Pistols and revolvers
A handgun is made to be held and fired with one or two hands. It is the easiest gun to carry and store, and the hardest to shoot well, so practice matters most here.
The parts of a handgun
Types of handguns
| Type | How it works | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-automatic pistol | A magazine in the grip; the slide reloads after each shot | Holds 10 to 17+ rounds, flat and easy to carry, fast to reload | More controls to learn; must be cleaned and lubricated |
| Revolver | A turning cylinder holds 5 to 8 rounds | Very simple, works with any ammo power, easy to check if loaded | Fewer rounds, slower to reload, heavier trigger |
| Striker-fired | Most modern pistols (Glock, Sig P365): same trigger pull every shot | Simple and consistent | No hammer to see |
| Hammer-fired | A visible hammer (1911, CZ, revolvers) | Some have very nice triggers | More to learn on some models |
| Size | Barrel | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Full size | 4.5 to 5 inches | Home, range, competition: easiest to shoot well |
| Compact | About 4 inches | The best all-rounder: home and carry |
| Subcompact / micro | 3 to 3.5 inches | Everyday concealed carry; harder to shoot well |
Common handgun calibers
| Caliber | Good for | Recoil |
|---|---|---|
| .22 LR | Learning and cheap practice | Almost none |
| .380 ACP | Very small carry pistols | Light, but snappy in tiny guns |
| 9mm | The standard for defense, police and practice: the best balance | Moderate |
| .40 S&W | Police use in the past; still common used | Snappy |
| .45 ACP | Classic 1911 round; big, slower bullet | Moderate push |
| .38 Special / .357 Magnum | Revolvers: a .357 can also fire .38 Special | .38 mild; .357 strong |
| 10mm | Woods and bear country, hunting | Stout |
The best three handguns
Glock 19 (9mm compact)
About $540 (V model) to $650 (Gen 6)
Holds 15 plus 1, runs on any ammo, and has the most holsters, parts and training support of any pistol. Glock replaced its Gen 5 line in 2025 and 2026 with the new V and Gen 6 models.
Sig Sauer P365 X-Macro (9mm)
About $780
Thin enough to carry every day, yet holds 17 plus 1, with a full grip that makes it easier to shoot than most small pistols.
Ruger GP100 (.357 Magnum)
Typically under $1,000
Built like a tank. Shoots mild .38 Special for practice and full .357 Magnum for defense or the woods. A great first handgun for someone who wants simple.
Budget picks: Ruger RXM (about $540), CZ P-10 C (about $430). Prices are typical November 2026 prices.
Cleaning and maintaining a handgun
- Unload: remove the magazine first, then lock the slide open and look and feel in the chamber. For a revolver, open the cylinder and remove every round. Ammo goes in another room.
- Field strip following the manual. Some pistols, like Glocks, need the trigger pulled to come apart, which is why checking twice that it is empty is critical.
- Clean the barrel: solvent patch, bore brush, dry patches.
- Clean the slide and frame rails, breech face and extractor with a brush and rag.
- Lubricate with a drop of oil on the rails and where the barrel touches the slide, as the manual shows.
- Reassemble and function check with the gun empty: rack the slide, pull the trigger, check the safety if it has one.
- Revolvers: clean each chamber in the cylinder, the barrel, and the "forcing cone" where the barrel meets the cylinder.
Clean after each range trip. A carry gun should be wiped down and checked weekly, since lint and sweat get everywhere.
Shooting a handgun
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Grip | Web of your hand high on the backstrap; support hand fills the gap on the other side; both thumbs forward along the frame |
| 2. Stance | Feet shoulder-width, lean slightly forward, arms out (push-pull or straight) |
| 3. Sight alignment | Front sight centered in the rear notch, tops even. Focus on the front sight |
| 4. Trigger press | Straight back with the pad of your finger, smooth, until it breaks |
| 5. Follow through | Keep the sights on target and let the trigger out only until it resets |
| 6. Start close | Begin at 3 to 7 yards. Tight groups first, then speed, then distance |
Practice at home with "dry fire" only with the gun empty and all ammo in another room, using snap caps.
Carrying a handgun
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Permits | More than half the states allow adults to carry without a permit; others require a carry permit. Tennessee allows permitless carry for most adults 21 and older, and still issues permits for travel to other states |
| Holster | Always use a holster that covers the trigger guard completely and holds the gun firmly |
| Off-limits places | Federal buildings, post offices, schools, many courthouses and airport secure areas, and private property that posts "no guns" |
| Other states | Your permit may or may not be honored; check reciprocity before you travel |
| In the car | Rules vary a lot by state; know yours |
The right ammo for handguns
| Kind | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Full metal jacket (FMJ) / round nose | Practice: cheaper and clean-feeding |
| Jacketed hollow point (JHP) | Self-defense: expands, and less likely to pass through |
| +P | Higher pressure defense loads; use only if your gun's manual allows |
| Wadcutter / lead semi-wadcutter | Revolver target shooting |
Practice with FMJ, but fire at least 100 to 200 rounds of your defense load to make sure it works in your gun. See the ammo guide.