How to Choose the Right Gun for You

Close up of black firearm and monogrammed holster

For first-time firearm buyers, choosing the right gun can be daunting. If you don’t personally know someone knowledgeable about guns who can help walk you through the process, don’t worry. Fortunately, there’s a rational process first-time buyers can follow to choose a handgun that fits their needs, familiarity level, and budget. Here’s what the NRA suggests:


Determine Your Needs

Why do you want a handgun? The answer to this question will determine many of your new gun’s characteristics. If concealed carry is your goal, you’ll want a gun that is short, small and light, while one for home defense may be larger and heavier. Understand that no one gun can do everything well. While there are a few double-duty handguns suitable for both home defense or concealed carry, it’s best for new owners to determine their handgun’s single most critical function and let that guide the selection.


Selecting the Proper Caliber

Next is the selection of the caliber of your defensive handgun—that is, the exact cartridge it is designed to fire. This choice is critical, as it determines both the level of recoil you’ll have to manage and the effectiveness of the handgun/cartridge combination in a defensive situation. Caliber choice also influences gun size, and an informed choice involves firing guns of different sizes, barrel lengths, and grip configurations in different calibers.


Hands-On Shopping

Once you have established a preference for a particular gun type in a specific caliber, your best bet is to test-fire that model. Various makes and models of guns of the exact same type will differ widely in how they operate, feel, handle, and shoot. It’s important to experience all that firsthand. Ergonomics and ease of use are also important in a defensive handgun, which may have to be handled and fired in a fast, natural manner. Does the gun fit in your hand comfortably and point naturally? Are all the controls smooth to operate and can your fingers reach them easily? Is the gun easy to load and unload? Is the gun’s recoil controllable, enabling rapid shot-to-shot recovery? Finally, if the gun is to be carried, does it conceal well in a pocket, purse, fanny pack or holster? Does its weight cause your clothes to bulge or droop? These are all things you should be taking into consideration.


The Final Decision

When the decision boils down to a few, make the final choice by considering other factors: finishes, options, reputation of the manufacturer and the specific model. Price is another important factor; one can expect to pay from $350 to $750 or more for a new, high-quality handgun. Websites like NRA’s americanrifleman.org and shootingillustrated.com contain many handgun reviews and always strive to be fair and evenhanded.


USCCA Concealed Carry and Home Defense Course is a 16 hour course and meets the Illinois State Police requirements for the Illinois Concealed Carry Permit.  Upon completion of the course, students will receive a certificate which is required when renewing their Illinois Concealed Carry Permit. Visit us online to learn more, or call us at 815-501-9421 with any questions.
Location: Northern Illinois Carry LLC

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