starter handgun

How to Buy a Starter Handgun

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The United States is one of the most accomodating countries in terms of gun rights. While specific laws vary from state to state, Americans, in general, enjoy the second amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Though 32% of Americans own firearms, buying your first handgun can be a little intimidating. This is especially true if you’re not familiar with these types of guns. Handguns are exceptionally dangerous and must be approached with caution and respect.

The question is, how do you pick the right starter handgun? Which type of handgun will serve you best?

Not sure where to begin? Don’t worry, we’re here to answer all of your questions. Keep reading for a quick guide on how to buy a handgun.

Identify Your Needs

First, you need to identify the purpose of your future firearm. What will you be using the handgun for? Is it going to be used for home protection, concealed carry, target shooting, competition shooting, small game hunting, or something else?

Answering this question is important because it will dictate the best type of handgun. It will also help you determine the right size and caliber for your needs.

For example, concealed carry pistols should be light, small, and thin. This makes them easier to conceal and more comfortable to carry. If you’re looking for home protection, on the other hand, you might want something that provides maximum round capacity.

Trial Different Types of Handguns

If you’re new to firearms, we highly recommend trialing your options before committing to a starter handgun. Different calibers and styles of handguns fire differently. Some have more of a kick than others, which can be intimidating for new shooters.

Additionally, some handguns have a smoother and lighter trigger pull. While this makes firing the gun easier, it can also make new shooters more prone to accidentally discharging the weapon.

There are revolvers that have external hammers which must be cocked before they will fire. Some pistols, on the other hand, have internal hammers.

To understand the best starter handgun for your needs, experiment with a variety of different styles and calibers.

Understand the Safety Features

Before you purchase a handgun, it’s a good idea to determine the best type of safety features for your needs. These vary from firearm to firearm.

For example, a 1911 pistol might have a safety lever as well as a grip safety. Like revolvers, the external hammer needs to be pulled back before it will fire.

Conversely, Glocks offer more subtle safety features, such as the trigger safety mechanism. Ultimately, it comes down to what you’re more comfortable with.

Some people feel better about having multiple safety features. For tactical reasons, other people find excessive safety features to be a hindrance.

Choose the Right Caliber

Earlier, we talked about handguns coming in different calibers or ammunition sizes. This is an important factor to consider when picking a starter handgun.

Again, consider what you’ll be using the handgun for. For example, if you want a target shooter, you might be alright with something small, like a .22 caliber pistol.

These rounds are easily the most affordable. However, they also have limited range and penetration power.

On the opposite side of the scale, you have .50 caliber pistols like the Desert Eagle, which are unnecessary and excessive for most purposes. We recommend finding something in between these sizes, which include:

  • 9mm
  • 10mm
  • .40 caliber
  • .45 caliber
  • .38
  • And more

These calibers are practical and easy to find.

Pistols that fire smaller rounds like 9mm bullets will be able to hold more ammunition in each magazine. Many 9mm pistols can carry upwards of 15 rounds, while a .45 1911 will only hold 8.

Consider Your Budget

Before buying a handgun, you must also think about your budget. How much money can you afford to spend on a starter handgun? If you’re taking out a loan or using a credit card, how soon will you be able to pay off the expense?

Buying a handgun for $1,000 on credit could end up costing you twice that if you don’t pay it off quickly. In most cases, it’s better to put money aside until you can afford the expense outright.

If you’re limited on funds, that’s okay too. You can find a cheap handgun on the market that’s reliable for any situation.

For example, you don’t have to empty your bank account to secure a firearm to keep you and your family safe. Take a look at this list of budget handguns for protection.

Think About Weight

Whether you’re in the market for a cheap handgun or are going all out, it’s important to consider the weight of the weapon. The lighter your starter handgun is, the more kickback you’re going to experience with each shot.

A light pistol made with a polymer frame, for example, won’t offer much compensation. On the other hand, a pistol with an all-metal frame will reduce the recoil. Of course, the amount of recoil produced with each shot fired also depends on the type of ammunition you’re using.

Weight is a vital consideration if you’re planning on using the handgun for concealed carry. The heavier the firearm is, the more noticeable it will be to you as you’re carrying it. It might also be uncomfortable and lead to wardrobe issues.

Find the Right Aesthetics

Finally, no matter how much money you’re spending on your starter handgun, you need to find a firearm that you find aesthetically pleasing. While performance and reliability are certainly more important, you can’t discount the visual appeal of the gun.

Some people appreciate the classic style and ethics of revolvers while others lean toward tactical pistols. Which style draws your attention the most? You also have plenty of options regarding color and other stylistic features.

Are You Ready to Choose a Starter Handgun?

