Best First Handgun of 2024: [Beginners Guide]

Oh boy, welcome to the world of handguns. I routinely teach basic safety classes to new shooters of all ages and experience levels. Some of my students are twelve, and some are sixty. What they share in common is a thirst to learn and a lack of knowledge. I’ve learned a thing or two about the best handguns for new shooters, and I thought I could share that below. I’ve gained a lot of experience in what guns work and what guns don’t for new shooters. With that in mind, let’s talk beginner-worthy handguns. 

Why a Pistol for a First Firearm? 

Handguns are an odd place to start for beginners. When you’ve grown up with guns, you typically start with a rifle, preferably a rimfire rifle. However, a lot of people don’t grow up around guns anymore, and their first experience with guns comes from needing personal protection. With the rise of concealed carry and people of all stripes looking into defensive firearms, more and more shooters are starting with handguns. 

There are gun people and people who own guns. Someone just looking for a good firearm for self-defense might not necessarily be a gun person. They don’t care about the various small differences between Mosin Nagant rifles. They just need their gun for their defensive needs and not much more. There is nothing wrong with that, and if that’s their goal, there is no purpose in buying a rifle to learn how to use a handgun. 

Starting with a handgun can be tough, but it’s not impossible. The best thing to do is to find a good first handgun, and that’s why you’ve come here. 

The Most Important Features of a First Handgun 

When you start shopping for a new handgun, you will start reading reviews. Every gun gets some form of review, and as you go through these reviews, you’ll want to determine if it has the following features. 

Easy to Use – How easy is the gun to shoot? Does it have odd sights? Or perhaps it requires a specific type of ammo to function consistently? Is the gun difficult to take apart and clean? These are all questions you need to ask about the gun you are shopping for. There are specialist firearms designed for a particular purpose for a niche user. 

Those niche guns can be great, but they aren’t for beginners. If you have to tune springs, index muzzle devices, and hand load your own ammo, it doesn’t make a good carry gun, and it certainly does not make a good first handgun. 

Reliability – Reliability is the number one function of a defensive firearm. Does it go bang when you pull the trigger? Will it keep going bang after a great many trigger pulls? That’s good information to know. Fragile guns or ill-tempered guns are not good beginner handguns. Unreliable weapons can seem like a cheap deal, but they aren’t worth the frustration they cause. 

I’d always pay a little extra. Think of the purchase as more of an investment and less of an expense.

Commonality – Commonality refers to the gun’s popularity with the aftermarket. Can you find holsters and gear oriented at your choice in firearms? If not, it might be a tough first sale. You’ll eventually want a holster, maybe a light, or to swap the sights. The more common and popular your handgun is, the easier this will be to accomplish. I love the latest and greatest in firearms too, but where am I going to find a holster for my Hudson H9? 

Also, common guns are often easier to repair by a gunsmith or even yourself. Some guns, like the Glock series, are so simple they can be taken down to a part with nothing more than a punch. 

Low Recoiling – Your first handgun should not beat you up. If it’s just for learning, I’d almost also suggest a rimfire handgun. A .22LR is so low recoiling and fun that you can shoot it for days and never get sick of it. There are popular defensive calibers like .357 Magnum I wouldn’t suggest for new shooters, especially in a snub nose revolver. I also wouldn’t suggest a pocket carry .380 ACP for new shooters, even though its cartridge tends to be anemic. 

For defensive, compact pistols, I’d suggest a 9mm handgun in a compact, sub-compact, or micro-compact size frame. For revolvers, the .38 Special is tough to beat for new shooters, even in lightweight six guns. Calibers like 10mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP are great, but they aren’t the best for new shooters to learn with.

How I Chose the Best First Handgun

As a former Marine and firearms instructor, I’ve had the chance to test countless handguns over the years. While I trust my own judgment, I didn’t want to rely solely on my experiences when compiling this list of the best handguns. So, I reached out to some of my professional shooter friends for their insights. Together, we’ve pooled our knowledge to create a comprehensive list of the best first handguns available today.

I know choosing a handgun is a personal decision, so I’ve categorized these guns based on what they’re best at to suit different preferences. Plus, I’ve included a buyer’s guide to help you figure out which handgun is right for you. Keep reading to find the best handgun for your needs.

Best First Handgun By Category

We broke down our best first pistols into a few categories. Click the image to jump to the individual review!

