Getting a better grip on things
I must admit that I have my preferences when it comes to handguns and rifles, but I realize because I like something more than another, it doesn’t mean that they are functionally better. I’m aware of dust tests on firearm where one beats out another, but for non-military endurance levels, most of what I normally handle is in the top tier. Firearm maintenance is another area that people don’t like to venture into, because some people seem to think that just because it’s got a good reputation for being reliable means it’s always going to work for them. Tools break, operators can abuse, and climate and enviroment can have an impact on your weapons, but when it comes to proficiency with the firearm, customization is something I strongly encourage.
I took a family member to the range to get them to try out 9 handguns. Everything from 38 Special, 9mm, 40 S&W, 45acp and 357 Magnum. Some of the 9mms I used were the same guns, but with different sights and different grips. Novice shooters tend to not notice the slight differences in the guns and just think that because it has different pistol grips, it’s a different gun. I had Factory grips on a Sig 226 and Hogue grips on another, and yet another one had the Hogue Grips with the finger grooves. It turned out that this new shooter preferred the finger grooves on the Sig 226, but didn’t realize she was shooting basically the same firearm the whole time. One had night sights which she didn’t care for because they didn’t work too well during the day. I wonder which one she would have picked if we were shooting in low light?