Must Have Accessories

Background

Thinking of purchasing a firearm, or have you recently purchased one? Wondering what else might be part of that purchasing process that you haven't thought of? Well, that's what this blog is about: those must-have accessories that you should purchase with your new firearm. I know when I purchased my first firearm, I did a ton of research about the firearm itself and planned to spend the amount of money I saw that firearm advertised for. There's a lot more you'll need though. Yes, need. Plan to spend a lot more on accessories than you did for the firearm. You can probably buy some of these must-haves over time after your purchase, and of course many of these only apply if you don't already have them, making that first firearm investment significant, but future purchases, not nearly as bad.

Safe Storage

Right at the top of the list of must-haves without question, is a means to store that firearm safely. Some people think safe storage means hidden away from kids or people who could harm themselves with a firearm. Some also think that storing it with the provided cable lock is good. Those are true assumptions, but they are only part of it. When you purchase a firearm, you become responsible for who has access to it. That includes people who live in your house, people who visit your house, or people who break in and steal things from your house. Having a firearm out of sight or under and object is not safe storage. Keeping it hidden with only a cable lock, is asking for trouble. The cable lock may keep normal people from using the firearm, but you need to plan on securing that firearm from any scenario - especially theft.

You'll need a safe. Not just a safe, but you'll need one that you can secure to an object that cannot be removed from your house with ease. Check with your state laws and talk with the gun shop staff to find the right safe that's going to work for you, but don't leave the store without one. Don't bring a firearm into your house without a safe ready for it. Heck, my local Costco sells pistol and rifle safes, so there's no excuse. Many safes designed for a single pistol or small number of rifles can be attached to a permanent object like a wall. In fact portable pistol safes often come with security cables that can be used to attach them to a secure object. It's your responsibility. Keep it safe (no pun intended).

Be ready to spend at least $50 for a small pistol safe, and at least $150 for a good solid gun cabinet. Fully featured gun safes will take you further into the $200 and beyond range, quite easily.

Pro-tip: biometric safes are a waste of money. Sure, under perfect situations, you're biometric safe will open quickly and easily...but don't plan on perfect situations. Heck, my iPhone doesn't even unlock for me every time. Go with a key or key pad option, but hide that key and change that combination.

Holster or Sling

The safest way to carry a pistol or rifle is unloaded with the action open of course. If it's loaded, the safest way to carry a pistol is in a holster that completely covers the trigger and prevents an object (including your finder) from touching it. It's also extremely practical if you just want to transport a firearm around the house or wherever. With a rifle, if you want to carry it around, doing so the safest way means having two hands on it (leaving you unable to do anything else), or from a sling where nothing is touching the trigger so your hands are free. Even if you have no plans to carry the firearm you purchased outside, you still need a holster. It's a must-have.

Holsters and slings can be very cheap, or they can be ridiculously expensive. If you are looking to minimize your expense and won't carry often, go with a plastic or kydex paddle holster that you can clip to your waistband or belt. They only cost about $20-$30. If you are planning to carry often or concealed carry, do your research an choose wisely. A quality paddle holster like a Blackhawk Serpa might still be a good option, or a $50 Galco Triton for concealment. But for high quality or good concealment options, be ready to spend over $50. You'll also probably buy several over time as you experiment with what works. Bottom line, don't leave the store without something to help you safely carry your firearm.

Carrying Case

If you buy a premium pistol (Glock, M&P, Sig etc.), chances are it came in a plastic carrying case with formed foam inside, and a convenient handle and lock hole. If you bought a revolver, rifle, or cheaper pistol, chances are it came in a cardboard box. The former may be sufficient for carrying your pistol where ever it needs to go (range, smith, vacation etc.), but a cardboard box isn't. Depending upon where you live, transporting a firearm in a cardboard box may be illegal (unless it's within a locked container). Check your local laws.

