I think one of the mistakes beginners make is trying to find "THE BEST" gun

C

C0untZer0

Moderator
I think one of the mistakes that beginners make is trying to find THE BEST gun. Instead of trying to find the gun best suited for them. And usually you see ego get involved when beginners are doing this - they want the "best" and if the Navy SEALs use it then it must be the best, or if more police departments use it then it must be the best, if it won the Army trials then its the best, or if such and such competitive champion uses it then it must be the best.

A lot of time spent on turning up factoids to boost the argument of the bestness of their chosen firearm, not a lot of time testing things out to see what fits them the best or what they fire the best.

They don't want to go through any process of learning, trying things out and testing things. They're like a kid at Christmas. They have their heart set on one particular gun for whatever reason, they have cash burning a hole in their pocket - and they go out and buy it.
 
Probably a lot of truth in what you say. I remember my first purchase I had to have the best, so I got a .44 Magnum. Yes, it was a fun range gun, but not the best for carry and ok for home defense – I guess.
 
Then they sell it at a loss to somebody that might not want to pay a higher price for the same gun.

Motorcycles are the same way esp sportbikes. You can pick up some nice sportbikes a few years old for about half the price.
 
As experienced shooters we tend to forget this, but buying a first gun is a hugely emotional decision and a big hurdle to jump. That being the case, it's really understandable that someone out to buy that first gun would obsess over finding the best one.

It's up to us to help educate these newcomers about what "the best one" really means: a firearm that fits them well, that they will enjoy shooting, that has a decently usable manual of arms, and that they can obtain within their budget.

pax
 
It's up to us to help educate these newcomers about what "the best one" really means: a firearm that fits them well, that they will enjoy shooting, that has a decently usable manual of arms, and that they can obtain within their budget.
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I agree, and sometimes we're successful at that.

Other times, folks are just too dead-set on what the magazines, or their spouse, or their friends who "know guns" tell them. This is how new female shooters end up with pocket guns that are virtually impossible for a newbie to enjoy shooting. This is how guys end up showing up for a basic pistol class with a Desert Eagle.

Sometimes, it feels like my mission is to talk people out of "cool" guns and into "old fogey" stuff like revolvers and rimfires. Thing is, it isn't often easy.
 
It is like this with nearly any newbie entering any new "hobby." My friend worked at a large guitar shop. He said 90% of the first timers came in asking for the guitar that (insert guitar "god" of the moment) plays. When asked why they want it they say "cause (guitar mag cover boy) is the greatest ever. I want to sound just like him."

About 50% of them argue about any other suggestion then leave. 30% of them would just leave. 10% would argue, realize what they want is too expensive, then leave. 9% would actually buy something reasonable to see if playing guitar was really for them. 1% would pout and sulk untill their parents bought the exact rig their hero owned. Then nearly half of the stuff they actually sold would come back months later. The kids would show up wanting to sell it off.

It works like that in all pass times. People get all excited because they want to do what "Mr. Cool" is doing. When they realize it takes practice and dedication they quit. The guy arguing that he just has to have that Dan Wesson Valor because it is the best 1911 on the market, and therefore the best gun ever, will probably quit shooting it in six months.

In the modern age it is common to place more emphasis on the gear than the grind. That is to say that we rely on the mechanical and technological to the point that we forget some tasks take time to master. A lot of people give up when they realize there is no magical cure for the human element.

The good thing is that it means nice guns cheap for some of us. :D
 
PAX you are right - "buying a first gun is a hugely emotional decision" But I don't think most guys admit it. Maybe it's not cool to admit that you weren't really knowledgeable and totally rational about your purchase decision. And then any criticism of the gun or the purchase feels like criticism of you.

I don’t know how many times people have posted on the forum “High – I’m new to shooting, I just bought Gun XYZ and am looking for any advice. ”Jeez, maybe you should have asked for advice before you went out and bought that ten inch/ forty ounce 10mm behemoth."

After someone has made the purchase decision they staunchly defend it because the purchase and the gun are tied to their ego.

I think the stuff that’s going on with the emotions and the ego sidetracks the rational process. And it’s doubly bad because that egotism kind of motivates an individual to appear competent, knowledgeable and in-charge and not defer to anyone else as possibly being more knowledgeable.
 
I also agree with what you're saying Mike.

A person who is shooting poorly, unless they are shooting a firearm that is really low quality or just doesn't lend itself to accurate shooting - is probably only going to see an 8% or 9% improvement by getting even a super-accurate match grade setup. They'd see about the same amount of improvement by just doing exercise to strengthen their wrists, their forearms and their grip. If you look on the Glock forums there are so many stories of first time users getting failures on their first time to the range, and the advice is "have an experienced shooter fire the weapon maybe you're 'limp wristing' it." And then those posters go away not to be heard from again. If they're limp wristing it - how accurately can they be firing it? They would probably also see a 75% improvement by focusing on the fundamentals and practicing practicing practicing.

