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

I am reminded of an account by someone who lived through the recent unrest in Egypt. He said regarding firearms that nobody complained about the KIND or CALIBER of gun they had; having a gun - any gun - was enough.
 
When I went on "The Job" many years ago, we had to choose between the S&W Mod 10, and the Colt (don't remember the model). Both blue steel, 4" barrel, fixed sights, .38 Spl.
When I asked the instructors which is the "BEST" gun, I was told to get the S&W.
When I asked for the reason, I was told that they are basically both the same. Either one will do the job just as well as the other. Both are .38 Spl., both are blue steel, both have fixed sights. However, the Smith is $2.75 cheaper.
So, I bought the "best" gun, and have never been dissapointed.
I learned right then and there, "BEST" is subjective, and strictly a matter of opinion.
Vent ends.
 
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.
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Actually, it does help the gun store if they let it. The store makes money off the class, helps create a more informed consumer, and builds a lasting relationship. That relationship leads to repeat buys and referrals.

If a customer is dead-set on buying what the folks in the magazine said was best, I'll sell him that (unless it's woefully and obviously inappropriate). Free country and all. On the other hand, if he's open to guidance, the options open up.

People are trained not to put too much stock in what the counter monkeys at gun shops say, and as an industry we brought that on ourselves to some extent. They will, however, attach more credibility to the advice of an instructor.

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.
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You probably did. I know I did. Things are different now. The average age of a first-time gun buyer is now in the late-40's. People are reaching middle age without ever having handled a gun. Part of me is utterly shocked by that, but then again, it's a cultural change.
 
COuntZerO:

When I retired from the Marine Corps I sold guns for twenty or so years. During that time I sold to many first time purchasers. I found that if they had some outside help it made my job easier. I looked at my Job as a physician questioning his patient: I asked a lot of questions to help the purchaser to determine their needs. Let me share one incident where some outside help would have been beneficial. At my store salesmen were paid a bonas on sales over a base amount.
One salesman saw an easy sale when a first time buyer, a woman, with zero experience told him that she only had two hundred dollars. He sold her an AP 9 with a recoil spring so heavy that a strong man would have difficulity racking the bolt. Not all sales people have their customer's best interrest in mind.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
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If someone buys a QUALITY-made gun that FITS (and fits is as important in handguns as it is in shotguns), then they will have bought the BEST gun for them and their situation - whether it is target, HD, SD, competition, hunting, etc.
 
You are dead on. There are a lot of "best" guns out there. Best for the range, best for concealed carry, best for large hands, best for small hands and on and on. There are a lot of great guns and we have have our "best" and it's a very subjective subject.
 
Somehow, I have managed to buy the "best" gun every time since I bought my first one. At least it is the "best" one until the next "best" comes along......which is normally not very long.
 
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I'm at fault here. I did the exact thing we are talking about. I went to the gun shop looking for a glock 23 because it was popular, famous, and cuz Dad liked it. The first time I went I held it and talked to the salesman about it. The second time I bought it. My father and I were just getting into firearms so neither of knew much about it. I didn't know about ergonomics or caliber recoil. I was very well trained on shotguns and rifles but never handguns.

If I could do it all over I would start with a small pocket .380 or .38. Then move up thru the calibers. I believe I would be more proficient with them now if I had. But what do we expect? We gotta make some mistakes before we learn.
 
guilty...

I shot my dad's 1911 as a youngster (somewhere 1964-1966, actual date long lost to history, and all participants and witnesses have long since passed). He departed the pattern a few years thereafter.

When I got ready to buy my first handgun, it was a very well-used 1911 (that is putting it kindly). The overall experience turned me off of 1911s for a while, although I was unable to stay away, praise be to God and JMB.

When I finally moved to a Free State seven years ago, I had owned a number of handguns in .38 Spl., 9mm, .40 and .45 acp, including several more 1911s.

When I went for my TX CHL, I qualified with a Glock G23, and shot reasonably well with it (better than all but one other in my 32-member class). But I never really warmed up to the blocky pistol.

The instructor in my CHL class was a big proponent of small revolvers for civilian carry, and due to his influence I subsequently bought and sold a series of j-frames in steel, alloy and Scandium. Again, I shot them reasonably well, but for some reason, was not satisfied.