Regardless, you are going to want to invest in a good, practical carrying case. You have to if your firearm came in cardboard. I've been to ranges that don't allow you to walk in the door unless the firearm is in a carrying case, and even if you transport it legally in your locked trunk, do you want that firearm just open, sliding around and exposed? Nope. Pistol range bags can be extremely practical as they can hold 2 or more pistols in one. Carrying cases also usually have external pockets for storing magazines, slings, holsters, or whatever other accessories you need.

You'll need one. Check to make sure your firearm fits, and make the purchase before you leave the shop with your firearm.

Ammunition Loader (UpLula)

A must have? Maybe not. I'll tell you though, loading brand-new factory Smith & Wesson M&P magazines can be extremely difficult until they get a little wear. Glock magazines are easier, as are most rifle magazines. But, when at the range, your thumb or loading finger will get sore pretty quickly if you rely on it to load magazine after magazine, especially new ones. Do yourself a favor, if you bought a pistol, buy an UpLula magazine loader. It will save your thumbs (and temper).

Cleaning Kit

Before you take your first shot, and after every time at the range, you'll need to clean that new firearm. There's a ton of great kits out there. I recommend starting with the caliber specific kits from Cabelas. You'll need a few additional items to augment that kit, and I strongly recommend a bore snake as they make cleaning a snap. I also recommend purchasing a set of plastic dental tools as they are excellent for accessing hard to reach spots on the firearm. Bottom line, you'll be cleaning often so you need the right tools to do it. Here's minimally what you need:

Barrel rod with caliber specific attachments (or bore snake)
Bore brush (or bore snake)
Patches
Cleaner (or combination cleaner, lubricant, protector like CLP or Balistol)
Lubricant (or comination like CLP etc.)
Cleaning mat or sturdy but soft surface
Cleaning brush (or tooth brush)

Personally, I'd grab a can of CLP, a package of patches, a bore snake, and a Cabelas cleaning kit and call it a day.

For a basic kit, expect to pay around $40

Snap Caps

Those of you who are firearms owners already might disagree with me on this one. Hear me out. As a firearm owner, it is your responsibility to be extremely proficient with that firearm. You must know how it works, how to handle it, and what to expect from it. That means you'll need to handle it often. It's a must. You'll probably want to anyway, but you have got to put hands on that firearm often, practicing how to safely hold and operate that firearm for your safety and those around you. A great way to do this safely is with snap caps. If you are totally unfamiliar with them, they are the same shape as ammunition (bullet in a case), but are are made of different material and instead of a primer (that makes the firearm ignite the powder), they have a small piece of plastic or rubber (well, plus no powder). They are duds. Fake bullets. But they are made for you to load into your firearm and safely pull the trigger without any sound (other than the action) or propelled object (nothing comes out of the barrel). It's generally considered bad practice to pull the trigger on a firearm with nothing in the chamber (Glocks are the obvious exception). Having Snap Caps allows you to safely do just that.

If you want to safely practice loading, pulling the trigger, and unloading your firearm, or go through the motions to learn how the action words, Snap Caps are a must-have. Buy the right ones for your caliber.

Snap Caps are cheap. This must-have should only add $15 to your purchase.

Magazines or Speed Loaders

Most semi-automatic firearms that are magazine fed will come from the factory with 1-2 magazines. Revolvers don't. Their magazine is built in, but unless you plan on carrying around loose ammunition, you'll need some way to manage the loading process. The bad news is, magazines are expensive these days. I know about 20 years ago, they were far more expensive and impossible to find, but for what they are, they still seem expensive to me.

You'll need to buy more. A few more at least. How many more? Well, some experts say you should start with 5. Why? Because they malfunction, wear out, sometimes break, and aren't always available. This is the feeding device for your semi-automatic firearm. Without it, your firearm doesn't work. Do you want just 1 backup? Do you want 2? What about when you hit the range, do you want to be reloading magazines after each 1 or 2? Many bolt action rifle magazines only hold 3-5 rounds. Will you keep the magazine's charged (full of bullets) at home? If so, do you want an empty spare to practice with? Think through these questions and make your decision. I think 5 magazines is a reasonable start, but you should also consider the future. Eventually you'll want more, but that can come with time. I think between 5-10 is a good number to land on, but that's just me. Some people assume that they won't be able to buy magazines in the future, so might as well own as many now as you'll need for the rest of your life. I understand that logic. Up to you.

