This is mostly for beginners:
The way a handgun fits my hand and points naturally is very important to me. The first shot is the most important when hunting or doing quick shooting.
I've tried hundreds of handguns and have dismissed most Semi-Autos, including the 1911 Colt variations because they just don't point and/or feel good when shooting.
I put custom grips on most of my handguns to help them fit my larger hand, usually Pachmayr grips, though I really liked the original Colt Python and Super Blackhawk grips.
To test how a handgun points, just take a hold in the holster or belt and raise it to eye level with your eyes closed. Are the sights aligned with your eye? Is the gun pointing downward too far (my problem with the 1911)?
How a handgun feels in recoil is important also. It shouldn't "bite" you in the web, heel, middle finger, or thumb. That's another reason I liked the Python and disliked some shorter grip frames on semi-autos and single actions.
The most comfortable grips on double-actions are those that are fat in the palm area and thinner at the bottom, which is just the opposite of the S&W Magna and Target grips of the past. I've modified many factory grips on the belt sander to fit me or others. Even Pachmayrs have seen the sander to make them a bit better for me.
The most remarkable improvement was with J-Frame handguns. Pachmayrs turned my Model 60 into a very accurate handgun that I could count on grouping 3" at 15 yards offhand. Moreover, it became very comfortable to shoot.
The worst change I experienced was to go from the factory Super Blackhawk grips to rubber Pachmayrs. They stopped the vertical rotation on firing that made the gun so pleasant to shoot and it came back harder, more like the S&W with factory grips. I went back to factory grips after only a few shots.
Just because a handgun doesn't fit you in factory grips, see if the seller will let you try different after-market grips on it to make it fit YOU before you give up on it. Soft grips usually work best to absorb recoil and allow a slip-resistant grip in different conditions.
Picher
The way a handgun fits my hand and points naturally is very important to me. The first shot is the most important when hunting or doing quick shooting.
I've tried hundreds of handguns and have dismissed most Semi-Autos, including the 1911 Colt variations because they just don't point and/or feel good when shooting.
I put custom grips on most of my handguns to help them fit my larger hand, usually Pachmayr grips, though I really liked the original Colt Python and Super Blackhawk grips.
To test how a handgun points, just take a hold in the holster or belt and raise it to eye level with your eyes closed. Are the sights aligned with your eye? Is the gun pointing downward too far (my problem with the 1911)?
How a handgun feels in recoil is important also. It shouldn't "bite" you in the web, heel, middle finger, or thumb. That's another reason I liked the Python and disliked some shorter grip frames on semi-autos and single actions.
The most comfortable grips on double-actions are those that are fat in the palm area and thinner at the bottom, which is just the opposite of the S&W Magna and Target grips of the past. I've modified many factory grips on the belt sander to fit me or others. Even Pachmayrs have seen the sander to make them a bit better for me.
The most remarkable improvement was with J-Frame handguns. Pachmayrs turned my Model 60 into a very accurate handgun that I could count on grouping 3" at 15 yards offhand. Moreover, it became very comfortable to shoot.
The worst change I experienced was to go from the factory Super Blackhawk grips to rubber Pachmayrs. They stopped the vertical rotation on firing that made the gun so pleasant to shoot and it came back harder, more like the S&W with factory grips. I went back to factory grips after only a few shots.
Just because a handgun doesn't fit you in factory grips, see if the seller will let you try different after-market grips on it to make it fit YOU before you give up on it. Soft grips usually work best to absorb recoil and allow a slip-resistant grip in different conditions.
Picher