When considering a first firearm, an ideal selection will make practice and training fun and affordable. Regular use and maintenance is the best way to preserve the mechanical reliability and readiness of any firearm.
This guide details 5 recommendations for anyone contemplating their first firearm purchase. Our top recommendation is the Ruger 10/22 Takedown Carbine (chambered in .22 Long Rifle).
All commentary is based on anecdotal firsthand experience owning and/or shooting these firearms; entries were chosen for reliability, accuracy, and cost of operation.
1. Ruger 10/22 Takedown Model
Produced since 1964, the Ruger 10/22 Carbine is fun to shoot, chambered in low-cost .22 Long Rifle (.22 LR) rimfire ammunition (a brick of 325 rounds can be bought at retail for $20). When shooting a Ruger 10/22, a person will likely run out of targets before running out of ammunition.
Due to its low recoil and accuracy out to 100 yards, .22 LR shot through the barrel of a Ruger 10/22 Carbine serves as excellent training ammunition for building marksmanship fundamentals. And while the power of .22 LR is often under-estimated, the Ruger 10/22 is more than capable of hunting small game and being pressed into a home-defense role.
With over 5 million rifles sold in the US alone, the Ruger 10/22’s ubiquity has created an affordable, reliable rifle and a wealth of information and aftermarket products regarding maintenance, operation, and customization.
In 2012, Ruger introduced the “Takedown Model” which allows for quick breakdown (and reassembly) of the rifle. This model includes a rifle bag specifically designed for the Ruger 10/22 Takedown Model and can handily store and carry everything needed for a trip to the range.
Pros
| +Fun to Shoot: Low Recoil, Simple Controls, and Accurate out of the box. |
| +Safety: External push-button trigger safety. Ships with rope lock. |
| +Low Cost: Both the rifle and its ammunition are cheap and ubiquitous. |
| +Takedown Feature: Easier to secure, store, and transport a full-sized rifle. |
| +Ammo: .22 LR is cheap and lightweight allowing for all-day range sessions. |
| +Ubiquitous: Low-cost and lots of information on how to maintain, upgrade, and troubleshoot. |
| +Suitable for Adults and Youths: Perfect for teaching firearm safety and marksmanship skills. |
Cons
| -Reassembly during maintenance can be tricky at first. Always read the manual. |
| -Ships with a single 10-round magazine. |
Costs
| Price: $229.99 – $439.99 (MSRP & Full Specs via Ruger). |
| Ammo: $35.00 (1000 rounds of .22 LR). |
| Breakdown: $0.73 – $1.30 per day (Year One). |
2. Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact
Designed to resemble the centerfire Smith & Wesson M&P series of centerfire pistols, the Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact serves as an excellent training and target pistol to build handgun marksmanship skills.
The Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact feeds .22 LR from a 10-round magazine, and new pistols are shipped with two magazines. The pistol features an external frame safety and also employs a frame lock for storage or transport which uses an included key.
There are a variety of .22 LR pistols that fulfill the same role, but the Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact stands out for its reliability and competitive price when compared to other .22 LR semiautomatic pistols (IE Walther P22, Ruger SR22).
The Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact has been widely used and tested as a training and target pistol. The muscle memory developed through practice with a .22 LR trainer are transferable to other autoloading pistols, especially the centerfire versions of the Smith & Wesson M&P.
Pros
| +Fun Shoot: Low Recoil, Simple Controls, and Accurate out of the box. |
| +Safety: External frame safety, slide locking device that uses included keys. |
| +Size: Easy to store, secure, and transport. |
| +Low Cost: Both the pistol and its ammunition are cheap. |
| +Handgun Trainer: Excellent platform to learn semiautomatic handguns. |
| +Suitable for Adults and Youths: Perfect for teaching firearm safety and marksmanship skills. |
Cons
| -Ships in a cardboard box with no case or carrying bag. |
| -Often in high demand; stocks are often sold out. |
Costs
| Price: $299.99 – $389.00 (MSRP & Full Specs via Smith & Wesson). |
| Ammo: $35.00 (1000 rounds of .22 LR). |
| Breakdown: $0.92 – $1.16 per day (Year One). |
Glock 19
In 1982, The original Glock 17 redefined the handgun market with a revolutionary polymer frame, passive internal safeties, mechanical simplicity, and unstoppable reliability.
The Glock 19 is the compact version of the original Glock 17 and it feeds 9x19mm centerfire cartridges from a 15-round magazine. Due to many shared design elements, the Glock 19 can also accept larger Glock 17 and Glock 19x magazines. The Glock 19 ships from the factory with a lockable carrying case, a rope lock, three magazines, and a reloading tool.
The Glock 19’s straightforward and utilitarian design create a simple, practical, reliable, and accurate firearm option capable of excelling in a variety of roles.
9x19mm Parabellum is popular for its flat trajectory, moderate recoil, and its proven effectiveness as a duty and self-defense cartridge. Through popularity and ubiquity, quality 9x19mm ammunition can be sourced for a wide range of budgets and purposes.
