So yes you should always have a round chambered, this is also called condition one.
Revolvers
I personally love revolvers, they are simple and reliable. However, I never carry them for concealed carry. I just don’t like the fact that they only hold five or six rounds. Having a few more rounds in a semi-auto gives me a little peace of mind. Also, it is easier to carry an extra magazine and reload quicker with a semi-auto pistol.
If you do not care about round capacity and you want a handgun that is very reliable then a revolver is the way to go. They are simple point and shoot guns. You don’t have to worry about chambering a round or it jamming on you. Also, you don’t have to worry about a thumb safety, which some people may like or dislike.
Revolvers make great home defense guns. They can be left loaded without the worry of magazine springs wearing out like in semi-autos. They are also easy to use, even someone with no experience or training can use one.
buying a handgun for Home defense
This is a good place to start when buying your first handgun. A handgun that is going to be used to protect yourself and your family in your home can be a little easier to choose compared to one for conceal carry.
Having a full-size gun that is comfortable in your hand is better to start out on. You can practice shooting and familiarizing yourself with handguns better. You can even get a bigger caliber if you want even though I still recommend a 9mm.
Larger frame guns will have less recoil and be easier to control when shooting. It is easier to be more accurate with them and the controls are easier to manipulate.
buying a handgun for range use
Buying a range gun can be pretty easy. Get whatever you want! That’s the short easy answer, a gun for primarily shooting at the range can be whatever you like.
You will probably want a gun that you can run a lot of ammo through it relatively cheap. A small caliber pistol might suit you better for this task.
A small 22 caliber is really cheap to shoot and is good for practicing the basic fundamentals. If you are new this might be the best place to start. Not only is the ammo cheap but the pistols chambered in 22 tend to be cheaper as well.
There is almost no recoil making it pretty easy to be accurate and learn on.
10 handgun recommendations
Okay now to the fun part, all of these I either personally own or have shot and would be good choices for a first-time gun owner. They are all made by reputable manufacturers and are quality handguns. I recommend 5 conceal carry type handguns and 5 home defense/range guns.
Their are a lot more that I could recommend, but these are the top 10 that made it on my list. I only added one revolver to each category. I will do another article in the future on my top 10 handguns for concealed carry and my top 10 handguns for home defense or range use.
Recommended Conceal carry handguns
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm
Specifications:
Caliber: 9mm
Weight: 20.8 oz / 589.7g
Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
Slide Material: Stainless Steel
Barrel Length: 3.1” (7.9 cm)
Overall Length: 6.1″
Action: Striker Fire
The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield is an excellent choice for conceal carry. This handgun is small and lightweight, reliable, and has the option of a thumb safety or no thumb safety. It is a slim single stack design that holds 9 rounds total when using the 8 + 1 magazine. The pistol also comes with a flush fit 7 + 1 magazine and is a polymer frame with a stainless steel slide.
This is my personal EDC (everyday carry) pistol. I feel it has the perfect size and capacity for my needs. It is very slim and comfortable to carry and shoot. Its a popular choice for concealed carry so there are plenty of holsters on the market to choose from. Its easily carried inside the waistband at the appendix or 4 o’clock position.
It is reliable and well made. Smith & Wesson gives you a lifetime warranty with the shield and they have the newer M2.0 model available now. They also make a Pro Series version of it. The price is very affordable too. If you are interested in my Full Review of the M&P Shield check out this article.
Glock 19 Gen 4
Specifications:
Caliber: 9x19mm
Length: 7.28”
Height: 4.99”
Width: 1.18”
Barrel: 4.02”
Trigger: 5.5 pounds
Weight: 23.65 w/empty magazine
Slide Finish: Black Melonite
Capacity: 15+1
The legendary Glock 19 is one of the best handguns on the market today, and whether you love or hate Glocks you have to agree that they are among the most reliable pistols on the market.
Two-thirds of all law enforcement carry Glocks as there primary duty pistol and it is also the preferred handgun of many military special operations. The Glock 19 is the compact/midsized 9mm in the Glock family.
