Choosing the Best Handgun for Beginners

Choosing your first handgun can seem daunting, especially when trying to understand various terms, browsing countless styles, and learning what features you like and dislike. It is a personal journey that should be defined by your preferences, purposes, and specific needs. Although overwhelming, finding the best handgun for beginners should also be enjoyable and leave you feeling confident, informed, and most importantly, protected. 

This is why GrabAGun created a guide for choosing the best handgun for beginners. We’ve outlined 4 specific qualities to consider while doing your research and offer advice on styles, features, and sizes. This guide will help you understand all the aspects of your future firearm so that, when you’re ready, you can confidently purchase your own handgun.

4 Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Handgun for Beginners

1. The Purpose of Your Handgun

The journey to finding your first handgun begins with determining its purpose. Knowing how you intend to use the firearm will give you a great starting point in your search. After all, handguns come in many different designs, sizes, and capabilities. While one handgun may be perfect for home defense, another might be more ideal for concealed carry. Although handguns can be incredibly versatile, understanding your reasons for owning a firearm will help you decide which is best for you.

Consider some of the most popular uses of handguns: 

• self-defense
• hunting
• plinking
• competition
• collection
• concealed carry
• range-shooting
• home-defense

2. Size

The most important part of owning a handgun is being comfortable handling it, which is why it is so important to choose the right size. Generally, semi-automatic handguns come in three different sizes: full-size, compact, and subcompact. Each type of handgun has unique advantages that tailor to different needs. 

Full-Size

As the largest category of pistol, full-size semi-automatic handguns have a barrel length of around 5-inches. With these models, all your fingers can fit comfortably on the gun’s grip, which is ideal if you have large hands. Thanks to their larger frames, full-size handguns also have less recoil, with calibers ranging from .22LR to .50 caliber. 

Full-size handguns are more difficult for concealed carry, with the most preferred concealment method being a shoulder holster. On the other hand, they can be more comfortable to shoot thanks to a full grip, minimal recoil, and a longer sight radius.

Full-size handgun breakdown:

• Full grip
• Minimal recoil
• Difficult for concealed carry
• Comfortable grip

Compact

Compact pistols range from 3.5-inches to 4.5-inches in barrel length with a slightly smaller frame than a full-size handgun. Generally, compact handguns will fit a shooter’s hands without a magazine inserted, with less grip exposed below the fist. If you have small hands, a compact pistol might be a great option. Compact handguns are also better designed for concealed carry. They can be worn in many different ways, including inside-the-waistband, outside-the-waistband, with a belly belt, on the ankle, or on the thigh. 

Due to the compact pistol’s smaller size, using a smaller caliber round is more common (although compact handguns do come in a variety of calibers). While the compact is also more lightweight, you might experience a bit more recoil, especially if shooting with larger calibers. 

Compact handgun breakdown: 

• Smaller size great for concealed carry
• Comfortable fit even without a magazine inserted
• May experience more recoil
• Great for small hands

Subcompact

As the smallest handgun size option, the subcompact pistol is designed for deep concealment. Sometimes called “pocket rockets,” these small-sized handguns can be comfortably carried and undetected in a coat, pants pocket, in the small of your back, and more. They still deliver just as much power and durability as larger handguns but with a much smaller, lighter frame. 

Subcompacts will have a shorter and thinner grip than most pistols, so it is important to make sure you can comfortably handle the firearm to ensure accuracy. If you have larger hands, this might be more difficult. Similar to a compact handgun, subcompact handguns will also have more recoil and/or a smaller capacity. 

Subcompact handgun breakdown: 

• Designed for deep concealment
• Shorter and thinner grip
• Might be difficult for large hands to handle
• Enables comfortable, lightweight daily carry

Find a variety of compact, subcompact, and full-size handguns for sale online at GrabAGun!

3. Caliber

Caliber is an important choice when picking your first handgun and is highly dependent on what you need and/or want from your firearm. In fact, choosing your caliber before choosing your handgun’s brand or style can narrow your choices and ensure that your handgun is perfect for your specific needs. Below we have listed a few of the most popular handgun cartridges, along with their unique advantages and disadvantages: 

22LR

22LR is a great option for beginner shooters because it is affordable, easy to find in bulk, and delivers minimal recoil. Though not necessarily the best choice for defense, .22 LR excels in accuracy and is an exceptional training caliber, especially since it’s mainly used to practice and plink. 

9Mm

9mm is arguably the most popular handgun caliber in the world. It is used by police, military, concealed carriers, competition shooters, recreational shooters, and more. This is a highly versatile round that is both cost-effective and accurate. Though it delivers slightly more recoil than 22LR, it is still manageable. Many shooters use these rounds for open and concealed carry or self-defense.

45 ACP

An American favorite, 45 ACP was the standard military issue handgun cartridge for more than 70 years. It is the biggest round on this list and delivers high-recoil. This heavy-duty caliber is suited for beginners who want a larger bullet or an upgrade from 22LR. It works well for home defense and close-range shooting.

