{"id":5500,"date":"2020-07-13T16:24:46","date_gmt":"2020-07-13T16:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/?p=5500"},"modified":"2023-06-16T10:54:17","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T10:54:17","slug":"how-to-choose-a-gun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-a-gun\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Choose A Gun &#8211; A First-Timer&#8217;s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guest Writer: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/author\/kenzie\/\">Kenzie Fitzpatrick<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you\u2019ve decided to buy your first gun, you\u2019ve got to choose what gun to get. While it helps to ask others their opinions, you\u2019re going to get all sorts of recommendations on what your first gun should be. It\u2019s great to get feedback about certain firearms, but when going to buy your first gun, ask yourself the following questions. They&#8217;ll guide you through how to choose a gun that&#8217;ll be a good fit for your needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>What\u2019s The Purpose Of The Gun?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the first question you have to ask yourself before you buy your first gun. It\u2019s the foundational question to know what kind of gun you are looking for. For example, the purpose of a small, concealable handgun is very different from the purpose of a bolt action rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. Below are some examples of categories of guns that fill a specific purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Popular Gun Categories<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concealed Carry &#8211; Small, compact, concealed pistols that are known to run reliably<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Home Defense &#8211; Lightweight, pump-action 20 gauge shotguns, Short Barrel Rifles (300 Blackout or 5.56), Full-size pistols with night sights, flashlight or laser<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Competition &#8211; Fits the division requirements in the competition, easy to reload, highly accurate<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collecting &#8211; Antique revolvers, world war era rifles, low serial numbered firearm<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hunting &#8211; Rifle or shotgun chambered in the proper caliber to instantly kill the animal you are hunting for<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plinking\/Fun &#8211; Rimfire .22 rifles or pistols, pistol caliber carbines<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What About Ammo?<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_5528\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5528\" class=\"wp-image-5528 size-full\" title=\"macro photo of 9mm ammo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/BSS3620.jpg\" alt=\"a macro photo of 9mm ammo\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/BSS3620.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/BSS3620-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/BSS3620-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/BSS3620-790x527.jpg 790w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5528\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A gun isn&#8217;t very effective without ammo. Be sure to buy your practice ammo in bulk to save money.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specifically, is ammunition for the gun available or hard to find? <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the purpose of the firearm, at the minimum, two types of ammunition should be available for it; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/handgun\/9mm-ammo?ammo_use_type=1436\">hollow points<\/a> and full metal jackets. You\u2019ll want to use hollow points when hunting or concealed carrying. However, if you plan to shoot a lot at the range, full metal jacket ammunition is much cheaper for practicing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cost of ammunition may also be a factor when choosing what gun to buy. Even if the ammo is available, it\u2019s important that you can afford to buy large quantities to practice with. Hollow points are more expensive than target ammunition, but it\u2019s just as important to shoot hollow points through your gun as well to feel the difference and ensure the ammo pairs reliably with your gun.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the purpose of your firearm is for collecting and it is chambered in a rare round, this question may not be as important. However, expect the ammo to be hard to find. In some cases, you may look to purchase <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/reloading-supplies\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reloading supplies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to hand-load rounds that are specific to your new gun.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Is The Gun Comfortable To Handle?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This question should be for rifles, pistols, and shotguns alike. You never know until you try, so always try before you buy. One size gun does not fit all and without picking up the gun itself, it\u2019s hard to know whether or not it fits you and your hands. If you have small hands, read our blog post, \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/best-handgun-for-small-hands\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Best Handgun for Small Hands<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you live near a range that rents firearms to try before you buy your first gun, definitely take advantage of the opportunity to shoot as many as possible to see what guns fit your grip, shoulder, and more. A fully loaded gun weighs a lot more than an unloaded gun. If you aren\u2019t able to try before you buy, at least visit your local gun store to pick up and feel the guns you are interested in purchasing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>How to Choose A Gun<\/h2>\n<h3><strong>How Well Do You Manage The Recoil?