im looking to own my fist hand gun. was wondering what would be a good but cost effective hand gun for the first time owner.
It all comes down to preference. Lots of people will recommend a .22lr caliber since it is very cheap and has low recoil, making it easy to learn the basics of marksmanship and safety. Others will mention a full sized revolver since it is mechanically simple. Those are valid suggestions, but I found something different.
My first (earlier this year) was a mid price range, full sized, high capacity 9mm. I wanted a 'first' handgun that was relaible, safe, not too expensive, and suited for a home defense role. Here's how I made the decision:
- I rented a number of handguns at Pop's and Applied Ballistics to get an understanding of how different firearms operate and feel to me personally.
- I liked how a modern semi-auto has a high capacity and it is easy to reload via magazines
- I liked that the 9mm is one of the less expensive calibers that is also used extensively by police and military, which makes it enough of a 'man stopper' for me.
- I liked that the semi-auto I choose had safety features (external safety, da/sa) that made both me and my fiancée more comfortable with owning a defensive handgun
- the handgun I choose not only feels great in my hand, but I like how mine looks too, ha
Everybody will have a different opinion on your first. You will have to try to handle as many as possible, consider what role your first handgun will serve, and make the best decision you can. At the very least, guns don't depreciate as fast as cars do, so you won't necessarily lose a ton of money if you get rid of your first after you find something else you like.
If you going to carry it, don't get a full size. I think that's the biggest mistake made by first time handgun owners that plan to carry.
Big guns are hard to carry IMO.