This is a little something that I typed up some time back. It really started as some thoughts I wanted to put down on paper. I sent the draft out to some other experienced shooters that work with a lot of new shooters and went from there.
Let me lay a little ground work. Keep in mind that this is something that I put together to help the new handgun owner. I will share with INGO that I carry a 1911 or J frame Smith and my dedicated house gun is currently a Sig P226. So obviously I have nothing against all steel guns or those with a traditional hammer. In fact I appreciate the craftsmanship of a quality handgun. But I am an enthusiast! Trust me it won't be long until that new handgun owner adds a second and third to their collection.
So with that let the debate and corresponding INGO disagreement begin! I will make one comment up front. I did take some liberty in my definitions describing handgun size. What we have traditionally referred to as a sub-compact are now large compared to some of the very small handguns on the market. For example a Glock 19 is very much a medium sized gun in todays market.
Choosing Your First Pistol
By: Nate Kemp – Civic Responsibility & Safety
As a firearms instructor I get the privilege of working with many new shooters. Also, I am often asked for my advice regarding the purchase of a first handgun. It would seem that recent events have spurred renewed interest in both the shooting sports and the idea of people taking "Personal Protection" more seriously. Handguns in particular are of interest because they are easy to store and easy to keep on your person. Choosing a handgun for pleasure and self defense is a very personal decision and the cost of a new gun a considerable investment. With all the choices on the market today (and trust me there are a lot of marketing gimmicks) where does a person start? Luckily as an instructor and student of pistol marksmanship I have seen what works and what doesn't and can give a bit of advice.
1) Your pistol must be reliable. Keep in mind the objective and that is personal protection. Guns first and foremost are machines that have to work. My suggestion for a first gun is to stick with a well known and reputable manufacturer.
2) Your pistol should offer acceptable accuracy. Practical accuracy varies according to the experience level of the shooters. Look for a pistol with a trigger that is easy to manipulate and that has large, visible sights. Avoid small handguns as larger pistols tend to be easier to learn to shoot well.
3) Your pistol should fit your hand. This is referred to as ergonomics and is not something to overlook. What I look for is a gun that allows the operator to obtain a comfortable grip and index the trigger properly. A gun that fits a person properly is both comfortable and controllable to shoot. Practice is important and owning a gun that is fun to actually take to the range is essential.
4) Your pistol should be a widely available and popular model. Think about a handgun as part of an overall system. Popular models from major manufactures come with a warranty and the ability to purchase spare parts. Aftermarket or factory parts such as sights and magazines will eventually be needed. What about holsters, belts and magazine pouches? Yes all of these things are necessary as you continue down the path as a firearms owner.
5) Your pistol should fire a cartridge suitable for self defense. Stick with a cartridge choice that is easily available for purchase and offers adequate power. Suitable self defense cartridges include .38 spl, 9mm, .40 S&W, 45 acp. The cartridges can also be used for many recreational shooting activities.
I have made two observations while working with novice gun buyers:
First price is a concern and people seem to have this on their mind when buying. Gun manufacturers and their marketing departments know this as well. There are numerous products in the case that are built to meet a price point. My suggestion is to avoid these products. While less expensive they may not be the best choice or provide the best overall value.
Second many new gun owners, especially women, favor small pistols because the grips are smaller and the gun overall is less intimidating. There is no doubt that these smaller guns are easier to carry and conceal. The problem is that small guns do not have much weight to help absorb recoil. Often times these little guns are brutal to fire. These small “pocket guns” generally come with bad sights, short sight radius/barrels & difficult triggers. All of this translates into the worst possible combination for a good first handgun. I see it all the time, a new shooter shows up for class with a small .380 or lightweight .38 spl "snubby" revolver and the student finishes the course with one of my guns. I consider very small or very large handguns to be products made for a specific purpose. As such these pistols are appropriate for more experienced gun owners.
My recommendation for a first gun is the same whether a person is young or old, male or female. The objective here is to recommend a gun that I can quickly and easily have a novice shooter using in a relatively short amount of time. Below are my personal criteria:
A) Striker fired – Striker fired pistols use a spring loaded firing pin as opposed to a traditional hammer. The advantage is a consistent trigger pull. There is nothing inherently wrong with other firing mechanisms but they do require more training to become proficient.
