So it is time to buy a new pistol or even your first, but where to begin? The first time is a little intimidating and for those of you who have bought a few that memory of the first time may or may not be a pleasant memory. I’m not sure what it is about gun stores and the people who work there, but they are usually not known for their great customer service skills. This can be quite the turn off and very intimidating for someone who is just starting out. I am not going to write an entire story of the steps involved in making the correct purchase of your pistol, but I want to point out a few things to think about. First, are you a responsible person who should own a firearm? Sounds like a silly question, but I assure you it is not. To quote the NRA guide, The Basics of Pistol Shooting, “While gun ownership is a Constitutionally-guaranteed right, there are still those who lack the maturity, emotional stability, or willingness to accept the responsibility of gun ownership. Anyone who recognizes this in him or herself, and chooses not to own a firearm, should be commended for their responsible decision”. With that said, I think the number one mistake that I see is the, “My Brother, Mother, Father, Uncle, Cousin local Police Officer whomever… said this is the best gun ever made and that it is the one I should buy”, scenario. The other is this, “I have read all of the gun forums, the consumer reports, and the gun magazines. I have researched this very thoroughly and now I know this is the very best gun for me and I am buying it today”, scenario. Advice from others is a good thing and research is a wonderful thing, but that is not the sole reason to buy YOUR gun. I bolded the word YOUR to emphasize the fact that this is a very personal decision. It is a physically personal decision. One model of gun does not fit all and does not necessarily shoot well for all. You may buy that gun that all of the T.V. shows and magazines are raving about to find that you cannot hit the side of a barn with it, because it does not fit your grip well and your trigger pull is off, but it works great for your significant other and friends. Here are some things to think about: 1. What is the purpose of the firearm? Is there a single clear cut reason for the pistol? In other words are you marksmanship target shooting, action sport (e.g. U.S.P.S.A) shooting, home self-defense or concealed carry self-defense? The purpose will impact the size, the action type and the caliber to name a few, but very importantly it can affect the safety mechanism choices to be made. Different pistols have different safety mechanisms, such as manual safety levers, magazine disconnectors, grip safeties, and even key operated action locks. 2. NOW do that all-encompassing research and even talk to your know it all neighbor and get an idea of what you would like to TRY. 3. That’s right I said TRY. Go to the gun store and hold each of your choices to see how they feel. How large is it, how heavy is it, can you easily work the functions of the pistol. 4. Consider the cost of the pistol. To cheap can, but not always, mean poor quality. There is no one right price that fits all, but you should think about the effect on your budget and the quality of the pistol. There are many lower priced pistols that are great, but some are poor quality. Do your research. 5. What about after-market products? Some have a lot available and others hardly any. You will want after-market products, whether you realize it now or not. 6. The last point I will make is to take the time to shoot the pistol before your buy the pistol if possible. Depending on where you live, this may not be an option; however, many places have gun ranges or gun stores who will actually rent you a pistol by the hour. This does not mean you can take it out for a test drive… But you can shoot it in their range. If that option is available to you, then by all means take advantage. In fact, you should also try a few of the ones you ruled out. For example, many people are turned off by revolvers or semi-auto pistols because of their “recommendations from others” or their research. But you may be pleasantly surprised to find that the revolver is actually the best for you on the range and fits the purpose you chose it for too. I highly recommend that you do not go through this process alone if this is your first time buying. Reach out to a professional for help with the process and also take a class. Our NRA- Basic Pistol Shooting course has an entire lesson on this topic, including the maintenance and care of your pistol; In addition, we are also available to help you through the process and our level one class, First step Pistol Orientation is for the first time gun buyer who would like training on their new pistol, that includes its operation, maintenance and care too. Thanks for visiting the site.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 13:56:14 +0000
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