Caliber Comparisons, Information & Education, Self Defense

“Love at First Sight” the Best Characteristics of Your First Gun

Best Characteristics of Your First Gun CANFIREARM

“Love at First Sight” the Best Characteristics of Your First Gun

What characteristics you must look for when trying to find the best first gun to buy. In this article, we will take you through the traits and also offer you some concrete recommendations and tips for first-time gun buyers. Buying your first handgun is often an intimidating ordeal. There are many options available and plenty of conflicting advice on which option is best. Choosing a handgun is a very important and personal decision. If you’ve made the choice to shop for a gun, but aren’t sure where to start out, here are a couple of key things and characteristics to think about.  

Pistol Vs. Revolver

There are two basic sorts of handguns – pistols and revolvers.

Pistol CANFIREARM

Most modern pistols are semi-automatics. These sorts of handguns use the pressure and energy generated when a cartridge is fired to eject the empty case and cycle following round into the chamber. Although pistols are available in a variety of styles, all of them offer easy and rapid reloading, particularly in comparison to revolvers. Semi-autos even have the benefits of increased magazine capacity and a thinner profile.

Revolver CANFIREARM

Modern revolvers have a revolving cylinder with multiple chambers. Once you cock the hammer or press the trigger, the cylinder rotates to bring the following cartridge in line with the barrel. A revolver is loaded and unloaded via the cylinder instead of a separate magazine.

Although revolvers can take a while to load (especially in unpracticed hands), they’re generally more reliable than semi-automatics. Revolvers even have an easier design that the majority of new shooters find it easier to use. Plus, it takes some serious effort to jam up a revolver.

Which one makes the best choice?

That depends.

Pistols tend to form a far better option for concealed carry, mostly because the traditional six-shooter takes up an excessive amount of space to simply conceal. Pistols even have the advantage of additional cartridge capacity, which may be a valuable asset during a self-defense situation.

However, it’s hard to beat the simplicity and reliability of a decent old-fashioned wheel gun. These qualities alone make them ideal for the newest shooters.

Ultimately, which one is “best” depends on which you are feeling the foremost comfortable shooting.

Does calibre size matter?

caliber size CANFIREARM

Selecting a powerful gun, which also has a calibre that you can handle, is a must characteristic for your first gun. 

The perfect handgun caliber is one among the foremost controversial topics within the shooting world. Everybody has their own personal opinion on the matter, and a few will argue their choice.

However, there’s no one-size-fits-all perfect caliber. So how does one choose?

Choosing the caliber of your handgun (or the precise cartridge your handgun is meant to shoot) could also be a more important decision than the make and model of the handgun you select. Caliber features a huge impact on recoil. It also will influence how effectively your handgun will eliminate a threat during a defensive situation.

The “Best” Self-Defense Gun Caliber

In a defence gun, the short answer is that the more powerful the calibre that you can handle, the better. Any and all ammo size is potentially deadly, but it’s the ‘stopping power’ you are most concerned with. 

With modern advancements in ammunition, the smaller calibre has become more effective for first gun characteristics.

The “Best” Self-Defense Caliber CANFIREARM

Self-defense projectiles effectively incapacitate through tissue damage and blood loss. Larger, more powerful calibers (like .40 S&W or .45 ACP) are more likely to accomplish this because the larger diameter of the projectile naturally creates more tissue damage. Also, a bigger wound channel is more likely to hit vital organs and major arteries, increasing blood loss for quicker threat neutralization.

While some calibers are obviously more effective at creating blood loss and tissue damage than others, there’s always a trade-off. Large caliber handguns will certainly produce larger wounds. However, they also naturally produce more recoil. Heavy recoil can have a negative effect on shooter confidence and accuracy, especially for weaker or inexperienced shooters.

Many “experts” believe any caliber smaller than .40 is ineffective for private protection. However, if a shooter is incapable of putting multiple rounds on target with a large calibre handgun, that weapon is relatively useless for self-defence. Ultimately, any round on target is better than a clear miss, therefore the best caliber is the one you’ll shoot with proficiency and confidence.

Also, with modern advancements in self-defence ammunition, smaller calibre weapons became much more effective for private defence than they once were. Engineered for enormous expansion, impressive weight retention, and hard-hitting energy transfer, modern self-defence ammo, even when loaded in a smaller calibre handgun, can produce devastating results.

If a .22 is all you’ll handle effectively, it’s certainly better than nothing. Make sure to load that weapon with the simplest self-defense rounds you’ll buy.

However, if you’ll handle a bigger round, carry the bigger round. In short, don’t be embarrassed or ashamed to hold a small caliber handgun, but carry the biggest you’ll be able to shoot effectively.

Fitting Choices

Fit is a critical element for the safe handling and accurate use of any tool, especially a firearm. If the handgun doesn’t fit your hands (it can be too big or too small), there’s no way you will be able to use it properly.

Ensuring the gun you choose fits your hand well is of utmost importance.

Recoil and Shootability

As a general rule, smaller lightweight handguns produce more felt recoil. this surely is a matter of physics. If you’ll remember back to highschool science class, you would possibly recall a man named Newton and his Third Law. “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

For firearms, this principle breaks down like this: once you pull the trigger, the bullet and hot gases proceed (the action), while the gun goes backward (the opposite reaction).

That backward motion is recoil.

Several factors affect what proportion of felt recoil a firearm produces. one among these is the mass of the firearm. All things being equal, a heavier gun will absorb more energy and thus produce less felt recoil for the shooter. Because recoil can upset shooter confidence and target accuracy, a bigger heavier handgun is usually more appropriate for less-experienced shooters, especially those shooters who are weaker or recoil sensitive.

While a bigger handgun could pose some problems with concealment, don’t forget concealment isn’t the last word goal. You would like a weapon you can handle effectively, shoot accurately, and carry confidently. The important work of the handgun must happen after it leaves its place of concealment to neutralize a threat.

Recoil and Shootability CANFIREARM

Recommendations 

While walking into a gun store for the first time can be intimidating, it need not be. Just come in, ask questions and learn. You can also reach us via e-mail and phone.  If you’re interested in purchasing your first handgun and don’t really know where to start, our retail firearms advisors at Canfirearm Store can help make the process easier. We help first-time buyers to select the gun with the best characteristics that work best for them.