The market for handguns is ever expanding and can be extremely confusing for those with little experience. This article is written with the intent to help you find the things that you need in a gun without agonizing over the decision.
My method of choosing a firearm starts with the question: what is the intended use? Is the gun for concealed carry? Then we need something a little lighter and a bit smaller. Home defense? Bigger with more ammunitionand possibly the ability to accept a light. Competition? What division are you wishing to shoot? Heavier frames help with recoil, but capacity may be restricted for your division. Range shooting? Perhaps something that has very low ammo cost like a 22LR. Outdoor defense? It May be good to look into choices that have more energy, like 10mm Auto and 44 Magnum.
The first question dictates the type of guns we are looking at, while also deselecting a number of guns we cannot easily use for our purpose.
The next question to ask is: does it work well with me? Does the grip fit my hands so I can get a firm grip? Can I operate the safety? Can I reach the magazine release? Can I pull the slide to the rear, or open the cylinder easily? All of these things can eliminate more options, leaving you with a smaller segment to choose from.
Finally, I will choose based on features. The ability of the gun to accept an electronic sight, a flashlight or even holster availability are factors to consider. Magazine capacity can rate high on the list. Long term durability is also likely a desurable feature. This is the area where you can make some concessions. If it meets all your other criteria, but misses one or two features you want, check to see if the gun can be modified to what you wish it to be. Bottom line, many guns should offer the features you want, or it can be modified to do so.
Now we get to the hard part. We have narrowed the selection down to 2-3 options (or 4-5), and we need to make the final choice. The best way to look at this is to go back to question one. Which gun does the best job for the task we wish it to perform? If you still are troubled by the choices, just remember: we just eliminated over 90% of the market, and this is what fits the needs best. At this point you can likely just go for it.
Remember, if the gun people in your life could identify the manufacturer from which you are buying a gun (Glock, Smith and Wesson, Sig Sauer, Ruger), then you are probably buying a quality, mainstream gun.
This series will be followed up with a bit more detail on concealed carry, home defense and outdoor defense choices. Stay tuned!
Comments