With so many handguns on the market, it’s hard to know what to buy and where to buy it from. So with this simple handgun buying guide, you should be able to determine what handgun is right for you. You’ll need to consider what you will use it for. The type of handgun action, caliber, and the most important part of how it feels and shoots for you.
Specific Use of Handgun?
Of course, a handgun buying guide needs to start with what your specific needs will be. The type of shooting you do is pretty important for what you need in a handgun.
While it’s possible to buy an “all-purpose” handgun, some guns are just better for specific uses. With so many types, sizes, and calibers it’s easier to find the right gun if you start with knowing your intended use.
Plinking
Are you buying a handgun for target practice only? If so what kind of targets? How far will you be shooting? If all you want to do is target shoot paper at under 25 yards, a .22LR may be perfect for you. Size matters less if you aren’t worried about concealing your gun. Nor does it matter if you can’t find a good holster for this gun.
A plinking only gun really only needs to be accurate enough to hit what you are aiming at. Plus have cheap available ammo. Past that it should be comfortable to shoot, easy to tear down and clean. Anything past that is a bonus
Self-defense
If your main goal for buying a handgun is self-defense there are a few things to consider. Do you plan on concealed carrying your gun? Can you shoot it well and is it comfortable to shoot? Is the gun considered reliable? How many rounds does it hold? The answers to these questions make a big difference in what handgun you buy.
You most likely don’t want a .22LR for self-defense, although if that’s all you have it’s better than not having a gun. If you plan on concealing your gun a .44 Desert Eagle may not be the best choice. Just like a single-shot handgun isn’t going to do you much good if you have two attackers. Not to mention if you buy a gun that jams every 5th round, and you don’t trust it to go bang it’s not something you want for self-defense. Make sure what you buy is reliable and you are comfortable shooting it a lot because you’ll need to practice.
Competition
If you plan on competition shooting, that can lead to a whole different type of gun. This is going to depend on what competition you want to shoot in. You’ll need to know the competition rules and classification you are planning to shoot in before you buy a handgun. A semi-auto striker-fired gun isn’t going to fly at a Cowboy Action shoot.
Types of Handguns
Revolvers
Revolvers are very simplistic in their design and function. You load cartridges into the cylinders and fire. It’s almost that simple. There are two trigger options for revolvers, which cause the revolver to function slightly differently.
Double Action Trigger
The first one is called a double-action trigger. This trigger action requires a longer trigger pull to pull the hammer back before the hammer is released. The reason this trigger is called a double action is that one trigger pull not only moves the hammer back it also allows it to fall firing the gun. Two actions with one trigger pull. Some double-action revolvers can be manually pulled back allowing for a shorter trigger pull.
Single Action Trigger
The next trigger is called a single action. This is where you must pull the hammer back before you can shoot. Many people like this for safety since as long as the hammer isn’t pulled back the gun can’t be fired by accidentally pulling the trigger.
Semi-auto
The semi-automatic handgun is the other main type of handgun. Semi-autos have more moving parts and hold their ammo in a magazine (not to be confused with a clip). Most have a slide on the top that you pull back to chamber a round and make it ready to fire. When you fire the slide comes back and automatically ejects the spent casing while chambering the next round for you. Since you still have to pull the trigger again before it will fire these are only semi-auto.
Two Types of Semi-Auto Handgun
There are two classifications of semi-auto handguns. Hammer fired and striker fired. A few hammer-fired guns have the standard double-action trigger, the rest have a double-action/single-action trigger where the first shot acts like a double-action and every follow-up shot acts like a single-action trigger. However just like a revolver, the double-action trigger pull is really long, so if you want to only have a single action trigger you’ll have to manually pull the trigger back. Most of the time this is done for you when you pull the slide back to load the round.
The striker-fired guns have what could be considered a double-action-only trigger. However, it’s a little more complicated than that because there isn’t a hammer. So most people just call them a striker-fired handgun and don’t think about the type of trigger it has.
Popular Calibers
The most popular handgun calibers are (smallest to largest) .22LR, .380, 9mm, .40 S&W, 45ACP, 10mm, 38SPL, .357, 44 magnum. So you have a size picture. The calibers are labeled in the size of the bullet diameter. You will notice some listed in inches and others listed in millimeters. This is because the 9mm and 10mm were designed for guns that were first built in countries that use the metric system. You may realize that the 10mm, .38SPL, and .357 listed after the .45ACP in order of size even though the bullet is smaller around. This is because they have a larger case than the .45ACP.
The 3 most common calibers for semi-auto handguns are 9mm, .40S&W, and 45ACP. While you could spend hours learning ballistics and the finer points on what makes them different. The fact is they are all good calibers for self-defense and all-around shooting fun. The 9mm does have a slight advantage over the others when it comes to cost. If you are looking for a self-defense gun that is cheap to practice with, 9mm is the way to go.
Try them out
Many ranges offer gun rentals. When you figure out what guns you’re interested in buying, it’s a great idea to spend a few dollars and rent them. Many times just handling a gun in the store doesn’t tell you how well they will shoot for you. The trigger may feel different when shooting live ammo compared to dry fire. Not to mention the recoil, and the way it naturally points for you is going to be a big factor. Sometimes a gun that feels good in your hand doesn’t shoot well for you. If you don’t have a range nearby that rents gun, at least see if any of your friends have a few different guns they will let you shoot. If you buy the ammo most people are more than willing to go out shooting.
