Everything You Need To Know To Buy Your First Gun

A practical guide to the ins and outs of self defense for beginners

The Constitution of the United States provides each and every American with the right to defend themselves using firearms. This right has been re-affirmed multiple times by the Supreme Court, notably in recent decisions like District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008 and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen in 2022. But, for the uninitiated, the prospect of shopping for, buying, and becoming proficient with a gun can be intimidating. Don’t worry, I’m here to help.

It’s the purpose of firearms organizations to radicalize young men into voting against their own freedom. They do this in two ways: 1) by building a cultural identity around an affinity for guns that conditions belonging on a rejection of democracy, and 2) by withholding expertise and otherwise working to prevent effective progress in gun legislation, then holding up the broken mess they themselves cause as evidence of an enemy other.

The National Rifle Association, for instance, worked against gun owners during the Heller decision. If you’re interested in learning more about that very revealing moment in history, I suggest reading “Gunfight: The Battle Over The Right To Bear Arms In America” by Adam Winkler.

If you’re interested in learning more about the NRA’s transformation from an organization that promoted marksmanship into a purely political animal, I suggest watching “The Price of Freedom”. I appear in that documentary alongside co-star Bill Clinton, and it’s available to stream on Youtube, HBO, and Apple TV.

The result is a wedge driven between Americans who hold an affinity for guns, and those who do not. Firearms organizations have successfully caused half the country to hate guns.

At the same time, it’s the purpose of Hollywood to entertain. On TV and in movies the lethal consequences of firearms are minimized, even while their ease of use is exaggerated. Silencers are presented as literally silent, magazine capacities are limitless, and heroes routinely make successful shots that would be impossible if the laws of physics were involved. Gunshot wounds are never more than a montage away from miraculous recovery.

The result of that is a vast misunderstanding of firearms informing everything from popular culture to policy. Lawmakers waste vast amounts of time and political capital trying to regulate stuff the public thinks is scary, while ignoring stuff that’s actually a problem. Firearms ownership gets concentrated largely in places and demographics that don’t experience regular persecution and government-sanctioned violence, even while the communities of Americans most likely to experience violent crime and who may currently even be experiencing risk of genocide traditionally eschew gun ownership.

Within that mess, I hope to be a voice of reality. Even if you already know all this, you can share it with friends or family who may be considering the need for self-defense for the first time, as a good source of accessible, practical guidance.

Want to learn more about how the gun industry radicalizes its customers? Montana Congressional candidate Ryan Busse reveals that from an insider’s perspective in his book “Gunfight: My Battle against the Industry that Radicalized America.”

Who Can Buy A Gun?

The question of whether or not undocumented immigrants can purchase and possess firearms is an open one, and is the subject of conflicting rulings in federal district courts. I’d expect this to end up with the Supreme Court at some point.

It is not the job of a gun store to determine citizenship or immigration status. If you possess a valid driver’s license or similar state or federal identification with your current address on it, and can pass the instant background check conducted at the time of purchase, you can buy a gun. By federal law, the minimum age to purchase a handgun is 21, while buying a rifle or shotgun requires you to be at least 18. (Some states require buyers of any type of gun to be 21.)

People prohibited from purchasing firearms are convicted or indicted felons, fugitives from justice, users of controlled substances, individuals judged by a court to be mentally defective, people subject to domestic violence restraining orders or subsequent convictions, and those dishonorably discharged from the military. A background check may reveal immigration status if the person in question holds a state or federal ID.

If one of those issues pops up on your background check, your purchase will simply be denied or delayed.

Can you purchase a gun online? Yes, but it must be shipped to a gun store (often referred to as a “Federal Firearms License,” or “FFL”) which will charge you a small fee for transferring ownership of the firearm to your name. The same ID requirement applies and the background check will be conducted at that time.

Can a friend or relative simply gift you a gun? Yes, but rules vary by state. Federally, the owner of a gun can gift that gun to anyone within state lines who is eligible for firearms ownership. State laws vary, and may require you to transfer ownership at an FFL with the same ID and background check requirements. Transferring a firearm across state lines without using an FFL is a felony, as is purchasing one on behalf of someone else.

You can find state-by-state gun purchasing laws at this link.

