which handguns are among the easiest to shoot well?

Idek:

You have to look at both revolvers and pistols. For pistols, because of its excellent trigger, on the new generation of guns, the Colt 1911 family takes the crown for auto loaders. For revolvers the Colts, the Rugers and the Smith & Wessons rule. An action job on a Smith will put a Colt to shame. Over all, I think that initially it is easier to shoot a revolver than an auto loader. I'm not talking about 460's. With some experience either can be shot equally well.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
I will echo what many have said... a good .38 should put you where you need to be. I have a .357 but honestly I'm a little averse to the recoil.
 
thanks for all the suggestions. A lot of recommendations for S&W revolvers...are these better shooters than Ruger offerings such as the GP100 or SP101? I admit I find the sheer number of S&W models a bit confusing. :confused:
 
The Smith and Wesson model numbers are for different guns. Instead of naming them they gave each a model number. Glock has done the same thing. Also the Rugers shoot just fine. The S&W models as a general rule tend to have better triggers out of the box. Also you can find good used S&W revolvers for well under the $600 you stated for a budget. If I were going with a Ruger I would pick a Black Hawk. I have one. It is a fine shooter with a great trigger. They also come into the price range you stated with some to spare.

I also own a Smith and Wesson Model 67-1. It is a stainless steel K Frame with adjustable target sights. Mine cost me well under $400 for just the gun. It is an great shooter. Every new shooter that has fired it liked it. Ms. M&P likes it so much she thinks I should get one for myself someday.:eek: Here is a picture of it.

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M&P:

that model 67 looks pretty slick and might match what I'm looking for. It is meant for 38sp. only, yes?

Do guns built for only 38sp. have any advantages over revolvers build to shoot both 38s and .357s?
 
All steel full size semis are easier to shoot well imho. I have a browning Hi-Power and it is very fun to shoot. The full sized offerings from Sig and CZ are also worth a look.

A 1911 is also easy to shoot.

+1 to the K frame suggestions.
 
I have always found Rugers and some of the older High Standards to be natural pointers.
IMHO how a handgun fits YOUR hand is probably THE factor in determing how easy a handgun is to shoot. Revolvers are easier to adjust to, there is a wide variety of readily available grips, plus custom ones, while if you have a small hand or short fingers larger framed automatics are hard to get a "grip" on.
 
Try one of the small frame single action .38 Spl, several importers have'm. I used to carry one off duty. They are really easy to shoot, will handle any odd shaped bullet you might stick in it and it's easier to learn to shoot a single action than any other type of handgun. It is NOT the kinda gun you'd wanna carry as the Point Man going into Syria but for a good trail, camping, HD gun they are great.
 
you can see my handuns in my signature line. The guns i shoot the best are (in order):

Ruger Single Six .22lr (6.5“ barrel)
Ruger Blackhawk 357/9mm (6.5“ barrel)
Ruger Vaquero 45colt (7.5“ barrel)
Ruger Mark III .22lr (5.5“ barrel)
S&W 5906 9mm
Colt 1911 .22lr

As you can see I shoot heavy guns better, espically single actions.

I can strongly recommend a Ruger Blackhawk in a 357mag 9mm convertable with a 6.5“ barrel. Gives you 3 calibers to shoot.
 
If your swinging towards a semi-auto I would go with a Sig 226 9mm and if you decide to drift towards a revolver I sure like my S&W Model 14, it's a 6" 38Spl and mine shoots as well as any of my 22LR revolvers.
 
IMO the best natural pointers are..

Auto's

1911 platform
Browning Hi Power
CZ not sure the model
Luger pistol

Revolvers

K frame S&W
Medium sized Ruger revolvers
Dan Wesson revolvers
Colt and Ruger SAA based revolvers

Any of these and a regular practice schedual
 
This N frame 4 " is a pussycat

My S & W 627 pro shoots and groups well.......even 357 mag factory loads are easy to shoot and it holds 8 rounds ! :)
 
1911 platform
Browning Hi Power
CZ 75
Luger pistol
Click to expand...

Fixed it for you and I agree. I think that as far as semis go, the 1911 is like a BigWheel, big controls and grip and easy to shoot. Like a BigWheel for kids. :D

In revolvers, Ruger SA are easy to shoot well, my FA83 is even easier to shoot well.
 
A few others have already recommended them but I'm going to vote for the Ruger Blackhawk 9mm/357 convertible. Personally I'd get the 6.5" barrel, but the shorter one would be good too. As others have mentioned, great trigger, accurate, and a hoot to shoot. I like the convertible option because if you don't reload, revolver ammo tends to be pretty pricy, so you have the 9mm option for plinking at a much lower cost. I enjoy shooting 357s. They have plenty of snort to let you know they have lots of power, but they aren't painful. But you still don't want to shoot a ton of them, so 38 spc and the 9mm are nice low recoil options.

If you want more oomph, and ammo prices don't bother you, the 45 Colt/45 ACP combination model would be a fun choice as well. The Blackhawk can handle hefty 45 Colt loads which get you up in the 44 magnum range.
 
The Walther GSP in .22 l.r. and .32 S&W comes immediately to my mind.

But for the described purpose, a nice S&W M686, or any other quality revolver with a 6" barrel will be a good choice.
 
I like to break this down into common calibers:

.45 = Damn near Any full size 1911. Its heavy design, all steel construction and longer barrel make it inherently more accurate. I'll take an Ed Brown!

9mm = CZ 75b, Browning HP, 93FS, and for me Baby Desert Eagle...I shoot this all metal baby like a dream...it hangs with me behind an eddy 1911 all day!!

22lr = Ruger MKII or III and the Browning Buck Mark. Ruger is a bitch to take apart to clean and is picky with ammo but really shoots tight! I like the browning grip better and it is just a well built gun!

.357 = Any revolver! S&W owns this caliber in my book!
 
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