We hope this guide helps you find the best starter handgun for your needs. As you can see, there’s a lot to consider before you invest in a firearm.

Remember to stay safe and familiarize yourself with each firearm’s safety features. And of course, follow the gun safety rules.

If you’re looking for more information on finding a handgun on a budget, check out this article. Otherwise, look through the rest of our blog to find more content on guns, ammo, gun laws, and more.

concealed carry pistols

Everything to Know About Concealed Carry Pistols

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In the United States, 32% of people own a gun, which is over 80 million people. 

Not all of the guns made or sold in the United States work well for concealed carry. There are some specific things you should look for in concealed carry pistols if you want to join the ranks of gun owners and concealed carriers. The balance of features that you go for is up to you, and some of it will depend on your body shape and experience level. 

Let’s take a look at what makes a great concealed carry pistol. 

Concealed Carry Pistols

Now that you are shopping for your first gun and have your CCW license there are things to consider. 

The first thing you should know about concealed carry pistols is that they need to be concealed. If your weapon is visible, a criminal could get the drop on you, knowing that you’re armed. This means that for a lot of us a full-size pistol isn’t going to be the best choice, it needs to be smaller and concealable. 

A concealable pistol is one that you can fit in your waistband, carry over your appendix, or even hide in your pocket. This means it can’t be large, and long barrels are out. You want something compact that can fit in your hand but carries enough firepower to end any threat to your life. 

The balance you have to strike with concealability is capability vs capacity. The smaller the round, the more bullets you’ll be able to have in the magazine. This doesn’t mean you should get a .32 ACP, for instance, instead make sure to do your research about the best concealed carry pistols out there. 

There is no rule that says you can’t use a full-size pistol, either. Just make sure that if you’re doing that, you have a good holster and the body size to store guns in a proper place.  

Capacity and Capability 

Since most modern guns have double-stacked magazines, capacity isn’t as bad as it used to be. Where a lot of pistols could only carry 5 to 8 rounds, now you have compacts that can carry over 10 bullets. This all depends on the caliber, because larger bullets do take up more space. 

Old fashioned, concealable revolvers used to be popular and still are in some groups. Most of these guns can only carry 4 or 5 rounds. While this does make them slim and easy to conceal, it means you won’t have many chances to land a fight-ending shot. 

Modern pistols are often striker-fired, so you won’t see a  hammer. Most striker-fired guns don’t have a safety beyond the trigger. On the bright side, most striker-fired guns have large capacity magazine options. 

If you just got your concealed gun permit and are buying a gun, consider something like a compact Glock. These are easy-to-use weapons that require minimal training to be effective. This is important if you haven’t developed a lot of firearm capability yet. 

Safety

The best safety any weapon has is the person who is using it. With proper training and discipline, you will be more effective than any mechanical safety is. Use your gun the right way, don’t take unnecessary risks, and don’t expose yourself to possible criminal behavior. 

In the old days, a hammer was considered to be a safety, since it had to be pulled back to fire. That was a long time ago, and modern guns have a variety of safety features you might want. Some people don’t like safeties, because they feel it slows down the use of the weapon and can be dangerous. 

Glocks and several other brands focus on having an integrated trigger safety. This means that your figure has to be depressing a small paddle on the trigger before the gun will fire While this will prevent accidental discharge, you need to make sure you have good trigger discipline and don’t touch the trigger before you’re ready to shoot. 

If you’re interested in having a safety on your weapon, then you might consider an M&P Shield by Smith and Wesson. There is a lot of variety when it comes to caliber, but they operate well and have easy-to-use safeties. This option is often taken by those who have children or other untrained people in the home with them, to prevent accidents. 

The Best Concealed Carry Pistol 

The key to finding the right pistol is to find one that fits with your level of experience. The nicest pistol in the world won’t work if you don’t have it on you, or you can’t keep it in operational condition. Make sure that when you purchase a gun for concealed carry, you take it out to the range and learn about all the ins and outs of that model. 

No single answer exists to what the best pistols for you will be. This is because you have to decide on what feels right, what works and the price you want to spend. What works for you might not work for someone else, just remember that everything from body shape to hand size plays a factor. 

There are some brands that are well known for producing good concealed carry pistols. These companies are brands like Glock, Sig Sauer, Luger, Walther, among others. With any of these brands, you can rest assured that your weapon will be in good working order when it arrives. 

You may also want to consider using 9mm ammo, it is cheaper than other calibers and has a lot of modern variations in bullet design. This is why military and police groups are switching back to the 9mm. Modern ammunition can make a huge difference in bullet performance. 

Concealed Carry and You 

We hope that you found this article useful in informing you about concealed carry pistols. If you want to stay safe and ready to defend yourself, contact us. We’d love to help you find the best gun for your situation.