20 Guns That People Who Have Made Every Mistake Keep Recommending to People Just Starting Out

Photo credit: Iraqveteran8888/Youtube

When a new shooter asks, “What should I buy first?” the loudest answers online usually come from the guys still in the honeymoon phase with their newest purchase. The best answers, though, tend to come from the folks who have already wasted money, chased trends, bought the wrong size, sold the wrong gun, and had to learn the hard way what actually works when it’s cold, dark, and you’re tired.

This list is built around that kind of hard-earned advice. Not the fanciest. Not the rarest. Just 20 guns that keep getting recommended by shooters who already stepped in every pothole so you don’t have to.

1. Ruger 10/22 Carbine

If you only buy one gun to learn on, it’s tough to beat a basic 10/22. Cheap .22 LR makes practice realistic, and that matters more than whatever the internet says about “duty grade” anything. It’s also forgiving: light recoil, simple manual of arms, and it doesn’t punish you for flinching the way bigger calibers will.

Parts and magazines are everywhere. That’s not just a convenience thing—it’s the difference between a rifle you keep shooting for years and one that becomes a safe ornament because you can’t find what you need.

2. Marlin Model 60

The Model 60 is the “I should’ve never sold it” .22 for a lot of folks. It’s not flashy. The tube magazine isn’t as “modern” as a detachable box mag. But in the real world, it’s accurate, handy, and it just keeps doing its job.

It’s also a great reminder that you don’t need a pile of accessories to get good. A simple .22 rifle that feeds reliably will teach you more than any tacticool setup you’re scared to scratch.

3. Savage Mark II FV-SR

If you want to actually learn what accuracy is—and not just “minute of soda can”—a bolt-action .22 like the Mark II will do it. The little Savage has a reputation for punching above its price, and it shows the shooter their mistakes without beating them up.

This is the rifle that makes you slow down. Breathing, trigger press, follow-through. That skill carries over when you eventually step up to centerfire.

4. Glock 19

The Glock 19 is the most common “I didn’t want to admit it, but it works” handgun out there. It’s not romantic. It’s not a conversation piece. But it’s the size that fits the most people and the role that fits the most lives—range, home defense, and carry if you dress around it.

Magazines are easy to find, holsters are everywhere, and every gunsmith on earth knows them. For a beginner, that ecosystem matters.

5. Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact (9mm)

The M&P 2.0 Compact is what a lot of shooters end up buying after they tried something snappier, smaller, or “cooler” and hated practice. The grip texture is aggressive, the ergonomics fit a ton of hands, and it points naturally for many folks.

It’s also one of those pistols that can grow with you. You can run it simple, or you can add sights and a light later without reinventing your whole setup.

6. SIG Sauer P365

Plenty of people start with a tiny carry gun and then wonder why they can’t shoot it well. The P365 is the rare small pistol that doesn’t feel like a punishment. It’s still compact, still concealable, but it’s shootable enough that folks actually practice with it.

If you’re buying for concealed carry, the gun you will carry beats the gun you leave at home. The P365 is a strong answer to that problem.

7. Ruger SP101 (.357 Magnum)

There’s always a phase where somebody decides a revolver is “simpler.” Ask me how I know. The SP101 is the one that tends to treat beginners the best because it’s built like a brick and heavy enough to make .38 Special pleasant while still giving you the option of .357 later.

It’s not a high-capacity solution, and reloads take practice. But for a first wheelgun, it’s hard to pick a sturdier platform.

8. Smith & Wesson Model 686

If you’re going to buy one “nice” revolver and be done with it, the 686 has earned its reputation. The trigger is usually good, the gun is durable, and it soaks up recoil better than the smaller frames that new shooters often get talked into.

This is also one of those guns that makes range days fun again. When practice is enjoyable, you do more of it. That’s the whole game.

9. Ruger GP100

The GP100 is the revolver for the person who doesn’t baby equipment. It’s a workhorse. It’s a little chunky. It’s not trying to win a beauty contest. It’s trying to go bang every time and not loosen up after a steady diet of real loads.

For new shooters who want a revolver for the woods, a nightstand, or just because they like revolvers, the GP100 is a safe bet.

10. Mossberg 500

You can hunt birds, bust clays, and handle home defense with a Mossberg 500 if you set it up sensibly and learn it. It’s a common first shotgun for a reason: it’s affordable, rugged, and parts are easy to source.

