All photos courtesy of The Trophy Room - Alexandria, VA

People buy a handgun for many reasons. Some buy a handgun for plinking, for shooting at cans or at paper targets. Others buy a handgun for self-defense. Some buy a handgun because they like to collect various types of firearms or because they are simply interested in the engineering or aesthetic design of a particular firearm. Still owners buy a handgun because they have the freedom to do so and wish to exercise their Second Amendment rights by purchasing a sidearm.

Whatever the reason for purchasing your first handgun, the responsibility that comes with owning any firearm requires that you take care to ensure that it is safely stored. Lock it in a manner that prevents access by young people or by unauthorized users. Novice firearm owners and experienced owners alike must always take the time to read the product manual that accompanies a firearm and to follow the instructions in that manual carefully. Many companies provide manuals for their products free of charge, even if the firearm is used and a manual no longer accompanies the product. When you cannot obtain a manual for a firearm, you can always contact a gunsmith or a registered safety instructor in your area and obtain training on the specific features and functions of the firearm in which you are interested.

BUYING A HANDGUN-THE FIRST STEP

The reason why you want to buy a handgun does much to determine the model you choose. Someone who wants to buy a handgun for target shooting would typically prefer a handgun with a longer barrel and sight radius, which allows them to shoot more accurately at greater distances. Special sights are also available for handguns used at longer distances and other features, such as special ergonomic grips, can help you be more accurate.

First-time handgun users can benefit by using a smaller caliber, such as .22. In addition to being less expensive to shoot than other calibers, .22 caliber handguns have lower recoil and are less loud, which makes the target shooting experience more enjoyable. It is also easier to concentrate on your target when you do not have to worry about the loud report and harder recoil associated with larger calibers.

Someone purchasing a handgun for self-defense, on the other hand, would typically want a larger caliber because larger calibers have greater potential for stopping an assailant quickly. People purchase handguns to help save their lives. A caliber that is more effective in stopping a person increases the chance that the person using it will succeed in protecting themselves, their family or others.

Larger calibers impart more energy to the handgun itself, though. For this reason, most larger caliber handguns are medium to full-size to help absorb the recoil and also so the handgun can hold more rounds for use in self-defense. A handgun that is going to be kept at home or at the workplace (for example, by a store owner) can be in a larger caliber and larger size without making it difficult for the owner to carry or store the sidearm. In states that allow concealed-carry of a handgun for personal protection, the owner may want a smaller sized handgun to make it easier and less cumbersome to carry that handgun in a purse, inside a jacket or in a pocket. Smaller handguns typically use smaller calibers, but even the smallest caliber handgun can be lethal.

If you are interested in buying a handgun for collecting or because you are interested in mechanical features, the best way to choose your first handgun is to read various publications (for example, The Shooter's Bible) and visit your local gun shop to see what models are available. Local gun shows are also an excellent way to see a variety of different firearms, some with unusual features, and to shop and compare.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOLS VERSUS REVOLVERS

Revolvers have an advantage in that their design is simple and, in the U.S., traditional. Revolvers have been around since the mid-1800s. Once loaded, they can be fired simply by cocking the hammer or, in "Double-Action" models, a pull of the trigger will both cock the hammer and release it to fire the weapon.

Semi-automatic pistols though can employ safety features (for example, external safety levers that disable the firing mechanism) that are not available on revolvers. Also, because a semi-automatic pistol uses a magazine, it can hold more rounds than are available in a revolver. Because the magazine can be removed and quickly replaced with another loaded magazine, it is easier and faster to reload a semi-automatic pistol, which can be an important consideration in self-defense situations. Some Beretta semi-automatic pistols can also be quickly loaded by flipping a lever that tilts the barrel upward, allowing the user to place a round in the chamber, close the barrel and prepare to fire very quickly.

Target shooters use both semi-automatic pistols and revolvers. Some competitions are based exclusively on using semi-automatic pistols and other competitions are based exclusively on using a revolver. In addition, people who like to hunt using a handgun might choose a Semi-automatic pistol in small caliber (for example, .22) for shooting at squirrels or rabbits, where the ability to quickly fire a second or third round may be required to hit the target. Hunters who seek to bring down larger game, such as deer, might choose a larger caliber, larger frame gun that is more accurate at longer distances and can deliver the required energy for a humane kill to bring down their target.

MAKING YOUR SELECTION

Talk to different people whose opinion you trust and who own handguns to find out about their experience. Buy a variety of trade magazines and read articles about different handguns to see what writers recommend and what catches your attention. Go to a gun shop and talk to the dealer about the options available, the models they carry and what they like. When you look at different handguns, bear in mind the following important considerations:

• The handgun should be reliable. This is especially important if you are buying a handgun for self-defense because, when you are using a handgun to save your life or that of another person, the most important consideration is that it fires when you pull the trigger.
  
  
• Look for safety features on the handgun. External safety levers allow you to "turn off" the gun if you do not want it to be in a ready-to-fire condition at all times.
  
  
• Find a sidearm that is durable. Many people own their firearms for decades and can even pass them on from generation to generation. The better the quality of construction, the more likely that the handgun you purchase will last your lifetime and beyond.
  
  
• Get a lock for your gun. When not in use, store your sidearm unloaded and locked. Many handguns come with a lock provided by the manufacturer but, if the model you are looking at does not have a lock, buy one from your local gun dealer.
  
  
• Obtain catalogs from different gun manufacturers and compare their products.

BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE HANDGUN YOU BUY

Practice with the handgun you buy. Even if you do not intend to use your handgun very often, read the manual for your handgun, go to a local shooting range and practice shooting so that you become familiar with your handgun's operating features and are comfortable when using it. The only exception to this recommendation is if you buy a handgun that has a high value as a collectible. You may want to simply store a handgun of that type, keeping it lightly oiled from time to time to protect it from corrosion. Please remember, though, that even collectible handguns can still be fired and should be stored safely.

People buy guns because shooting is fun. Tens of millions of Americans own handguns and the average firearm owner owns several firearms. Welcome to the crowd!