Guide to Suggested Handguns
A guide to buying a handgun wouldn’t be complete without a few suggested common handguns. While everyone has their favorite handguns it’s honestly very personal as to which is best. The best handgun is the one you own and like. However, here are a few of the more common full-size handguns that people buy:
Glock 19
The Glock 19 is one of the most commonly bought handguns out there. It’s considered a duty carry size 9mm gun. Good for just about any use. It may be a little bit for concealing for some people. However, it’s very reliable, easy to maintain, and extremely durable.
I’d consider the Glock 19 and most Glocks like Harley’s. Great pieces of machinery. They have almost a religious following. Yet almost no one keeps them factory original. Just like you’d be hard-pressed to find a used Harley that is 100% stock. The same can be said for Glocks. At a minimum, people change their sights on them. Then the triggers, barrels, and even modify the grips. This is why there are tons of places to buy any part you want to customize your Glock.
Sig Sauer P320
The Sig P320 is a newcomer to the handgun world. It’s also the civilian version of the newest handgun being issued to the US military. The reason that the military chose the M17 is because it’s modular. The same goes for the P320. You can switch out the lower grip with different sizes. The lowers can even be sent to you in the mail, with no FFL transfer. You can also change the caliber the same way. Buy a kit from Sig Sauer and you can go from a 9mm handgun to .40 Smith and Wesson, .45 ACP, or even, .357 Sig. No need to buy a whole new gun. Just switch out the trigger group. The trigger group has the serial number stamped on it, so it’s considered the firearm by the ATF.
Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm
The Smith and Wesson M&P series handguns are a lot like the Glocks. People either love them or hate them. They come in many different calipers and even come in compact, and sub-compact versions. They are striker-fired guns, and very much like the Glock in operation. The grip angle and the trigger are the biggest differences. Although the M&P is far newer than the Glock’s there are already many parts to customize them. If you like striker-fired guns but the Glock isn’t comfortable, try an M&P handgun.
1911
The 1911 pistol is duly called because it was invented in 1911. They are one of the first semi-auto pistols and were the most common semi-auto handguns for decades. They are hammer-fired pistols with a trigger that most people love. The way the trigger is designed makes it easier to shoot than many other handguns. Although you can get them in various calibers the true 1911 comes in .45 ACP giving it only one done side. The capacity is limited to under 10 rounds when chambered in .45 ACP.
Other Suggestions:
- Walther PPQ
- Canik TPS9SF
- CZ 75 SP-01
- HK VP9
- Springfield Armory XD
- Smith & Wesson Model 686
Know Your Local Laws
When it comes to buying a handgun you need to know your local gun laws. Each state has different requirements for buying a handgun. Some cities even have stricter laws than the state does. Nebraska requires anyone purchasing a handgun to get a pistol purchase permit first. This is just a $5 background check good for 3 years.
The city of Lincoln has certain misdemeanors that exclude you from owning a gun in the city. All though you are legal to own a gun in the rest of the state. The permit is good for the whole state so you may be approved for a permit even though you can’t own a gun in the city you live in. Omaha requires you to register all handguns unless you have a Concealed Carry Permit. Other states have magazine capacity laws, and at least one state has a restriction on owning hollow point ammunition.
Find the right dealer
There are plenty of places that will sell you a gun. However, finding a place that will take time with you is priceless. Many gun stores treat their customers poorly and rush you to a sale. Stay away from these. Walmart sells firearms but most of their sales associates only know what the tag says. Many of the large outdoor sporting stores aren’t much better. When you find a dealer that will spend time with you explaining buying a handgun, get it from them. Even if the cost is $50 more than somewhere else. That time they spend with you is worth the extra cost. Plus if you have a problem you know they will be there to help you.
Get Training
Whether you are buying your first gun or 10th gun you need training. It’s possible to go to the range every day and figure out how to shoot it, hitting paper every time. However, there are only so many things you can learn from training on your own. Many times a few hours of training will not only improve your shooting but teach you all the bad habits you’ve picked up preventing you from getting better.
There are plenty of places to get training. Most people start with their concealed carry permit. This training can be ok. Places like the NRA and Massad Ayoob are great places. You can also look for local instructors like Ben Branam at Modern Self Protection, and ranges like Nebraska Shooters offer training. You can even get internet-only training from sites like Panteao Productions. If all else fails there are plenty of Podcasts that teach you about firearms, although they can’t see what you are doing to give you personalized advice. Just make sure when you find an instructor that they are themselves dedicated to taking the training. You should never trust an instructor that thinks he knows it all. They rarely do. Also, make sure you feel safe with the trainer you select. He should follow the rules of gun safety.
Conclusion
With a guide to buying a handgun, it’s hard to cover everything. However, hopefully, you now have enough information to make an educated purchase of your next handgun. If you know what you want to do with your handgun, understand what caliber and type of gun you want. You can narrow down your search enough to go out and try a few. Get a feel for what works best for you. Owning a handgun should be fun and enjoyable. If you do your research and think about what you really want you’ll enjoy your gun for a long time. As with every purchase, it’s all about the knowledge you have before you buy. I’ve never heard someone say I wish I’d done less research before I bought my gun.