Your First Gun and You

One of the first questions anyone will make once they reach that point is: What gun do I need? This is not answered easily and the answer varies from person to person. There are certain rules of thumb a firearms trainer can give you when you are about to buy your first (or second etc) weapon. Of course there is a lot to be learned from books and magazines, but nothing beats sheer experience. This is what this article is all about.

It is best to make this a five step process, so that you can focus correctly on the important points of buying your very first weapon. This method might not be absolutely sure fire for everyone, since some of us have very different specifications, but most who follow these rules end up pleased by the advice.

Never forget that what you really expect from your weapon above all is reliability, so that it won’t break down when you need it, and comfort, so that you can use it when you need it without pain and trouble.

The Five Steps to Follow When Buying Your Own Gun

This is how you should go at it:

Step 1: Think a lot about what the use of your weapon will be. Is this a weapon to protect yourself with? Do you want a weapon for hunting? Is it a weapon you need for work? Depending on the use of your weapon you will want different sized calibers. Home protection uses larger calibers than a concealed weapon for instance.

Step 2: Think about the Caliber you want. The use of your weapon will determine partly what caliber you get, but remember that there are other reasons to choose your Caliber correctly. For instance women prefer smaller than 9mm calibers, so that they can handle them easier, while men rarely get anything smaller than 9mm. This of course depends on what every individual can handle.

Step 3: Find the Manufacturers that please you. It is good to have a whole list with the manufacturers you would potentially buy from. Weigh the pros and the cons of each weapon. You can compare costs and utility and find the weapon you want. Having a list will prevent you from buying something flimsy in a hurry. Here are a few manufacturers that make it onto most lists: Colt, Glock, S&W, SigSauer, Ruger, Kimber, Springfield, H&K and many more.

Step 4: Feel your gun. This step is extremely important. You absolutely have to test the grip of your gun before you purchase it. Ask to hold the weapon you might potentially buy. Make sure that you let the salesperson know that you want to test the grip on many weapons and that you aren’t set on buying anything specific at that time. Don’t get talked into buying a weapon, even if the manufacturer is on your list. Make sure that no matter the manufacturer’s reputation you will test your gun for comfort first.

Step 5: Find a bargain. Some stores will raise costs and you can find good deals online sometimes. If you chose to buy a used gun then you absolutely have to check the quality and wear of the weapon. Make sure used guns are cleaned and oiled, also look for wear marks by taking the slide off. If they told you the weapon has only gone through 100 rounds but you can clearly see wear marks inside the barrel, then you know that the seller is not being honest with you. In such cases it is best to look elsewhere for a bargain.

A few more Tips

Let’s say that you went through all steps and still aren’t sure what gun you want. It is a very good idea to find a place where they rent guns and let you use them on a range. This way you might even get to fire your potential new buy and then you can really tell if you like that type of weapon or not. Just remember that rental guns are usually very used and not well maintained, so your opinion of a weapon should not solely depend on the use of a rental gun.

Be sure you don’t choose the Caliber only depending on your body size and strength. Large calibers come with lighter guns and they might make you a slower and less precise shooter. This is why you might choose a caliber smaller than what you can handle, just to add more user comfort.

Make sure you train your shooting often. When a serious situation comes up you can’t just depend on your weapon to do everything for you. You have to train your muscles to remember the movement and your eyes to know how to aim quickly. Do not laze about in the range either. Train situations where you need your gun swiftly in an emergency. This way you will be much better prepared when you actually will need your weapon as protection.

Generally this guide has helped many people be very satisfied with the first weapon they purchased. It is not foolproof and it is good to have someone experienced help you along the way if you have that luxury. If not, chances are you will do just fine by following this guide’s steps and tips.