B) No manual safeties - I know new gun owners like safeties but they are one more thing to get in the way of making the gun go bang. Also, safeties offer a false sense of security. Never trust a mechanical safety! Follow good gun handling practices! If you do insist on choosing a gun with a manual safety make sure you practice its use.
C) Good Sights & Trigger - Sights that are easily visible will help greatly. An easy to manipulate trigger is absolutely essential!
D) Polymer Frame - We have come a long way in what we can do with plastic. Polymer framed pistols are lighter and impervious to corrosion. The guns are easy to maintain and lighter to carry.
E) Medium Sized – What you want is a gun big enough to shoot and light enough to carry. A medium sized handgun has a barrel length of approximately 4 inches. As slides and barrels get shorter and guns get smaller we are asking more of the system in terms of reliability. Also as guns get lighter there is more felt recoil.
F) Replaceable Backstraps & Ambidextrous Controls – The ability to change the size of the backstrap on the grip helps insure a proper fit for the shooters hand. Other features such as a reversible magazine release or slide stops on both sides are a benefit for left handed shooters.
H) 9mm cartridge – Modern 9mm ammunition is easy to find and offers adequate power, excellent capacity and controllable recoil at the lowest cost per round.
Taking into account the above criteria what are the best options for a new gun owner?
1) Glock Gen 4- The Glock family covers the entire realm of subcompact to full size competition models. Originally developed for the Austrian military and in service since 1982, Glock has developed a loyal fan base. Glocks have the reputation of being reliable, no frills firearm and are far and away the most adopted platform in the law enforcement community. Whenever I am in a gun store and a Glock is suggested there is always somebody who will pipe up about how they don't like them and that there are other choices that are “Just as Good”. That alone speaks volumes about Glocks, they have essentially become the standard by which others are judged and along the way became a modern day icon.
Glock 26 3.4” Compact - Glock 19 4” Medium Service Pistol - Glock 17 4.5” Service Pistol - Glock 34 5.25” Competition
2) Smith & Wesson M&P - Smith and Wesson has an established history of building handguns. The M&P family comes in the form of a subcompact Shield, compact, full size and competition model. The M&P line were designed for law enforcement around the .40 S&W cartridge and adapted to 9mm making them well built. The civilian market has readily adopted the brand and aftermarket parts are now becoming plentiful. The hinged triggers are interestingly different for experienced shooters but I have found that new shooters favor the system and adapt to it quickly. The overall ergonomics and sights of the M&P line are excellent. I especially like how adaptable the grip inserts are and the high beavertail that protects the shooters hand from the slide.
Shield 3.1” Compact Single Stack - M&Pc 3.5” Compact - M&P 4.25” Medium Service Pistol - M&P Pro Series 5.25” Competition
3) Springfield XDs & XDm the Springfield lineup has a size to fit all needs. The full size XDm is the largest and heaviest of the guns mentioned. It also carries the highest capacity of 19 rounds. They do not have a manual safety but instead use a passive grip safety. I can make arguments either for or against the system they employ but with a proper grip it is an acceptable system that allows for a "single action" feel to the trigger. Ergonomics are overall good but the gun is somewhat bulky. The XD line is a well built, robust pistol made in Croatia by HS Produkt and marketed by Springfield. The original 4” XD X-treme Duty service pistol (HS2000) is still manufactured and in use with law enforcement and armed forces worldwide.
XDs 3” or 4” Compact Single Stack - XD mod2 3” Compact - XDm 3.8 Compact & Full Size - XDm 4.5 & 5.25 Service & Competition
4) Walther PP Polizeipistole Series - Quickly gaining market this is not an exactly new design, it is rather an evolution of the excellent P99 service pistol. In fact Walther has produced firearms for service use in Europe for many years including the now famous PPK & P38. The Walther P99 in my opinion pioneered the idea of ergonomics and proper triggers in modern service pistols. It is no wonder the ergonomics of the PPQ are exceptional, although the bore axis is a bit high making the gun interesting to handle in more powerful cartridges such as .40S&W. As expected the PPQ trigger is top notch. Aftermarket parts for this model are more limited but magazines and holsters are readily available. The Walther PPS, P99 & PPQ M1 utilize a European style paddle magazine release, while the PPQ M2 was developed specifically for the North American civilian market. The PPQ is a very versatile medium sized gun. Umarex is now the parent company and as such they are now marketing guns in several price ranges using the Walther name.
