Choosing Your First Handgun
What to buy first, calibers, ergonomics, and the mistakes to avoid — answered by the Gun Ask community for new shooters.
The Quick Take
For a first handgun, simple and forgiving beats fancy. A striker-fired 9mm in a compact-to-full-size frame — a Glock 19, S&W M&P, SIG P320, or a value option like a Canik — gives you soft recoil, high capacity, cheap practice ammo, and a huge support ecosystem. Avoid starting with a tiny pocket pistol (they're snappy and hard to learn on) or a heavy-recoiling magnum.
The biggest beginner mistakes are buying based on looks or a salesperson's push, skipping training, and under-practicing. Budget for a few hundred rounds, a safe storage solution, and ideally a class. Handle several guns in person — the right first gun is the one that fits your hand and that you'll enjoy shooting enough to practice with.
