How Can You Buy Your First Firearm?

Whether you are an expert or a novice about guns owning a firearm for the very first time, it is quite exciting as well as nerve-racking. But there are a lot of questions that circle your head when you think of buying your first gun, there are indeed several factors that you need to look out for to make this exciting journey even more fulfilling. Let’s explore ways to ensure this process goes seamlessly for you.

Do Your Homework

Walking into a gun shop for the first time ever is like a kid standing in a candy shop. Looking at so many magnificent firearms and deciding which one you want. Everything seems like a thrill. But before you even think about picking one you must know the purpose of the gun. Why do you need one? What would you use it for? What’s its use in the long run? You need to set such goals for your firearm purchase before anything. Usually, the gun you pick depends on what you plan to use it for, such as:

• Protecting your family or home security
• Going hunting
• Going target shooting at an indoor or outdoor range
• Going for skeet shooting
• Starting a gun collection as an investment or for show purposes

What Are The Firearms Available For You?

Once you have set your mind on what you are going to use your firearm for, it’s time to decide what are the best options you can choose from. Let us discuss some of these great options for you.

Handguns/Pistols

If you want a handy firearm, then this is your pick. Handguns or pistols are small with shorter barrels. They have great accuracy because of the rifling within its thick barrel built to withstand greater pressure. Because these guns are smaller than the others, they’re handy, lighter in weight to carry, and much convenient to shoot with one hand if need be. These excel at shielding, safeguarding, and target practice.

Shotguns

Fond of skeet shooting? Then here is your best pick. Shotguns, by their very nature, have long and smooth barrels unlike rifles that make bullet spin. Since the barrel of the shotgun is thinner compared to a handgun it cannot handle as much pressure. These pieces are perfect for your skeet and bird shooting adventures.

Rifles

If you are planning for long-range hunting and looking for a firearm suitable for that, a rifle is the one for you. It has an extended, rifled barrel with thick exteriors which could bear high pressures. A rifle is quite accurate which is something you can’t say for a shotgun. Rifles can be used for long range shooting which makes it perfect for both hunting as well as target practice.

Semi-Automatic Rifles

Semi-automatic, as the name suggests, is a rifle that self-loads and repeats to automatically load a fresh round after every shot. You see, unlike a fully automated firearm, this particular rifle requires a manual trigger launch and subsequent resetting of the sear and hammer before you can pull the trigger to fire off another round.

Learn About the Firearm Law in Your State

Now that you have decided which firearm you want to go for, it becomes very important to know the gun laws that are practiced in your nation and municipality. It’s not always unanimous for one firearm to be legal everywhere. The firearm regulations vary from state to state and country to country.

It is imperative to not violate any gun laws when purchasing for the sole purpose of safeguarding your household and loved ones. This is particularly applicable in the United States, where the issuance of carry permits is determined by each state. Open carry and concealed carry are the two ways that firearms are carried. Although some states allow open carry either with or without a permit.

1. Constitutional carry or unrestricted carry, which is permitted without a license. Starting February 12, 2021, individuals of legal age who are not prohibited from owning a firearm can now confidently conceal a loaded weapon in 17 states without obtaining a permit. The states that are included in this list are Arizona, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Arkansas, South Dakota, Idaho, Missouri, Kansas, Maine, Alaska, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Utah (starting May 5, 2021), West Virginia, Vermont, and specifically for residents, Wyoming, and North Dakota.

2. Shall issue where you must comply with the legal requirements of your state in order to be granted the necessary permit.

3. Where a permit is necessary, yet it is highly challenging to be approved for the permit.

Going to a Gun Shop

After familiarizing yourself with the type of gun you wish to purchase and understanding the regulations in your state, you are equipped to embark on your gun-shopping journey. That doesn’t mean all your questions have been answered. No trouble, most good gun shops have skilled and knowledgeable employees who are happy to answer any questions you would possibly still have as a first-time gun owner. Before investing in your first firearms, you might want to visit a gun store and rent the various models you’re interested in.

Try It Before You Buy It

Just as you test drive a car before buying it, firearm testing is just as important. Why buy one without even testing it. To finally take a firearm home is a long process, so might want to try it at least before anything. If it’s available for rent and fire testing out somewhere at a range, nothing better.

But at the very least, you should follow a few steps to decide whether the firearm you are thinking about is the perfect one for you.

• Try holding the gun to feel how it feels.
• Try to compare this feel with other guns too
• Also make sure that the weapon is not too heavy for your hand
• Hold the gun’s grip real tight to test its effectiveness
• Be cautious while testing it
• Keep your finger away from the trigger guard
• Test the gun’s safety switch by turning it on and off

To avoid the trouble of controlling it, make sure the pistol is not too big or heavy for your hand. To avoid wasting time when you need to take a shot quickly, you also want to be able to rapidly turn the safety on and off.

A firearm’s trigger action will affect how it loads, locks, fires, extracts, and ejects when the trigger is pulled, so take this into account as well. Typical triggers include:

• Pump action
• Single action
• Double action/single action
• Lever action
• Double action Only
• Repeating actions
• Bolt action
• Automatic
• Semi-automatic