How to begin exercising your 2nd Amendment rights
C.J. Eldridge, Editor-In-Chief
So, you’ve finally decided to embrace being an American and want to buy your first gun. Whether it’s for home defense, a bit of range fun or everyday carry (hint: it should be all three), these five steps will not fail you.
Step 1: Research, research, research
Don’t rush into purchasing the “most recommended” or “most popular” handgun or rifle. I’d be willing to bet a simple Google search is going to tell you to get a Glock 19 (boring) or Sig Sauer’s P365 XMacro (a little better), but take your time to find what suits you best.
I, myself, found that Heckler & Koch’s P30L suited me best when I first started out, because I went to gun ranges that offered rentals, shot probably two dozen different handguns and watched over a hundred videos on YouTube before I pulled the trigger.
You should do the same. Most indoor ranges will offer rentals for $20, which isn’t much considering you could spend anywhere from $500 to $1000 on a duty gun. Their salesmen should be knowledgeable if you have any questions about a particular handgun or rifle you want to shoot.
But always go do some reading and watching on the internet to see what reviewers find to be the pros and cons as well.
A little tip: get something that is comfortable to carry every single day. The most useless pistol is the one left at home.
Lastly, as a personal suggestion, carry a pistol chambered in 9mm, which is one of the most common pistol bullet sizes. The FBI has done significant testing over the decades to decide which pistol rounds do best. They’ve concluded modern 9mm to 45 ACP have no difference in wounds.
Your average 9mm is quicker to shoot, allows for higher capacity magazines and is far cheaper.
Step 2: Don’t modify it
Gucci-ing your Glock is the best way to kill its reliability. Those golden slides and barrels and third party magazines may look pretty – they certainly bring a tear to my eye, and not in a good way – but they reduce reliability of the firearm to cycle every single time you pull the trigger.
That defeats its whole purpose.
God forbid someone breaks into your home or attacks you on the go and you pull the trigger only to hear a click and not a bang. The purpose of the firearm is to protect you, not look like a runway model (although my sweet CZ does both).
I wouldn’t suggest a beginner to even invest in a red dot before they have thoroughly trained and are comfortable with the irons.
For those unfamiliar with the terms, “red dot” is referring to an optic – think of a miniature rifle scope – that is placed on top of your pistol that can make hitting the target easier.
“Irons” is referring to the stock sights. This is the single piece of plastic or aluminum sticking up on the front and notched piece sticking up on the rear of a gun. You line these up when aiming.
It’s far easier to conceal a pistol that doesn’t have an optic on top. That’s why I suggest using just the irons.
Put all that cash you would spend on accessories into ammunition to train with.
Step 3: Get some training
Your first response to that step is probably “Where am I supposed to do that?” and my answer to you would be to go to this link. The National Rifle Association has some wonderful resources for new and seasoned shooters alike. It will help you find training sources near you.
Instructors are available to teach you how to shoot better and how to be safe.
Gun accident deaths have decreased by 66% over the past 25 years, according to the NRA. Get some training so you’re not a statistic. “He died from an accidental discharge” would be very embarrassing to have on your gravestone, because it’s so preventable.
Step 4: Practice
Practice what you’ve learned all the time. Go to a range if at all possible where you can practice drawing your pistol from its holster. Every second counts in a life and death scenario, and those precious moments used unholstering can make a difference.
Even better would be a range where you can move and shoot, but those are a little harder to find.
If you’re unable to go to a range where you can draw your firearm, do drills at home. Even five minutes a day of drawing from your holster can make a world of difference in your firearms capability.
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast when it comes to unholstering. Don’t rush to get it out as fast as possible. You will mess up. Gently bring your hand down and press any button on the holster and slide the pistol out.
If you’re home alone, take some time to practice walking around your house with the gun you plan on using to defend what’s yours.
Clear rooms with it, and by that I mean sweep from one part of the room to the other, checking for bad guys while holding the gun.
Without any rounds in the pistol, pull the slide back, which will engage the trigger and simulate a round in the chamber. Then depress the trigger. This is dry firing. Familiarize yourself with how the trigger feels to pull.
Have a plan in mind for if something ever does go bump in the night. Know your home and how you’ll move about it with that weapon out.
Step 5: Cleaning up
Yes, make sure to regularly clean and lube up your firearms, but that isn’t what this final step is named for.
When you first start shooting, you’re going to miss. I did too. You’re going to flinch when you shoot. The bullet is probably going to go low to the left. Your hands will be a little shaky. Don’t be ashamed of that. It takes time and consistency to get good.
Get some snap caps (fake training bullets) and have someone load the gun for you, so you don’t know what bullets are real and which are fake. You’ll be able to see if your hand is jerking in one direction and how you need to correct it.
Practice a good stance. Don’t lean way back like you’re trying to run away from the gun. Lean into it slightly, putting pressure on the balls of your feet, with one foot in front of the other, knees slightly bent.
This is the same stance you’ll use when moving around with a gun, so shoot with it.
Don’t rapid fire when you can barely aim. I see so many people do this and not hit the target even once. Is it fun? Absolutely. Is it a waste of money? Absolutely. And it isn’t teaching you anything.
Take your time. Breathe. Make every shot count. Be patient.
To quote the great Mel Gibson in “The Patriot,” “aim small, miss small.” If you’re aiming for the entire target when you shoot, you could miss the entire target. But if you’re aiming for a point on the chest, for example, you may miss by a few inches at the most.
In a real life scenario, you still hit the attacker.
Lastly, have fun. This is a hobby that you can get obsessed with. Should you dive headfirst down the rabbit hole, Alice, how much money is in your wallet is your only limiter.
Get involved in the hobby – heck, sport. People competitively shoot. My experience with it has been indescribably fun, surrounded by people all shooting different custom builds and setups, the aroma of gunpowder swallowing you up, at something like a USPSA match.
Meet other shooters and ask questions. Advanced shooters are a wealth of knowledge and most will no doubt be happy to help.
But before you advance to that point, you have to start by pulling the trigger on that first firearm purchase. If you’re anything like me, it will be one of many.