Pros
| +Effective & Reliable: Moderate recoil, Simple controls, Accurate out of the box. |
| +Safety: Safety Trigger and dual passive internal safeties. Ships with rope lock. |
| +Size: Easy to store, secure, and transport. |
| +Ammo: 9x19mm is low-cost, easy to source, and relatively lightweight. |
| +Maintenance: Easy disassembly and assembly requiring few or no tools. |
| +Ubiquitous: Lots of information on how to maintain, upgrade, and troubleshoot. |
| +Accessories: Insane amount of aftermarket upgrades and training tools. |
Cons
| -Lack of an external manual safety can be a dealbreaker for many first-time gun buyers. |
Cost
| Price: $499.99 – $599.99 (MSRP & Full Specs via Glock). |
| Ammo: $150.00 (1000 rounds of 9x19mm). |
| Breakdown: $1.78 – $2.05 per day (Year One). |
4. Springfield Armory XD Sub-Compact
Much like the Glock 19, the Springfield Armory XD Sub-Compact is a polymer-framed striker-fired pistol chambered in 9x19mm.
The Springfield XD Sub-Compact is smaller than the Glock 19 but still handles more like a compact semiautomatic rather than a true sub-compact gun. This provides greater handling and control while the additional weight creates greater recoil management.
The Springfield XD Sub-Compact uses similar internal safeties featured on the Glock 19 while featuring an additional external grip safety. The grip safety prevents the gun from firing without a positive grip around the firearm via the webbing of the firing hand.
The Springfield Armory XD Sub-Compact presents reliability, function, and construction that aggressively challenges its Glock counterparts feature for feature.
To aid recoil management, the Springfield XD Sub-Compact’s grip has been contoured and stippled to maximize friction and minimize muzzle flip. Springfield Armory XD series guns sold prior to 2018 will have the “Grip Zone” label conspicuously featured on their firearm.
The Springfield Armory XD Sub-Compact ships from the factory with a lockable carrying case, a rope lock, two magazines,a reloading tool, and a holster. It feeds from either a 13-round flush-fit or a 16-round grip-extending magazine.
Pros
| +Effective & Reliable: Moderate Recoil, Simple Controls, Accurate out of the box. |
| +Safety: Safety Trigger, dual passive internal safeties, external grip safety. |
| +Size: Easy to store, secure, and transport. |
| +Ammo: 9x19mm is low-cost, easy to source, and relatively lightweight. |
| +Maintenance: Easy disassembly and assembly requiring few or no tools. |
| +Ergonomics: The “Grip Zone” is real. |
| +Upgrades: Includes alloy fiberoptic night sights. |
Cons
| Nowhere near the same amount number of aftermarket accessories as the Glock. |
| Not everyone is ready for the “Grip Zone”. |
Cost
| Price: $400.00 – $631.00 (MSRP & Full Specs via Springfield Armory). |
| Ammo: $150.00 (1000 rounds of 9x19mm). |
| Breakdown: $1.23 – $2.14 per day (Year One). |
5. Ruger GP100 4.2″ Barrel 357 Mag Caliber (Model 1702)
In terms of rugged reliability and straightforward versatility, the Ruger GP100 is a 6-shot revolver chambered in .357 Magnum/.38 Special that has gathered a mythic reputation fit for Paul Bunyan.
Capable of firing the high-powered .357 Magnum and the smaller .38 Special cartridge, the Ruger GP100 excels as a range gun, defensive weapon, and trail gun suitable for wilderness hiking. Using .357 Magnum cartridges, the GP100 is capable of hunting medium-sized game such as deer and elk or being used as a defensive weapon against large predators.
Compatibility with .38 Special cartridges allows for increased training at lower cost than with .357 Magnum cartridges. Designed to shoot accurately with manageable recoil, .38 Special has proven itself as an accurate, reliable, and effective police and self-defense cartridge for over 100 years.
As a revolver, the Ruger GP100 presents a simple and intuitive manual of arms which many new shooters find easier to learn when compared to autoloading semiautomatics. This can help a new shooter develop deeper marksmanship fundamentals which will transfer to different types of firearms.
Pros
| +Effective & Reliable: Low to Moderate recoil (using .38 special), Simple Controls, Accurate. |
| +Safety: Single/Double-Action Trigger, internal Transfer Bar Safety. Ships with rope lock. |
| +Size: Easy to store, secure, and transport. Ships with lockable case. |
| +Versatility: Excellent range pistol, defensive handgun, chambers .38 Special and .357 Magnum. |
| +Simplicity: Revolvers are easier to learn and are simpler to operate. |
Cons
| -Revolvers operate from a relatively isolated manual of arms. |
| -While still affordable, .38 Special can be more expensive than more common 9x19mm. |
Cost
| Price: $599.99 – $769.00 (MSRP & Full Specs via Ruger). |
| Ammo: $265.00 (1000 rounds .38 Special). |
| Breakdown: $2.37 – $2.83 per day (Year One). |
Try It Out First
All selections on this list were generated purely from a “I should have…” anecdotal basis gathered from personal experience. Every person discovering shooting sports and firearms collecting will have different needs and preferences, so each person considering a new firearm should first attempt to try them at a range.
It is highly recommend that a person seek out and sample any firearm before they choose to purchase it. To make an informed purchase, a person should handle and operate the firearm to experience whether specific designs or features will serve their training and practice needs and preferences.
If a person has friends who own firearms, there is a high likelihood they own one or several firearms on this list and would be more than happy to share them at the range. Ultimately, pick a firearm that works for you, and remember: Not all firearm purchases need to be practical as long as they are handled safely and maintained on a regular basis.
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