Since then, I have bought and sold any number of CCW-type firearms (thank God I have had the financial wherewithal to do all this horse trading, and I generally buy used and at good prices).

Now at 54 years of age and after seven years of actual carrying, I have returned to my roots. I carry a steel framed 1911 every day, because that is what I shoot best, by a fair margin.

I am still looking for The Perfect Concealed Carry Handgun and have several on my "interest list". FWIW, two of the three are 1911s of one type or another. :)
 
First post ...

Used to shoot some 20+ years ago when my Dad was still alive. When he died, I lost interest for whatever reason. He left me with a nice arsenol of mediocre weapons ... and a cannon ... :eek:

Fast forward ...

I noticed how neglected the Remngton 870 was, so I cleaned it up and noted that it needed a new case. Couple weeks later, I stopped off at my local gun shop to purchase one and began window shopping.

I walked out with a new case for the 12G and a Ruger 22/45 Stainless slab side. It was an impulse buy, but it was cheap and I know the ammo is cheap.

Over the last few weekends I probably put 1000 rounds through it. I've even "mastered" taking the thing apart and reassembling it and it actually work. Any one who has a 22/45 knows the sarcasm embedded in that comment.

While at the range with a few friends, I shot an XDm 9mm. It really felt good shooting it and was able to keep my spread in about a 6" circle at 7 yds. The friend let me use it to get through my CHL course. Finished that this past weekend.

I began coveting a stainless/olive version and have come close a couple times. I've rented a Colt 9mm 1911 and shot about 50 rounds through it. Compared the the XDm it felt heavy and the spread indicated that.

I would like to shoot a Baretta and a SIG 9mm as well before I purchase.

All that to say ...

My "best gun" is one that I enjoy shooting. And by enjoy, I mean doesn't cost a fortune to shoot, feels good in my hand and maybe even a bit unusual.

I've decided to stick to 2 or maybe 3 calibers as I don't want to stock a wide variety of munitions.

And finally, my next purchase will be a gun safe.

I appreciate this site and have been a voracious reader ever since discovering it.
 
I know for a fact you are speaking the truth and I am walking proof. I just bought my first handgun today. I spent weeks looking at different types of weapons, usually comparing who uses what. I wanted the best handgun on the market. Then, a wise friend told me to find a gun that suits me. I found that gun, the Stoeger Cougar 8000. Sure, probably not the "best" on the market, but the way it felt in my hand and the feeling I got when I shot it told me it was the best gun for me.
 
Nobody likes to waste money by making the wrong choice and buying the wrong item; and when people are new to a field it is hardly surprising that they would try to establish which offerings are better than others. I don't see anything inherently wrong in an approach that seeks to distinguish between poor quality items and better quality items; and I suspect that when most people speak about the 'best' this is what they mean. It does not follow that they will necessarily buy an item that is inappropriate for them just because it comes from a higher quality manufacturer but it might mean that they choose their ultimate purchase (and hopefully the appropriate one) from the more limited range of higher quality products.
 
I had to buy, own, shoot, and otherwise try out countless guns before I have settled on what works for me... but I never lost much money selling most of my guns...
 
People get into this line of thinking when they read forums like these. People on here spend way too much time debating the minute differences between x hollowpoint and y hollowpoint. At the same time, too many people equate price with quality. Despite what you read on the internet, guns made nowadays are the most reliable they've ever been. Buy what you want, not what you think you need.
 
Over the years the best handgun has changed a lot of times. What was great when I was 20 is now to big and heavy. I am still looking for that one best but have enjoyed the chase. :)
 
My advise to a newbie would be to shut off his/her computer until they have some experience under thier belt.
 
Best?

My problem is more the reverse. While I like the guns I have, I am always looking for the NEXT best. Unfortunately I'm in a situation where it's a small number of guns maximum in the house (2-3), so sometimes that means selling one to fund another. I'm that guy who does too much internet/magazine research and then loves his gun, but the day after says "oooooh, I wonder what this other gun would feel like compared to the one I just bought"...:mad:
 
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