Many have already purchased firearms.  Some for a specific need, others upon a recommendation from a family member or friend.  A lot of information can go into a decision to purchase a firearm and which firearm to purchase.  What is your individual purpose and need?  Purpose and need can lead to the purchase of several firearms over the course of years, or say a lifetime of hunting and recreational shooting.  We could spend hours discussing options as well as the many articles that have been written on any given authors specific options and opinions.  The best option is the one that fits your need and the opinion that matters most is yours. 

I have always advocated for narrowing down the decision and then finding a way to test drive the firearm that fits your needs and purpose. This should sound a lot like buying a new vehicle.  The firearm should fit you and feel comfortable.  You should be able to quickly use it in a defensive situation or bring down the wild game you are after.  My family owns pistols that are a perfect fit for some, yet for others it seems as though it was made by a toy manufacturer resulting in a difficult firearm to shoot effectively.

The Basics:

Grip Angle - When you present the firearm to point of aim, is it comfortable? Does it point naturally? The muzzle should be naturally level when you push it to your aim point. The differences between firearms can be subtle, but do make a difference.

Magazine Capacity - Your choice in a firearms round capacity may be influenced by many factors: Hand Size, Caliber, Need, Overall Firearm Weight, Your normal everyday clothing, etc. A standard capacity Springfield XD or Glock may be 15-17 rounds. Those are larger pistols that might be ruled out by some because of the sheer size of the weapon. A Kimber Micro 9 might possibly be perfect in every category but weight if you wear scrubs at work.

Trigger/Grip Size - Is it comfortable for you to get a grip? Is the trigger finger a comfortable set? Too small or too big a grip can each negatively impact your accuracy. Is the trigger squeeze comfortable for you? Some pistols have heavy trigger pull. Something around 5-6 pounds is an average comfortable trigger pull. An average double-action revolver may be 12-15 pounds. Is it smooth feeling to you? When you pull the trigger, do you stay on your aim point comfortably?

Recoil - Even with the same caliber, felt recoil can vary widely with different pistols. A 9mm round in a full-size Springfield EMP is vastly different than a Smith & Wesson Shield, 9mm.  When it comes to recoil, the best way to know is Try-Before-You Buy. I once purchased the "Perfect" pistol for my wife, she hated it. Smith and Wesson 642, Hammerless. Light, compact, featureless. Point and click perfection! To her it kicked like a mule. We now have a Smith & Wesson Model 10, same bullets - much less recoil. The Model 10 is a family favorite when we go shooting.

Revolver vs. Semi-Automatic - I have both and wouldn't part with any of them. The simplicity and reliability of a revolver cannot be overstated. Some revolvers are lighter than the rounds you put in them (Careful of recoil here). Semi-Automatics have excellent operational reliability and typically more round capacity.

Hope this information helps,

Chris, Seale Training