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The gun world is full of lists and one of the most common is "X Number of best guns for new shooters"

We're not to knocking them, they are great, and we have… just a few ourselves. But this time we're going in a slightly different direction.

Beginner's Guide to Guns
Beginner's Guide to Guns

We want to name the worst guns for new shooters.

Not that there is inherently anything wrong with these guns, well, nothing wrong with most of them. Some suck, and some are eww .40 cal. However, in general, these can be great guns…

…For experienced shooters.

Table of Contents

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Guns For Beginners To Avoid

Magnum Caliber Handguns

Magnum handguns are so much freaking fun. The recoil, the noise, the power! They can be a real handful though.

They are not for new shooters. Desert Eagles, S&W Model 29s, and certain Ruger Blackhawks are legendary firearms in the shooting world, as well as pop culture.

Movies like The Matrix, the Dirty Harry series, and Wind River have placed big-bore revolvers and hand cannons into the American psyche.

While they are both fun and cool, they are not good for beginners. The massive recoil is not beginner-friendly, and at best, it will make you develop a flinch, and at worst, it will smack you right in the face.

Actually, at worst, if you don't know what you are doing, and you accidentally shoot yourself. This happened with a young lady firing an S&W 500 revolver.

She fired the gun and in twisted in her hands resulting in her pulling the trigger as the weapon was pointed at her own head.

gun recoiling into shooters face
Kind of like this, but she held her grip instead of it rolling out.

I would never place a magnum caliber handgun in the hands of a beginner. It's insanely dangerous and foolish.

Outside of the danger level, the ammunition for these weapons is expensive, and that will dissuade many from the shooting necessary to establish proper shooting habits.

Speaking of ammo, when you get magnum calibers, you get a lot of specialty loads that you'll need to be able to read and understand before you toss in your gun.

Popular Pistol Calibers
Popular Pistol Calibers, 10mm and .357 Magnum are two examples of magnum calibers

A box of Winchester .44 Magnum ammunition is going to be a lot different than a box of Buffalo Bore .44 Magnum.

And that's before we get into the .500 family!

left to right 9mm, .50 Beowulf, and .500 Linebaugh
Cartridge lineup, left to right: 9mm, .50 Beowulf, and .500 Linebaugh.

If you don't understand bullet weights and velocities, then you are gonna have a bad time.

That Buffalo Bore or Double Tap is going to kick your ass.

50

at Lucky Gunner

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Magnum caliber handguns are for experienced shooters, and beginners should only use one under the supervision of an experienced shooter.

Caveat

If you are a new shooter and looking at a powerful revolver, there is one magnum caliber I'd say is okay for new shooters.

That is the .357 Magnum.

Cowboy Guns (6)
Cimarron Frontier and Pietta 1873, both in .357 Magnum!

It's magnum light in many ways, especially compared to modern magnums.

That being said, get a full or mid-sized revolver, or even a Desert Eagle in this caliber.

S&W 686 and .357 Ammo
The Smith & Wesson 686+ is an awesome full-sized .357 Magnum revolver, even for new shooters

Avoid snub nose revolvers in .357 Magnum. A .357 Magnum does allow you to shoot .38 Specials, which are much softer recoil wise and cheaper for training purposes.

12 Gauge Shotguns/Firearms

I love shotguns. Love them an absolute ton. They are amazing weapons.

They ain't for new shooters though. Twelve gauge shotguns and firearms have hefty recoil, a limited capacity, and expensive ammunition.

When I say firearms as a new gun owner, you might be confused, all guns are firearms, but at the same time, some firearms are different.

Guns that look and operate like shotguns, but lack a stock and often have 14-inch barrels, but an overall length of 26 inches is technically a firearm.

Shockwave 590M (5)
Mossberg 590M Shockwave "firearm".

Like magnum handguns, a firearm can be a dangerous weapon that jumps and kicks from your hands like a trout trying to free itself.

On top of that, these guns can easily give you a kick to the face if you aim them without being ready for the punch the gun is about to throw.

For those who know nothing about guns, especially twelve gauges, you'll quickly find out the benefit of training and experience. Even a shotgun with a stock can be uncomfortable.

I like to think I am a journeyman shotgunner, and I'm pretty good at recoil reduction, but a day with a shotgun will still leave me with a beat-up shoulder.

Tavor Shotgun sleeping on shells
Just some of the shells after a day of shooting my Tavor TS12

An amateur is going to develop a flinch quite quickly.

The most common type of shotgun is a pump-action, and if it's for defensive use, you have to get real good at working that pump if you don't you are bound to short stroke the gun and give yourself a nice jam to work your way through.

