So, you've decided you want or need to buy a gun. Great! Are you not sure which gun to buy? Hopefully this article can help you out!
DISCLAIMER: Article contains affiliate links
Introduction:
For many first-time gun owners, the task of selecting a firearm can seem daunting. In many ways, choosing your first firearm may be more like choosing your first car in the sense that you have to pick what is right for you, the end consumer, and what meets your personal needs and demands.
So, with that being said, how would I define what guns are, generally speaking, the best for first time gun owners? On the most basic level I would break it down to three main factors: cost, simplicity and overall reliability (since a gun that does not go bang whenever you need it too is practically worthless).
Additionally, I will also factor the overall availability and likelihood of encountering said firearm in your local gun store into account.
For this list, I will be including only handguns as they are generally cheaper and much more common and convenient than rifles for the average owner. All handguns featured here are chambered in 9mm as this is the most common handgun cartridge and the one most gun owners opt to own (I will be doing articles on the best handguns in other calibers at a later date).
And so, with that out of the way, let's dive in!
Number 1: Glock 19
At the very top of our list is the king of poly-strikers pistols and one of the guns that spearheaded the movement to (although arguably) replace hammer-striker pistols as the mainstay of handguns today. Known for its light weight, legendary reliability and high status in popular culture from music to movies and video games, the Glock- and in particular the Glock 19- reign supreme.
It can be found everywhere- just about every decent gun store in the country is guaranteed to have them, as they are so common, they alone are actually one of the best-selling firearms- of any kind- in the United States and in the world. As previously stated, Glock pistols are the archetype poly-striker pistol- which is perfect for first time gun owners due to it's simplicity (all one has to do is literally load the gun, rack the slide, and pull the trigger).
That said, with such a reputation and quality, Glock pistols aren't particularly cheap- you can expect to pay at least 500 USD for a new one and around 400-450 for a used one or for an older model. We argue, however, that regardless of what you choose, the price is well worth it, seeing as it has more or less the same basic perks across all generations.
In light of this (plus a few things we may have forgotten to mention), the Glock 19 is the clear winner- at least for us and millions of others, that is.
Number 2: Smith and Wesson M&P 9 2.0
Our number 2 pick may or may not surprise some people, but gun giant Smith and Wesson- who have been around for over 170 years- have their own fantastic poly striker to compete with the Glock in many of the same markets.
Like the Glock, it can be found all over the place, and exists in abundance. Although not nearly as popular as it's Austrian-made rival, it's still a fantastic gun that offers all of the same perks for the most part. It tends to be a tad bit more expensive than the Glock but it comes with a few things the Glock does not- including the option of a manual, frame-mounted safety being installed on the gun (although users can opt not to have this if they so desire).
On top of this, Smith and Wesson originally built this handgun to be used by the military and law enforcement, as the name M&P (Military and Police) implies- and, despite some problems with the first generation, the second generation lives up to this hype- it is just as durable and rugged as a Glock according to many (including myself, having shot tens of thousands of rounds through a single gun since 2013).
It's really not a bad choice if you can't somehow find a Glock in your local gun store, and because it offers largely the same benefits while being only slightly more expensive, it shouldn't make the trade-off in terms of cost unacceptable.
Overall, we think it's spot here at number 2 is very well earned, and no one would blame you for choosing it over any other single poly-striker pistol except maybe a Glock.
Number 3: Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro
Coming in at number 3 is another possibly controversial and confusing choice, but because of its widespread availability and overall quality, we feel that Springfield Armory's hellcat pro has earned its spot on our list.
Like the previous two entries, it's a poly-striker pistol (load the gun, rack the slide and pull the trigger) but as far as Glock-like poly-strikers go, it's otherwise mostly more of the same (but for the better).
It's still quite a fine gun- it's supremely reliable, it's plenty durable and there are a reasonable abundance of spare parts and add-ons should you want to upgrade your weapon with tactical lights, lasers etc. It's just nothing particularly unique as a lineup aside from some models having things like tritium sights (this may not matter to the first-time gun buyer, but certainly can be useful). Like the other two entries, it'll cost around or a little over 500 USD, but it's still worth the price.
Because it's so common in gun stores and does what it needs to do perfectly fine, we've given it the number 3 spot. It'll do what you need it to do, and whether that be concealed carry or home defense, Springfield Armory has created a gun that surely won't let you down.
Number 4: Taurus G3
Taurus is among our personal favorite gun manufacturers, so there may be some bias here, but a gun this good for the price it is deserves a mention even if you absolutely hate the Brazilian company (and why would you?).
Our number 4 pick is due to two main things- for one, its dirt cheap for its quality- at less than 350 USD it's the cheapest gun on this list, and secondly, this gun offers the same reliability and overall craftmanship of more expensive guns that are otherwise similar to it. Just as reliable and sturdy as any Glock, it's amazing to us that they actually offer it for as little as they do.
On top of this, many, many gun stores have them, and this was actually one of the very first guns the writer shot. Overall, it's a pretty good deal by any means if you come across one for sure and are looking for a gun that is cheap and goes bang (the core functionality of every firearm).
Our number 4 pick has landed here mostly due to a combination of it's cost and reliability, since this particular gun has a combination of the two that's pretty hard to beat.
Number 5: Canik TP9 SA
And lastly, hailing originally from Turkey, is yet another poly-striker pistol that won't break the bank. Like its predecessor on this list, it's noticeably cheaper than even most of the other guns of its type, but what makes it worthy of a spot on this list?
Well, again, like all the other guns mentioned here, it does everything the novice or beginner gun owner should expect out of a firearm- be simple to operate, reliable, and not prohibitively expensive. While Canik is probably not as widely known of a name in the firearms world as, say, Colt or Beretta, this single entry from them has given them leverage in the United States for a reason.
For the price or less than 400 USD, you get a gun that works well and has a long lifespan (if I remember correctly, they've been torture tested to 25,000 rounds). It should be noted that the Canik line has numerous versions of this model- including double-action variants, compact variants etc.- to choose from, so it's not a "model T" of guns or anything and you'll have more options than just a gun that goes bang or not.
It's found in enough gun stores that there is a decent chance you'll come across one, and although it isn't the most common, most well-known or really remarkable otherwise, it'll serve you well should you buy one.
While it's ranked as number 5, it's still a great gun for first timers. It's widely sold, is as reliable as a Swiss train and comes for a reasonable price, so it leaves little more to be desired, there. Last place, sure, but this is all just our opinion!
Conclusion:
Your first gun is very likely to be a handgun, but you need to make the choice the best suits your personal needs- thus, this list is not authoritative. It should, however, point you in the right direction and help you keep your eyes peeled for things to look for in a potential first handgun, at least in our humble opinion.
Few things here are controversial- you'll need one that works well, that you can easily handle and fire with little or no training, and one that is chambered in commonly available ammunition and is relatively easy to find and maintain. Beyond that, most of this is just opinion.
In any case, we hope the article was helpful and we wish you all good luck in choosing your first handgun!
Want to check online prices for any of the firearms we've listed here? As we've always done, we added links to our favorite brands (Palmetto State Armory and Brownells) where you can buy, if you so wish. Feel free to check them out below!
Glock 19:
Smith and Wesson M&P 9 2.0:
Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro:
Taurus G3:
Canik TP9 SA:
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