I wrote this article to help some of my newbie gun owners select their first handgun...would appreciate any feedback, comments or suggested changes. Thanks!
Note: This applies to Massachusetts residents (only) for purchasing a firearm in-state. Firearms laws vary widely from state-to-state; be sure to check your own state’s laws.
Before you can legally own a firearm in MA you'll need to obtain your license to carry.
"Which gun should I buy?" is probably the most common question new gun owners ask. Ask any gun owner this question and you'll get a myriad of suggestions. This entry is less about what specific recommendations (manufacturer/model) I have and more about what things you should keep in mind as you go shopping. It will also only discuss handguns (vs. shotguns or rifles) since a pistol should be your first weapon of choice for personal safety / home defense purposes.
Check your license
The license to carry that you were issued - along with any restrictions - dictate to a certain extent what you can and can not purchase, what you can carry, store, etc. If you were issued a Class A High Capacity license for example, you can purchase magazines that can hold > 10 rounds (see point #3 below).
Choose a caliber
Before you start looking at gun manufacturers or specific models you should decide on which caliber of handgun you want/need. Every handgun is chambered for a particular type of ammunition (and you can only shoot that size ammo with your gun). Stick with common calibers that the majority of guns are chambered for and that ammunition manufacturers have been producing for years (listed below in increasing size) including (but not limited to):
• 9mm
• .40S&W
• 45ACP
The tradeoffs are: the bigger the round, the better the stopping power but the more recoil will be felt. Also, the larger the ammo size the less will fit in a magazine. Which bring us to our next point:
Buy high capacity magazines (>10 rounds)
There are several advantages to using high capacity (hi-cap) magazines (mags) in your handgun, the least of which is that in a high-stress situation you will not nearly be as accurate with hitting your target than you are when you go target practice. Even though the Federal "assault weapons ban" expired in 2004, the Massachusetts' version never did (don't get me started). What this means is that if you have a Class A High Capacity license you can not possess handgun magazines with > 10 rounds unless they are "pre-ban" (manufactured prior to 9/13/94). How can you tell when magazines were made? This can be very difficult (if not impossible) but there are some mags have indications.
Another suggestion is to acquire the magazines first before acquiring the handgun as pre-ban hi-cap mags can be difficult to find. Speaking of purchasing your handgun, if you decide to go with pre-ban hi-cap mags this will limit the types and quantities of handguns you can purchase. Essentially this means having to purchase older models of guns vs. newer models of guns.
If you don't care about having more ammo in your mags then you will have more purchasing options and can purchase new guns.
Decide on your purchasing criteria
What's important to you in a gun? Reliability? Quality? Safety? Accuracy? Durability? Company history? A handgun is a weapon. Hopefully you'll never have to use it to defend yourself or your family but if you do you'll want it to do its job so consider the history, reputation and reliability of the model of handgun you'll be buying.
Consider how you'd use the gun in low-light/nighttime
If you're planning on using your pistol for self/home defense consider the real possibility that you'll have to defend your family in low/no light (e.g. at night). Many people decide to have some on-gun accessory to assist them in a) seeing the threat and b) aligning the handgun's sights on the threat including:
• Night sights
• Laser
• Light
• Handheld flashlight
All of these can be included after your handgun purchase but an on-gun light, for instance, is best attached with a handgun that has rails (later/newer models of pistols).
Stick with major manufacturers
While you may save some money purchasing a handgun from a lesser-known company taking into consideration your purchasing criteria (from above) you're better off buying your pistol from well-known manufacturers including:
• Beretta
• Glock
• HK
• Ruger
• Sig Sauer
• Smith & Wesson
Stick to full size guns
Most handguns come in several sizes inclusing full size/standard, compact and subcompact. Compact and subcompact sized guns will be more concealable if you decide to carry a weapon. Full sized guns are more reliable and some would say more accurate.
Ask other gun owners
Find out what handguns other firearms owners have and why they chose them. There are many variations to pistols: their size, grip, barrel length, slide, magazine release button, slide locking button, sights and trigger pull.
Try before you buy
A fun way of determining which handgun might be better for you is to contact a fellow firearms owner and ask to come along with him/her next time they go to the range. You will not only get a feel for how the weapon sits in your firing grip but what the sights, trigger pull and recoil feels like. Try shooting a 9mm, .40S&W and a 45ACP. You can sometimes even rent guns from a range.
Compute the total cost
Typically you purchase a firearm at a gun shop (FFL) or from a person (directly). If you purchase from another licensed gun owner and s/he wants to transfer his weapon via a FFL the gun shop usually charges a fee (~ $25 - $40) for this service. MA laws allow the private sale of a firearm four times per year (avoiding the FLL transfer fee). The seller checks your license to carry to ensure legality of what you're buying (e.g. hi-cap mags).
Chances are that you'll be purchasing more than just a handgun: trigger lock, extra magazines (typically come with used handguns), other accessories, ammo and a cleaning kit. Used (consignment) guns typically have a 15 - 20% markup. New guns are typically more expensive. Expect to pay ~ $500 - $1000 for your complete package. Here's a real-world example calculation if you were to buy a handgun from a gun shop:
Beretta 92FS 9mm (used) with 1 mag: $500
4 Beretta factory pre-ban hi-cap (15-round) mags: $100
4 boxes (50 rounds/box) 9mm ammo: $75
Cleaning kit: $15
Trigger lock: $10
MA state sales tax (6.25%): $45
Total cost: $745
Note: This applies to Massachusetts residents (only) for purchasing a firearm in-state. Firearms laws vary widely from state-to-state; be sure to check your own state’s laws.
