Worst Guns for Beginners (And Some Good Ones)
Don't make a big mistake. There are some terrible guns out there for beginners. Here's our list of the worst ones and also some good first firearms.
USMC Veteran. Concealed Carry & NRA Pistol Instructor. 3-Gun Competitor. Career firearms writer
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So, you decided to buy your first gun. Congrats and welcome!
We're lucky to live in a time when there are more genuinely good, affordable firearms available than we know what to do with.
But there are some you should avoid.
Some are objectively lousy; some just aren't suitable for new shooters. Don't worry, though; we've got your back. I'll point out the worst guns for beginners and then recommend a few that are great guns for new shooters.
Let the learning begin!
Table of Contents
How We Chose the Worst Guns for Beginners
The entire Pew Pew Tactical team contributed to this guide to offer different opinions based on ergonomics, size, and experience.
Keep in mind that some of these picks aren't necessarily bad guns -- they're just bad for people who are new to shooting. They might be expensive, finicky, difficult to shoot, or impractical.
We've also provided a few beginner-friendly options that we fully endorse, with links to the full reviews so you can read more. We even tracked down the best pricing so you can save some money when you're ready to buy.
Meet the Experts
At the helm for this article is Pew Pew Tactical Contributor Travis Pike. Before becoming an NRA-certified instructor and concealed carry trainer out of Florida, he was a Marine infantryman. It's safe to say he knows his way around guns. Travis has been testing, researching, and writing about all types of guns, gear, and optics for years. You can find his work in several publications, including Pew Pew Tactical.
Editing this article is Editor & Senior Review Analyst Scott Murdock. Scott is a Marine Corps veteran who competed and qualified as a rifle and pistol expert while in service. In addition to shooting, Scott has written for a variety of publications, testing, researching, and evaluating guns and gear. He brings that knowledge and skillset to this article, editing and fact-checking for accuracy.
Worst Guns for Beginners
1. Magnum-Caliber Handguns
I get the appeal; magnum handguns can be a lot of fun. Movies like "The Matrix," "Dirty Harry," and "Wind River" have made big-bore revolvers and other hand cannons highly revered in the American psyche.
They're larger than life in movies, but they're a real handful to actually shoot in the real world.
I would never place a magnum-caliber handgun (ok, except that nifty Walther WMP that shoots .22 WMR) in the hands of a beginner. It’s insanely dangerous and foolish to expect a new shooter to manage that much recoil with no training or experience.
Outside of the danger level, these guns and their ammunition are very expensive. That makes it harder to train, which will stunt your growth as a shooter.
Speaking of ammo, magnum calibers involve a lot of specialty loads that you’ll need to be able to identify and understand before you toss rounds in your gun.
A box of Winchester .44 Mag ammo is going to be a lot different than a box of Buffalo Bore, for example. If you don’t understand bullet weights and velocities, you are going to have a bad time.
That isn't to say these are bad guns. Magnum revolvers are great for experienced shooters who need a defense against brown bears. But even that requires a lot of training to use them effectively, and many people who spend a lot of time in brown bear country have switched to 10mm (which is also a bad choice for first-time gun owners).
For now, let's leave magnums to the movie stars.
2. Tactical Shotguns
Shotguns have a reputation for being easy to shooter and some people even claim you don't even have to aim them. That's untrue, and it horrible advice.
While there are situations where shotguns excel, I definitely wouldn't hand over a 12-gauge stuffed with 00 (pronounced double-ought or double-aught) buckshot to a new shooter.
Tactical shotguns have hefty recoil, limited capacity, expensive ammunition, and the semi-automatic ones tend to be expensive.
Like magnum handguns, tactical shotguns can jump and kick too much for people who aren't trained to control all that energy. It's not uncommon for them to give you a black eye if you don't handle them correctly.
A side effect of all this recoil is that you're likely to develop a flinch. That habit will wreck your ability to shoot anything effectively, and it's a tough lesson to unlearn.
Once again, we're not against you owning a 12-gauge shotgun down the line. In fact, some of them can be quite beginner-friendly.
If you're looking for a versatile shotgun that can slay everything from clay pigeons to turkeys, a hunting-focused 12-gauge will serve you well. Pump-action shotguns are usually very reliable and affordable.
Between lighter ammunition loads and longer barrels, these are typically more beginner-friendly than stubby tactical shotguns loaded with buckshot or slugs.
If you're absolutely set on getting a tactical shotgun, the new Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol in 20 gauge is a great option. It's nearly as powerful as its 12-gauge big brother, but it's significantly lighter and quite a bit easier to control.
3. Pocket Pistols
Pocket pistols might look approachable to first-time shooters because they're small, but looks can be deceiving.