If you get a semi-automatic, you are going to have to learn how to feed it the right ammo, and how to keep it clean. Semi-auto shotguns are finicky and require the right ammo and a good level of maintenance.

If you're looking for your first pump-action shotgun, we can help!

A single shot or double barrel is going to be lightweight, and that will just increase your felt recoil.

Start out with a 20 Gauge. A 20 gauge is a powerful weapon with a lot less recoil than any 12 gauge.

Caveat

If you are looking for a bird hunting or skeet/trap gun, a 12 gauge shotgun might be the right ticket.

The only reason why is the use of soft shooting sporting loads designed for super small game and busting clay pigeons.

8

at Brownells

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Recoil will still be a jolt, but it won't be near as punishing, although a 20 gauge can still be a good bird gun and a more challenging skeet or trap gun.

Micro 9mm/.380s

Small, pocket-sized carry guns are everywhere. They are an attractive weapon for concealed carriers, especially if you are new to carrying and shooting.

Sinterfire .380 ACP 75 grain HP Frangibles and a Ruger LCP II. If you like .380 ACP you really should check out Sinterfire's frangibles
Micro compact guns like this Ruger LCP II are easy to conceal, but not fun to shoot.

There seems to be a mindset among a lot of new shooters, and first-time shoppers that smaller guns are a better choice for new shooters.

People think the smaller the gun is, the easier it is to handle. This is, unfortunately, not true.

Pocket-sized .380s and even worse 9mms are a handful. They slap your hand like a hard high five and try to work their way out of your hands with every shot.

Bersa Firestorm
This Bersa Firestorm is one of our editor's EDC CCW, careful though — recoil is snappy!

They aren't pleasant to shoot, which means training will be less of a priority compared to not beating up your hand daily. Also, they often lack proper sights, and the tiny grip makes reloads a hassle.

This sucks cause you likely only get 6 to 7 rounds at most, and you can barely aim, much less reload under stress.

These guns also tend to be picking towards limp wristing. Limp wristing is not holding a firm enough wrist while shooting. This can cause some serious reliability issues and give you some fun jams.

Caveat

I don't really have one. Don't go anything smaller than a Glock 43 or 42. My personal favorite is the P365 from SIG Sauer.

HSGI Taco and P365
My personal Sig Sauer P365 and a SGI Taco magazine holder

Subcompact .40 S&Ws

If you are a new shooter just learning the ropes, a .40 S&W can be an inviting weapon. They are common, and a lot of people feel .40 S&W is a good compromise between 9mm and 45 ACP.

Glock G27
Glock G27 sub-compact .40 Smith & Wesson

If you are a new shooter and you want a gun you can carry, a subcompact .40 might look even better.

By subcompact, I mean Glock 27 sized firearms, not Glock 23 size. These subcompact frames in .40 S&W can be rough shooters. Recoil and snap will be at an all-time high.

The gun will try to wrestle it's way out of your hands and give you a nice dose of slide bite with every other round. If you are a new shooter learning the ropes of a handgun, a subcompact .40 will be an unpleasant experience.

.40 S&W Round
.40 S&W Round

Not only that, but the ammo is more expensive than 9mm, and the round is falling out of favor. It may be around for the rest of my life, but we won't see a lot of development for the round between then and now.

Caveat

.40 S&W Law Enforcement trade-ins are selling for close to nothing. You can get a Glock, an S&W M&P, or any number of polymer-frame striker-fired pistols that are of extremely high quality.

430

at Guns.com

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

If you see one at a great price and you can afford it over a lower tier handgun, go for it.

But shoot it a lot, and get some training with it.

Anything In the Ring of Fire Family

The Ring of Fire guns are small, super cheap guns from companies like Lorcin, Raven, Bryco, Jennings, and Phoenix.

These companies are mostly dead, but lots of their guns are still floating around.

Bryco Arms .380
A Bryco Arms .380 such as this has resulted in more than 1 accidental death due to their defective design, Guns.com

These cheap pot metal guns are small, available in a variety of calibers. Their main appeal is their often sub 100 dollar price tags.

The downsides are, well it's easier just to bullet point this:

  • Unreliable
  • Poor fit and finish
  • Unreliable
  • Magazines suck
  • Heavy recoil due to blowback design
  • Unreliable
  • Sloppy construction
  • Terrible triggers

Did I mention these are unreliable? They'll jam, misfeed, fail to fire, and all that, but they will also crack and fall apart.

Everything is fine dog
Literally everyone that owns a gun from the Ring of Fire family.

