The best pistol is the one you will carry, practice with, and shoot well. It is rarely the one your friend swears by.
Choosing a handgun can feel overwhelming because everyone has an opinion and the wall at the store is enormous. Work through it in this order and the list shrinks fast.
1. Decide what it is for
Be honest about the main job. A gun for concealed carry, a gun for the nightstand, a gun for the range, and a gun for hunting are different tools. A carry pistol has to be small and light enough to wear all day. A range gun can be large and heavy, which makes it easier to shoot. Trying to make one gun do everything usually gives you a compromise at every job.
2. Fit comes before everything else
Hold it. Do not go by a spec sheet or a review. Your hand is different from the reviewer’s. Check that you can:
- Get a full, firm grip without the gun rotating in your hand.
- Reach the trigger with the pad of your finger, not the joint.
- Reach the magazine release and other controls without shifting your grip.
- Rack the slide. If it is hard, move on. A gun you cannot operate is a liability, no matter how good it is.
3. Size and weight are a trade
Smaller pistols are easier to conceal, and they are usually harder to shoot well. They have more recoil, a shorter sight radius, and less grip to hold. Larger pistols are more comfortable and more accurate, but heavier to carry. The right answer is the smallest gun you can still shoot well, and only you can find it.
4. Caliber: choose one you can practice with
Pick a caliber you can shoot accurately, control, and afford to shoot often. A pistol you practice with regularly beats a bigger caliber you avoid because it hurts or costs too much. Practice is what makes you competent.
5. Think about the whole system
A pistol comes with a lot of choices around it: the holster, spare magazines, ammunition, and sights. Check that holsters and magazines are easy to find for the model you want, and that ammunition you can afford is available. More carry pistols now come with red dot sights, and a dot changes how you present and aim the gun. If you are considering one, our Intro to Red Dot Pistol class is built for it.
6. Try before you buy
Rent it and shoot it. Ranges rent handguns, and it is the cheapest way to find out you do not like something. When you book a class with us, ask about a rental. It is the reason I tell new shooters to take a class first and buy second. You will make a much better choice after you have handled a few.
7. Check Colorado’s new rule before you buy
Since August 1, 2026, Colorado requires a sheriff-issued eligibility card and a safety course before you buy a “specified semiautomatic firearm.” The definition of covered handguns is specific, so check before you buy rather than after. I break down what is and is not covered, and the safety course is the class that meets the requirement.
Want help choosing?
Choosing a handgun, a holster, and a carry method is part of our concealed carry permit class, and private instruction is the way to work through it one on one. Call 720-464-SHOT (7468) or reserve a seat.
John Rader is a Douglas County verified firearms instructor (#25037), an NRA certified instructor, and a Colorado Parks and Wildlife verified instructor. Teaching since 1993. More than 30,000 students.