PPS Compact Single Stack - P99AS, P99QA, PPQM1 Service Pistol - PPQ M2 4” Medium Service Pistol - PPQ M2 5” Competition
5) Ruger SR9c - Ruger is known for offering affordable, American built guns. The SR9c deserves an honorable mention because of the lower price point, versatility and overall good value. These guns are well built and boast a lot of safety features that new gun owners seem to want. While I do not recommend manual safeties, the SR9c safety is both ambidextrous and frame mounted. The gun also includes a magazine disconnect, reversible backstaps, ambidextrose controls and visible loaded chamber indicator. While not as refined as the other pistols mentioned I have noticed that these guns do seem to be reliable and easy to shoot. The triggers and sights are quite usable and the pistol comes with both a compact and full size magazine with grip extension making very suitable for both concealed carry and range.
Any of the above choices would make an excellent first pistol suitable for self defense, concealed carry, and recreational shooting. Think of these as the Ford Taurus, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry of the handgun world. My household currently owns 3 models mentioned even though I have opted for a different pistol design for my personal use. The final decision as to which pistol you purchase should be dictated by the one that fits you best.
The chart shows MSRP which is always changing and you should expect the actual price in the store to be less. A quality new pistol can be purchased for $425 - $625, so not cheap but also not unaffordable. Another suggestion that I can offer is to purchase new when buying your first handgun. New guns from a storefront will come with a warranty from the manufacturer and well as the local support of the retailer. Plus a new gun comes with the knowledge that a previous owner did not alter the gun in any way.
Let me lay a little ground work. Keep in mind that this is something that I put together to help the new handgun owner. I will share with INGO that I carry a 1911 or J frame Smith and my dedicated house gun is currently a Sig P226. So obviously I have nothing against all steel guns or those with a traditional hammer. In fact I appreciate the craftsmanship of a quality handgun. But I am an enthusiast! Trust me it won't be long until that new handgun owner adds a second and third to their collection.
So with that let the debate and corresponding INGO disagreement begin! I will make one comment up front. I did take some liberty in my definitions describing handgun size. What we have traditionally referred to as a sub-compact are now large compared to some of the very small handguns on the market. For example a Glock 19 is very much a medium sized gun in todays market.
Choosing Your First Pistol
By: Nate Kemp – Civic Responsibility & Safety
As a firearms instructor I get the privilege of working with many new shooters. Also, I am often asked for my advice regarding the purchase of a first handgun. It would seem that recent events have spurred renewed interest in both the shooting sports and the idea of people taking "Personal Protection" more seriously. Handguns in particular are of interest because they are easy to store and easy to keep on your person. Choosing a handgun for pleasure and self defense is a very personal decision and the cost of a new gun a considerable investment. With all the choices on the market today (and trust me there are a lot of marketing gimmicks) where does a person start? Luckily as an instructor and student of pistol marksmanship I have seen what works and what doesn't and can give a bit of advice.
1) Your pistol must be reliable. Keep in mind the objective and that is personal protection. Guns first and foremost are machines that have to work. My suggestion for a first gun is to stick with a well known and reputable manufacturer.
2) Your pistol should offer acceptable accuracy. Practical accuracy varies according to the experience level of the shooters. Look for a pistol with a trigger that is easy to manipulate and that has large, visible sights. Avoid small handguns as larger pistols tend to be easier to learn to shoot well.
3) Your pistol should fit your hand. This is referred to as ergonomics and is not something to overlook. What I look for is a gun that allows the operator to obtain a comfortable grip and index the trigger properly. A gun that fits a person properly is both comfortable and controllable to shoot. Practice is important and owning a gun that is fun to actually take to the range is essential.