My core recommendation is 5. If you are purchasing a revolver, buy a few speed loaders and a few speed strips. I personally prefer speed strips from Bianchi over speed loaders, but get some of each to practice with before you invest in a bunch more. I haven't torture tested either device, but my guess is speed loaders and strips will wear out much faster than a magazine, so you'll probably want more.

For magazines, expect to pay between $15-$40 depending upon the firearm. Go with your manufacture's magazines for pistols. For AR-15s or AR-15 magazine compatible rifles, Magpul PMAGs are the standard, and they are cheap.

Obviously this doesn't apply to shotgun purchases, but consider your shell carry solution as well. Bandoliers are silly, but can be practical. Several tactical clothing manufactures make ammo bags that you can attach to a MOLLE capable vest or pack of some sort. You could also go with a direct mount option either to the stock or the receiver. These have pros-and-cons, namely capacity. Get something though. Otherwise, you're stuck with what's in the tube.

Flash Light and Mount

Ok, I may have lost you with that one, but hear me out. You bought that firearm, chances are with personal or home defense in mind right? Ok, so think through a night-time scenario in which you may have to retrieve that firearm. Will you have one hand free to manage a flash light to see in the dark? Can you effectively control and shoot that firearm with one hand? Trust me, a mounted light option is the way to go. Until you have it, you won't be able to use that firearm at night.

You've now entered the world of expensive must-have accessories. Some great options for pistols include Streamlight and Surefire. Both are expensive. A Streamlight TLR-3 for a pistol will set you back about $100. Surefires are more. With a rifle and mount (see Magpul again), you can get away with a tactical flashlight like a Streamlight PolyTac for about $30. Mounting a light on your pistol or rifle does require some sort of rail system, so check for that before you make your final firearm selection (or buy another firearm for night-time defense). Magpul also offers mounting solutions for shotguns and AK platforms if your factory setup doesn't come equipped with a rail system.

To set expectations, if you need a new fore-end for your rifle or shotgun, plus mounting rail, plus light mount, expect to pay at least $100.

Once equipped, if things go bump in the night, you can grab your firearm, flip on the light, and investigate what's going on. Be sure of your target and keep that finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire, and don't point that firearm at anything you don't intend to destroy.

Ammunition

Your gun needs food. You can't shoot if you have no ammunition, and these days, ammo can be hard to come by. Artificial fluctuations in ammunition supply causes regular periods of empty shelves at your local gun store as well as at online retailers. In 2015 when the ATF started trying to ban popular 5.56 ammunition, owners when on a purchasing binge and every store I know of (online and physical) ran out. If you buy a .22 long rifle, well congratulations and good luck. The places I buy .22 from limit orders due to the popularity of the cartridge and tendency among people to just buy up everything they see. A few years ago, 9mm was impossible to find. It's back now, but there are still times when my favorite retailer is out of the specific ammunition I'm looking for - even among popular brands like Federal and Hornady. Never assume ammunition will be plentiful. It's not.

So, how much should you buy? I recommend keeping at least 500 rounds of ammunition for each caliber firearm you own as a minimum. That might seem like a lot, but you can easily burn 100 rounds in a short hour at the range. What if you hit the range a few times in a month, and all the local shops run dry on ammo? You'll be out fast, and your firearms will go hungry. Ammunition prices are all over the map, so there's no way to set expectations on this for you, but for the average centerfire ammunition (9mm, 45 ACP, .223/5.56, .38 spcl, .357, .44, .30-30 etc.) you'll be paying between $0.30 a round to well over $1.00 a round.

You should also consider the continuous attack on our freedoms by anti-gun politicians. As I mentioned, when ATF started to try to ban 5.56, it suddenly disappeared from availability. We can't assume the ammunition we buy today will be available tomorrow. If you can, buy, buy, buy.