That's because they produce the same amount of energy as any other pistol shooting the same cartridge, but there's less mass to absorb it and less surface area to hold onto.
They slap your hand like a hard high-five and try to wiggle out of your fingers with every shot.
That's a recipe for failure. If you don't enjoy shooting your pistol, you're unlikely to train with it. If you don't train, you won't get better.
If you're in the market for your first concealed carry pistol, there are better options. We love the Sig Sauer P365 family, and Glock makes a few similarly-sized pistols that are easier to shoot and more capable than a micro-compact pistol.
4. Anything Obscure
Don't get me wrong, we love collecting weird and wonderful firearms from dusty corners of the industry. They're not super practical, though.
Even if a particular gun is great on its own, finding parts, accessories, and upgrades can be nearly impossible.
If you see a great deal on something chambered for a cartridge you don't recognize, there's a reason for that -- maybe nobody can find ammo for it!
Common ammunition like .22 LR, 9mm, .45 ACP, 5.56 NATO, .308 Win, and 12ga is easy to find and reasonably priced. Want .45 GAP, .357 SIG, or .303 British? Good luck and keep your credit card ready.
Best Guns for Beginners
I won’t leave you guys with just bad guns. Here are a few excellent guns that are affordable, fun to shoot, and -- most importantly -- great teachers.
1. Ruger 10/22 - Best .22 LR Rifle
Pros
- Easy to shoot
- Affordable
- Endless aftermarket upgrades and modifications
Cons
- Low power
- Limited range
The Bottom Line
The Ruger 10/22 is an icon for a reason. It's affordable and easy for novices to shoot, sure, but it's also a barrel of fun for shooters of all ages and skill levels. Go ahead and put one of these in your gun safe. You'll never get tired of shooting it, and it'll teach you a lot about marksmanship and firearm ownership along the way.
Specs
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Action: Semi-automatic, blowback
- Capacity: 10+1
- Best Use: Target shooting, small game hunting
Everybody needs a .22! The Ruger 10/22 is a classic rifle and one of the most mass-produced guns in history. It’s reliable, accurate, inexpensive, and universally respected.
You can find a Ruger 10/22 in almost any gun shop across the country, including online retailers.
There are Ruger 10/22 models ranging from mild to wild, and aftermarket support is almost endless. Want to customize your 10/22? Go ahead and upgrade it, accessorize it, and make it yours with some of our favorite Ruger 10/22 upgrades.
Even experienced shooters never pass up a chance to shoot a 10/22. Here's Scott enjoying a quick 100-yard mag dump for science.
Once you build a solid foundation of marksmanship fundamentals at pennies per round, you'll be able to step up to larger rifles without much of a learning curve.
2. Ruger Wrangler - Best .22 LR Revolver
Pros
- Easy to shoot
- Affordable
- Yee-haw vibes
Cons
- Rudimentary sights
- Limited capacity and slow reloads
The Bottom Line
Like the Ruger 10/22, the Ruger Wrangler packs big fun into a small firearm. Ammunition is dirt cheap, it's simple to operate, and you'll feel like a movie star every time you hold it. This is another great learning tool that you can enjoy forever.
Specs
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Action: Single-action, revolver
- Capacity: 6
- Best Use: Target shooting
Want even more rimfire fun? Shoot like a cowboy with the Ruger Wrangler!
These are comically inexpensive and offer a major improvement in quality and durability over a lot of other rimfire revolvers at the lower end of the price range.
We fell in love with this tiny peacemaker during testing. Get all the details in our Ruger Wrangler review.
Like the 10/22, it's great for practicing the fundamentals. You'll have to focus hard on the sights, because they're tiny. On the bright side, everything else you shoot will feel like it's on easy mode.
Recoil is minimal, so you're unlikely to develop a flinch or other bad habits. Ammo is dirt cheap, so you can get huge amounts of training done for just a few dollars.
And you'll never outgrow this thing. We never get too cool for a .22 LR revolver.
3. Glock 19 - Best Pistol
Pros
- Famously reliable
- Great for CCW and home defense
- Huge aftermarket support
Cons
- Trigger feel isn't great
- Polarizing ergonomics
The Bottom Line
Are there subjectively better 9mm pistols than the Glock 19? Sure (although the Gen6 version is a big step up). But none of them come close to Glock's aftermarket support and legendary track record of reliability. Everyone at Pew Pew Tactical has their own pistol preferences, but we also all own Glocks.
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm
- Action: Semi-automatic, striker
- Capacity: 15+1
- Best Use: Concealed carry, home defense, target shooting
Whenever we have to recommend a pistol to someone, it's easy to start with a Glock 19 and go from there.