4) Your pistol should be a widely available and popular model. Think about a handgun as part of an overall system. Popular models from major manufactures come with a warranty and the ability to purchase spare parts. Aftermarket or factory parts such as sights and magazines will eventually be needed. What about holsters, belts and magazine pouches? Yes all of these things are necessary as you continue down the path as a firearms owner.
5) Your pistol should fire a cartridge suitable for self defense. Stick with a cartridge choice that is easily available for purchase and offers adequate power. Suitable self defense cartridges include .38 spl, 9mm, .40 S&W, 45 acp. The cartridges can also be used for many recreational shooting activities.
I have made two observations while working with novice gun buyers:
First price is a concern and people seem to have this on their mind when buying. Gun manufacturers and their marketing departments know this as well. There are numerous products in the case that are built to meet a price point. My suggestion is to avoid these products. While less expensive they may not be the best choice or provide the best overall value.
Second many new gun owners, especially women, favor small pistols because the grips are smaller and the gun overall is less intimidating. There is no doubt that these smaller guns are easier to carry and conceal. The problem is that small guns do not have much weight to help absorb recoil. Often times these little guns are brutal to fire. These small “pocket guns” generally come with bad sights, short sight radius/barrels & difficult triggers. All of this translates into the worst possible combination for a good first handgun. I see it all the time, a new shooter shows up for class with a small .380 or lightweight .38 spl "snubby" revolver and the student finishes the course with one of my guns. I consider very small or very large handguns to be products made for a specific purpose. As such these pistols are appropriate for more experienced gun owners.
My recommendation for a first gun is the same whether a person is young or old, male or female. The objective here is to recommend a gun that I can quickly and easily have a novice shooter using in a relatively short amount of time. Below are my personal criteria:
A) Striker fired – Striker fired pistols use a spring loaded firing pin as opposed to a traditional hammer. The advantage is a consistent trigger pull. There is nothing inherently wrong with other firing mechanisms but they do require more training to become proficient.
B) No manual safeties - I know new gun owners like safeties but they are one more thing to get in the way of making the gun go bang. Also, safeties offer a false sense of security. Never trust a mechanical safety! Follow good gun handling practices! If you do insist on choosing a gun with a manual safety make sure you practice its use.
C) Good Sights & Trigger - Sights that are easily visible will help greatly. An easy to manipulate trigger is absolutely essential!
D) Polymer Frame - We have come a long way in what we can do with plastic. Polymer framed pistols are lighter and impervious to corrosion. The guns are easy to maintain and lighter to carry.
E) Medium Sized – What you want is a gun big enough to shoot and light enough to carry. A medium sized handgun has a barrel length of approximately 4 inches. As slides and barrels get shorter and guns get smaller we are asking more of the system in terms of reliability. Also as guns get lighter there is more felt recoil.
F) Replaceable Backstraps & Ambidextrous Controls – The ability to change the size of the backstrap on the grip helps insure a proper fit for the shooters hand. Other features such as a reversible magazine release or slide stops on both sides are a benefit for left handed shooters.
H) 9mm cartridge – Modern 9mm ammunition is easy to find and offers adequate power, excellent capacity and controllable recoil at the lowest cost per round.
Taking into account the above criteria what are the best options for a new gun owner?
1) Glock Gen 4- The Glock family covers the entire realm of subcompact to full size competition models. Originally developed for the Austrian military and in service since 1982, Glock has developed a loyal fan base. Glocks have the reputation of being reliable, no frills firearm and are far and away the most adopted platform in the law enforcement community. Whenever I am in a gun store and a Glock is suggested there is always somebody who will pipe up about how they don't like them and that there are other choices that are “Just as Good”. That alone speaks volumes about Glocks, they have essentially become the standard by which others are judged and along the way became a modern day icon.
Glock 26 3.4” Compact - Glock 19 4” Medium Service Pistol - Glock 17 4.5” Service Pistol - Glock 34 5.25” Competition
2) Smith & Wesson M&P - Smith and Wesson has an established history of building handguns. The M&P family comes in the form of a subcompact Shield, compact, full size and competition model. The M&P line were designed for law enforcement around the .40 S&W cartridge and adapted to 9mm making them well built. The civilian market has readily adopted the brand and aftermarket parts are now becoming plentiful. The hinged triggers are interestingly different for experienced shooters but I have found that new shooters favor the system and adapt to it quickly. The overall ergonomics and sights of the M&P line are excellent. I especially like how adaptable the grip inserts are and the high beavertail that protects the shooters hand from the slide.