In “Principles of Personal Defense,” Jeff Cooper (considered the father of modern handgun shooting) lays out the basics of self-defense. This should be required reading.

What Should You Expect At A Gun Store?

You’re entering an environment where people get to call their favorite hobby their job. Gun store staff and owners are usually knowledgeable and friendly. They also really believe in the whole 2A thing. All that’s to say: Don’t be shy. Ask questions, listen to the answers, and feel free to make those about self-defense.

Like a lot of sectors of the economy, recent growth in sales of guns and associated stuff has concentrated in higher end, more expensive products. This is bringing change to retailers. Just a couple of years ago, my favorite gun store was full of commemorative January 6th memorabilia, LOCK HER UP bumper stickers, and stuff like that. Today, all that has been replaced with reclaimed barn wood and the owner will fix you an excellent espresso before showing you his wares.

If you don’t bring up politics, they won’t either. You can expect to be treated like a customer they want to sell stuff to. When in doubt, take the same friend you’d drag along to a car dealership, but gun shops are honestly a way better time than one of those.

When visiting one you’ll walk in, and see a bunch of guns behind a counter. Simply catch the attention of one of the members of staff, and ask for one of the guns I recommend below. They’ll place that on the counter for you, and you’re free to handle and inspect it. Just keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction while you do, then place it back as they presented it. Ask to buy it, they’ll have you fill out some paperwork by hand or on an iPad, and depending on which state you live in, you’ll either leave with the gun once your payment is processed and background check approved, or need to come back after the short waiting period.

While pursuing effective knowledge around guns you’re going to encounter a lot of material with, well, political and cultural baggage. Sorry for screwing up your algorithm. With that caveat, professional voices like Massad Ayoob can be relied upon to also deliver good information.

The Four Rules Of Firearms Safety

I’ll talk more about the responsibility inherent in firearms ownership below. But let’s start with the four rules capable of ensuring you remain safe, provided they are followed at all times:

• Treat every gun as if it’s loaded.

• Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

• Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot.

• Be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.

What Type Of Gun Should You Buy?

Think of guns like cars. You can simply purchase a Toyota Corolla and have all of your transportation needs met at an affordable price without any need for further research, or you can dive as deep as you care to. Let’s keep this this simple, and meet all your self defense needs at affordable prices as easily as possible.

The Best Handgun: Glock 19 ($500)

Self-defense starts with a handgun. They’re easily carried on your person or in a vehicle, and can also easily be concealed where that’s legal. If you have no other guns, make your first purchase one of these.

Glock handguns are simple, reliable, and affordable. Don’t be put off by the lack of an external safety switch. Those tend to add complication and reduce reliable function during stressful moments, without actually adding any substantial safety. Glocks are fitted with internal safety devices that prevent them from firing by any cause other than a trigger pull. But when you do pull that trigger, a Glock will definitely fire.

The Glock 19 is chambered in 9mm, a very common caliber used by most militaries and law enforcement agencies. That makes ammunition for it universally available and affordable. Depending on the style of ammo you choose to shoot, 9mm can be effective against threats ranging from humans all the way up to grizzly bears, but produces little recoil, so shooters of any size or experience level will find it un-intimidating.

A good compromise between being big enough to shoot comfortably and small enough to carry, the Glock 19 will also be available at gun stores in all 50 states.

The Best Semi-Automatic Rifle: AR-15 ($450 and up)

Need an option for more deliberate use that will allow you to deal with multiple threats, including ones at distance?

While ARs suffer from much cultural baggage, they remain the most effective possible choice for self-defense for one reason: they work.

When Eugene Stoner was designing the original for Armalite (note those first two letters and the design’s name) way back in the 1950s, the problem he was trying to solve for was that 18 year old draftees didn’t like carrying heavy rifles, and couldn’t be relied upon to either shoot straight or competently perform basic maintenance. His solution was to rethink the rifle from the ground up, prioritizing user friendliness in everything from control layout to disassembly to recoil mitigation. The same design choices intended to turn reluctant teenagers into an effective fighting force with the least training possible are just as applicable to novice shooters of any kind.

The AR-15 is now more of a modular platform than it is a single model. They’re utterly ubiquitous and parts are generally completely interchangeable between the multitude of brands and models you’ll find on gun store shelves. That means choosing one is as easy as bringing home whatever you find available within your budget. Any or all parts you find to be suboptimal can easily and affordably be upgraded at a later time.

