You may be reading this because you’re going through a probationary period as a new pistol shooter or are just about to apply for your first handgun Permit to Acquire/Purchase (PTA). And while it may sound obvious, the overriding criteria when choosing a firearm of any type is it must suit the job you want it to do.
Brand, model and appearance can be factors in selecting a handgun but shouldn’t get in the way of those important technical, ergonomic and practical features. Unlike a new car, buying a firearm from a gun shop generally means you won’t be able to take it for a ‘test drive’. So before that PTA arrives take time to research prospective firearms and, where possible, hook up with likeminded shooters already doing what you want to do.
They may even invite you to fire a few shots at the range but at the very least spend time talking to – and observing – experienced shooters at every opportunity. This is by far the best form of research, so when you do visit the gun shop with your PTA and hard-earned cash, you’ll have a clear idea of exactly what you want to buy, rather than what they want to sell you.
When you joined a pistol club you’d have been introduced to the types of matches being shot. It’s therefore logical most of your training with firearms will revolve around those matches and competitions for which the club is set up to shoot. Most will have facilities for the so-called ‘Olympic’ or ISSF (International Sports Shooting Federation) disciplines and you may already have been training on these using club handguns.
There are also the ‘practical’ style of competitions which are becoming popular, though clubs generally require a lot more space and infrastructure than smaller ranges can provide. In contrast to most of the ISSF matches, many of the practical or tactical competitions use centrefire pistols and revolvers. Others such as black powder and metallic silhouette don’t have a large following, with the specialised firearms required being few and far between and often difficult (but not impossible) to source.
What to buy?
Your first firearm could be an air pistol or .22LR handgun made specifically for ISSF matches if you choose to go down that path. These are high quality, generally European-made precision firearms which aren’t cheap but will give a lifetime of service. Manufacturers such as Walther, Pardini, Morini, Steyr and Feinwerkbau make ISSF rimfire and air guns, some of which are sold by smaller specialised pistol merchants, most of whom advertise in Australian & New Zealand Handgun magazine. Larger gun shops won’t normally stock this type of pistol as their turnover is low compared to some of the cheaper generic ones available. And remember, a gun shop might be able to order such a pistol but you may have commit to buying it.
Of the dozens of target shooting disciplines each has its own set of rules, all of which are downloadable from the internet, so get hold of (and study) those for the match you intend shooting. Among other things they’ll determine the equipment specifications for a given competition and form the basis of which gun or guns you buy. Manufacturers who produce firearms specifically for target shooting have read all the rulebooks to make sure their guns, from the factory, already conform.
At most major competitions, shooters are required to present their firearm to a ‘gun check’ to ensure equipment specifications have been met. In some cases this also includes checking holster, belt and magazine pouches to know they’re safe and in the correct position on the body. But apart from the technical rules, become familiar with the way the match is run as this may give you other clues as to the handgun you choose.
Many handguns are either built for a specific competition or adapted to a target shooting match and by that I mean an off-the-shelf, non-target pistol used in certain action or practical matches, either in their original form or after some by-the-rules modifications. Examples of these are IPSC, WA1500, Steel Challenge, Handgun Metallic Silhouette, Action Pistol and Service Pistol matches. Again, the rulebook will be the guide to what you can and can’t do by way of altering firearms.
If you think you may end up shooting one or more of these disciplines, consider whether you start with a ‘production’ self-loading handgun with which you can shoot most of these practical or tactical matches, but can be modified later for other divisions if desired. Brands such as Stoeger and Canik come to mind as ideal entry-level guns and are economically priced. Even the addition of an optical sight allows you to shoot the same gun in ‘production optics’ division and most production or stock handguns now have an ‘optics ready’ model.
For left-handed shooters there are plenty of target firearms available with optional left-hand grips. Off-the-shelf handguns are generally designed with ambidextrous grips and not an issue for ‘lefties’.
Where to buy a handgun
As stated earlier, your local gun shop may seem the obvious first stop with that PTA burning a hole in your pocket though that’s not necessarily the case, especially when shopping for handguns. This is because generally, not many shop staff have any knowledge of, or interest in, the whole range of pistol matches and therefore the number of different handguns required. There are nine competitions within the WA1500 discipline, for instance, requiring nine handguns and while you can double-up in some matches, you’ll still need a minimum of six.
Another aspect to buying pistols and accessories is you’ll probably seek out a specialist pistol dealer rather than buying from a local gun shop. Additionally, you’ll find most clubs have access to a specialist pistol-smith who’ll provide services ranging from minor alterations and adjustments, to trigger jobs or building a custom gun from scratch. Such a person may even be a member of your club or one nearby.
Conclusion
You may not be in a financial position to buy a specialised firearm for every particular match or division within a match, so would like just one gun to cover a number of options. And while it may be possible to find a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution, avoid settling for something that’s going to be a compromise and not able to do any one job particularly well.
As your interest and skills in the shooting sports grow, so too will the number of firearms you accumulate and, over time, you’ll build on your collection with fit-for-purpose guns. Consider too that, down the track, you may be introduced to new pistol shooting sports and find your current handguns may not suit the new discipline. Again, going back to basics, do the research and try before you buy.
Use the time during your probationary training program or while awaiting your PTA to think about your individual situation, lifestyle, family and how much you’re prepared to commit to your chosen sport in terms of time and money. Also use this time as a sort of cooling-off-period rather than jumping in and buying any pistol you like the look of.
In time you’ll learn about the dozens of pistol matches and what’s going to suit you in terms of budget and commitment to the sport. Don’t waste your first PTA and don’t be impatient, work towards owning something you’ll value and use forever.