Buying your first gun is like buying your first car. There isn’t a correct choice but there are plenty of bad choices to be made. It is going to be overwhelming when choosing your first firearm. However, it does become easier when you break it down based on the purpose of your purchase.
The first mistake you can make is buying the wrong gun for the job. Buy too big of a gun to carry reliably, and you just won’t do it. Use something impractical and risk unintended consequences. Regardless of what you choose, the 4 core firearm safety rules should always apply.
The first question you have to ask is what are you buying the firearm for? Use any of the links listed to quickly jump around this article!
There are a wide range of options for Home Defense. Still, there are a few factors to consider; What are you capable of using? How will you store it? The most important thing as prudent self defenders is that we do not negligently put additional people in harm’s way. Properly store firearms out of access from children and other prohibited possessors. Do not buy a gun for home defense that won’t be trained with. Be diligent about the non-firearm factors of your home defense plan, such as a security system with cameras & alarms.
I standby my opinion that everyone should own a 12 gauge shotgun. The reality is that not everyone can handle, or is comfortable handling a shotgun. I will say that this is often overcome with practicing squaring your body and weight forward while shooting.
Between pump action and semi-automatics, I recommend pump action shotguns. The major benefits of choosing a pump shotgun as your home defense tool are that it’s easier to aim, the near immediate incapacitation capability, and reliability between shots. If a 12g is too much for you, a 20g is more than acceptable. Just remember, as Dave Chapelle famously said, birdshot will “just pepper him up nicely”. You want slugs or buckshot, which will “put a hole in a goddamn truck”. A 12g is never TOO far when I sleep.
Handguns are a great option for home defense. They can be more useful in a wider range of situations, but require the discipline and practice to wield effectively. A major benefit is that they are easier to store away or conceal. If you have a dedicated home defense handgun, this allows for the firearm to be larger, resulting in an increased round capacity, a better grip, and a wide range of accessory item & optic options.
Many handguns have an accessory rail for the use of lasers and weapon mounted lights. Please, do everyone a favor and remind yourself the rail is for weapon mounted lights, not lasers. Having your flashlight on the gun will:
Fumbling with multiple items increases the risk of a negligent discharge, and drastically decreases accuracy. If your handgun is not optic ready, you can often find a local gunsmith to mill the slide for you! A red dot can drastically INCREASE your accuracy.
Editor’s note: I would still recommend that you keep a handheld flashlight by your bedside. While they are worse for use when trying to shoot a pistol, they allow you to point the light at things without pointing the pistol at those things. If able, have a light attached to the pistol, AND the handheld light. If you need to shoot, drop the handheld light and use the light that is attached to the pistol.
When it comes to home defense, I personally prefer larger striker fire handguns. Still, there are many benefits to their revolver or hammer-fired counterparts. I am personally more comfortable knowing I have a high capacity magazine with a consistent trigger pull. That doesn’t mean you won’t like the functionality of a DA/SA trigger, or appreciate the reliability of a good wheel gun. The important thing is to get out and shoot a variety of these models until you know what you are most comfortable with!
Rifles serve a different purpose. The important thing is that we pick the appropriate tool for the job. If the goal is to barricade or hold yourself up in a room until Law Enforcement can arrive, a rifle might be the perfect tool! Rifles often hold twice the ammo capacity as handguns, and require less effort for accurate shots. However, they are a tad unwieldy at closer distances, and are harder to conceal when doing ordinary things, such as answering your front door.
As prudent self defenders, I think it is our responsibility to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Part of that sentiment means knowing when to let police handle something, so that we don’t put our family or ourselves at risk. Making a home defense plan goes a long way to aid in avoiding unnecessary risk. Know the layout of your abode, room by room, hallway by hallway. Do you need to go and retrieve someone as part of your plan, like a family member? Is the plan to just barricade in a bedroom, and wait for either the bad guys or the cops? If we don’t need to leave our barricaded room, call the police, and let them handle the risk of someone in your house.
If you need to clear your house of potential intruders, I believe a handgun is your optimal choice for the average person. A rifle is less concealable, and requires two hands to operate, vs a handgun that allows for a leveraging arm in the event of physical conflict, or need to use another hand for a task.
Shotguns: Maverick 88, Benelli M4, Winchester SX4 Defender, Mossberg 940 JP Thunder Ranch
Handguns: CZ P10F, Glock 17, Glock 19, Sig P365 X Macro, Walther PDP F, S&W Shield 2.0, S&W 686, Taurus 856 Defender
Rifles: M&P Sport III, Geissele Super Duty MOD1, SOLGW Patrol SL, Ruger AR-556 MPR, IWI Zion-15, Core-15
Everyday Carry (EDC) is a whole different animal than Home Defense. What kind of body shape do you have? How do you dress? What do you do every day? Answering these questions are incredibly important as choosing a good holster is just as important as choosing the right firearm. Again, as moral, prudent, self defenders, we will always be reacting to violence, and never initiating it. This means ensuring that you choose something that is comfortable & concealable enough, so that you will carry it every day (hence the name). Additionally, it has to be functional enough that you can safely and quickly access your firearm.
