Guns go bang

Spent a day at the range on Saturday taking a beginner handgun shooting course. I am not a beginner but I still take beginner classes, time and resources permitting. (If you can't learn something from any class then the problem usually isn't the instructor, the problem is you.) One interesting thing about the basic classes is that you get to interact with people that are new to guns, maybe even handling a gun and shooting for the first time.

Some people, such as a woman that was in a class I attended earlier this year, do very well. She had never handled or fired a gun before the class and by the end of day two she was competent and comfortable. It usually doesn't unfold that way. I think she had the advantage of being mechanically inclined and extremely proficient with tools (she was a trade electrician), but that in itself isn't necessarily a good predictor of success, though it doesn't hurt.

This past weekend the guy next to me on the firing line couldn't keep it on the paper from 3 yards during aimed fire practice. The paper is 3 FEET wide by 4 FEET tall. In other words he couldn't reliably hit a target 3 yards away when he was taking his time and being careful where he was aiming. He was the worst shooter I have ever seen, and I've seen a few (see first paragraph). The problem was both his trigger flinch, which was awful because he was terrified of the noise and recoil, and the Glock 27 (subcompact .40 cal semi-auto) he was shooting.

Mission dictates loadout. If your mission requires that you carry a concealed weapon, the Glock 27 is an option. If your mission requires that you learn how to shoot a handgun, you should look elsewhere. But where? Good question.

The easiest handgun to shoot is the smallest caliber in the largest frame single-action semi-automatic that fits comfortably in your hand. I recommend a Browning Buckmark or, even better, Ruger Mark II.
Let's break this down further:

• Why smallest caliber? Because it's easier to become comfortable with a gun when you keep recoil, noise and muzzle blast to a minimum. 
•  Why largest frame? Larger-frame guns reduce felt recoil and give you more to hold onto (more on this shortly). Also, larger guns have longer barrels and are more accurate because they have a better sight radius.
• Why single-action semiauto? Light trigger pull makes it easier to keep on target. Semi-auto pistols do present some challenges in re: gun handling that may be confusing or tricky for new shooters but they are outweighed by the advantages of the SA trigger. The biggest challenge is probably slide manipulation, but small-caliber, medium-frame semi-autos are as easy to manage as these things can be. Also it's a good test to see if the user is capable of safely operating the weapon. Can't rack the slide? You need some dry-fire practice.
• Why fits in your hand? Too large or too small and you won't be able to keep a grip on the weapon when you fire it. 
• Why not a revolver? Because revolvers typically have VERY heavy trigger pulls, up to 3 or 4x as much as a semiauto pistol (for reference: Glocks are 5 lbs, Smith & Wesson revolvers vary but are usually 10 lbs or more, and the Ruger Mark II is 3-5 lbs). They are a bitch to learn to shoot accurately.

So whither the poor sap with his wayward fire and his shiny new Glock 27? Well, as you may have noticed, it's a poor gun for a new or inexperienced shooter, mainly because the cartridge is too large and the frame too small. It's a backup gun. You can do a class with it but it will beat you up. It's hard to overcome your fear of the gun going off when it keeps kicking you in the hand every time you flail away at the bang switch. Hopefully he will get a gun that fits the above criteria.

As for the Glock 27 in general: I don't know why anyone buys this gun except that they want to be different from the 9mm crowd. I feel this way about all .40 cal guns. This cartridge doesn't do anything remarkably better than the 9mm or the .45 ACP.  Sure you can split hairs about how it's got superior velocity or muzzle energy but there is no significant advantage when it comes down to practical application, either in the lab or anecdotally. (Look it up.) It only exists because the FBI didn't want to look like a bunch of assholes after their agents got in a gunfight in 1986 and didn't have easy-to-reload semi-auto 9mm or .45 cal pistols. Of course they had to invent a new round, because if they didn't then people would ask why they weren't carrying one of the existing guns in that caliber.