The 5.56mm round fired by the AR-15 is much smaller than the 30-caliber (7.62mm) ammunition that was common before the rifle’s adoption. This reduces recoil and allows users to carry much more ammunition at a given weight, but the tradeoff is that 5.56 is not generally suitable for use on large animals, or targets hiding behind cover. General sales of AR-15s are banned or regulated in some states.

The Best Perimeter Defense Rifle: Ruger American Ranch ($770)

Own property, spend time outdoors, or need to prioritize threats coming from a distance? A hunting rifle runs ammunition that is capable of delivering more energy on target, including at longer ranges, along with the ability to place those shots accurately.

Armed with a simple, reliable bolt action hunting rifle like this one, a shooter with basic proficiency can destroy any threat he can see out to distances of 1,000 yards or more. Bolt-action rifles are the simplest firearms to shoot and maintain.

And while this rifle shares many features with other hunting rifles, it also has a few that make it uniquely suitable to self-defense: it’s fed by an AICS-pattern magazine and is fitted with the shortest legal barrel length, a barrel that is also threaded to accommodate accessories.

What all that means is that you can easily carry 10 rounds of ammunition in the gun, and quickly and easily swap to a new magazine when the previous one is exhausted. The 16-inch barrel will make storing, retrieving, and moving with the rifle as easy as possible, especially in tight environments like a home or vehicle. The threaded barrel allows you fit a muzzle brake or suppressor, in order to help hold the rifle steady as you keep the trigger depressed and your eyes on the target until you observe the round impacting.

Ruger Americans are almost impossibly accurate out-of-the-box. I was reliably hitting man-size targets at 1,000 yards with the first few rounds I ever shot through mine.

They’re available in multiple different calibers. I’d recommend going with 6.5 Creedmoor, but there is no need to split hairs if you can’t find that exact caliber. Versus the legacy .308 on which it’s based, 6.5 Creedmoor offers considerably lower recoil and much improved resistance to wind drift. It’s suitable for targets up to and including elk-sized game. Common hunting calibers like this one are capable of shooting through obstacles like car doors and some building materials when paired with limited-expansion bullets.

Types Of Guns New Shooters Should Avoid: Shotguns and Revolvers

If we view the guns suggested above as Toyota Corollas we can think of shotguns and revolvers as akin to classic muscle cars or speciality 4x4s: great at delivering emotion or serving a specific use case, not really practical transportation for most drivers.

Shotguns, in particular, are presented by Hollywood as something you don’t need to aim, and which will scare off bad guys simply by audibly cycling the action. Neither is remotely connected to any sort of reality. For self-defense purposes, shotguns bring only negatives. They’re long, they’re heavy, and they kick like an angry mule. At the same time, their magazine capacities are very limited, their effective range is as short as that achieved by handguns, and while they must be aimed as carefully as a rifle, they deliver far less power on target than many common hunting calibers.

Revolvers kindle a strong sense of nostalgia and are widely available in very heavy calibers suitable for defense against the largest animals, but their trigger pulls tend to be very heavy (spoiling accuracy). Magazine capacity is also limited, and reloads are complicated and slow.

Neither style of firearm fits well with modern shooting techniques, which are designed to effectively accommodate for the limitations you will experience as a new shooter.

“Protecting your Homestead: Using a Rifle to Defend Life on Your Propety” by Grant Cunningham is an excellent primer on the ins and outs of perimeter defense.

What Else Do You Need To Buy When Buying A Gun?

A firearm isn’t much good without a few basic accessories. Factoring those into your budget will help you get this right from the beginning, and set you up success as you learn to shoot.

Safe Storage: You need to protect your gun from unauthorized use and theft. Any gun not on your person needs to be secured in order to avoid an accident.

Gun safes are nice to have, and provide the greatest possible deterrent against theft. But real safes are also expensive and challenging to move (making them a challenge for renters). All handguns sold in the United States come with a basic cable lock, and many long guns also include such. You can also run any cable lock small enough to fit through the gun’s action, and can use one with some extra length to secure the gun much as you would a bicycle. Another affordable solution is a hard-sided, lockable plastic case such as those sold at Harbor Freight under the Apache Case brand. Those can be secured closed using simple padlocks, or again locked up like a bicycle using a cable lock, both in your car or at home.

