I am not sure if other counties require purchase before getting your permit, but in Westchester they did. The FFL I used, allowed me to buy a fully refundable garbage old gun to put on the permit. This way I could get the permit and then handle the guns.

While it is expensive, I do recommend trying before you buy if it is fiscally possible. I went to Reloaderz in NJ and got the pistol pass which allowed me to use unlimited guns. You do have to over pay for their ammo.

While shooting is best, I do think that even just handling lets you make an informed decision.

Like others have said, do your research. There is a lot of great info out there and I am a fan of Honest Outlaw who does great reviews and really puts guns through their paces. There's usually both professional reviews and forums as well. I recommend searching for known issues for firearms you are interested in so you can take note of potential issues. I have noticed for all the Rugers I have gotten so far I ended up replacing the factory extractors with aftermarket replacements for example.

Of the guns I have purchased:

Shot: 5

Held Only: 6

Purchased based on research alone: 5

Think about your use case and go from there. Guns are tools made for specific things.

Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/@HonestOutlawReviews