Owning a firearm is a simple yes or no decision in the large scheme of things, but when deciding on the perfect weapon that suits you and the purpose you need it for, you need to go the extra mile for your gun shopping experience.
To make your weapon shopping an exciting adventure, ensure you look around before you settle for the perfect firearm. In fact, you may need a checklist. Call it a due diligence list, but it is pretty essential, and below is a highlight of what your inventory should consider beyond a reasonable doubt before you pay for that gun.
What Is The Purpose of the Gun?
There is always a driving force behind every action or inaction. Therefore, it is crucial for you to be honest about your true intentions of owning a gun because all guns do not serve the same purpose. Are you buying the gun for defense and security purposes, range practice, hunting, occupational requirements, recreational shooting, or as part of a collector’s piece?
First-time gun owners who do not have experience in firing a gun should be clear on the purpose of the gun before they start gun-shopping. This way, they understand beforehand that their fantasy of owning a shotgun is not workable if they need the firearm as an occupational requirement or for defense purposes, as only handguns work best for such needs.
Ease of Maintenance
The same way we have high maintenance equipment is how we have high maintenance guns too, so make it a priority to be conversant with gun care routines before buying it. A well-cleaned and lubricated firearm is more effective and reduces jamming, but not all guns are built in the same way.
During your research on gun care routines, you may notice that the glocks, HKs, and sigs come right apart quickly and are very low maintenance guns, so if you want to choose the correct handgun-based maintenance and care, you can decide among these three.
Grip Size and Weight
Your firearm should fit the kind of person you are, so opt for a gun, you can hold without it feeling too heavy. Choose comfortability above concealable firearms. It is not a secret that revolvers are heavy and do not make a well-concealed weapon compared to semi-automatic pistols. One thing you should consider is how good the grip feels in your hand.
To determine the weight of your preferred gun or if the grip is perfect for your hands, experts usually recommend that you pay for a membership at a shooting range and try out these guns. That way, it gives you the ability to make informed decisions on your gun choice.
Safety Selection, Recoil, and Caliber
For a first-time gun owner, it is essential to consider the safety selection of a gun. Having a gun means you need to be cautious, especially when you have a terrible aim, so you wouldn’t end up hurting yourself, or someone else is handling the gun. It would help if you considered guns that have a thumb, trigger, and grip safety as they offer utmost protection and make you feel safe when you are holding a gun.
If you lack experience in handling a gun before deciding to buy one, it will be in your best interest to try out several firearms at the range to determine how much recoil your body can handle when you are firing a gun.
This will make it easier when you want to choose a preferred firearm. Not only that, caliber options are also a sensitive part of selecting a gun. If you are using the gun for reduced risk activities, you can choose a weapon with a low-caliber option and vice-versa.
Reliability, Availability, and Budget
It is in your best interest to choose a reliable weapon, so endeavor to ask questions about the durability of various firearms. Which is a more effective gun choice for your purpose, a stainless steel or polymer frame gun? These are practical questions that will make you narrow down to the right choice. Then, the availability of the gun, bullets, and other accessories should be another practical issue that should determine your gun choice.
Not only that, your budget is a massive determinant of securing the right gun. This is instrumental to whether you can afford a new or used gun.
Having a gun is usually a matter of choice, but owning the right rifle for the true purpose is typically a matter of practical and well-informed decision-making. So go for it, and get whatever you desire.