Best First Handguns by Category

Editor’s choice Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS		Optic Ready Glock Marksman Barrel Rail for Lights	Check Price
Best Full Size CZ 75		Cold War Classic Low Bore Axis DA/SA Trigger	Check Price
Best Semi Auto 22 LR Sig Sauer P322		20 round magazines Optic and Light Ready Multiple Trigger Shoe Options	Check price
Best 22LR Revolver Heritage Rough Rider		Adjustable draw angle Highly versatile Ambidextrous design	Check Price
Best 1st Subcompact CCW S&W Equalizer		Incredibly versatile Light compatible (for multiple guns) Quasi universal	Check Price
Best 1st Revolver Ruger LCRx 3 Inch 38 Special		Anti Friction DA Trigger Adjustable Sights Full Sized Grip	Check Price
Best 22LR Plinker Ruger Mark IV		Lightweight Design Optic’s Ready Models Available Extremely Modular	Check Price

Best First Handgun Specs

What Is The Best First Pistol?

Here is our list for the best first handguns for new shooters.

1. Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS
2. CZ 75
3. Sig Sauer P322
4. Heritage Rough Rider
5. Smith & Wesson Equalizer
6. Ruger LCRx 3 Inch
7. Ruger Mark IV

Handgun Reviews

It is hard to say this is the exact best first handgun for you. Everybody has different ergonomic and usage considerations. Some of these suggestions are a great introduction to hone your skills until you are ready for a more advanced handgun, while others (editor’s choice) may be the first and last handgun you need to buy. It all depends on what you want or need out of your handgun.

Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS Review

Glock, Glock, Glock, the company rules the market. They have used the Glock 19 as their flagship firearm for decades now, and it’s for a good reason. The Glock 19 is their compact frame pistol that’s often considered just right for both concealed carry and home defense. Glock makes a very simple pistol, and simple can be good when it comes to new shooters. These lacks are minimalist in their design and simplistic. 

Their controls consist of a magazine release, trigger, and slide lock. There is no manual safety, but the Glock pistol has three independent safety systems to prevent the weapon from firing unless the trigger is pulled intentionally. Loading and preparing the weapon is as simple as unloading and clearing the weapon. 

With the Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS model, you get all the features you could ever need in a modern handgun. This includes a rial system for lights and lasers. The MOS designation means it’s red dot ready, and you have dozens of different choices in the red dot department. 

The Glock 19 offers minimal recoil, decent ergonomics, and outstanding reliability. The Glock series is also extremely popular, and there are tons of holsters available for the Glock series, as well as tons of accessories and upgrades a user can make to their gun. The Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS series are the most modern example of the Glock series.

If you only wanted one handgun to do everything, this is probably it. For all the reasons listed above, this could be the first and last handgun you need.

Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS Pros and Cons

CZ 75 Review

As an instructor, I start most shooters with a rimfire pistol, and when it comes time to move beyond rimfire, I grab my trusty CZ-75. The CZ-75 series are all metal and extremely well made. This gun tends to be big and heavy but oh so easy to shoot for new shooters. The heavier a weapon, the better it tends to beat recoil. This makes the CZ-75 a smooth shooting handgun in 9mm. 

This firearm comes out of the mid-70s and is one of the most produced pistols ever built. A ton of companies use the core design because it’s so successful, robust, and reliable. It’s a big gun and is better used for self-defense. It tends to be a bit heavy for concealed carry and a bit bigger to hide. 

The weapon features a DA/SA trigger. This means the double-action trigger is long and heavy. Subsequent shots fired after that DA trigger are lighter and shorter. Users can also manually cock the hammer into a single-action mode for a lighter trigger for any and all shots. The CZ-75 series delivers great accuracy and excellent reliability. 

These are a favorite with competitive shooters after they are cleaned and accessorized a fair bit. Their light recoil, awesome magazine capacity, and great accuracy make them a winner that still falls into the affordable firearms category.

Interested in reading our full review on the CZ 75?

CZ 75 Pros and Cons

Sig Sauer P322 Review

The SIG P322 takes rimfire to the next level with a very modern and modular platform that won’t break the bank. SIG released the P322 earlier this year, and it’s been a hit in my household. My son even earned his Pro-Marksmanship Pistol qualification through the NRA with it. The P322 is a .22LR semi auto pistol that takes the form of a modern handgun.

It looks and handles much like your standard 9mm and is feature filled. The gun is optic’s ready and uses the Shield RMSc footprint for all the micro-optics you could ever want. The iron sights are high-visibility sights that are adjustable and easy to use. The trigger comes with both a round and flat option. The barrel comes with an optional thread adapter as well. Shooters get 20-round magazines which is a ton of ammo in a flush-fitting magazine. 

The gun has a bit of a crummy trigger, but it works. Not enough to seriously harm accuracy, but enough to make you think before you pull the trigger. A lot of semi-auto .22LRs tend to be ammo picky, but surprisingly the P322 eats everything and doesn’t complain much. It tends to work pretty well with bulk ammo and perfectly with high-end ammo like CCI.

Read our Full Sig P322 Review!