Ammunition Storage

Ok, now that you have all that ammo, where are you planning to store it. Remember, ammunition can be a health hazard if you purchase and store ammo that has exposed lead. You'll also need to keep it in a dry and safe location so that it's not damaged by weather or impact. Firearms safety manuals also say to store it in a locked container or safe, separate from your firearms. I'm not going to offer you suggestions on this one, but you'll need to think this through. Think about ammo cans, lockers, safes etc. and make a decision, before that ammo arrives home.

Red-Dot Optic

Ok, I'm going to depart from the rest of the article on this topic and end with a DON'T BUY. This is an accessory the store might try to sell you, but YOU DON'T NEED IT. Not at first anyway. If you buy an AR-15 or similar rifle, you may be really tempted to buy a red-dot, especially if you are influenced by what you see in movies, magazines, or YouTube. Believe me, they are extremely useful and practical. However, it's better to become proficient at close distances using traditional "iron sights" anyway. Our men and women in the military are taught to be proficient with iron sights at 100 yards and beyond. You should start there too. You'll need iron sights anyway in case your red-dot ever fails or the battery dies. Better to learn it from the start.

So, for your initial purchase, skip the red-dot. You don't need it.

Thanks, and be safe.

Firearms Myth 9: A Gunman is a Danger

The media and anti-gun politicians have done a great job of creating the perception that someone with a gun, a gunman, is a danger or a threat. We've been condition to the point where if we see someone holding a gun, we automatically think it's a problem. If you went to a friends house, and they had a gun on their hip, or were cleaning a firearm, you might instantly feel uncomfortable. Why is that? It used to be that guns were just another tool most people carried around. When packing for a camping trip, you'd grab your tent, food, stove, mess kit, gun, sleeping bag etc. When heading downtown for the night, you'd grab your gun. When getting ready for a morning jog, you'd strap on your holster and insert your trusted pistol. When heading out to work in public among unpredictable situations, you'd load your trusted defensive firearm. In fact millions of Americans still do this...silently.

So what changed that created the perception that these people are dangerous? Are there so many more people running around threatening us and provoking people with guns that this fear is justified by our societal experience? That hasn't been my experience. In fact, where I live, seeing someone with a gun is extremely rare, despite the fact that gun sales top the nation in my home state. It's estimated that 1/3 of households in the US have at least 1 firearm in them. Clearly, they are extremely common, and for every firearm, there is a person who owns it. There are millions of gunmen and gunwomen out there today. If you live in the inner city, then perhaps you have had negative experiences with firearms and gangs. I'll give you that, but those people are criminals, not the normal everyday gun owner that you're most likely to encounter.

So what happened?

I recently heard this myth promulgated by the media following a recent home invasion and murder. The news media was reporting that the "gunman was on the loose" and police were in pursuit of "the gunman" as if a gunman being out on their own free will is a problem and police would naturally pursue a gunman. Murders out on the loose are a problem. I'm a gunman. Me being on the loose is not a problem. I have a completely clear and clean record and am out on my own free will. Does that make me a danger? Absolutely not. My character and record prove otherwise.

In fact, in order to purchase a firearm in America, you have to pass a federal background check orchestrated by the FBI. Yes, every new firearm purchase has to be essentially approved by the FBI and the person purchasing the firearm vetted. That essentially means, just about every gunman out there is a safe, law abiding citizen with a clean record. In fact that means if you see a gunman while in public, you are probably safer with them that without them, because the criminals among us - the real dangers to our society - obtain firearms in illegal ways and aren't vetted by law enforcement. Law breakers on the loose are the problem, not gunmen.