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_5526\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5526\" class=\"wp-image-5526 size-full\" title=\"female instructor showing a student how to shoot at a gun range\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_2822.jpg\" alt=\"a photo of a female instructor showing a student how to shoot at a gun range\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_2822.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_2822-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_2822-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_2822-790x528.jpg 790w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5526\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pick a gun that&#8217;s comfortable and fun for you to shoot, otherwise, you&#8217;ll never want to practice with it.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may be able to grip the gun, but can you manage the recoil when the gun is fired? One of the most shocking differences to new shooters is how close the 9mm and .380 rounds are. While they\u2019re almost the exact same size, these two loads are not the same and pack a different punch. Without firing the gun in this situation, you won\u2019t know how well you can manage the recoil.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biggest tip I can give is to always say yes to shooting a gun if it\u2019s offered to you. Ask friends and family members that own firearms if they are willing to go to the range with you and shoot guns they have. If a firearm dealer or manufacturer sets up a demo day at your local range or gun store, go to the event and learn as much as you can about the guns they have. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There may be local or even regional instructors near you, sign up for classes and ask the instructor what guns they will be providing or allow you to shoot during the class. If you\u2019re interested in demoing something specific, see if the instructor has that firearm. It never hurts to ask when it comes to trying out guns you don\u2019t typically get to shoot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The worst gun you can buy is a gun you can\u2019t manage and don\u2019t feel comfortable shooting. You should look forward to the fun of shooting your new gun!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Buy Your First Gun: New Or Used?<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_5521\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5521\" class=\"wp-image-5521 size-full\" title=\"advertisement on how to not buy your first gun\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_3778-Web.jpg\" alt=\"a advertisement on how to not buy your first gun\" width=\"1024\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_3778-Web.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_3778-Web-300x244.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_3778-Web-768x625.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_3778-Web-790x643.jpg 790w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5521\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Not everything you see online is a good deal. Not everyone you meet online is an expert. Do your research, take your time, and choose the gun that&#8217;s right for you.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many first-time gun buyers are on a budget and are looking for market value deals instead of retail pricing. There&#8217;s nothing wrong with buying a used gun, however, they are a few things to look out for. Do you know and trust the seller? Even if you do, it&#8217;s not a bad idea to meet up at a gun range and test the weapon out before you buy it. Gunsmithing repairs can be expensive and time-consuming. Buying a broken gun could mean months of waiting to get it repaired.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beware of buying a dirty gun. If the previous owner didn&#8217;t take the time to clean the gun before selling it to you, there&#8217;s a good chance they never did any maintenance on it while they owned it. The gun could have a variety of issues due to improper care and storage, be on the lookout for <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rust\">rust or other signs of corrosion<\/a>. Don&#8217;t spend your hard-earned money to buy someone else&#8217;s problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The upsides of buying new? You may be paying a bit more, but you know exactly what you are getting for your money. Almost all new firearms come with a manufacturer&#8217;s warranty and guarantee against defects. Also, when you buy a new gun, you&#8217;re getting a firearm that&#8217;s never been registered to another owner. From a legal standpoint, buying new is a safe bet, you&#8217;re guaranteed a weapon that&#8217;s never been stolen or used in a crime.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Is There A Manufacturer\u2019s Warranty?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over time, things will break and unless you are a gunsmith\/armorer or know one, you may need to send the gun to someone who can fix it. Before you buy your first gun, you need to know everything there is about the manufacturer and their warranty. Look up how long the manufacturer has been making firearms, how long the firearm you\u2019re interested in purchasing has been produced, if there are any recalls on their firearms, and most importantly, what their warranty policy is as well as how long it is for.