Before you can legally own a firearm in MA you'll need to obtain your license to carry.
"Which gun should I buy?" is probably the most common question new gun owners ask. Ask any gun owner this question and you'll get a myriad of suggestions. This entry is less about what specific recommendations (manufacturer/model) I have and more about what things you should keep in mind as you go shopping. It will also only discuss handguns (vs. shotguns or rifles) since a pistol should be your first weapon of choice for personal safety / home defense purposes.
Check your license
The license to carry that you were issued - along with any restrictions - dictate to a certain extent what you can and can not purchase, what you can carry, store, etc. If you were issued a Class A High Capacity license for example, you can purchase magazines that can hold > 10 rounds (see point #3 below).
Choose a caliber
Before you start looking at gun manufacturers or specific models you should decide on which caliber of handgun you want/need. Every handgun is chambered for a particular type of ammunition (and you can only shoot that size ammo with your gun). Stick with common calibers that the majority of guns are chambered for and that ammunition manufacturers have been producing for years (listed below in increasing size) including (but not limited to):
• 9mm
• .40S&W
• 45ACP
The tradeoffs are: the bigger the round, the better the stopping power but the more recoil will be felt. Also, the larger the ammo size the less will fit in a magazine. Which bring us to our next point:
Buy high capacity magazines (>10 rounds)
There are several advantages to using high capacity (hi-cap) magazines (mags) in your handgun, the least of which is that in a high-stress situation you will not nearly be as accurate with hitting your target than you are when you go target practice. Even though the Federal "assault weapons ban" expired in 2004, the Massachusetts' version never did (don't get me started). What this means is that if you have a Class A High Capacity license you can not possess handgun magazines with > 10 rounds unless they are "pre-ban" (manufactured prior to 9/13/94). How can you tell when magazines were made? This can be very difficult (if not impossible) but there are some mags have indications.
Another suggestion is to acquire the magazines first before acquiring the handgun as pre-ban hi-cap mags can be difficult to find. Speaking of purchasing your handgun, if you decide to go with pre-ban hi-cap mags this will limit the types and quantities of handguns you can purchase. Essentially this means having to purchase older models of guns vs. newer models of guns.
If you don't care about having more ammo in your mags then you will have more purchasing options and can purchase new guns.
Decide on your purchasing criteria
What's important to you in a gun? Reliability? Quality? Safety? Accuracy? Durability? Company history? A handgun is a weapon. Hopefully you'll never have to use it to defend yourself or your family but if you do you'll want it to do its job so consider the history, reputation and reliability of the model of handgun you'll be buying.
Consider how you'd use the gun in low-light/nighttime
If you're planning on using your pistol for self/home defense consider the real possibility that you'll have to defend your family in low/no light (e.g. at night). Many people decide to have some on-gun accessory to assist them in a) seeing the threat and b) aligning the handgun's sights on the threat including:
• Night sights
• Laser
• Light
• Handheld flashlight
All of these can be included after your handgun purchase but an on-gun light, for instance, is best attached with a handgun that has rails (later/newer models of pistols).
Stick with major manufacturers
While you may save some money purchasing a handgun from a lesser-known company taking into consideration your purchasing criteria (from above) you're better off buying your pistol from well-known manufacturers including:
• Beretta
• Glock
• HK
• Ruger
• Sig Sauer
• Smith & Wesson
Stick to full size guns
Most handguns come in several sizes inclusing full size/standard, compact and subcompact. Compact and subcompact sized guns will be more concealable if you decide to carry a weapon. Full sized guns are more reliable and some would say more accurate.
Ask other gun owners
Find out what handguns other firearms owners have and why they chose them. There are many variations to pistols: their size, grip, barrel length, slide, magazine release button, slide locking button, sights and trigger pull.
Try before you buy
A fun way of determining which handgun might be better for you is to contact a fellow firearms owner and ask to come along with him/her next time they go to the range. You will not only get a feel for how the weapon sits in your firing grip but what the sights, trigger pull and recoil feels like. Try shooting a 9mm, .40S&W and a 45ACP. You can sometimes even rent guns from a range.
Compute the total cost
Typically you purchase a firearm at a gun shop (FFL) or from a person (directly). If you purchase from another licensed gun owner and s/he wants to transfer his weapon via a FFL the gun shop usually charges a fee (~ $25 - $40) for this service. MA laws allow the private sale of a firearm four times per year (avoiding the FLL transfer fee). The seller checks your license to carry to ensure legality of what you're buying (e.g. hi-cap mags).
Chances are that you'll be purchasing more than just a handgun: trigger lock, extra magazines (typically come with used handguns), other accessories, ammo and a cleaning kit. Used (consignment) guns typically have a 15 - 20% markup. New guns are typically more expensive. Expect to pay ~ $500 - $1000 for your complete package. Here's a real-world example calculation if you were to buy a handgun from a gun shop:
Beretta 92FS 9mm (used) with 1 mag: $500
4 Beretta factory pre-ban hi-cap (15-round) mags: $100
4 boxes (50 rounds/box) 9mm ammo: $75
Cleaning kit: $15
Trigger lock: $10
MA state sales tax (6.25%): $45
Total cost: $745
![[thinking]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/010.gif "Thinking [thinking]")
