Buying Your First Gun
Here are a few things to consider when purchasing your first firearm.
How will you use it?
Is it for concealed carry? Home defense? Etc.
Figuring out how the firearm will be used first will help narrow down your search. Not all guns are made for everything so when you know what you'll use it for first you can eliminate a lot of choices.
What’s your budget?
While I don't believe everyone needs a Gucci gun, I do think "you get what you pay for."
Keep your budget in mind when researching and considering waiting and saving up for a few months if your budget is small. It's worth it to spend a few extra bucks on a reliable option from a trusted manufacturer.
Prioritize reliability
If you're new, you might think all guns on the market today are reliable. There are countless options that are considered unreliable. Many of them are in the low-budget category I talked about above, but not all.
Stick with manufacturers that have a long track record of putting out reliable guns.
Function over form
As a design and style geek, I know it's tempting to pick the dopest-looking thing, but for guns, that might not be the best choice.
If it's your first firearm, you want something that operates as intended, is easy to clean and maintain, and isn't picky about ammo or magazines.
Is it the one for you?
It's ok to take advice from trusted and experienced friends, but remember that
this choice is highly personal. Ask for recommendations, then research and shoot them before purchasing. Most ranges have a wide variety of rental guns to try.
If you're brand new, take a class first, so you know what the look for when trying different guns to see if it's the one for you.
