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Education First

Your First Firearm

There is no universal best first firearm. There is only the firearm that fits your purpose, your hands, your budget, and how you plan to store and practise with it. This page exists to help you work out what those things are before you start comparing products.

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First-Time Buyer Guide

Staff Picks for a First Firearm

There is no single right first firearm. What follows are options our team believes are worth comparing, spanning different platforms, because the right answer depends on what you intend to do with it, what fits your hands, and what you will actually practice with.

About Our Staff Picks

Faith First Firearms Staff Picks reflect our team’s opinions, formed from research, product characteristics, experience, reputation, value, and the intended use of each firearm. They are starting points for comparison, not a claim that one firearm is the right choice for everyone.

Every firearm involves tradeoffs. The right choice depends on your intended use, your experience, how the firearm fits your hands, what you find comfortable, and your budget. If you are not sure what fits your needs, book a consultation and we will help you compare your options, understand the differences, and identify firearms worth considering for your situation.

Availability changes constantly, and not every firearm we recommend can be ordered directly through this website. Where a pick shows "Ask FFF About This Pick" instead of pricing, contact us and we will tell you honestly what is possible for that firearm right now.

Staff Pick 1

Savage

B22 F 21" barrel, black synthetic stock, 10-round rotary magazine

Best for A first-time owner who wants to learn fundamentals before spending more.

  • .22 Long Rifle
  • 21" barrel
  • 10+1 rotary magazine

$322.99 In Stock

View Product - Savage B22 F

Why We Picked It - Savage B22 F

Almost every experienced owner we know wishes they had started here. Low recoil and low cost per round mean a first-time owner can build real fundamentals before spending more, and the adjustable trigger rewards that practice rather than fighting it.

Also worth knowing

  • Bolt action
  • User-adjustable AccuTrigger
  • Drilled and tapped for optics

What it does well

  • Rimfire ammunition costs a fraction of centerfire, so a new owner can practice far more for the same money.
  • Recoil is negligible, which lets a beginner concentrate on sight alignment and trigger control instead of flinch.
  • The user-adjustable AccuTrigger is unusually good at this price and rewards careful shooting.
  • A rotary magazine feeds more reliably than the single-stack designs common in budget rimfires.

Tradeoffs to consider

  • No iron sights are fitted, so an optic is effectively a required additional purchase.
  • A .22 Long Rifle rifle is a training and small-game tool, not a defensive firearm.
  • The synthetic stock is functional rather than refined.

Talk It Through With Us - Savage B22 F

Staff Pick 2

Taurus

992 Tracker 6.5" barrel, matte stainless, 9-round cylinder, adjustable rear sight, interchangeable .22 WMR cylinder

Best for Learning handgun trigger control with no recoil to fight.

  • .22 Long Rifle (interchangeable .22 WMR cylinder)
  • 6.5" barrel
  • 9-round cylinder

$657.99 In Stock

View Product - Taurus 992 Tracker

Why We Picked It - Taurus 992 Tracker

For someone who wants a handgun first, learning on a .22 revolver removes recoil from the equation entirely and lets the shooter concentrate on trigger control, which is where most new shooters struggle. The long barrel and adjustable sights make mistakes visible so they can be corrected.

Also worth knowing

  • Double action / single action
  • Adjustable rear sight
  • Second cylinder in .22 WMR included

What it does well

  • A .22 revolver removes recoil from the equation entirely, which is where most new handgun shooters struggle.
  • The long barrel and adjustable sights give a generous sight radius, so aiming errors are easier to see and correct.
  • Nine rounds per cylinder and cheap ammunition make long practice sessions affordable.
  • The second cylinder adds .22 WMR for small pests around a property without buying another firearm.

Tradeoffs to consider

  • It is a large, heavy handgun for its caliber and is not intended for carry.
  • Swapping cylinders is an extra step to learn and is not something a brand-new owner needs on day one.
  • Rimfire ammunition is inherently less reliable than centerfire, so expect an occasional dud round.

Talk It Through With Us - Taurus 992 Tracker

Staff Pick 3

CZ-USA

P-10 C Optics Ready, 4" barrel, black polymer frame

Best for A first defensive-calibre handgun with conventional controls.