As you can see, each caliber serves a unique purpose. The best thing for beginner shooters to remember is to pick a caliber that is comfortable, compatible with your wallet, easy to handle, and fits your purpose. 

Browse the best handgun ammo online for sale at GrabAGun.

4. Striker or Hammer Fired

Handguns can have different actions or internal operations. These actions are based on the relationship between the trigger and the hammer, and how the firearm functions when the trigger is pulled. 

Hammer Fired

Hammer-fired pistols come in two designs—double-action and single-action. Single-action, hammer-fired pistols are the simplest in terms of operation. The hammer must be manually cocked before shooting and the trigger only performs one function: releasing the hammer. 

Double-action, hammer-fired pistols are a bit more complicated. The trigger on these handguns can be used both to fire the gun and cock the hammer. So, before firing, the shooter must either cock the hammer manually or have a longer trigger pull to cock the hammer and fire the handgun. It is important to note that a double-action hammer-fired pistol will have a heavier trigger pull. Although manageable, this means double-action pistols might work best as an upgrade once beginners have had some training. 

Reasons we suggest a hammer-fired pistol as the best handgun for beginners: 

• Experience a clean and crisp trigger pull
• Helps enable more accurate shooting
• Able to physically see how the position of the hammer and trigger pull interact
• You can easily tell whether or not your handgun is cocked
• Enhanced reliability
• External safeties for the hammer 

Striker Fired

Striker-fired pistols do not have a hammer. Instead, the mainspring acts on the firing pin directly. The striker-fired pistol was first made popular with the Glock 17 but has since risen in ranks, becoming a popular choice for novice shooters. Unlike the double-action hammer-fired pistol, a striker-fired pistol’s trigger pull is noticeably lighter and easier. This makes striker-fired pistols some of the best handguns for beginners. 

Reasons we suggest a striker-fired pistol as the best handgun for beginners:

• The trigger pull is identical nearly every single time
• No exposed hammer
• The back of the slide is flat
• Often have several internal safety mechanisms
• Simpler design with fewer moving parts
• Lighter and smaller 
• Commonly used for concealed carry 

GrabAGun’s Recommendations for the Best Handgun for Beginners

Glock 17 Gen 5

Glock’s reputation for ultimate reliability has made them the world’s leading manufacturer of pistols. The Glock 17 Gen 5 is a no-frills, full-size pistol that will serve generations with the best durability, power, and accuracy that Glock has to offer. With over 20 design modifications and upgrades, you’ll be able to customize this pistol to your exact needs. 

Find more Glock handguns for sale at GrabAGun.

Sig Sauer P320

The Sig Sauer P320 is the pistol of choice for law enforcement and military personnel, whose input was used to design this model. It is a striker-fired pistol with excellent balance, improved accuracy, and minimal recoil. With interchangeable components that allow grip customization, this pistol is a great choice for beginners who are still figuring out what size grip works best for them. 

Browse the Sig P320 and more guns for sale online at GrabAGun. 

Springfield XD-S Mod.2 OSP

The XD-S Mod.2 OSP is Springfield’s most popular single-stack EDC. This striker-fired, optics-ready pistol is small yet incredibly powerful. Perfect for self-defense and concealed carry, it features enhanced grip texturing, magazine versatility, a loaded chamber indicator, and more.

Choose from countless Springfield XD models online at GrabAGun.

Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0

The compact Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 is Smith and Wesson’s newest, most innovative addition to their highly popular and respected M&P line of pistols. This compact, striker-fired handgun is perfect for personal, sporting, or professional use. It features aggressive texturing and interchangeable palmswell inserts so you can experience a comfortable grip.

Get the best gun deals online for all Smith & Wesson handguns at GrabAGun. 

Glock 19 Gen 5

The Glock 19 Gen 5 is perhaps the most versatile Glock pistol—perfect for anyone, but especially beginners. Able to accommodate almost any hand size, it uses a reversible magazine catch and ambidextrous slide stop lever, which means this pistol is great for both left and right-handed shooters. Whether you want an effective concealed carry or a dependable competition firearm, the Glock 19 Gen 5 is perfect for your needs.

Browse the best handguns from Glock for sale online at GrabAGun.

Purchasing Your First Handgun

The final thing to consider when choosing the best handgun for beginners is your local laws and regulations as they relate to firearms. Always remember to choose something that will both meet local requirements and fulfill your personal needs. Once you’ve settled on some options, take time to test out those firearms before making a purchase. You will never know what a firearm truly feels like until you hold it in your hands and fire it yourself. 

When you’re ready to purchase your first handgun, head over to GrabAGun.com to find the best deals on handguns for sale online. Whether you choose a 9mm handgun, 45 handgun, or you want the best handgun for home defense, GrabAGun offers low, competitive prices. Make purchasing firearms easy by browsing GrabAGun’s incredible collection of the best handguns for beginners.

 

—Melissa Quist