Shield 3.1” Compact Single Stack - M&Pc 3.5” Compact - M&P 4.25” Medium Service Pistol - M&P Pro Series 5.25” Competition
3) Springfield XDs & XDm the Springfield lineup has a size to fit all needs. The full size XDm is the largest and heaviest of the guns mentioned. It also carries the highest capacity of 19 rounds. They do not have a manual safety but instead use a passive grip safety. I can make arguments either for or against the system they employ but with a proper grip it is an acceptable system that allows for a "single action" feel to the trigger. Ergonomics are overall good but the gun is somewhat bulky. The XD line is a well built, robust pistol made in Croatia by HS Produkt and marketed by Springfield. The original 4” XD X-treme Duty service pistol (HS2000) is still manufactured and in use with law enforcement and armed forces worldwide.
XDs 3” or 4” Compact Single Stack - XD mod2 3” Compact - XDm 3.8 Compact & Full Size - XDm 4.5 & 5.25 Service & Competition
4) Walther PP Polizeipistole Series - Quickly gaining market this is not an exactly new design, it is rather an evolution of the excellent P99 service pistol. In fact Walther has produced firearms for service use in Europe for many years including the now famous PPK & P38. The Walther P99 in my opinion pioneered the idea of ergonomics and proper triggers in modern service pistols. It is no wonder the ergonomics of the PPQ are exceptional, although the bore axis is a bit high making the gun interesting to handle in more powerful cartridges such as .40S&W. As expected the PPQ trigger is top notch. Aftermarket parts for this model are more limited but magazines and holsters are readily available. The Walther PPS, P99 & PPQ M1 utilize a European style paddle magazine release, while the PPQ M2 was developed specifically for the North American civilian market. The PPQ is a very versatile medium sized gun. Umarex is now the parent company and as such they are now marketing guns in several price ranges using the Walther name.
PPS Compact Single Stack - P99AS, P99QA, PPQM1 Service Pistol - PPQ M2 4” Medium Service Pistol - PPQ M2 5” Competition
5) Ruger SR9c - Ruger is known for offering affordable, American built guns. The SR9c deserves an honorable mention because of the lower price point, versatility and overall good value. These guns are well built and boast a lot of safety features that new gun owners seem to want. While I do not recommend manual safeties, the SR9c safety is both ambidextrous and frame mounted. The gun also includes a magazine disconnect, reversible backstaps, ambidextrose controls and visible loaded chamber indicator. While not as refined as the other pistols mentioned I have noticed that these guns do seem to be reliable and easy to shoot. The triggers and sights are quite usable and the pistol comes with both a compact and full size magazine with grip extension making very suitable for both concealed carry and range.
MSRP | Compact Slim | Compact | Service Sized | Competition | |
Glock | $599 - $649 | G26 | G19 & G17 | G34 | |
Smith & Wesson | $449 - $669 | Shield | M&P9c | M&P | M&P Pro |
Springfield | $549 - $659 | XDs | XD Mod2 | XD & XDm | XDm |
Walther | $599 - $699 | PPS | P99 & PPQ M2 | PPQ M2 5” | |
Ruger | $449 - $529 | LC9s | SR9c | SR9 |
Any of the above choices would make an excellent first pistol suitable for self defense, concealed carry, and recreational shooting. Think of these as the Ford Taurus, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry of the handgun world. My household currently owns 3 models mentioned even though I have opted for a different pistol design for my personal use. The final decision as to which pistol you purchase should be dictated by the one that fits you best.
The chart shows MSRP which is always changing and you should expect the actual price in the store to be less. A quality new pistol can be purchased for $425 - $625, so not cheap but also not unaffordable. Another suggestion that I can offer is to purchase new when buying your first handgun. New guns from a storefront will come with a warranty from the manufacturer and well as the local support of the retailer. Plus a new gun comes with the knowledge that a previous owner did not alter the gun in any way.
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