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first thing to look for in a warranty policy is if the policy is only good if you bought a brand new pistol or if it also covers used guns that have been transferred to multiple owners. If it\u2019s only good for the original owner of the firearm, you may think twice before purchasing a used gun. The second thing to look for is if the warranty is good for a certain term. Some companies may offer a 1-year warranty while others may include a lifetime guarantee. The last thing is to find the policy section that covers what they will not be responsible for so there are no expectations if you make a mistake when using your firearm or for blemishes created by you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Are Aftermarket Parts And Gear Available For The Gun?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_5524\" style=\"width: 884px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5524\" class=\"wp-image-5524 size-large\" title=\"a variety of ridiculous gun accessory memes \" src=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/WRS-Weapons-Accesories-874x1024.jpg\" alt=\"a photo of a variety of ridiculous gun accessory memes \" width=\"874\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/WRS-Weapons-Accesories-874x1024.jpg 874w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/WRS-Weapons-Accesories-256x300.jpg 256w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/WRS-Weapons-Accesories-768x900.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/WRS-Weapons-Accesories-674x790.jpg 674w, https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/WRS-Weapons-Accesories.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 874px) 100vw, 874px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5524\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Make sure there are plenty of aftermarket accessories available for the gun you choose. Unless you&#8217;re really, really good at fabricating your own.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If we go back to the purpose of the gun, the gun may not be as important as the aftermarket parts available for the gun. For example, If you\u2019re looking at concealed carry handguns, make sure there are holsters designed for it. It may also be important to know if the holster can accommodate night sights, laser attachments, and even spare magazines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before deciding to buy your first gun, begin with the end in mind of what you want your complete gun set up to look like. This will help determine if the gun you\u2019re looking at purchasing will be able to offer everything you want. There&#8217;s nothing worse than buying a gun, only to find out that you can&#8217;t use it the way you need for it to work!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another example is if you\u2019re interested in mounting an optic like a red dot on the firearm you purchased. It\u2019s important to know if you can mount it onto your new rifle, pistol, or shotgun. Pistols without tac rails won\u2019t be able to mount flashlights and some lasers onto them. Rifles that come with iron sights built into the upper won\u2019t be able to swap out iron sights without machining them off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you make your first gun purchase, always budget for additional accessories. You need at least two spare magazines and a holster (if it\u2019s a pistol). Also, consider aftermarket sights if the gun comes with sights that are not easy for you to see or align. Adding an optic, whether it\u2019s a red dot or a rifle scope, can be a wise decision as well. Your new gun budget may be a set price, but when you think about your end set up, there may be other costs that you&#8217;ll need to include.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Opinions On Buying Your First Gun<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Going to buy your first gun is not a decision to make overnight. It\u2019s also not a decision others can make for you. While doing your research on firearms, if you ask people for opinions, recognize them as opinions only. Listen and take away knowledge that will help influence the right decision. Don&#8217;t feel any pressure to buy something just because someone else likes it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Someone may tell you the recoil management on a gun is easy, and it may be for them. However, it may not be true for you. Their opinion is not necessarily a true fact, but rather an observation based on their experience. Find resources that are trusted and do your own research until you feel comfortable making a purchasing decision.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Opinions can be helpful in the decision-making process. If someone provides you with a list of accessories or aftermarket parts available for a gun you are interested in, that may make your decision easier. Maybe you want to know if a specific ammo type runs well in a gun you want to buy? Talking to other owners about their experiences is a great idea. Be confident in your first gun purchase and be sure to practice shooting it at least once a month.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Guest Writer: Kenzie Fitzpatrick Now that you\u2019ve decided to buy your first gun, you\u2019ve got to choose what gun to get. While it helps to ask others their opinions, you\u2019re going to get all sorts of recommendations on what your first gun should be. It\u2019s great to get feedback about certain firearms, but when going [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":5523,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[395],"tags":[645,641,405,640,642,646,643,644,568,12],"class_list":["post-5500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-self-defense","tag-ammunition","tag-buying-a-gun","tag-concealed-carry","tag-first-gun","tag-home-defense","tag-how-to-choose-a-gun","tag-revolver","tag-rifle","tag-self-defense","tag-shotgun"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How To Choose A Gun - A First-Timer&#039;s Guide to Getting A Good Firearm<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Now that you\u2019ve decided to buy your first gun, you\u2019ve got to decide what gun to get. 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