Congratulations on owning your first firearm!
If you haven’t thought about these things already, here are a few items you should consider now that you have your first gun. I’ll write full articles about many of these items, but for now, here’s a quick list with a few key things to consider.
Safe Gun Storage
First and foremost, consider your living situation. Safely storing your firearm is a different matter if you live alone vs. if you have young kids in the house. So, first consider your situation. Then, decide what you’re looking for from a storage solution. Do you want easy access to it in case of a home defense situation? Do you need it stored safely from kids and others in the house who you would not want to have unsupervised access? Do you have concerns about theft? Would you want to store any other valuables in this storage solution? Depending on your answers, your solutions range from a true gun safe (a fireproof gun safe can also hold important documents or other valuables) to a simple lock box to keep in your nightstand for easy access. Check your local legal requirements, as well, to make sure your solution not only meets your needs but also any laws in your area. Read the full article: Safe Gun Storage
Ammunition
Your new gun is just a paperweight without ammunition. So, make sure you get some. Depending on your use case for the gun, you may actually get two types of ammunition. When it comes to handguns, you may find you want some ammunition designed for the shooting range (typically standard slugs) and also some home/personal defense rounds (hollow points, etc.). Range ammo is typically cheaper than defense rounds. If you plan on training with your firearm (and I highly recommend you do) then you’ll need a decent amount of range ammo. If your firearm is going to be used for home or personal defense, you should pick up a smaller amount of ammunition designed for this use. It costs a bit more, but you don’t need as much of it and hopefully will never need to use it.
Is it for concealed carry or competition? Then you’ll want a holster.
If your firearm is going to live in your nightstand or gun safe permanently (except for range time) you probably don’t need a holster. But, if you have a handgun that you plan to carry concealed or use in competitive shooting, you will need a holster. Picking a holster is definitely a topic worthy of its own article. The key is to think about your needs, do some research, and then find one that fits your gun.
Training
At a minimum, I think anyone who chooses to own a firearm should know how to fire it safely and accurately. That generally involves some training. Whether it’s just a safe gun handling class, a concealed carry course allowing you to carry legally, or a hunting class, there are a ton of classes designed for new or newer gun owners. Of course, there are also a huge variety of training available to take your shooting to much higher levels. Look into your options and start with something introductory to get a feel for how the classes work.
Red Dots and Optics
These days, red dots have become extremely common on all sorts of firearms. (They’re not all red, but for simplicity, that’s the easy term.) While I’m a fan of red dots, they are not necessary. They really only became massively popular in the last 10-15 years in the civilian market. But, somehow people became accurate shooters without them for the majority of the history of firearms. All that said, for a large number of people, they make shooting accurately much easier. So, they are definitely worth investigating.
One quick tip: if your new gun does not indicate it is Optic-Ready (OR) then you may not be able to attach a red dot without having some extensive milling done to the slide. This typically involves sending the gun off to a gunsmith for a period of time.
Gun Lights
You may not have known that on many firearms (handguns and rifles) you can easily attach a light. Many firearms include accessory rails as part of the design, making it easy to attach lights and lasers. Similar to red dots, these are not necessary. But, they do add value in specific situations. The extent of that value (in the dark during a home defense situation) does tend to create debate. On the one hand, you can see what you’re aiming at. On the other, what you’re aiming at can see exactly where you are, as well. So, do your research before grabbing a gun light.
Extra Magazines
Firearms come with different numbers of magazines depending on the type of firearm, the manufacturer, and the model. Most (but definitely not all) semi-automatic handguns will come with two magazines. A few come with a third and some only come with one. If you’re planning to spend a decent amount of time at the range, extra magazines make it a lot more enjoyable and you can get into a flow better, because you’re not stopping to reload the magazine every time it empties.
If you have any plans to compete or try some tactical training, extra magazines will be necessary. I would generally recommend having at least three magazines for your handgun for general use. For rifles, I would probably start at the same place. But, you’ll find plenty of different opinions here.
Range Bags
You can spend a ton on a range bag or get one for a reasonable price. But, if you’re spending any time at the range, I do recommend one. You’ll end up with a fair amount of gear to carry with you (firearm, ammunition, spare magazines, ear and eye protection, etc.) and a range bag gives you a simple way to carry that all in one place. So, give them a look.
Cleaning Kits
It may surprise you, but shooting your gun will make it dirty. All that gunpowder is dirty and there are a decent number of moving parts in your gun that will eventually need lubrication. Most guns come from the manufacturer well lubricated and fairly clean. So, you won’t need to worry about cleaning it until after you start putting some rounds through it. How many rounds? Well that’s debatable. I know people who put thousands of rounds downrange and almost never clean their gun. Others like to clean it after every trip to the range. Now, if your gun is having malfunctions and it’s dirty, that’s a clear sign it needs to be cleaned. But, for some people, the act of cleaning it is just part of their routine. So, see what works best for you. But, you can get small or fairly extensive cleaning kits on Amazon or at your local big box outdoor store.