Re:Newbies shouldn't waste their time reading this
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Salmonaxe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Biggest things I noted about newbs and my experience when I was a newb.
-Buying guns because they look cool or are in a movie is a huge waste.
-Buying guns you haven't tried. Pistols especially. Just hit up any indoor range and try them. Do it a bunch of times over a couple months and then come to a decision.
-Trying to save a buck buying something cheap is pretty much throwing that money away. Later you'll end up throwing it in a box or breaking it.
-Buying the biggest and loudest gun. Stopping power means nothing if you can't hit shit.
-Waste any money on tactical gear. You're not going to have a clue what nylon shit is going to work for you and your situation until after you've had some familiarization with a platform and marksmanship. Fill a sock or old BDU sleeve with sand and tie it off for a rear bag. Shoot off of whatever backpack you have for hiking. Grab whatever duffle bag you have an make it a range bag. Put mags in your pants pockets. And so on. Eyeball other shooters gear and ask to try it out.
-Once you have picked out a pistol, don't consider strapping it to your side to look all tactical and shit, spend a few weeks familiarizing yourself with it. Dry fire with the loaded mags and ammo in another room. Lock the slide back, release it, work the mag release. During this entire time make sure to observe the rules of firearms safety. Don't become complacent. Then when you are familiar with the pistol, start the process of choosing a holster. Find a firearms knowledgeable friend and try as many of his as possible. Most likely he'll have quite a few after years of searching for the perfect holster. Just start with a plain hip holster at first. No drop legs, shoulder rigs, cross draw or appendix carry. Finally get one that's either leather or kydex. Don't go cheap. Once you have that holster, yet again practice for a few weeks drawing CORRECTLY from that holster while observing the rules of firearms safety. (Again keep loaded mags and ammo in a different room.)
-Don't trust gun rags. Read forums. Find experienced shooters and tag along with them. If they spend more time talking about bacon and beer than they do actually shooting don't go shooting with them, go to their barbeques instead.
-Shooting is about marksmanship. Any time you go shooting, make it about marksmanship. Challenge yourself. Don't waste your money yanking the trigger as fast as you can because it sounds cool. If you want to make loud noises just go to the Indian reservation and buy some fireworks.
-Your first guns should be platforms that are widespread, well regarded and common. Parts and accessories will be easier to obtain or try out. Maintenance will be cheaper. Knowledge from other shooters and forums will be greater. (Like:Rem 700, AR-15, Glock, 1911, 870, 10/22)
-When you can, buy American. The larger our firearms industry grows the better it is for maintaining our 2nd amendment rights. It leads to more positive visibility in the public eye. More money, more jobs, more power.
-Don't blame you guns and gear for your misgivings as a shooter. It just leads to a deadly cycle of buying and selling in search of an unobtainable "perfection".
-Strongly consider firearms training instead of a new gun or fun new gear.
-Read, don't argue. Listen and absorb. </div></div>
Do you know what sucks?
I've taken 25 years to learn all these lessons. I have a sneaking suspicion that you've been doing this a lot shorter of a time.
Good show!
