I’ve spent the past year training with a pistol—dry firing daily and going to the range every weekend—and I don’t feel anywhere near truly proficient. Pistol shooting is hard, and the skill ceiling is very high.
You need thousands of rounds and proper training just to get confident. Range shooting is one thing, but try doing it under stress or after a workout that raises your heart rate, and accuracy drops fast. Muscle memory takes years of practice and a lot of money in ammo to build. Yet, I see people claiming pistols are ‘simple’ or ‘good enough’ for home defense. Missed shots don’t just vanish—they can hit unintended targets.
Handguns are not a beginner-friendly choice. They’re complex and require dedication to master. What do you think?
Most people go for pistols because they’re small and less intimidating. Long guns are great for home defense, but pistols can be handy if you need to move around, like helping kids or opening doors.
Kai said:
Most people go for pistols because they’re small and less intimidating. Long guns are great for home defense, but pistols can be handy if you need to move around, like helping kids or opening doors.
I’m not saying pistols are bad, but people need to be prepared to put in years of training.
@Addison
It doesn’t have to take years. Dry firing is great for building skills. With good training, most people can get competent at short-range defense pretty quickly. Mastery and competence are very different things.
Nico said:
I agree pistols aren’t the best for beginners. But with focused training—like drills, dry fire, or even airsoft—getting better is definitely possible.
Dry fire is good for accuracy, but recoil control is another story. It takes years of muscle memory and thousands of rounds. Even police, with their training, still miss in close encounters.
@Addison
It’s a big commitment, but maybe not tens of thousands of rounds. Also, cops aren’t the best example; their skill levels vary widely, just like civilians.
Most gun owners don’t really understand firearms. They watch movies where everyone’s a marksman with a pistol and think it’s the same in real life. Rifles or AR pistols are much better for home defense. Handguns are for carrying when you can’t have a rifle. Use the right tool for the job.
If you live in an apartment, rifles and shotguns might not be ideal because of the risk to neighbors through drywall. In those cases, a handgun could make more sense.
Gracen said:
If you live in an apartment, rifles and shotguns might not be ideal because of the risk to neighbors through drywall. In those cases, a handgun could make more sense.
I’m not saying pistols are bad. My point is that most people underestimate the training they require.
Gracen said:
If you live in an apartment, rifles and shotguns might not be ideal because of the risk to neighbors through drywall. In those cases, a handgun could make more sense.
Handgun rounds can still go through drywall, though.
Most home defense situations happen at close range, where aim isn’t a huge issue. Plus, you can keep a pistol concealed while checking out a noise, which helps if it’s just a drunk neighbor or your kid.
For practicing accuracy, .22LR is great, but recoil control is a whole different challenge. That’s what I’m focusing on now, and it’s tough and expensive.