Today, handguns come in two basic configurations: revolvers and semiautomatics. Each has its own spot in the shooting world; each has its own distinctive appearance and function.

Revolvers are more traditional and the Colt .45 is the iconic handgun appearing in countless Westerns. On the semiautomatic side the .45-caliber model 1911 stands out historically. If you’re in the market for a handgun, especially first-time buyers, I have some thoughts which might prove helpful. After all, there are many things you may not have considered.

Handguns are difficult to shoot accurately. Being short in length, it’s easy to angle the barrel up or down, left or right and everywhere in between. That short sight radius makes aiming accurately difficult. Unless the pistol is perfectly aligned in your hand, even squeezing the trigger may cause the barrel to shift slightly as the trigger releases. In fact, there are so many ways to miss your mark in pistol shooting it defies description. For the majority of shooters, pistols are short-range firearms.

Another reason handguns are challenging to shoot accurately is the noise and recoil they generate, right in your face, so to speak. Now, not many like to admit that recoil and muzzle blast are not pleasant things. Personally, I freely admit I like neither of these and stay away from the exceedingly powerful calibers like the .454 Casull, an elongated, strengthened .45 Colt round or the daunting .500 S&W Magnum which generates such high pressure it requires a steel instead of the usual brass case to withstand the stress.

Since the joints and fingers of my right-hand work perfectly well and my wrist is pain free and flexible, I intend to keep them that way and have never and will never shoot either of these calibers at my age.

The perfectly adequate .44 Magnum is just fine for me and even then I avoid the 240-grain round, sticking to 225 or, even better, the 180-grain bullet that doesn’t rap you so hard. In my opinion the 180-grain bullet is more efficient on deer-size game as well.

But I would be remiss not to recognize there are those who can fire these cannons and do so accurately. I have to admit these big, powerful revolvers are certainly impressive to look at and represent the ultimate in handgun performance.

My point is that since handguns are challenging to shoot accurately one must remember your ultimate goal is to hit what you are aiming at, and this in turn is directly related to the fact the shooter must be comfortable with the caliber they’re firing.

I remember a young man enthusiastically helping his girlfriend decide which handgun to purchase. She clearly was interested in doing so but was totally unfamiliar with firearms. She was also slightly built, weighing perhaps 120 pounds. The boyfriend was seemingly oblivious to all this and was in essence showing her his favorite calibers and models — none of which were smaller sized and ran from 9mm up. I suggested she would be far better off with a small .22-caliber revolver for several reasons.

First, revolvers are safer — to a degree. If the hammer is back and ready to fire it is seen at a glance. Single action models must be cocked to fire. This is an easily understood principle. After the shot the revolver is harmless until manually cocked once more. Semiautos on the other hand are instantly ready to fire and, to beginners, experiencing the muzzle blast and recoil of their first few shots, safety and muzzle direction instantly become an issue. Always monitor yourself or others closely.

Second, the girl had small hands and required a smaller pistol grip to hold and aim properly. Third, any new shooter should ideally begin with the .22. Lower noise, less muzzle blast, gentle recoil are far more likely to make things fun and less intimidating. Even a .25 or .380 generates far more explosive effect than the venerable and gentle .22.

The girl was enthusiastic but my suggestions were not well received by the boyfriend who bristled like a challenged pit bull; it was time to walk away.

With these thoughts in mind a .22 single-action revolver has obvious advantages as a first handgun; they also never jam in tight situations. Cheaper ammunition’s also a plus.

Though this requires self-discipline, I strongly suggest aiming at a blank wall for a week and dry firing with a doubly checked, unloaded pistol, observing your sights intently. Once you’re able to squeeze the trigger, keeping the sights aligned and on target, you’re ready to use live ammunition. The reason is simple: the pistol’s recoil hides your mistakes. Dry firing forces you to grip properly, squeeze and follow through. If you don’t, the pistol and sights shift slightly, signaling something is wrong with your technique.

Your sights and handgun should remain motionless when the firing pin clicks or hammer falls. The No. 1 error, the biggest reason for an errant shot, is jerking the trigger! You must squeeze, know about when the pistol will fire, but never the exact instant.

Once you master the .22, advance to any caliber you like; if you miss, you should realize why at that point.

Hope this information has been helpful. Good shooting and be safe.