Sig Sauer P322 Pros and Cons

Heritage Manufacturing Rough Rider Review

The Rough Rider is the perfect first handgun for someone just looking to learn. It’s very basic, but also very affordable. Even in times when prices only seem to go up, the Heritage Rough Rider costs south of 200 dollars. These simple single-action army clones are single-action revolvers that fire .22LR or .22 Magnum. 

They come in numerous sizes, but the classic Rough Rider presents itself as the ultimate beginner’s gun. It’s an extremely reliable gun and is very easy to use. Recoil is nearly nonexistent, and a long 6.5-inch barrel makes it fairly accurate and easy to shoot. While odd for the design, there is even a manual safety.

The Rough Rider and its cowboy style make the gun a ton of fun to shoot. These guns feature the classic cowboy grip, which is the right size for most shooters. From kids to adults, anyone can handle it. The Rough Rider wouldn’t be great for self or home defense, but it would be better than harsh language.

Heritage Manufacturing Rough Rider Pros and Cons

Smith and Wesson Equalizer Review

The S&W Equalizer belongs to a genre of handguns known as micro compacts. These are small carry guns designed to use incredibly efficient magazines to produce at least ten rounds in a space normally reserved for six to seven. The Equalizer is the best micro compact for beginners because it’s made for beginners. The Equalizer packs either 10, 13, or 15 rounds of 9mm in a compact, easy-carrying package. 

It’s not the smallest gun, but the larger size and full-length grip give you increased control over the firearm. The slide moves very easily, making it a great choice for those with reduced hand strength. The Equalizer provides a grip and thumb safety design taken from the famed EZ series of handguns. S&W includes a Maglula magazine loader to make everything from racking the slide to loading the magazine easy. 

The Equalizer comes optics-ready and with a rail for small lights. It’s a very modern pistol that aims to provide a modern option with a modern capacity to new shooters. Low recoil, good accuracy, and an easy rack slide make the entire package perfect for new shooters who need a defensive firearm.

Smith and Wesson Equalizer Pros and Cons

Ruger LCRx 3 Inch Review

On the revolver front, it can be tough to find a good, beginner-friendly modern double-action revolver. In this realm, the LCRx 3-inch does shine brightly. The LCRx series with a 3-inch barrel in .38 Special or .22LR make for an excellent modern double-action revolver. The 3-inch barrel reduces concussion and makes the weapon easy to control, as well as accurate and easy to shoot straight.

A big front sight and an adjustable rear sight also help make the weapon easy to shoot straight. Ruger’s anti-friction trigger system presents one of the smoothest double-action trigger pulls I’ve ever experienced from a stock revolver. The hammer is exposed for single-action trigger pulls, and the single-action is solid, soft, and short. 

The revolver features a hefty of polymer in its design which also makes it fairly affordable. The big Hogue grip makes it comfy to shoot, and the .38 Special is a real kitten. With a .22LR, you don’t even feel the recoil. It’s more akin to an air gun in a caliber like .22LR. With the .22LR, you have a great training firearm, and with the .38 Special, you have a capable defensive firearm.

Ruger LCRx 3 Inch Pros and Cons

Ruger Mark IV Review

The Ruger Mark series likely trained more shooters than any other handgun out there. They were Bill Ruger’s first successful firearm design and have been in constant production ever since. These big, all-metal, full-sized .22LR pistols are well known for their accuracy, low recoil, ease of use, and their reliability. While these are full-sized firearms, the grip is very thin and well-suited for shooters of all hand sizes. 

The Mark IV series is the latest in the Ruger Mark designs and solves one of their biggest problems, which is disassembly. The new Mark series disassembles with ease, and it’s super easy to clean and care for. These guns come in numerous configurations with optic-ready models, threaded barrels, fluted barrels, and various sight configurations. 

You can find one for anyone and any preference. These big guns shoot easily, and they shoot straight. They are often favored by steel challenge shooters for how little they recoil and how accurately they shoot. Their popularity also makes them easy to customize, with hundreds of varying options out there for replacement parts. 

Ruger Mark IV Pros and Cons

Best First Handgun – Buyer’s Guide

Choosing your first handgun is a big decision, and it’s important to think carefully about your options to find the right fit for you. This guide will walk you through the key factors to consider, helping you pick a handgun that would best suit your needs.

Revolver or Semi-Auto: Revolver vs. semi-auto is a tale as old as time, or at least as old as 1899 when the first massively successful semi-auto took the market by town. Both have their benefits, and there is a good argument in either direction for new shooters. 

Revolvers tend to offer a few features worth checking out for new shooters. First, it’s pretty easy for shooters to glance at the gun and know if it’s loaded or not. They see the shells when loaded just by looking. Most modern revolvers offer a longer double-action trigger pull that does take a very deliberate trigger pull. Additionally, teaching someone how to load and unload a revolver is very easy and can be learned very quickly. 