  • 9mm Luger
  • 4" barrel
  • 15+1 capacity

$473.99 In Stock

View Product - CZ-USA P-10 C

Why We Picked It - CZ-USA P-10 C

If a defensive-calibre handgun is the goal from the start, this is a forgiving, well-supported place to begin, with conventional controls and a grip shape that suits most hands.

Also worth knowing

  • Striker-fired
  • Tritium sights standard
  • Optics-cut slide

What it does well

  • Ships with tritium night sights standard, which most competitors charge extra for.
  • Trigger and grip ergonomics are rated among the best in the striker-fired class by multiple independent reviewers.
  • Factory optics cut and a genuinely comfortable grip shape suit a wide range of hand sizes.

Tradeoffs to consider

  • The aggressive grip stippling is polarizing — some reviewers find it abrasive over a long range session.
  • Holster and accessory selection is smaller than the Glock or Smith & Wesson ecosystems.
  • No optic is included, so a red dot is a separate purchase.

Talk It Through With Us - CZ-USA P-10 C

Staff Pick 4

Mossberg

500 Field/Deer Combo 12 gauge, 28" vent rib and 24" rifled slug barrels

Best for One shotgun that covers the house, the field and deer season.

  • 12 Gauge, 3" chamber
  • 28" field barrel and 24" rifled slug barrel
  • 5+1 capacity

$490.99 In Stock

View Product - Mossberg 500 Field/Deer Combo

Why We Picked It - Mossberg 500 Field/Deer Combo

For a first firearm that will be used for more than one thing, a versatile pump shotgun covers a lot of ground at a modest price and is straightforward to maintain.

Also worth knowing

  • Pump action
  • Interchangeable chokes on field barrel
  • Ambidextrous tang safety

What it does well

  • Two barrels on one receiver cover bird and clay work plus slug use, which is real versatility at a low price.
  • Twin action bars and dual extractors underpin the 500's long reliability record.
  • Parts, accessories, and gunsmith familiarity are about as widely available as it gets.

Tradeoffs to consider

  • Finish and furniture are utilitarian rather than refined.
  • The fixed 13.87" length of pull is long for smaller-statured shooters.
  • Like any pump, it depends on the shooter completing a full stroke — an incomplete stroke under stress can tie the gun up.

Talk It Through With Us - Mossberg 500 Field/Deer Combo

Staff Pick 5

Taurus

Defender 856 3" barrel, matte stainless, night front sight

Best for A revolver that asks less of a new owner than any semi-automatic.

  • .38 Special +P
  • 3" barrel
  • 6 rounds

$389.99 In Stock

View Product - Taurus Defender 856

Why We Picked It - Taurus Defender 856

A small-frame revolver asks less of a new owner than any semi-automatic: no slide to rack, no magazine to seat, no safety to remember. The steel frame and 3-inch barrel make it far easier to shoot well than the lightweight snubs it is usually compared to, and we would rather someone start with a firearm they are not intimidated by.

Also worth knowing

  • Double/single action
  • Stainless frame
  • Night front sight standard

What it does well

  • Six rounds in a steel-framed small revolver at the lowest price in this group.
  • Night sight is standard, which is unusual at this price point.
  • The 3" barrel and steel frame make it noticeably easier to shoot well than a lightweight snub.

Tradeoffs to consider

  • The double-action trigger is on the heavy side and reviewers describe some grit and stacking.
  • Taurus's older reputation for inconsistent quality control still comes up — every individual gun is worth a function check.
  • Finish durability under hard daily carry may not match premium brands.

Talk It Through With Us - Taurus Defender 856

Staff Pick 6

Sig Sauer

P322 4" barrel, black, 20-round magazines, adjustable fiber-optic sights, optics-ready slide

Best for Bridging the gap between a .22 revolver and a defensive-caliber pistol.

  • .22 Long Rifle
  • 4" barrel
  • 20+1 capacity

$429.99 In Stock

View Product - Sig Sauer P322

Why We Picked It - Sig Sauer P322

This is the bridge between the two rimfires above and the 9mm below. It teaches the complete manual of arms of a modern semi-automatic pistol - loading, racking, clearing, reloading - with almost no recoil and at rimfire ammunition prices, so the skills transfer without the cost or the flinch.