Figure out how you plan to securely store a gun at home, and be ready when you bring that first gun home.

Holsters, Belts, And Slings: You’ll need the ability to safely and comfortable carry a gun, so it has a place to go when you’re not firing it.

With a handgun, you achieve this with a holster. Various arrangements are available for carry on you chest, under your shoulder, or even on an ankle. But for general purpose you’ll want to start with a simple, versatile outside the waistband (OWB) belt holster. For the Glock 19, I like the Gunfighters Inc Ronin ($79). It strongly retains the gun high and tight on your belt, protects the trigger, and allows for a smooth, seamless draw. Pair one with your dominant hand. Worn under a jacket or untucked button down, it will help you effectively conceal your weapon.

You’ll also need a sturdy belt to support the weight of the gun. For something the size and weight of the Glock 19, you’ll find the Arcade Hardware Alu ($50) to be the most comfortable, practical choice. It features two way stretch for freedom of movement, is only 1.5-inches wide so it will fit in normal belt loops, and its aluminum hook closure will never fail. Versus normal Arcade belts, the Hardware is made from two layers of material, so it won’t fold over under the weight of the gun; it’s when that happens that belts become uncomfortable.

With an AR-15, you’ll want a sling that allows the gun to ride in front of your body, while leaving both hands free for other tasks. The Magpul MS3 ($50) is a great place to start.

With a bolt rifle, you’ll need a two-point sling that allows you to carry the rifle over your shoulder. Check out the Magpul MS1 ($40) for an affordable, quality option.

You’re looking at the rear of a Glock pistol, from the perspective of a shooter. These are the standard iron sights, which leave a lot to be desired both in terms of precision (the front dot doesn’t fill the entire rear notch when aligned), visibility (they’re just plain white, not a high visibility contrasting color and don’t glow in the dark) and speed (using the same colors on relatively small sights adds some time when you’re trying to align them on target). Using these, you’ll need to learn about creating the correct sight picture.

Sights and Scopes: The Glock comes with a very basic set of “iron” sights, which is to say it’s a front post and rear U that you line up on the target. They’ll work ok, but if you have room in your budget, ask the gun store to mount a set of night sights. Those will glow in the dark, obviously a benefit in lower light, and provide more precision and speed in all conditions.

Most rifles come with only iron sights, or without any sights at all. So, to get the most from them, you’ll want to add a scope.

On an AR-15, I’d recommend using something called a Low Power Variable Optic. Those zoom from 1x (or no) magnification up to a higher power like 5x or 8x. And that means you can use them quickly at close range, or with more precision out to a practical self-defense distance. I’ll spare you the longwinded description of how scopes work, and simply say: more magnification is not necessarily better. An LPVO with lower magnification levels will be easier to look through.

The typical rule of thumb with rifle scopes is to spend at least as much on glass as you spend on the rifle. They’re that important to the end result. I’d rather have a cheap gun with expensive glass than vice versa.

With an LPVO, you look through the big lens that provides the magnification, through a crosshair or reticle, onto your target. At 1x you can use them with both eyes open for rapid close-range target acquisition while retaining good situational awareness, but dialed up, you can place more precise shots more deliberately.

A good entry-level LPVO for an AR-15 would be the Vortex Venom 1-6x24 ($450). I run Leupold Patrol 6HDs, which are also 1-6x24. They’re now discontinued but retailed for $1,400 when they were available, just for a reference point.

You’ll also need a mount, matched to the tube size. On both that Vortex and the Leupold the external tube diameter is 30mm (you’ll find this in any scope’s specs). The Leupold Mark AR mount is affordable at $90, and positions the scope at the correct height for use with an AR-15’s unique ergonomics. You can look up a guide to mounting a scope on YouTube, or ask your gun store to do it for you when you buy the gun.

For a bolt rifle, you’ll want something with higher magnification. I’d suggest something that starts around 2.5 or 3x, and goes up to about 15x. The final number in a scope’s name is the objective size, which determines how much light enters the scope. 42-44mm is a good compromise between size, weight, and portability.

I’ve recently been using the Vortex Viper HD 3-15x44. Its $1,049 price is considered mid-range.

