FINDING THE RIGHT HANDGUN

 Written by:  K Caliber

So now you’ve conquered your fear, you’ve educated yourself on how to shoot a handgun…you’ve taken ladies intro. Next step: find yourself a firearm! Taking a training course truly is half the battle. In fact, I’d venture to say the tough stuff is in your quest to find the right handgun. I would like to provide you with a small amount of guidance that just might get you through your search with a little less stress, a lot more enjoyment and the end result being the purchase of the proper handgun for YOU!

Now please understand all ladies are different, I love my Springfield XD in .40 caliber, another lady I know prefers a Ruger LCP chambered in .380. Some have long skinny hands, others have short stalky fingers, our skill level and muscle strength varies dramatically. Many ladies like slim framed pistols while others prefer molded Hogue grips.  In the world of purchasing firearms, especially when it comes to pistols, the best piece of advice I can give you is don’t let someone else tell you what you want. Please, if you are in the market for a pistol, take the time to consider the following purchasing tips; it may make the difference between a great purchasing experience and a terrible one.

Do your research!
    Think about when you bought your last car. I bet you did a little internet research before contacting a dealer, right?! I also bet you test drove multiple models and asked relentless questions about features and reliability of each car until you finally narrowed it down to the car that best fit you and your family.
Ladies, gun shopping should be done the exact same way! Subscribe to a magazine(s), research blogs, ask other ladies who shoot what they like and why. Look at features such as the size of the firearm, the caliber it is chambered in, are there any external or internal safety features. Do your research before you even step foot in a gun store.

Compare Feel!
    So there is one vital mistake anyone can make when they purchase a firearm, buying one that isn’t comfortable in their hands. If you don’t feel comfortable holding the gun, you aren’t going to shoot the gun accurately. It’s important the frame of the firearm isn’t too big or too small for you, and that the grips are either comfortable or molded to fit your hands. If you pick the gun up and it isn’t comfortable, either don’t buy the firearm or find the right grips.

Ask questions!
    If you do your initial research and you know which type of firearm is right for you (which you should have been able to determine at the end of the day you took the Ladies Intro class) you should have a ton of questions for the sales personnel you work with.  Remember, that if the salesman or woman is truly interested in ensuring you go home with the right firearm, they will be asking you just as many questions! Compare features, ask the expert to tell you why one model is better than the other. You may like a gun with no external safety or it may be very important that you have one...

Tell them about yourself and how you conduct your business. Do you have kids, perhaps you have arthritis, maybe you are a left-handed shooter, or perhaps you summer in Idaho and winter in Arizona. All these things will play a huge part in which firearm you choose to purchase. Ask the salesperson any and all questions you can think of. Do they suggest certain types of ammunition for practice and others for self-defense? If so, why do they suggest each item? How about cleaning and storage? There are thousands of lubricants, solvents and other cleaning items to choose from. What works best, which brand is the safest? You won’t know if you don’t ask…

Know your purpose!
    I can’t say this enough; there is no ‘one handgun’ on the market that will do everything for you. Generally if the gun is fun to shoot, it is larger in size and has some weight to it, which means it is no longer practical to use for carry. Same with concealed carry handguns, they are generally compact and lightweight making them less comfortable to shoot when out at the range or at a competition. You can find firearms that will be OK for dual purpose; however, the reality is you might want to think about buying multiple handguns for multiple purposes.
Know your strengths and your weaknesses!

    It is a very personal decision to buy either a pistol or a revolver. If you have a difficult time functioning a revolver, you really need to consider buying a semi-automatic handgun. If a semi-automatic has too many bells and whistles and you do not want so many options or perhaps are apprehensive about potential malfunctions, you might lean towards buying a revolver. Knowing yourself, your daily routine and how well you can function each type of handgun will make a difference when purchasing any firearm.
  
What is your price point?
    Alright, I’ll break out the dreaded question…What do you want to spend on your firearm? In all reality you may go above or below your budget to find the right gun but you need to have an idea of what you are willing to spend. Here’s the deal with this though….if you aren’t willing to go above a set budget yet cannot find a handgun you like in your price range; I suggest waiting and saving more money. It’s one more day without a gun, but you are more dangerous to your loved ones, yourself and the public if you don’t have a gun you can function well or feel comfortable with.  Realize this purchase is an investment that may save your life or the life of someone you know and love one day. This may be the single biggest decision you make. (Until you are like me and now have a handgun collection far bigger than you’ll ever need!!)  Take it seriously, and set the necessary money aside to be able to purchase ammunition, storage and cleaning supplies.

    As I said before, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to buying a handgun. So many factors play into your decision and which gun will work best for you. Please take the time to consider the work you owe yourself to do the research, ask the questions, and complete the self-evaluation you will need to complete while shopping for the right gun. However, through all the seriousness don’t forget this is fun! Having your own firearm and shooting at the range with friends and family is fun!! This should be a pleasant experience, but if it isn’t-find yourself a new gun dealer who cares about you, or call WSA we’ll help you out.

Do you have something interesting or relevant that you would like to share?  If so, please send me an email at vicki@womensshootingacademy.com

Until next time...


-Vicki