I've been seeing a lot of the same questions from new shooters. So I'd ask the moderators to post this thread as a sticky.
I'm new to guns....
Take an NRA approved Handgun Safety / Basic Handgun Course (your trainer can supply guns during the course)
What kind of handgun should I get?
The best answer is always to get the gun that you
can shoot the best. Just as we all come in different shapes and sizes, not all shooters have the same preferences.
Learn to shoot, take an NRA approved Handgun Safety / Basic Handgun Course
Figure out what kind of shooting you want to do (hunting, defensive, range, competition)
Then take whatever you've budgeted and subtract the cost of a safe.
Go to a range that rents guns and try out as many guns as you can in your price range to narrow your choices. Specifically,
Semi-auto or revolver
Polymer or metal receiver
Full size, compact, sub-compact
Then post on the forum asking for feedback on your short list, specifying how you want to use the gun.
Which handguns have less recoil?
Felt recoil is dependent on propellant charge, barrel length, barrel weight and frame weight.
Larger caliber bullets have more recoil.
Overpressure ammunition (+P, +P+) have more recoil.
Longer barrelled handguns have less muzzle flip.
Heavier (longer, bull) barrels have less recoil
Heavier frames (metal) frames have less felt recoil
Compensated (ported) barrels have less muzzle flip, but muzzle flash is greater for shooter.
Slower cycling slides (either by weight, size or recoil spring) will have less felt recoil.
Rubber (over) grips distributes recoil over your hand but do not actually reduce recoil.
A minimum of 9mm Luger is considered the standard for self defense.
.380 ACP / 9mm Kurz is considered marginal for self defense.
Any caliber is adequate for target shooting
What ammunition has the least recoil?
More propellant, more recoil
Larger caliber ammo has more recoil.
Overpressure loads have more recoil (+P, +P+ rounds)
For a given caliber, standard loads with heavier bullets will be softer shooting.
Semiauto handguns use chamber pressure for operation. Too much pressure and the gun will break, too little and the gun won't cycle. The inertia of a heavier bullet of a given caliber will cause chamber pressures to build more rapidly before the bullet exits the barrel. To keep chamber pressure under maximums, ammo manufacturers generally load less propellant for heavier bullets. SAAMI specifies the industry standard for cartridge pressure of a given caliber.
What ammo for defense?
New stock, quality brand name Jacketed Hollow Point.
Brass cased, avoid steel and aluminum casing as they will swell when fired and are prone to jam.
In a practical sense, performance differences in brand and bullet weight are infinitismal compared to differences in caliber.
Gun for small hands?
Small grip (circumference not length) and short reach to trigger
Single stack magazines
Avoid DAO actions due to longer trigger pull
Check strength to rack slide (longer slides generally have softer recoil springs)
Benefit of safety devices?
Take an NRA approved Handgun Safety / Basic Handgun Course
Hopefully corrections and additions can be added to this thread