When you look through a scope you see cross hairs that you align with your target. These can be complicated or simple, and first or second focal plane. Again for purposes of brevity, just get a simple crosshair reticle that’s second focal plane for self-defense purposes. That’s the arrangement for all the scopes recommended above. Apply the same formulas when shopping at lower price points.

Mounting a scope to a hunting rifle can be a little more complicated, just because there’s no universal mount design like there is on an AR-15. Buy mounts at your gun store, and ask for help buying the correct height for how the rifle fits your unique body. They’ll have what you need, it’s what they do.

Ammunition: Guns typically fire only a single specific caliber, and cannot safely use any other. This will be stamped on the barrel or thereabouts. But within that caliber, there’s still different bullet weights and designs, and rounds made by different manufacturers will use different amounts of different gunpowders. All that’s to say each flavor of ammo shoots differently, and will hit a given target at different points. So, you want to find the specific variety of ammo that shoots best from your gun, then stick with that. Make that easy on yourself and buy as much up-front as you can afford. Ask the gun store to suggest an appropriate self-defense round for your gun. You can always order more online later. AmmoSeek.com is a good price comparison tool.

Silencers: The only good thing to happen so far this year is that the $200 federal tax on silencers was eliminated on January 1. Using one can make practicing a whole lot easier on your ears, and should you ever need to use a gun in a vehicle or structure, will likely prevent permanent hearing loss. More here.

Jeff Cooper’s “The Art of the Rifle,” is a great primer on practical defensive applications for rifles.

The Real World

Buying a gun is going to go a lot easier than you think. The complicated part is learning to use it, and how to stay legal with it.

Keeping a gun at home is simple. Separate the gun from the ammunition any time a gun is stored. A gun with no ammo in it can never have an accident. Simply remove the magazine on any of the guns suggested above, check to make sure the chamber is clear, then store that magazine(s) next to the gun. It sometimes feels more organized to store your ammo in your gun safe, but without a gun to fire it, it’s harmless, so just store it in any cool, dark, dry place.

You’ll want to practice shooting and take classes at a gun range. Some of those are open to the public, and some require membership. If one requires membership, it may also prerequisite NRA membership. Find a different range if that is the case.

At the gun range, you’ll need to keep your ammunition and gun separate until you are setup at a shooting station, ready to shoot. This is also how guns must be transported in a vehicle in some states. Since you’re storing a gun in that condition, transporting it like that, and carrying it to the station at the range in the same way, it makes sense to just never load a gun until you are at that station.

Take the time to look up and understand gun transportation regulations in the state where you live, and before traveling to another state with a gun. Required procedures vary from “anything goes!” in places like Montana, to needing to lock your gun up in a separate case from your ammo in California.

If you have never before shot a gun, or simply feel rusty, ask your local gun range if they offer any beginner’s courses. You will not feel at all alone if you show up at one of those with your new gun still in its original, unopened packaging. Firearms instructors are teaching a skill they enjoy, and are experienced teaching beginners. You’ll find classes to be welcoming and the teachers friendly.

Carrying a gun outside your home for purposes other than transportation is where things get tricky. Especially with self-defense. The most effective way to carry a handgun is concealed, and while laws around that vary widely by state (here’s a link to a guide), you will find some sort of Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) training in any town with more than a couple stoplights. CCW classes are a prerequisite for a carry license in some states, and are designed to teach you both the practical skills necessary, and also the legal framework in which employing your gun in self defense may be justified. Every gun owner should take one for that reason.

Beyond the simple classes taught at ranges and CCW classes, you’ll find dedicated firearms schools spread across the country, serving a wide range of price points and specialties. The two best I’ve attended are the famous Gunsite Academy in Arizona, and Tactic here in Montana. You’ll find an incredible collection of expertise at both, along with a wide range of classes catering to everything from basic self defense on up to expert-level specialities, all taught by really nice people. If you want the most effective possible tuition free from the unpredictable disruption of other students, enquire about private classes.

One of the neat things about America is that we’re free to shoot across a wide swath of public land. Just use OnX (a popular mapping app) to find areas of BLM or Forest Service land, drive around looking for a good back stop like a dirt berm, then make sure you leave no trace. When in doubt, look for areas where other people have been shooting before you, or go with an experienced friend. I’ll share my public land shooting set up in a future article if there’s interest.

