There are plenty of reasons you might want to buy your first gun. You may have given this a lot of thought or not all that much at all. Before you make your purchase, it’s helpful to work through your reasoning, because different guns are better suited for certain purposes and may not be feasible for others. For example, if you are really interested in getting a firearm for concealed carry, you can rule out rifles or shotguns. But, if your purpose is home defense, those options are very much on the table. So, knowing how you plan to use the gun can lead you to picking one that will suit your needs.
Your reasoning for wanting a gun is a personal choice and I’m certainly not here to tell you what that purpose should be. But, I have listed some common reasons for buying a gun. If one of these fits your situation, use it to help guide your decision making on what type of firearms you should consider.
- Home Defense: This is among the most common reasons people decide to purchase a gun and often a first gun. Whether you live in an area where you believe you or your family might be at risk or you just want a firearm at home if the worst case scenario happens (something like a home invasion). A wide range of firearms can be effective for home defense, including handguns, rifles, and shotguns, all with their distinct pros and cons.
- Concealed Carry: Many states allow people to carry a concealed weapon (typically with a permit). Only a subset (although a large subset) of handguns are designed with concealed carry in mind. So, if this is your main purpose it can help you narrow down your options very quickly.
- Hunting: Hunting is popular throughout the U.S. Unless you are a bowhunter (which is also an amazing sport!) you’ll want a firearm to take up hunting as a new pastime. This would most likely be a rifle or shotgun, depending on the type of hunting you are interested in pursuing. Remember that just like with firearms, states typically have laws about hunting, as well. So be sure to familiarize yourself with your state and local hunting laws.
- Target Shooting: Taking your gun to a range and shooting targets can be a lot of fun. There are also plenty of competitive options where you can not only have the fun of shooting, but also competing against other shooters. A wide range of firearms can fit this category, from pistols to long guns (rifles and shotguns).
- Just Because: Really, you don’t need any particular reason other than you want to own a firearm. In this case, it’s really entirely up to you what kind of firearm you would like to own. So, your options may only be limited by your state’s particular firearm laws.
Whatever the reason, certain types of firearms will lend themselves more toward one use or another. If you’re going elk hunting, that concealed carry handgun probably isn’t going to serve you very well. If you plan to get your concealed carry license, a 12-gauge shotgun may be difficult to fit into a concealed, appendix carry holster (and very uncomfortable too!). So, once you determine the main purpose of your new gun, you can start thinking about what type of firearm will best meet your needs.
Ready to narrow it down? Read What Kind of Gun Should I Buy First?