The question of ‘what’s the best gun to buy…” launches as many gun store conversations as ‘what’s the best caliber to use.” Literally, everyone has an opinion, and no affirmed “gun nut” is ever shy about telling you their opinion. On its own, though, the question doesn’t really have an answer.
What is the best gun for what?
For carrying concealed?
For home protection?
For hunting or casual shooting?
For IDPA or IPSC style competition?
For what budget?
The list of follow-on questions can and has filled volumes, as well as innumerable articles in the shooting magazines like Guns and Ammo, Shotgun News, and Handguns. The simple fact is that unless someone specifies a few more details, there’s just no way to respond intelligently.
When my boss asked me “what gun should I buy,” though, I didn’t get to avoid an answer. I can make some basic assumptions, though, to formulate a better response. A first time gun owner is probably looking at buying a handgun rather than a rifle or shotgun, and intends the purchase for a mix of home and personal protection. Unlike a collector or enthusiast, a first time gun buyer probably wants to keep the purchase within a modest budget. So, to rephrase the question slightly, this article tries to answer the question, “what handgun should I buy for general protection for a budget of up to $550?”
The only good gun for someone who doesn’t want to practice and understand their weapon is no gun at all. I warn any friend asking advice about buying their first gun that owning a firearm is a responsibility, not a right, and with that responsibility comes the obligation to learn how to use it safely and effectively. Shooting a gun safely can be fun and rewarding. But, guns can be dangerous if not used properly, so take the time to learn all that you can about your firearm, practice regularly, and follow local laws about proper storage and safe handling.
For trouble free dependability and simple operation, most new gun owners benefit from buying a basic revolver in an appropriate caliber for home and personal protection. Revolvers are simpler to use and easier to maintain than most semi-automatic pistols. There’s no risk of mis-feed with a revolver, and operation is as simple as working the safety and pulling the trigger.
My top choice, the Ruger SP101, is available in a variety of finishes, calibers, and sizes for nearly any shooter. I recommend the SP101 over Ruger’s other excellent revolver, the GP100, simply because of size. The Ruger GP100 series is a full sized revolver with 3” to 6” barrels and a full pistol grip. Ruger’s SP101 has a smaller grip and offers a choice of calibers in the 2.25” barrel, which makes the SP101 slightly easier to carry for personal protection if the owner chooses.
I recommend the SP101 in .357 Magnum and a 2.25” barrel. The .357 mag round is the same size as a .38 Special cartridge, so the SP101 in .357 mag will also shoot the more affordable .38 Special ammunition. Owners can practice with the .38 Special ammunition, and use the more powerful .357 Mag round for protection.
Buyers and owners please take special note. A gun built to handle the .357 magnum load can shoot a .38 Special bullet, but users should never fire a .357 magnum round in a .38 Special gun. The .357 magnum cartridge is significantly more powerful than a .38 Special, and will cause damage to a .38 special gun, and could cause injury or death. That’s one of the reasons that I recommend the SP 101 in .357 Mag, so the owners can shoot either ammunition without concern. Both calibers are among the most common revolver loads, and offer effective stopping power if you have to use the gun to defend yourself.
The SP101 is comfortable to use. The grip gives instant purchase and fits small to mid-sized hands well. The trigger pulls smoothly and consistently, especially important for new shooters. The front sight is a simple post, and Ruger offers some variety of rear sights. For the short barrel revolver, natural point of aim becomes more critical than sight or target alignment.
Ruger offers the SP101 with a Crimson Trace® Lasergrip®, which for new shooters helps significantly with aim. As your shooting hand wraps around the grip, depressing a noticeable nub on the trip activates the laser, which shines a red dot on the target approximately where the bullet will follow when the trigger gets pulled. The laser shouldn’t become a replacement for careful practice with the revolver, but does help new shooters identify their natural point of aim and improve their accuracy.
With a street price under $500, plus about $180 for the Crimson Trace® Lasergrip®, Ruger’s SP101 provides a versatile, dependable, affordable platform for shooting enjoyment and personal or home protection.
Smith & Wesson’s K-Frame revolver offers first time gun buyers another top choice. A quick check of the S&W website shows more than 25 configurations, but the Model 686 Plus offers the closest range of features to the Ruger SP101. The Model 686 Plus has a 2.5” barrel, a comfortable synthetic grip for dependable purchase and non-slip performance, and a top quality front site for quick target alignment. The S&W revolver is a 7-shot, two rounds better than the SP101, but those extra rounds come at a price. The S&W Model 686 Plus weights 34.1 oz empty, about 10oz heavier than the Ruger revolver. For owners interested only in home protection, those ten ounces won’t matter when the gun is in a drawer. For owners considering a legal carry permit to carry the revolver for home protection, the extra weight offers a constant reminder right on your hip.
Smith and Wesson’s Model 60 is a snub-nosed 5-shot revolver in .357 Mag/.38 Special +P, and an excellent choice for personal protection or legal carrying. It’s comfortable, portable, and has a range of holsters and accessories that make for effortless concealed carry. Both the Model 60 and the 686 come with Smith and Wesson’s Lifetime Service Policy, so new buyers can be confident that in the company stands behind their products.
Neither the Model 60 or 686 quite fits my $550 budget, but they both represent top quality revolvers for the first time buyer.
Our next article will sharpen the focus to recommend the best semi-automatic pistol for the new gun buyer, and the choices might surprise you.