Like any other skill, practice makes perfect. Because the nature of guns is very much life or death, it makes sense to take practicing with one seriously.

It is up to each and every gun owner to learn and understand the laws and regulations around self defense. “Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense” by Massad Ayoob covers the basics.

Some Cautionary Advice

I’m writing this article for people who may not have a family member or friend to mentor them through their journey into gun ownership. So some of the knowledge us experienced types take for granted might be worth sharing, in no particular order.

• Guns are dangerous, always look for ways to reduce risk. On camping trips, hunts, and similar you may have one on or with you as you socialize. Take the time to remove the magazine, unload the gun, and de-cock it before separating the gun from its ammo and then enjoying a drink or similar. Do that in a safe place, away from other people.

• Guns are an expensive investment, but when cared for can last more than a lifetime. Establishing a firearms trust for your family can ease some red tape both while you’re alive, and after.

• Never bring a gun to a protest. That goes against the entire point of peaceful assembly.

• Gun owner records are stored on paper, in cardboard boxes, inside a literal cave. The creation of any sort of digital database is prevented by law. This, by design, prevents the government from easily accessing records of who owns what. There is no reason to attempt to try and acquire a gun illegally.

• There’s over 400 million guns in America. Even if there was a consensus among the public that they should be banned, there would be no practical way to achieve that. For better or worse, we live with guns in this country. Learning, at the very least, how to make a gun safe is an important safety skill that every American should know.

• Never brandish a firearm. Doing so is a felony offense, and gives away the best advantage any gun owner has: surprise.

• For similar reasons, never threaten to shoot anyone. Never get involved in any sort of altercation while carrying a gun, verbal or otherwise. As a gun owner, it is your responsibility to deescalate and leave.

• As a civilian, the safety of others is not your job, neither is enforcing the law. If you are confronted with any sort of threat, make running away your first move. Only resort to using your firearm if you’ve exhausted all other options.

• If you intend to carry a handgun, learn how to do so safely while a round is loaded in the chamber. This will likely involve trying multiple different holsters, belts and other carry and clothing arrangements. Make sure you can both remove and return a gun to its holster without risk of a piece of clothing interfering with the trigger. Only once you’re practiced and confident in this ability should you begin carrying away from a gun range.

• Wearing shorts, a bathing suit, tights, or just don’t have room to conceal a gun on your belt? Consider a fanny pack paired with a trigger guard holster. Tie that holster to a loop inside the pack, so that when you draw the gun it pulls gun free from the holster. I use a Kifaru Fanny ($90) for that purpose. It includes a dedicated loop for holster tie off, and comfortably conceals a full-size pistol.

• Safe storage is always going to be a compromise between accessibility and security. Your risk of accident is both higher and worse than getting in the kind of situation that might require a gun. Prioritize safety. If you’re worried about the speed with which you might be able to access your gun in a given situation—say home security—add time rather than reducing safety. Motion sensor lights, perimeter alarms, a dog, better door locks, etc can all add the seconds you need to get a gun out of a safe.

• Learn the meaning and application of these two phrases: operational security and situational awareness. They’re relevant to everything from preventing firearms thefts, to avoiding dangerous situations.

• Always be learning. Read books, watch YouTubes, take classes, go shoot with friends. The point of owning a gun is to increase your own safety. Take that responsibility as seriously as possible.

Are you already a gun owner? What advice would you give new ones? Are you thinking about buying your first gun? No question is too dumb. With the aim of keeping this a friendly, contributive community, I’ll be actively engaging with any intellectually honest questions. You’re free to leave whatever rant you feel like making, but I will not respond, and will delete anything offensive or inflammatory. As always, paid subscribers are welcome to reach out via email, Substack’s chat feature, or our new reader forum for help or advice, either privately or with the participation of other readers.

Top photo: Stuart Palley

A journalist with more than two decades of experience working around the world, Wes Siler is here to cut through the outrage and disinformation to bring you the factual, insightful, actionable reporting you need to understand what’s going on, and to prepare for the worst. Upgrading to a paid subscription supports this reporting, and buys personal access to Wes, who will help you save money on gear, prepare for real life, and help solve your problems.