Now that you have decided to purchase your first firearm, you have to pick what firearm to get. While it helps a lot to ask other people with tons of knowledge and experience when it comes to handling guns about their opinions, you are going to get a lot of recommendations on what your first firearm should be. 

It is an excellent idea to get more feedback about certain guns, but individuals need to ask themselves the following questions when purchasing their first weapon. These questions will guide first-time buyers through picking the right piece that will be an excellent fit for their needs.

To know more about the history of gunpowder, click here for more details.

What is the purpose of the firearm?

It is the first question people need to ask themselves before they purchase their first piece. It is a foundational question to know the type of gun an individual is looking for. For instance, the purpose of a concealable and small handgun is pretty different from the purpose of bold action rifles chambered in six-point five Creedmoor. Listed below are examples of categories of firearms that fill a certain purpose.

Concealed carry – A compact, small, and concealed pistol that is known to be very reliable.

Home defense – Pump-action 20-gauge shotguns, full-size pistols with sights, lasers, flashlights, short-barrel rifles like 5.56 or 300 Blackout.

Competition – It fits the division requirement when it comes to competitions. It is easy to reload and highly accurate.

Collection – World War era guns, antique revolvers, and low serial numbered weapons.

Recreational activities – Rifles or shotguns chambered in proper calibers to instantly kill animals, individuals are hunting for.

Fun or plinking – Pistols, Rimfire .22 caliber rifles, or pistol-caliber carbines.

How revolvers are made? Visit http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Revolver.html for details.

What about ammunition?

Is ammo for guns readily available or pretty hard to find? Depending on the weapon’s purpose, at the minimum, two kinds of ammo should be readily available for it – full-metal jackets or hollow-point bullets. People will want to use hollow-point bullets when carrying a concealed gun or hunting. 

But if the person is planning to shoot at the range, full metal jacket ammo is a lot cheaper for practicing. The cost of bullets may also be a huge factor when picking what type of weapon to purchase. Even if the ammunition is readily available, it is very important that people can afford to purchase considerable quantities to practice with. Hollow-point bullets are more expensive compared to target bullets, but it is just as important to shoot hollow-point ammo through the gun as well to help feel the difference and make sure the bullet pairs reliably with the weapon. 

If the purpose of the gun is for collecting and it is appropriately chambered in rare rounds, the question may not be pretty imperative. But expect the ammunition to be tough to find. In some cases, people may look to buy reloading supplies to hand-load bullet rounds that are particular to the new weapon.

Is the weapon comfortable to handle?

This question needs to be for pistols, shotguns, and rifles alike. People never know until they try. That is why individuals always try before they purchase a weapon. One size firearm does not fit all, and without holding the firearm itself, it is pretty hard to know whether or not if the piece fits the user’s hands. 

If the person is living near a shooting range that rents guns to try before they purchase their first piece or know a gun dealer, they need to take advantage of the opportunity to shoot as much as possible to see what type of firearm fits their shoulder, grip, and more. A fully loaded firearm weighs a lot more compared to an unloaded gun. If the person is not able to try before their purchase, at least visit the local firearm shop to pick up and feel the weapon they are interested in buying.

Choosing a weapon

How well do people manage the recoil? Individuals may be able to grip a gun, but can they manage the firearm’s recoil when it is fired? One shocking difference to first-time shooters is how close the nine-millimeter and .380 caliber rounds are. While these two are almost the same size, they are not the same and pack a pretty different punch. In this situation, shooters will not know how well they can control the recoil without firing the piece. 

The best tip experts can give first-time shooters is to say yes to test the weapon if it is offered to them. Ask family members or friends that own guns if they are more than willing to go to the firing range with you and try some of their guns. If manufacturers or dealers set up demonstrations at the nearest firing range or firearms shop, people need to go to these events and learn as much as they can about the weapons they have.