Caveat

None just stay away from them like the guy who hands out apples on Halloween.

Great Guns for Beginners

I won't leave you guys with just bad guns. Here are a few good choices for your first gun.

Ruger 10/22

It's a classic rifle, one of the most mass-produced in history. It's reliable, accurate, and cheap!

250

at Brownells

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

You can find a Ruger 10/22 in almost any gun shop across the country.

Everyone should have a Ruger 10/22 rifle and it's a gun that has staying power. You can upgrade it, customize it, and make it yours.

Fully Upgraded 10/22
Fully Upgraded 10/22

Heritage Arms .22 LR Revolver

As far as first-time handguns go, this is the best one to start with. Several models are under 150 bucks, and it's a single-action design that harkens back to the days of cowboys and western life.

Classicly Awesome

199

at Guns.com

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

The Heritage Arms .22 LR Revolver is a fun, accurate, and reliable revolver.

It's single-action design also forces new shooters to slow down and take their time between shots. It's also an easy shooting gun that's not too big on maintenance.

Ruger Wrangler .22 LR

If you're interested in spending a touch more to get an even better beginner .22lr revolver, take a look at the Ruger Wrangler!

A pair of Ruger Wranglers
A pair of Ruger Wranglers

These are normally in the $175-200 range and offer a major improvement in quality and durability over the Rough Riders. We highly recommend them, so take a look at the full review!

200

at Brownells

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Full-sized/Compact 9mm pistols

If you can't spend the money on several guns and can only have one, then a full-sized or compact 9mm is a good choice.

CZ 75 SP-01
CZ 75 SP-01 is a full-size 9mm that is a dream to shoot!

Compact in the gun world doesn't mean pocket pistol, it means SIG P229, Glock 19, CZ P-10C and other assorted somewhat large firearms.

CZ P10C and a box of 9mm
The CZ P10C OR is an optics-ready compact 9mm designed for EDC.

The above are all excellent choices, as are the SIG P226, the CZ 75B, and the Glock 17.

Handguns are tough to shoot, but these guns are quite user friendly and offer you a soft shooting, easy to control gun that's cheap to train with.

It's also a capable self-defense firearm.

Check out more of our favorites in Best Handguns for Beginners.

Beginner's Guide to Guns
Beginner's Guide to Guns

AR-15 Carbines

AR-15s are awesome weapons for plinking, home defense, shooting sports, and even hunting.

BCM with Magpul 40-Rounder
BCM with Magpul 40-Rounder

They are also very simple to use. Every year thousands of 18-year-olds with zero firearms experience qualify on the M4/M16 platform in boot camps around the country.

The AR-15 series are similar to the M4/M16 in terms of controls, accuracy, and general layout.

Learning to use one is very simple, and with a little instruction, any new gun owner can learn how to use one effectively.

The AR-15 can be adapted in size for any adult shooter and the ammo, magazines, and parts are widely available and affordable.

Check out our favorites in our AR-15 Buyer's Guide.

A Few Of Our Personal AR-15 Uppers
A few of our favorite things…

Pistol Caliber Carbines

A pistol caliber carbine is a rifle that shoots pistol rounds. They come in a wide variety of designs and are quite popular these days.

You can find them at any price point with several different magazine platforms.

New Frontier Armory C-9
New Frontier Armory C-9

These guns can be quite affordable, and the ammo to feed is as well. They are soft shooting, and best of all, most indoor ranges that ban rifles will allow PCCs.

This allows you to train and get sharp and stay sharp.

If you want a suggestion for which one, my vote is for the Ruger PC Carbine.

ruger pc4 pistol caliber carbine
Ruger PCC is a great place to start your pistol caliber carbine obsession!

It's affordable, simple to use, and allows you to use Glock magazines, which are both cheap and plentiful.

25

at GunMag Warehouse

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Check out more in our Best PCCs article.

Parting Shots

These are what I think are terrible guns for new shooters. With so many people buying their first gun right now, I feel it's responsible to offer not only advice on good guns, but advice on which guns to avoid as well.

In time as new shooters become more experienced, they may find that some of these guns might be right for them.

Until then, stick to guns that are well made, won't beat you up, and are more practical for new shooters.

What do you folks think? What's the gun you'd advise new shooters avoid? Let us know in the comments! For a LOT more information, take a look at the Beginner's Guide To Guns and also our hands-on video course… Gun Noob to Gun Slinger!

Gun Noob Course Screencap
Gun Noob Course Screencap

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Source: https://www.pewpewtactical.com/worst-guns-beginners/