The gen 4 is the model that I recommend and personally like the best. It comes with three 15 round magazines and interchangeable backstraps for different size hands. It doesn’t have an external thumb safety but comes with 2 internal safety features and a split trigger safety.
The Glock 19 is one of the most popular pistols available so there is a huge amount of aftermarket accessories out there. Different holsters, sights, triggers, and performance parts are available at any local gun store and widely available online. Click Here to read the full review of this pistol.
Sig Sauer P365
This is the newest pistol on our list of concealed carry handguns. The Sig P365 was designed to tackle one huge problem when it comes to small compact pistols, and that’s round capacity.
The P365 holds 10 + 1 rounds of 9mm which is more than any other pistol its size. It’s small and lightweight. The frame has a clean and sleek design with no thumb safety.
It comes with two magazines, one flush fit and one with a grip extension. It comes with night sights and is rated for +P ammo.
The name P365 comes from the idea that is the gun that you can carry on you every day of the year. Since it is a new gun, there have been some issues reported by customers. Issues with the sights and issues with the firing pin. Sig has claimed to fix all of the issues. In my personal experience using this pistol, it has worked great with no malfunctions.
Glock 43
Caliber: 9×19 (9mm)
Length: 6.26”
Slide Length: 6.06”
Height: 4.25”
Width: 1.02”
Slide Width: .87”
Barrel: 3.39”
Weight: 17.95oz. (w/empty magazine)
Finish: Black frame / black slide (Tenifer)
Capacity: 6+1
The Glock 43 is a single stack 9mm. Many people have been wanting this option from Glock for awhile (myself included) and were very excited when this pistol was introduced.
It is very slim and lightweight. Comes with two 6-round magazines and standard Glock sights. This handgun is great for concealed carry and hides almost anywhere on the body. The reliability is what you would expect from Glock and is comfortable to shoot for being such a small pistol.
One issue with this pistol for me is the round capacity. 6 + 1 is okay but I would prefer more, especially since most other similar pistols in the sub-compact class hold more. Yes, you can buy extended magazines for this pistol but I think Glock could have squeezed at least one more round in a pistol this size.
Smith & Wesson 642
I wanted to have a concealed carry revolver option and I chose the Smith & Wesson 642. This is a small and lightweight 38 Special + P revolver and is very simple. There is no safety, however, it does have a long heavy double action trigger.
This is a great option for someone who wants the reliability and simplicity of a revolver. The downside is that is only 5 shots. They do make speed reloads for this model but using them takes a good amount of practice to become fast.
This gun does have a little bit of recoil when firing (especially when uses +P ammo) due to its short barrel and lightweight design.
Recommended home defense/range guns
Glock 17 Gen 4
Specifications:
Caliber: 9×19
Length: 204 mm / 8.03 in.
Height: 138 mm / 5.43 in.
Width: 30.00 mm / 1.18 in.
Barrel Length: 114 mm / 4.48 in.
Unloaded: 710 g / 25.06 oz.
Trigger Pull: ~2.5 kg / ~5.5 lbs.
Finish: Black frame / black slide (Tenifer)
Capacity: 17+1
The Glock 17 is a favorite among gun enthusiast because of the same points I made above for the Glock 19. It works when you need it too, often the most simple tool is the best tool, and that is the case here.
The Glock 17 is the full-size 9mm that holds 17+1 rounds and comes with three magazines. They also make the 33 rounders that you can buy. The factory Glock magazines are super reliable and I have never had any issues with them.
Glocks are very common and trusted pistols, they are a favorite for law enforcement officers and military special operations. Being that they are so common, there is a huge amount of aftermarket support for Glocks. Any gun store you walk into will sell Glocks and Glock accessories.
With the higher round capacity and a longer barrel on the Glock 17 is a great choice for home defense or just range use. It is accurate and reliable, the trigger is usually right around 5.5 lbs.
Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0
Specifications:
The Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 is an updated version of their polymer frame striker fired pistols. The original M&Ps were a great gun but I really love what Smith & Wesson has done with the new M2.0 models.
