With so many options out there, choosing a firearm can be a daunting task for a first-time gun owner. You should take a few things into consideration when making your purchase, including what the gun will be used for, cost acquiring proper training, buying the correct ammo, and properly cleaning and storing the weapon. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a short list to assist the new gun owner in making a selection for their first firearm. As with anything else that you may endeavor upon, it is strongly recommended that you do a little research before making a final decision.
Caliber Selection
The first thing you should address is what the purpose of the firearm is. Often one with little knowledge will make the mistake of buying too much or too little gun.
For instance, if purchasing the firearm for self-defense, one would not want a small caliber firearm such as a .22 or .25. While these would do for a backup gun (and of course any gun is better than a knife or a rock), these calibers are just inadequate for self-defense as they lack the stopping power of a larger caliber.
On the other side of the coin, one also doesn’t want to purchase too much gun. You just don’t need a Desert Eagle .50 AE to carry around. (Of course if you are a very large man with deep pockets that can conceal a pistol that size and can afford it, then go for it. )
On the other hand, if one is purchasing a first hunting rifle, say, to hunt whitetail deer, a .300 Winchester magnum or a 7mm magnum is an awful lot of rifle and not necessary for that game, just as a 12-gauge shotgun is overkill for squirrels and a .410 isn’t going to cut it for turkey. One must assess what the firearm’s purpose is to make the correct selection.
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http://www.offthegridnews.com/2012/01/09/the-top-five-mistakes-new-gun-owners-make/