Are you a first time handgun buyer? How to pick your first handgun?

Are you a first time handgun buyer? How to pick your first handgun? (Part 1)

Written by Mohican Shooter 

Let us first establish the framework! 

1. Why are you interested in obtaining your first handgun? 
2. Is the goal to have it for self defense or maybe for casual target practice? 

• Are you looking for a handgun to go hunting? 

1. Is it a sport oriented purchase? Are you interested in competitive shooting ? If yes, it's another big discussion. There are many types of competitive pistol sports, from classic olympic shooting to IDPA, USPSA, IPSC, and others.

For the sake of simplicity and since most people get their first handgun for self-defense, let’s assume you are shopping for a handgun that you wish to use for that purpose. During the rise of the 2020 COVID 19 pandemic and subsequent civil unrest during the following summer months, a major spike of first time gun owners erupted and most major cities have witnessed this in some fashion. At the end of the day, we are all human and wish to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our properties. A gun is the best tool suited for just that! As long as you can opperate it safely by following simple safety rules.

  

So when we are looking for a handgun one of the most important things to consider is how it fits into your hand. It MUST be a good fit that sits comfortably in your hand! This means it should not be a cannon (too big) nor should it be something super compact that it gets lost in your hand (too small). As a rule, a bigger and heavier gun manages the recoil in a more efficient way, hence picking a tiny gun is often not the best choice. Small guns do kick harder which makes them less desirable to shoot and if you don't enjoy shooting a particular handgun because of a massive recoil then you are less likely to practice with that handgun and become proficient. 

It comes down to picking a gun you like to shoot. 

Let's make sure we cover a basic truth and a little secret of recoil management and handgun handling.  

What is the most important finger for gripping a handgun you ask me? Contrary to popular belief it is NOT the middle finger. The answer might surprise you but it's your pinky. Yes, your pinky is crucial in recoil management and general handling of the weapon. 

So make sure that when you pick your handgun, your pinky is comfortable and fits well on the grip. You should like the way it feels in your hand!

Tip: use your pinky more than you use your middle finger, it will keep you out of trouble and on target. 

Part 2   click here

Part 3 Click here