Handgun Buyer's Guide

If you're buying your first handgun, a handgun buyer's guide is an absolute necessity. With so many handguns out there, it's a daunting task to find the one that fits your needs, wallet, and lifestyle.

When you're shopping for a handgun, the first thing you need to do is consider how reliable it needs to be and what purpose you want it to serve.

Do you want a revolver or a semi-automatic? A semi-automatic holds more bullets and fires easily but tends to jam more often than the revolver, which is simpler in nature, holds fewer bullets, and does not jam (as long as it is in good shape). Some semi-automatics have a reputation for not jamming, though there is no way to guarantee that they won't. Glocks, for example, are notorious for being reliable. Semi-automatics are easier to use, more lightweight, and less reliable than revolvers. If shooting every single time with no problems is your goal you'll want to opt for a revolver.

What do you want from your gun?

• Hunting: Handgun hunting means you'll need something small enough to maneuver within a confined space with but large enough to stop what you're shooting at with one shot (often a wild boar). With limited time and the potential for the animal to attack you, you'll want it to be an efficient shot. The .454 Casull revolvers have bullets with a lot of mass and speed and therefore a lot of stopping power.
• Home protection: With home protection, you don't necessarily need something very small. In fact, you will want something with bullets large enough to stop the intruder without making it through him, the wall, and a family member. A 9 mm, 44-caliber, or 45-caliber is a good starting point. Hollow-point rounds are also recommended because they're less likely to make it through the target and into something (or someone) else.
• Concealed weapon: Obviously, this needs to be quite small if you're going to wear it. Recommendations include .38-caliber or a .38 special. The difference between the two is that the .38 special has a longer shell with more powder behind it so the bullet goes faster. Consider how you'll be carrying it. In your purse, it needs to be accessible. A revolver may not be the best option because they usually don't have safety options and could easily go off accidentally. If you'll be carrying the handgun in a holster, this isn't as much of a consideration. You may also want to consider carrying your gun in a holster inside of your purse.
• Target practice: .22-caliber pistols have long barrels and the rounds are lightweight, small, and fast. Don't think about trying to protect yourself with one of these because they won't do enough damage to stop an intruder or wild animal. These are best used for target practice.

Check out your local laws for purchasing handguns before you go shopping for one. A general handgun buyer's guide can't give you those guidelines because they vary from location to location. Be sure to check for layers; you could have city, county, state, and national laws. For example, it's almost impossible to have a firearm in Japan. In England, it's harder to have a handgun than a shotgun, which is commonly used for hunting.

A handgun buyer's guide can point you in the right direction once you decide how you need to use your gun and how reliable you need it to be. It can't tell you the "best" gun overall because each situation is different. The right gun for home protection (and being locked up in a cabinet) will not be the right gun to carry in your purse, for example.

Remember, don't attempt to make a gun purchase without checking out the laws in your area. You could be required to fill out paperwork or the gun you'd like to purchase may not even be allowed in your town.

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