Finding Your First Handgun: A Practical Guide for New Gun Owners

We gun owners sometimes lose touch with the mental framework of those that are not.  We understand the terminology, functionality and operation of most types of firearms.  Naturally, firearm styles that we own or train with become second nature to us; like a vehicle.  We understand the fundamentals, but also the small nuances, capabilities and so forth from daily experience of ownership.  Unlike buying a car, which virtually everyone has some level of experience with, buying a firearm is intimidating to most people. Would you feel comfortable being dropped off at a car dealership and having to rely solely on a salesman to “find you the right” choice?   You may end up being sold something that does not fit your needs, and your purchase just sits in a parking spot collecting dust as you remain upset and perhaps embarrassed at your decision.  Thankfully, this does NOT have to be the case.  It just takes time, patience and using all available resources. 

As a professional firearm instructor and second amendment advocate, one of the most common questions that I’m asked is “What do you feel is the best handgun for me ( my spouse/relative) to start with?”Despite what any manufacturer’s marketing campaign may claim, of course there’s no easy answer to that question because there’s definitely no one size fits all firearm.  

So where does someone with zero experience begin?  Having shown interest in owning a firearm is the first major step. After that, education, familiarization and finding someone to personally assist becomes extremely important.  These steps inevitably lead to only more questions or points for consideration. Hand size, physical limitations, budget, how, or of it will be carried on the body and personal preference are just a few of the many considerations that need to be taken when choosing a handgun. 

Because of this, I refrain from making specific manufacturer or model suggestions. I do however encourage people to first take a class and then find a range that rents handguns. I recommend an individual buy a couple of boxes of ammo and rent a few different models until they find a model they like.  That said, even this can even this can be incredibly overwhelming to someone that doesn’t know the difference between a Glock and a 1911.

Over the years, I have found that breaking down the different styles of guns, since the universal entry level decision is how comfortable it feels in their hands, works well. I have the person hold the different styles in their hands until they find one that they like, and then have them rent several in that platform, rather than blindly picking guns off the wall behind the counter at a gun range. This really helps people not to become overwhelmed and to really zero in on what they like so that they don’t make purchase a firearm that they’ll never carry, because they aren’t comfortable. 

When I’m working with someone new to guns, knowing that ergonomics is the biggest factor, I bring out different platforms and start there. For example, I will pull out a 1911/2011(or a similar platform), a full size, a compact, and a random Glock, because the Glock platform has its own unique design. Note: I generally avoid delving into revolvers, despite what some may recommend, as in my experience, most new shooters do not enjoy shooting them, and bypassing the whole DAO, SA/DA, limited capacity (etc. etc.) that floods internet discussion forums.   

People will gravitate towards what they like the “feel” of. Once they find the platform that they like, then I will pull a few manufacturers in that platform style and encourage them to shoot those. After several rounds, they can then assess which one they like the best and continue narrowing even further. Yes, this mitigates the overwhelming feeling of walking into a gun shop orrange and looking at the wall feeling lost. 

After a few hours and possibly under 100 rounds downrange, the decision gets easier for most first-timers.  Jokingly, I always say that firearms are like potato chips; you can never have just one.  With statistics showing that the average American gun owner has between two and five  firearms staying relatively consistent over the past 40 years, it’s safe to say that our needs and wants to let us to evolve from our first purchase.  The goal however is finding a “right fit” the first time to allow for confidence building, the ability to train and become proficient and naturally, to be carried daily to help ensure personal safety.  

The bottom line comes down to being a resource for potential new gun owners and helping them to join our community and ultimately our defense of the Second Amendment.  While the process above seems simple, sometimes it is difficult to get the “perfect” firearm in someone’s hands and that is just fine.  If the initial experience is positive, they will gladly initiate a new search for their new firearm.  It is on us to help guide and facilitate that the initial purchase is a good fit and doesn’t become a “safe-queen”, or even worse, in a box at the top of a closet. Those of us more experienced in the nuances of firearms should help those that are new to the community, which only make our community stronger.