That same deliberate trigger pull creates a long heavy trigger pull that does take time to learn. When mastered, it’s fine, but it’s a steep learning curve. Revolvers also only hold anywhere from five to eight rounds. They aren’t exactly fast to reload either, and rarely can they be equipped with lights and optics if the user so chooses. 

Semi-auto pistols tend to be a little more complicated but still fairly simple to use. Modern striker-fired pistols offer a short light trigger that’s easy to master and learn. Even DA/SA guns allow the user access to a lighter, more refined trigger. Semi-auto pistols also tend to be easier recoiling, with the slide and short recoil system eating some of that recoil. These guns can also hold anywhere from seven to 22 rounds on average. 

The downside to semi-autos is that they require more steps to clear and load. Loading magazines and then loading the gun properly can take practice. While none of it is difficult, there is a learning curve and process. There is also just more that can go wrong, like riding the slide home instead of slingshotting it. 

Regardless of which platform you choose, you’ll need to educate yourself on the ins and out of firearm usage.

Rimfire or Centerfire: When choosing your first handgun, one decision you’ll need to make is if it will be a rimfire or centerfire. Depending on your usage, this could be a very important decision. Rimfire and centerfire refer to where the primer is located on the cartridge. Centerfire tends to be the more popular choice, with rounds like 9mm, .38 Special, and 45 ACP all being centerfire calibers. 

Rimfire calibers tend to be very small calibers often used for small game hunting and recreation. Cartridges the .22LR are rimfires. Centerfire tends to be more reliable, and if you are looking for a defensive firearm, a centerfire cartridge is likely the best option. If you want something just to shoot for fun or to purely learn with, then rimfire can be an adequate choice.

Caliber: Outside of rimfire vs. centerfire, you’ll need to examine your caliber of choice. I often promote common, widely available rounds that are affordable. New shooters should stick to common and easy-to-find calibers. 

Calibers like 9mm are a great place to start in the centerfire world, and .22LR is great as a rimfire option. If you are in the revolver world, the .38 Special is a great place to start. 

Oddballs like 10mm and .44 Special are fun, but are expensive, recoil heavy, and typically tougher to find than the aforementioned calibers. Stay away from anything with a magnum in the name as well. You’re in for a good bit of recoil and some expensive ammunition.

Size: Size matters a lot when it comes time to choose your first gun. The smaller the gun, the more recoil you can expect. Small guns in centerfire calibers tend to be snappy. If you go too big, you might find it tough to conceal. For a new gun owner, it’s smart to find something that’s not too small but not too large. 

Annoyingly enough, the size of the gun makes a big difference, and you have to really refine what the right size means to you. Guns in the compact or subcompact frame sizes are often adequate for most shooters. Guns like the P365 and P365XL are often about as small as you want to go as a new shooter.

Optics Or Not: Optics on handguns is not just a fad. They are accessories that can make a firearm much easier to shoot and to shoot straight and accurately. I do think shooters should learn iron sights, but red dots really simplify things. This does require you to learn to zero a red dot and what that means, but once the optic is zeroed, shooting is much easier. 

Put the red dot on the target and pull the trigger. It doesn’t take much more than that. A red dot on your handgun can make shooting fast and easy, at least easier than red dots. If you don’t want to use a red dot right off the bat, you don’t need to, but choosing an optic’s ready option for later makes adding a red dot easy.

Running and Gunning 

When it comes time to choose your first handgun, you have plenty of options to choose from. The market is saturated, and new gun owners have options aimed at them and their needs. Hopefully, we’ve made it easier to pick from one of the many guns out there aiming for your hard-earned dollars.

Suggested Reading

If you are a new firearms owner you will want a few items so you can take care of your eyes and ears with personal protective equipment and some items to take care of your firearm.

• Our article going through our favorite Shooting Glasses
• Our article listing our favorite Hearing Protection
• Our article discussing our favorite Gun Cleaning Kits

Best First Handgun – FAQs

What features make a handgun suitable for concealed carry?

For effective conceal carry, look for a handgun with a compact size and lightweight build. A slim profile helps with discreet carrying and reduces the likelihood of printing.

How do I ensure comfortable shooting with my first handgun?

Opt for a handgun with an ergonomic grip and manageable recoil. These features enhance comfort and make extended shooting sessions more enjoyable and less tiring.

What factors should I consider when selecting a handgun for personal defense?

For personal defense, prioritize reliability and stopping power. Choose a handgun that you can handle confidently and that performs reliably in high-stress situations.

Can I use my first handgun for competitive shooting?

Many first-time handguns are versatile enough for competitive shooting. Models like the Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS offer features that make them suitable for various shooting disciplines. However, if you’re interested in competitive shooting, you might need to consider additional modifications or equipment specific to the sport.