In general, baggier clothing will conceal easier. There are many ways to carry, from Appendix, Strong Side, Pocket, and all the way down to Ankle carry. I actually know someone’s life who was saved by their backup, ankle carried revolver. Point is, there are many ways to carry a firearm on your person. Some are better than others, and some are dependent on specific niches. There are some carry methods that do suck, and we’ll cover those in a bit. If you are financially limited to one option, choose something that is more modular to your attire! Appendix carry can work in regular clothes, and with a concealment system, can be hidden under a suit, or even gym clothing. Ankle carry may work great, but what happens when you are going to wear shorts? These are the questions that you should ask when starting to look into concealed carry.
Let’s begin with the first common mistake; small of back carry is almost never a good idea. You are placing your tool of defense in one of the hardest places to access when needed. It is out of your eyeball zone, allowing you to be disarmed without notice. Finally you are relying on not being stuck in a position where you can’t draw your firearm. Not to mention the injury if you were to fall or be pushed into anything.
Next, carrying a firearm in a purse or bag is also usually a bad idea. However, they may be useful props for private security type jobs to stage a draw. If choosing to carry off-body in a bag, you need to train your draw, and practice bag retention. With this being a suboptimal way to carry, you’ve really got to put in the time to get get good at consistently getting the gun out. You’ve also got to be cognizant of where your bag is at any given time, as your firearm is in it. A crossbody purse, or a fanny pack would generally be more desirable than a messenger or backpack if choosing to carry off-body.
For ladies who don’t have a belt line, I highly encourage you to look into a well made thigh holster, a belly band, or something like the PHLster Enigma. Regardless of how you carry, a quality holster is essential to the entire setup.
Don’t let anyone tell you 9mm is TOO SMALL of a caliber to carry. It is in fact, the most common carry handgun caliber. 9mm offers great ballistic performance, with higher capacity than previous standards such as .45 ACP. It is also a great caliber to train with due to its low cost per round.
If you feel a loaded 9mm is still too heavy or uncomfortable for you, don’t be afraid to look at the excellent line of .380s from reputable brands such as Ruger’s LCP Max, or Glock 42. These are lighter, and easier to handle overall, and conceal extremely well.
While certainly more niche, rimfire rounds (like .22LR and .22MAG) can be used for deep concealment or backup guns. These guns generally have very little recoil, have good capacity, and are very small. However, we are trading off ballistic performance for that, which is why these should not be your first look for a primary carry pistol.
Remember, a gun is better than no gun, and concealment is paramount
Glock 43x MOS, Taurus 856 Ultra Lite, CZ P10C, M&P Shield 2.0, Sig Sauer P365, LCP Max (.380)
Editor (Paul Whaley) Recommendations: Glock 42/43x/48, S&W Shield 2.0 & Shield Plus, S&W 442/642, Ruger LCR, LCP Max
Absolutely unbiased opinion, but I think that competitive shooting is one of the best sports. It pushes you to build practical shooting skills under the stress of time and course limitations. As my editor Paul would promptly point out, there absolutely can be bad habits & expectations built from shooting competitively. However, your private training should address these gaps or misconceptions. The best part, there is a league for everyone! The three most popular competitions for beginners would include Steel Challenge, USPSA, and IDPA. As you get more comfortable across a variety of platforms, PCSL & multi-gun may be fun to seek out. You can find local competitions using Practiscore’s match search tool.
What kind of match are you shooting? What division are you competing in? It’s incredibly important to check each league’s rulebook for specifics on divisions and restrictions. USPSA publishes their most popular platforms by division here, however you absolutely can be competitive with any of the approved models.
The two biggest misconceptions are you can’t start today, and that you can’t use a gun you already own. There is zero reason to own a gamer gun as a new competitor. Additionally, it is entirely beneficial to compete with a firearm that might double as your Home Defense or EDC choice. The whole point of competing is to increase your skill set. If you have no skills, come get some!
Outside of handguns, rifle builds are a world of their own! Not only that, but some competitions allow you to substitute multiple rifles in a single match, based on the stage design. PCC (Pistol Caliber Carbines) are incredibly popular alternatives that make participating with a rifle a bit more affordable. I personally went with a 2-10x MPVO and Canted Red Dot sight on a 13.9” AR-15 platform. This covers everything from contact distance out to 300 yards, per the needs of my matches. While that’s my rifle, your build will likely look very different!
We can’t talk about competition shooting without mentioning Trap & Skeet. While I personally have zero current experience shooting clays, I know many who find it a very enjoyable and social sport. I even bought an Over/Under shotgun myself to give it a whirl this next year! It doesn’t cost a whole lot to join this sport, but it can quickly become pricey if it’s something you decide you want to be good at.
