7 Important Things to Consider Before Buying a Gun

While gun ownership had become a rather divisive topic in politics today, the fact remains that owning a gun responsibly can be a highly positive experience. From enjoying recreational activities such as target shooting and hunting, to practical purposes such as for the protection of you, your loved ones, and your family, a gun can be a necessary thing to have. 

Every year, there are millions of Americans who become first-time gun owners. If you are considering buying your own for the first time, here are a few important things to consider before buying a gun.

1. What Will Be the Main Purpose of the Firearm?

At any gun shop, you will be presented with a massive list of choices to choose from. Many first-time buyers tend to get easily overwhelmed by it and end up taking home a gun that they later regret. 

Before going to the shop, think carefully about what will be the primary purpose of owning the weapon. For self-defense, a compact pistol or revolver would be your best bet as it can easily be concealed and taken out quickly in tense situations. And, in the case of home defense, a reliable shotgun is always a favorite. But, if you wish to pursue hunting as a hobby, a rifle would probably be the best choice. 

There are pros and cons to every gun type and make, plus a wide range of accessories to choose from to make their utility even more specialized. Decide specifically what your wants are, do your research and ask around; likely you will stumble upon a choice that is just perfect one for you.

2. Can You Keep Your Gun Safe? 

Guns are deadly weapons that are designed to take lives and any responsible gun owner needs to make sure that their weapon is safely tucked away when not in use to prevent the risk of unfortunate accidents. 

Before buying a gun, make arrangements and plans to ensure that it remains out of reach from your kids and any irresponsible individual. Talk to your people in your home about proper gun safety. Precaution and awareness can help save lives!

3. Taking Gun Safety and Shooting Classes 

Half of all accidental injuries are self-inflicted. Although gun training classes are not a requirement in the majority of jurisdictions for owning a gun, it is highly recommended that you take one to mitigate the risk of any unfortunate mishaps later. 

Plus, the knowledge you will gain from the classes is something you can pass on to your kids and loved ones as well to quickly get them comfortable with shooting responsibly. 

4. Buying the Right Gear 

Many guns produce more than just a loud bang when you shoot them. Pieces of hot metal or even shells can fly at you and risk injury, especially for your eyes. First-time gun owners should consider buying a good pair of shooting earmuffs and goggles and plenty of ammo as a bare minimum. 

5. Understand that Owing Guns is Expensive 

Guns are a fairly expensive thing to own and maintain. Purchasing a gun is the start of your expenses. Things like ammo, targets, gun accessories, gun safe, safety or hunting gear and membership at a gun range or club are all stuff that costs money and adds to a considerable amount if you do the math. And then, there is also the potential expense in terms of servicing and repairs that are required to keep your gun operating optimally. 

Before buying a gun, don’t just consider the list price but also the potential ‘running’ cost of its ownership. Make a budget and ask the gun shopkeeper or a friend who is a gun expert on the potential costs of owning different guns. This will allow you to make a more informed decision on which gun will be the best for your choice given your budget. 

6. Don’t Buy Too Much Caliber 

A gun’s recoil is no joke and if you cannot comfortably shoot a gun with a certain caliber, consider buying one with a lower caliber. An unwieldy gun can not only be useless due to loss of accuracy but also dangerous due to the higher risk of potential injuries and mishaps, not just to you but also innocent bystanders as well. A .44 Magnum revolver may look ’badass’ but you buy a gun for the purpose of shooting, not showing off. 

Before buying your first gun, consider heading to the shooting range and rent a few different caliber guns to try your hand at shooting them. Gauge which caliber guns you are most comfortable with. Don’t be embarrassed if it’s only a very small caliber. Trust us; a .22 mm in the right hands can be far more deadly than a shotgun in hands that can’t wield them. 

On an additional note to first-time buyers, consider choosing a gun featuring a common caliber, this will help you save on a lot of hassle and expense later on. 

7. Stick to New Guns 

Buying an old gun may be tempting as they are listed at prices that are often far below those of brand new ones. However, understand the risk of doing so. There could be a lot of different issues with a used gun that the seller may not tell you about and your untrained eye won’t notice. Furthermore, these issues if not resolved could result in even bigger and costlier problems later on, potentially even making the gun inoperable and thus of little more use than deadweight. 

In addition, most new firearms come with a manufacturer’s warranty, so if something does go wrong, it will be fixed or replaced at the manufacturer’s expense. 

We hope you enjoyed reading this article and found the information provided by it to be useful. What was the first gun that you brought? We’d love to hear in the comments below.