I actually went through that experience with the guitar. I wanted a Gibson Les Paul and tried to talk my dad into buying it. The guy at the music store said it's better to learn on an accoustic. He said if you learn accoustic you can always play electric, but it's not always the same the other way around. I gave up playing guitar after 2 years (wish I hadn't). At least my parents weren't stuck with an expensive Les Paul - although if they had gotten one it probably would be a collectors item now.
 
The first gun I personally bought was a Gen2 Glock 23, back in 1995...I still own it.

In many ways I think I lucked into a quality firearm. The only other "modern" pistol I had shot, at the time, was the Beretta M-9. I dont regret the purchase, at all...not one failure to date. When I get back to the states Im sure I will still carry it from time to time...though, its hasnt been an EDC in a long while.
 
While I see the point of the OP and this thread, but "THE BEST" is also pretty ambiguous and by definition, would have to depend on the intended purpose and the shooters preferences.

One thing to keep in mind that while looking for "the best" in a handgun for a newbie isn't the best or easiest concept, buying quality first is many times a good idea, that is if you are committed to learning shooting and you really like it. I never really traded in a gun or sold it for a loss because I didn't like it. When I started, I bought Ruger, S&W, Colt, etc and so I was never really truly dissappointed, I just nit-pick about little things. And ecause I made that choice early on, I have most of my early gun choices AND my guns are easier to sell if I so choose because I bought the stuff that has a good reputation, the stuff that everyone likes and wants.

Also consider when at the range, with a quality arm, you usually cannot blame the arm. Not to say that you could blame a taurus or something else thats a little rougher, but for a newbie, it makes shooting that much more difficult when the gun is either poorly designed or manufactured.

So while I do think that a newbie finding "the best" handgun or any gun in some ways isn't worth their trouble, buying a quality made firearm 1st is a good idea, if you know you want to shoot.
 
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I grew up in a whole different world, generation, attitude, or something. Guns were a part of life not just something a person found interesting. I can't fathom the phrase "hugely emotional" in reference to buying a gun so some of this seems odd to me.
Over the years, I've seen the "I have to have the best or one like so and so uses" applied to every imaginable article from toothpaste to vehicles. Most of the time it's a poor choice due to the complexity or narrow usefulness of the item. Anytime an amateur tries to use the tools of a pro, there's a good chance of failure.
All a person can do is try to point the new guy toward a suitable purchase and keep their mouth shut when the gotta have does work as expected(and maybe buy a nice gun for a discount later).
 
I think one of the mistakes that beginners make is trying to find THE BEST gun.
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That's one of the mistakes. Hopefully one's not repeating it years down the line when 10 or 15 different handguns have passed through one's hands.

It's a tool. Tool need to be fit for a purpose, and fit its user (ergonomics). Both can change with time and circumstances.
 
It does take a huge mental shift to understand that our gun preferences are likely to change over time, and that this gun will not be the perfect "be all, end all" that we think/hope it will be.
 
Working your way up is the best

I first bought an airsoft gun then a red rider, soon I purchased a phantom pellet rifle then a 100$ shotgun then a Mosin, after that a Mauser. After a year of collecting I've gathered two Mosins, one Mauser, and 12 then 20 gauge shotguns. I still play with all of them, even the bb gun.
 
The gun stores I visit have big banners hanging behind the gun counter form Springfield Armory, S&W, etc... In one store a two foot cardboard Glock hangs from a fishing line, rotating and advertising Glock "Perfection".

There should be equally big signs hanging behind the counter that say "Take a class before you buy !"

But I don't think it behooves gun stores to do that. The solution to a bad initial gun purchase is just an addition gun purchase from them. "You're finding .44 magnum isn't working out for you for concealed carry? - OK, well lets look at some 380s and compact 9mm..." "That 38 snubbie not working out so good in moose country? OK, well we've got other guns here you can buy..."




BTW: I still fire my pellet pistol regularly. It's great practice and very cheap.
 
Good read man. My first handgun, was a Taurus model 80 .38 special. Made in 1982 and worked great. Have since moved up to a Gen 2 Glock 23.
 
I still have that first gun. I bought it pre-owned. I even have the second gun I bought. That one I absolutely had to have because it was the best looking revolver that I had ever seen and handled.

I still have the Python but it can't hold a candle to my Korth. I learnt to appreciate the perfect gun for my specific needs and the Korth is of incredible quality with an amazing trigger that makes D/A shots so much fun!

Best gun? One of my all-time favorites is a S&W M65 law enforcement trade-ins and that lowly cheap S&W 22A is past the 100,000 round benchmark now because it is always in the range bag.
 
When you're laying out that kind of money - and, if it's a CCW, taking on that kind of responsibility - you really should do as much research as you can before buying. You wouldn't buy a car without taking a test drive; you wouldn't buy a pair of jeans without trying them on - so why wouldn't you handle and fire a gun before you buy it?

Me, I tend to research things to death. Sometimes that means it takes a long time for me to actually make a purchase, but it also means that I very seldom get it wrong.
 
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