Handguns: Glock 47, Glock 34, Canik Rival, Walther PDP Pro, CZ Shadow 2, Staccato 2011, Ruger Mark IV
Rifles: Sig Sauer MPX (PCC), AP5 (PCC), SOL M4-89, Geissele Superduty MOD1, Better Yet, Build your Own!
Shotguns: ATI Cavalry, Beretta DT11, DO ADDITIONAL RESEARCH!
Range Plinking gets a category of its own. These are firearms that are generally impractical for any other use than having fun with your friends, or becoming more comfortable with shooting as a whole. My favorite range toy is an MP5 chambered in .22LR, and has no real purpose other than printing smiles.
Many of the popular everyday carry handguns come in a .22LR variant. Many brands make rimfire variants of their centerfire pistols. Some are good (Taurus TX22 and Beretta 92-22), and some are bad (Glock 44). Generally, the thing that separates the good from the bad is reliability. While rimfire isn’t know to be the most reliable cartridge, some guns are generally more reliable than others. These would be perfect for training the fundamentals of pistol shooting, at a lower cost than centerfire shooting. Additionally, a variety of brands make target pistols (like the Ruger Mark Series) in .22 LR. These are great for precision plinking with friends, or bullseye competition!
Other than .22 calibers, there are plenty of other “Plinking” style guns that don’t have much practical use. These might affect how a more common platform is used, such as Binary Triggers, Forced Reset Triggers, Body Kits, Bump Stocks (These are dumb) and other light modifications. While many of these modifications can be fun, they aren’t always practical. I highly encourage readers to take additional precaution when dealing with anything that is atypical. Remember, when you modify a firearm outside of it’s OEM specs, you could be operating outside of safety parameters as well.
H&K MP5 22LR, Radical-15, Beretta M9-22 LR, Ruger Mark IV, SARB15 Bullpup, Ruger 10/22
I am going to refrain from making hard suggestions in this section. That’s due to most of my hunting experience being limited to whitetail running away while smiling. Dedicated hunting rifles & hunting shotguns come in a wide range of sizes and calibers. Determining what you are planning on hunting will likely dictate the type of firearm or caliber you will likely seek out. Your state’s hunting rules will also dictate what to choose.
The size of game will generally determine the caliber that you should be looking at.
Small game is often hunted with .17 WMR & .22LR. For Medium sized game, look into the .223 & 6.5 Creedmoor calibers. For Large sized game, you’ll want to look at a larger caliber, like .308 Winchester & .30-06, or something larger.
Shotguns are great for deer, depending on the state that you’re in. For deer, a 20 gauge shotgun with sabot slugs works great. A 12 gauge shotgun with buckshot or standard foster slugs is a great choice too. Birds are hunted with a variety 12, 20, and 28 gauge shotguns, using various birdshot loadings.
Regardless of what you are hunting, research popular calibers, and good loadings for those calibers. While your choice will mostly be based on what you’re hunting, availability of ammunition will probably play a part too. A niche caliber may seem cool, but that allure runs out when you can’t find the ammo anywhere.
Regardless of what firearm you choose, remember to take the additional education and safety classes before venturing out. There are a good number of experienced hunters that will help you with the non-firearm specific questions. Everything from knowing the game you’re hunting, to being familiar with the land you are hunting on. Knowledge is crucial for a safe experience.
Finally, don’t let someone tell you that you can’t get into this sport for under $1000. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a Savage AXIS and cheap 3×9 to get you started. The platform is more than capable of hitting accurate shots several hundred yards out (and I have). The important thing is to be safe and have fun!
Savage Axis, Ruger M700, Browning X-Bolt 2 Alpen, Marlin Lever Action, Winchester XPR
Each one of these sections could be an article of their own (and likely will be). The key thing to remember is to do your research, know your objectives, and get hands-on experience. No one will be able to look at you and tell you what works for you. That is something you have to figure out. There will always be that guy who says that you need the newest SIG. We all know that guy who swears only by the same Glock they have had since 2006 and that means you should as well. The truth is, the firearm you need is the one that you can shoot accurately, and checks off all the other needs discussed here. Take everything everyone has to say in stride, and go experiment at the range!
Regardless of how new you are, go socialize with other people heavily invested into your topic of interest. There is nothing that you will read that can replace that in-person experience. Mind all safety restrictions, respect the rules of the range wherever you are, and police your brass! The goal is to be safe, morally upright, firearm owners.
Buying your first gun can be intimidating! There can be a feeling of too many options to the point you just make one. There is nothing wrong with that! I have definitely spent a decent amount of my spare income testing various models and sizes of firearms that fit me best for the purpose of the purchase. Not everyone is purchasing multiple firearms though and you should ultimately start with something you will be able to practice with as no matter what gun you buy, it won’t matter if you can’t shoot it!
The recommendations given above are by all means not aboslute.If you think there are a few other models that should have made the list, let me know directly via our discord server and I’ll make sure to update this one as I go!
Thanks for everyone’s support on my first “official” article.