This iconic pistol is small enough to comfortably carry every day. It's large enough to shoot effectively, and you get 15 rounds per magazine (unless your state's gun laws dictate otherwise or you size up with an extended magazine basepad).
The Glock 19 has served with military units and law enforcement agencies for decades. It will have your back, too. Just remember to load up on good defensive ammo.
While it isn't super refined, it's reliable as a hammer and pretty affordable. Aftermarket support is endless, so you can easily upgrade components here and there as you progress in your shooting journey.
Do we have an in-depth Glock 19 Gen 6 review? Of course we do!
A lot of manufacturers have taken pages out of Glock's book, so don't miss the other great pistols we've reviewed. Check out more of our favorites in our guide to the Best Handguns for Beginners.
4. Andro Corp Industries ACI-15 Bravo - Best AR-15
Pros
- Affordable
- Surprisingly accurate
- Easy to upgrade or modify at home
Cons
- Very basic furniture
The Bottom Line
Look, it's just a matter of time until you buy your first AR-15, and the Andro Corp Industries ACI-15 Bravo might be the best place to start. It's extremely affordable, but you still get solid reliability and accuracy. The parts that keep cost down are easy to upgrade on your own. We've put a ton of rounds through this AR-15, and it makes us smile every time.
Specs
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Action: Semi-automatic, direct impingement
- Capacity: 30+1 (state-compliant versions available)
- Best Use: Home defense, target shooting
Sorry, M1 Garand fans, the AR-15 is America's rifle now. If you're in the market for your first AR-15, the budget-friendly Andro Corp Industries ACI-15 Bravo is an easy recommendation.
The ACI-15 Bravo offers a budget-friendly carbine with surprisingly good accuracy. In our testing of the Best Budget Ar-15s, it kept up with carbines that cost twice as much. Dollar for dollar, it's tough to argue against it.
The furniture is mil-spec -- which is to say that it's very basic. That keeps the price down, and you can easily upgrade the pistol grip and collapsible stock later if you want. The handguard is perfectly usable; no need to change that.
This AR-15 can grow with you as you advance in ability and evolve in personal taste.
The market is saturated with AR-15 parts from bargain basement to bougie, and these guns enjoy every kind of accessory, upgrade, and trinket under the sun. You can even build one from scratch if you're handy.
We have a ton of information on these, so definitely spend some time reading our AR-15 Definitive Resource.
5. Ruger LC Carbine - Best PCC
Pros
- Easy to shoot
- Variety of cartridge options
- Great for a truck gun or home defense
Cons
- Limited effective range
The Bottom Line
The Ruger LC Carbine proves once again that running pistol ammo through a carbine is seriously fun. With three cartridge options to choose from, you can spice it up however you want. Use it for plinking, home defense, or a legitimately capable truck gun.
Specs
- Caliber: 5.7x28, .45 ACP, 10mm
- Action: Semi-automatic, blowback
- Capacity: 10+1, 13+1, 20+1, 30+1
- Best Use: Home defense
A pistol-caliber carbine, or PCC, is a rifle-length firearm that shoots pistol rounds. They come in a wide variety of designs and are quite popular these days. One of our favorites is the Ruger LC Carbine.
Take your pick from three cartridges: 5.7x28, .45 ACP, and 10mm. All of them have merit as a home defense gun, though I'm partial to the latter two.
While .45 ACP and 10mm can be pretty punchy in a handgun, they're borderline tame in a PCC simply because you have mass on your side and more points of contact.
Once you start shooting, you won't want to put it down!
You won't be swapping out components to the extent you could with an AR-15, but you can add accessories like a red dot, weapon light, and sling just as easily.
Interested in learning more about this gun? Here's our hands-on Ruger LC Carbine Review. Want more options? Check out our guide to the Best PCCs!
Final Thoughts
Buying the wrong gun can seriously hinder your shooting ability and waste money.
That doesn't mean we don't like these guns, it just means they shouldn't be your first firearm. As you become more experienced, you may find that some of them are perfectly appropriate.
For now, stick to quality guns that won’t encourage bad habits or drain your wallet. Then, invest in some professional training and make dry fire a daily habit. You'll be a better shooter in no time.
What’s the gun you’d advise new shooters to avoid? Let us know in the comments. New to shooting? Take a look at the Beginner’s Guide To Guns and our Gun Noob to Gun Slinger video course!
Latest Updates
- May 2026: Removed the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport III. Added the Andro Corp Industries ACI-15 Bravo. Updated supporting content.
- January 2025: Removed the Heritage Arms Rough Rider, .40 S&W subcompact pistols, and Ring of Fire brands. Added obscure firearms to avoid. Added the Ruger 10/22, Ruger Wrangler, Glock 19, Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport III, and Ruger LC Carbine as the best guns for beginners.