USA Carry recently published an article titled “5 Best Guns For The First-Time Gun Owner.” Its audience was, apparently, those considering their first gun purchase. Before listing five guns, the article started off with “About to become a first-time gun owner? Someone you know wants to buy their first? What are the best guns to look at? Some are good choices, and some are not. Ideally, a person’s first gun will be reliable, accurate, reasonably affordable, reasonably easy to learn to shoot well and will also have a relatively uncomplicated manual of arms. Easy to buy, easy to shoot, and easy to learn. It’s also a good idea to avoid exotic calibers.”
Now, bless their hearts for trying, but they left a whole lot out of the first gun purchase matrix. We’re going to try to fill in the gaps, so let’s get to it.
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Welcome back to the podcast. I hope you had a safe and happy Thanksgiving especially if you traveled. We stayed home and contentedly stuffed ourselves until we succumbed to the food coma. Before we begin, on a personal note thanks for listening. Seriously, if it weren’t for people like you I’d just be blathering into the ether for no apparent reason. In the old days, they’d institutionalize people for that.
So, first gun advice. Of all the areas of guns and shooting, the most amount of horrifically bad advice I’ve heard comes from someone asking what their first gun should be. If you’re listening to this, you’ve doubtlessly already crossed the Rubicon and have at least one gun. But if you have a friend or relative who is considering getting their first gun, and they’ve come to you for advice because you’re a “gun guy or gal”, let me help you help them. Since they figure that gun ownership has imbued you with all the wisdom of John Browning, let’s not do anything to shatter that illusion.
To maintain the aura of being a master of gun-fu, there are a few things you need to avoid. For instance, saying anything the infamous gun counter guy would say will cause your prestige to evaporate faster than a politician’s promise the day after an election. If you’ve ever been present at a big box store gun counter and listened to the gun counter guy talking to a prospective customer, just hearing the wrong things he is saying becomes a protracted carnival of misery.
Case in point, a few years ago Mrs. Pirate and I were in a sporting goods store perusing the gun counter. At the time she was carrying a Kahr PM9 and was interested in the Kimber Solo. This was back in the day before Kimber’s quality control slid down the toilet. She was about to ask the gun counter guy if she could look at a Solo when he told her he had exactly the gun she needed. He then produced a brightly colored revolver. It was at this point I stepped back, wishing I had a bag of popcorn. As Mrs. Pirate destroyed his pro-revolver argument as the perfect carry gun for her point by point, a manly tear of pride rolled down my cheek. So egregious was the guy’s reasoning that, when he tried to enlist the aid of another gun counter guy, the one he was trying to drag into the conversation just kind of slid away. So, don’t be the gun counter guy.
Research is key. Today with the total of human knowledge at your fingertips it’s so much easier to determine what gun meets your criteria than back when human beings had to reap information from paper like primitive savages. Hopefully, whoever is asking you for advice has already conducted some research and has a rough idea of what they should be looking for. But be prepared to do some teaching in the event they are coming to you cold, or have horribly misinterpreted what they have read. This interaction and their subsequent purchase will determine if you’re adding another responsible, engaged gun owner to the fold or if they find shooting to be uncomfortable or frustrating.
There are several things you have to know before you recommend a particular type of gun when helping a first-time gun buyer. The USA Carry article lists five guns. But what were the criteria they used to determine those particular guns? When you read the article, you’ll see they list some of the pros and cons of each gun, and in some cases what they are suited for. That’s great for a quick and dirty article, but it doesn’t really help the potential new gun buyer.
If you really want to be a help, you have to nail down a few things so you know what parameters will guide your recommendation.
Consider the individual's level of experience with firearms. Has the individual ever handled or shot a gun before? Novices may benefit from starting with a simpler, user-friendly firearm. My personal preference for a new shooter's first gun is a single action rimfire revolver for a handgun, a single shot bolt action rimfire rifle or a single shot twenty gauge shotgun for those inclined to long guns. These emphasize gun handling and make the firing of every shot a deliberate action. But these aren’t the right first guns for everyone.