It’s also a good teacher. Shotguns don’t reward sloppy mounting or daydreaming behind the sights. You either do your part or you miss.

11. Remington 870 (Wingmaster or Police)

The 870 is one of those guns that’s been in more trucks and behind more closet doors than most people realize. A good Wingmaster feels slick and solid in a way some newer budget pumps just don’t. The Police models are usually built to be used hard.

Just be honest: not every 870 on the rack is equal. The older, well-made ones are why this model keeps getting recommended by the folks who learned what “quality” feels like after they bought something cheaper first.

12. Beretta 1301 Tactical

Yes, it costs more than a pump. But the 1301 is the semi-auto shotgun that a lot of experienced shooters tell beginners to save for instead of buying two cheaper shotguns trying to “fix” the first mistake. It runs fast, recoils softly for what it is, and it’s reliable with sane ammo choices.

If your main goal is defensive use and you actually train, a good semi-auto can make you look like you know what you’re doing sooner. The key is still learning safe handling and getting reps.

13. Ruger American Rifle (various calibers)

The Ruger American is not fancy. The stock feels like a budget stock because it is. But these rifles shoot, and they hunt, and they don’t cost “new hunter with a mortgage” money. For a first deer rifle, that’s a big deal.

It’s also the kind of rifle you won’t be scared to scratch up in the brush. A hunting rifle should be a tool, not a museum piece.

14. Savage Axis II (with AccuTrigger)

There’s a reason so many first-time hunters show up at camp with an Axis. They’re affordable, they typically group better than they have any right to, and the AccuTrigger helps new shooters avoid the worst trigger mistakes.

The Axis also teaches a valuable lesson: you don’t have to spend a fortune to put venison in the freezer. Spend the extra money on ammo and range time.

15. Tikka T3x Lite

The T3x Lite is what experienced hunters recommend when they’re tired of watching beginners fight a rough bolt, a crunchy trigger, and random accuracy issues. The Tikka action is smooth, and that smoothness matters more than people admit when you’re working the bolt fast in the cold with gloves on.

It’s not the cheapest route, but it’s a rifle you can buy once and not feel the itch to “upgrade” after your second season.

16. Ruger American Ranch (5.56 or 7.62×39)

The Ranch model is the “keep it simple” rifle for the landowner and the practical shooter. It’s handy, usually accurate, and it carries easy. In a world where everything wants to be a 12-pound precision rig, a short, light bolt gun still makes a lot of sense.

It’s also a nice bridge between hunting and utility use. Coyotes, farm pests where legal, and general range time—this one covers ground.

17. Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II

When someone wants their first AR-15, they usually want something that runs without drama and doesn’t require a second job. The Sport II has been that rifle for a lot of shooters. It’s not built for internet bragging rights. It’s built to be shot.

Magazines and parts are standard, and that’s a big deal. Beginners don’t need a weird proprietary setup that turns every small issue into a scavenger hunt.

18. Ruger AR-556

The AR-556 is another “buy it, lube it, shoot it” option that keeps getting recommended by folks who tried to go too cheap or too weird and regretted it. It’s a straightforward rifle from a company that tends to support what it sells.

It’s also a good starting point because you can keep it basic. Too many new owners bolt on half a sporting goods aisle and never learn to run the rifle clean and consistent.

19. CZ 75B

Every group has a shooter who started on a tiny polymer pistol, couldn’t hit much with it, then tried a heavier steel gun and suddenly shot better. The CZ 75B is that lightbulb moment in handgun form. It’s comfortable, points well, and the weight helps most beginners keep the gun steady.

It’s not the easiest carry gun for most folks, but as a first “learn to shoot well” handgun, it earns its keep.

20. Ruger Security-9

The Security-9 is the handgun that gets recommended when somebody wants a no-nonsense 9mm that doesn’t drain the wallet. It’s simple, generally reliable, and sized in a way that works for a lot of hands without being a brick.

There are nicer pistols out there. But as a first purchase for a new shooter who needs something workable and wants to spend more time practicing than shopping, it’s a solid start.

The common thread in all of these isn’t brand loyalty or nostalgia. It’s that they’re guns you can feed, maintain, and live with. If you’re just starting out, buy something boring that works, buy ammo, get training if you can, and shoot it until you’re tired of hearing your own excuses. Then you’ll know what you actually want next.