The rougher grip texture is a nice added feature from the factory since so many people will have their guns stippled nowadays. It comes with 4 interchangeable backstraps and three 17 round magazines. The FDE (flat dark earth) color looks amazing in my opinion and gives this pistol a unique look.
The reinforced frame rails and longer barrel make this gun very comfortable to shoot and the felt recoil is very minimal. The trigger feels better than the original M&Ps and the grittiness is gone. This handgun is one of my personal favorites.
FNH FNS-9
Specifications:
Caliber: 9mm
Operation: Double-action
Magazine Capacity: 17 +1
Weight: 25.2 oz.
Barrel Length: 4.0″
Overall Length: 7.25″
Twist Rate: 1:10″ RH
Height: 5.5″
Width: 1.35″
Trigger Pull: 5.5 – 7.7 lb.
The FNH FNS-9 is a handgun that is often overlooked. Most people are unaware of this but the company FNH holds large military contracts and supplies the military with a lot of their rifles.
I usually recommend the FNS-9 for people who are left-handed because these pistols are completely ambidextrous (most handguns are not). The safety, slide stop, and magazine release are on both sides of the pistol, and you do not have to flip any parts.
These pistols have an aggressive texture on the grip which will help keep the handgun secured in your hand while shooting. It comes with interchangeable backstraps so you can customize the pistol to you. It also comes with three 17 round magazines.
Sig Sauer P320-M17
Specifications:
The Sig Sauer P320 – M17 was the pistol that was recently adopted by the United States Army. It is a very modular handgun that allows you to change slides (giving you different barrel lengths) and frames sizes (letting you change from full-size to compact to subcompact).
This pistol is very smooth and easy to shoot. The Sig P320-M17 is very accurate. It does have a thumb safety and is an excellent choice for someone with less experience. The FDE finish makes this handgun very unique. It comes with two 17 rounds magazines. If you are interested in my Full Review of the Sig P320 Compact check out this article.
This pistol did have an issue when it was first released. It was not drop safe and could fire if dropped and the gun hit the ground at a certain angle. Sig has fixed this issue and recalled all of the batches that were affected. Note: Don’t drop any gun even if it is drop safe!
Smith & Wesson 686+
Specifications:
The Smith & Wesson 686 Pro Series is truly a beautiful firearm. It is a 7-shot 357 magnum revolver and will also shoot 38 special. The 686 has been a classic go-to a revolver for most and Smith & Wesson has made some awesome upgrades with the pro series model.
They have added an extra round in the cylinder giving you one more shot. They have also worked the trigger and action making the trigger pull very smooth. The single action on this revolver is amazing.
A good thing about having a revolver for home defense is it is simple. No safety to worry about and it will never jam. Almost anyone can use this gun with little or no training. Its a point and shoot handgun. Its hard to beat the reliability of a revolver too.
Are you Ready to buy?
Buying your first handgun should be a fun and exciting new experience. Talk to some local gun shops and see what they may recommend or talk to any gun owners that you personally know to see if you can go shooting with them and try a few out. Also, going to a gun range and renting a few is a good idea.
Guns are expensive and once you buy one and shoot it is yours. You can’t just take it back like you would any other purchase. Above all, make sure you do some research and hold some in your hand to get a feel of what you like and what you don’t. Thanks for reading!
I like your advice to choose a 9 mm handgun if you’re starting out since they’re cheaper and can be found at any gun store. When choosing one, it would probably be a good idea to figure out what brand you want. This could ensure you can get a reliable handgun and find the right gun store to purchase from so it carries the exact type you want for brand and caliber as well as your budget.
My husband is planning to buy a gun for protection and his gun activities. I agree with you that a gun should have the right size so my husband will be comfortable enough to carry it. Also, since this gun will also be for home defense purposes, I’d make sure to discuss your suggestion about choosing a gun with higher capacities and larger calibers.
A few weeks ago, my aunt got attacked by a trespasser in her own home, so she wants to make sure that she’ll be able to protect herself if that happens again. I’m glad you described handguns’ classification and their main differences, so since my aunt’s made up her mind about buying one soon, I’ll email your article to her now. Thank you for explaining the different reasons people buy handguns and the type of handguns they prefer.