Once you determine how comfortable and capable the new shooter is going to be with different types of guns you’ll need to determine the primary purpose of the firearm. Is it for self-defense, sport shooting, hunting, or a combination of these? Be prepared for unreasonable expectations as everyone, me included, wants that one gun that will do everything. Let them know that only one of these guns exist, and Bigfoot owns it. You may need to explain how certain guns are made for certain uses. For instance, let them know that while you can technically shoot skeet with a rifle, you’re probably not going to hit many so a shotgun would be a better choice.
Establish a budget for the purchase. While quality is essential, there are various options available at different price points. Explain to them that there will be costs beyond the gun and ammunition. Have them set realistic dollar amounts for cleaning kits and supplies, holsters, magazines or speedloaders and pouches for them, a lockbox for their vehicle, and any other gear and support equipment their intended use of the gun may entail.
Once you have the basic information, what type of guns they’d be comfortable with, the purpose of the gun, and their budget, you can make a recommendation as far as the type of gun to get. You don’t want to fall into the trap of recommending specific guns. What works for you may be one hundred eighty degrees off what would work for them.
Recommend a functional type, and explain why you’re recommending it. For instance, “you would probably be best served with a revolver as the manual of arms is very simple, you don’t need a lot of ammunition capacity, and they’re reliable.” This is where your recommendation should end. Once you’ve made it, give them some additional considerations to help them in their buying journey.
Tell them to choose a firearm from a reputable manufacturer known for producing reliable and durable firearms. A dependable gun is crucial for safety and functionality. This is especially true if they plan on using the gun for defense. Read reviews and seek recommendations from model owners or professionals to gather insights into the performance of different firearms. If the firearm will be carried, consider the availability of holsters and how comfortably the gun can be carried in different situations.
Look for firearms with safety features such as manual safeties, trigger safeties, and other mechanisms that enhance safety during handling and storage. Consider the availability and cost of ammunition for the chosen caliber. Common calibers are usually easier to find and less expensive.
Let’s take a quick break while I tell you where to get your next leather item, be it a holster, mag pouch, or equestrian accessory.
[PARKER’S CUSTOM LEATHER COMMERCIAL]
Once they have a few models in mind, it’s time to get their hands on them. Being able to shoot a specific model of gun before you buy it is a beautiful thing, but unfortunately, it’s not available to everyone. Where I am we’re fortunate in that there are a couple of gun shops/indoor ranges nearby that have great selections of rental guns. One that I especially recommend if you’re in the Greenville, South Carolina area is City Arsenal. I’ll put their address and contact info in the show notes. If a range with rental guns isn’t an option, reach out to local gun clubs and see if there are members willing to let someone try their gun. It also would be beneficial for you to go with them when they go to shoot. You can help with safety, the mechanics of loading and operating the gun, and correct any particularly bad grip mistakes.
Let the prospective new gun buyer know what to look for when handling and shooting the model of gun they are interested in.
The gun should fit comfortably in the shooter's hand. Consider factors such as grip size, trigger reach, and overall ergonomics. Choose a firearm that is easy to operate, disassemble, and clean. Simple and intuitive controls can benefit beginners. Choose an appropriate caliber based on the intended use. A smaller caliber may be more suitable for beginners due to reduced recoil. Recoil can be intimidating for beginners. Select a firearm with manageable recoil to help build confidence and avoid developing bad habits. Consider the size and weight of the gun, especially if it will be carried regularly. A smaller, lighter firearm may be more comfortable for everyday carry.
Remember that individual preferences and needs vary, so it's important to involve the new gun owner in the decision-making process and encourage hands-on experience and training.
If you think I missed something, let me know in the comments.
And that will do it for this episode. As always, if you enjoyed what you heard, consider letting your like-minded friends know about us. Our A Pirate Talks Guns podcast can be found on all the major directories, or you can listen at our website.
Until next time, shoot safe.