Also worth knowing

  • Adjustable fiber-optic sights
  • Optics-ready slide
  • Ambidextrous controls

What it does well

  • It teaches the full manual of arms of a modern semi-automatic pistol without recoil or expensive ammunition.
  • Twenty rounds per magazine means less time reloading and more time practising.
  • The slide is genuinely easy to rack, which matters for owners with limited hand strength.
  • Adjustable fiber-optic sights and an optics cut let it grow with the shooter.

Tradeoffs to consider

  • Rimfire ammunition causes occasional malfunctions; that is normal for the cartridge, not a defect.
  • It is a training and recreation pistol, not a defensive one.
  • Rimfire pistols need more regular cleaning than centerfire designs to stay reliable.

Talk It Through With Us - Sig Sauer P322

Not sure which option fits you best?

That is normal. Choosing a firearm involves more than comparing specifications — intended use, size, controls, recoil, caliber, features, budget, and personal comfort all matter. Book a consultation with Faith First Firearms and we will walk through the tradeoffs with you.

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Where pricing and availability are shown, they change frequently and are current at the moment this page loaded. Picks marked "Ask FFF About This Pick" show no pricing or availability, because we will not state either until we have confirmed it with you.

What a first-firearm decision actually involves

Most first-time buyers arrive with a product name in mind, usually because somebody recommended it. That is a reasonable starting point and a poor stopping point. The same model that suits a confident shooter with a range membership may be a frustrating choice for someone who will fire it a few times a year and store it in a bedroom safe.

A more useful sequence is: decide what the firearm is for, work out what that implies about size and type, then handle a few candidates and see what actually fits your hands and your life.

We will not tell you a firearm is the best or right for everyone. No firearm is.

What to think about

  • Purpose. Home protection, carry, range practice, hunting, and property work pull in different directions. Be honest about the primary one.
  • Fit and comfort. Grip circumference, reach to the trigger, weight, and the force needed to work the action all vary enormously. This is the single factor most often skipped and most often regretted.
  • Recoil you will actually tolerate. A firearm that is unpleasant to shoot is a firearm you will not practise with.
  • Storage before purchase. Decide how you will secure it and prevent unauthorised access before you bring it home, not after.
  • Total cost. The firearm, plus ammunition, a secure storage solution, eye and ear protection, and instruction. Budget for the whole thing.
  • Instruction. Faith First Firearms does not provide firearm training. Our related brand, First Shot Training, handles classes and Texas License to Carry education.
  • Your local law. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, and you remain responsible for verifying what applies to you.

Important tradeoffs

Simplicity against capacity. A double-action revolver has fewer controls to learn and a very simple manual of arms. A semi-automatic pistol generally holds more rounds and is faster to reload, at the cost of more to learn and more to maintain.

Size against shootability. Smaller firearms are easier to store and carry and harder to shoot well. Larger firearms are easier to shoot well and less convenient in every other respect. There is no size that wins both.

Familiar against ideal. A common, widely supported model is easier to find holsters, magazines, parts, and instruction for. A more specialised choice may suit you better on paper and be harder to live with.

Buying now against buying once. Buying quickly often means buying twice. It is usually cheaper to handle several options first.

Explore relevant categories

These links go to our live catalogue. They are browsing starting points, not recommendations, and availability changes.

Handguns
Shotguns

Understand the process before you buy

Knowing what happens at purchase removes most of the anxiety. Identification, documentation, a background check, and, for applicable firearms, a transfer through a licensed dealer.

How Buying a Firearm Works

Safety Is Non-Negotiable

Safety guides everything we do. Whether you are new to firearms or experienced, these fundamentals always apply.

Safety first. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire, and store firearms securely away from children and prohibited persons. For complete guidance, see our firearm safety and storage page.

Educational & Legal Notice
This is general educational information and is not legal advice. Firearm laws and regulations may change and can vary by jurisdiction. Customers remain responsible for verifying current federal, state, and local requirements. Faith First Firearms may require additional documentation or decline a transaction when necessary for safety, compliance, or business-policy reasons.

Not sure what fits?

An educational consultation is a low-pressure way to talk it through with a person. We will help you narrow the field. The decision stays yours.

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