You might be thinking, "well, you aren't the problem, the gun is the problem. It's dangerous because it can kill." I've heard that before too. Here's the problem; guns can't kill. If I load a firearm and set it on a table in a room crowded with people, it won't just start killing. If it is left there, even with a bullet in the chamber, no one will be harmed. Someone has to pick up that firearm, point it at someone else, and intentionally pull the trigger. That is a very intentional action. In fact, most "self defense" firearms sold on the market today have multiple safety features built into them to make sure that if you pull that trigger all the way, you really meant it. You can't just put light pressure on the trigger (except for with single action revolvers), and it will accidentally go off. No, there are no accidental shootings. Firearms are built so that the action has to be very intentional, and the motion specific. You see, it's not the object that's the danger, it's the person yielding it that is the problem.

You might object saying, "well, I understand that, but I don't trust everyone else in that room with a loaded firearm." Ok, fine, but you trust that everyone around you on the road has a drivers license, isn't under the influence of an intoxicating substance, is in their right state of mind, is fully paying attention, and has maintained their vehicle to make sure it's operating perfectly. You trust all of them with an object that can very easily become a lethal weapon, yet you don't trust a room of strangers around a loaded firearm? I think the average person is far more likely to get behind a car they've never driven, then they are to pick up a firearm they've never fired.

Just because someone owns a firearm, and you see it with them, does not mean your life is in any more danger than any other moment of your existence. In fact, I'd say you are probably safer with that person than away from them.

Before I end this though, I must say, if you see someone with a firearm, do assess the situation and follow your instinct in that moment - even if your instinct is based on miss-understanding. The reality is there are murderers among us and they use firearms as weapons. They are extremely rare...but they are out there.

Thanks and be safe.

Firearms Myth 8: Spraying Bullets

One of my all time favorite movies is Red, starring Bruce Willis, John Malcovich, Morgan Freeman, Karl Urban, Helen Mirren, and others. Just a fun movie all around. Unfortunately, it's also very much Hollywood, which means it continues the tradition of creating myths around firearms. The one I want to address this time is the myth that you can keep on spraying bullets from a standard rifle for long periods of time. It makes for great action scenes in movies, but it's a myth unless you have a very specific setup. More specifically, you can't spray bullets for extended periods of time from a standard-issue military rifle like an M4, nor from it's civilian cousin, the AR-15 as are commonly used in movies where the spraying happens.

I'll give you an example.

There's a scene toward the very beginning of this movie, where Bruce Willis' character is attacked in his home. I won't spoil anything, but there comes a point where an assault crew brings in fully automatic rifles (look like M4s plus one SAW), and for several moments, just sprays the home under attack with bullets. In fact, it's a stream of continuous fire for almost 30 seconds by my count. You don't get any long detailed shots of the rifles being used, but based on their appearance, at least 2 of them are M4s with standard 30 round magazines. The assailants are wearing standard tactical vests, which on average can easily hold 12 magazines. Now, I won't go into it in this article, but there's a huge difference between the rifles you see in this clip and rifles that look like them that you can buy at your local gun shop (in free states that is).

Take a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WxZOes2Na0

Now let's take a look at reality. The M4 documented rate of fire is between 750-950 rounds per minute in full-auto mode (a mode unavailable to most Americans). That's the military rifle that many in the media equate to the semi-automatic AR-15 cousins many of us own. The two are not the same, but again, that's another article. As for the rate of fire, let's split the difference and assume the M4 is capable of 800 rounds per minute. For brevity, rate of fire represents the frequency at which a firearm can launch a projective. In laymen's terms, it can shoot 800 bullets in a minute. That's about 13 per second. The standard magazine for an M4, including the ones visible in the Red clip above, have a 30 round capacity. Drum style magazines (not observed in the movie) have a capacity of 100 rounds. That means to empty an entire standard magazine while in full auto mode would take less than 3 seconds. In fact, closer to 2 seconds. A 100 round drum (again, not used in this movie) would be emptied in about 8 seconds.

Firing continuously for 30 seconds as is shown in the movie, using standard 30 round magazines isn't possible. One would need a magazine with a capacity of about 390 rounds to accomplish that. If you used 30 round magazines and wanted to fire for 30 seconds as continuously as possible, you would need 13 magazines and 12 reloads. Now, given the tactical vests the assailants in the movie are using, it's possible they could have done that with minimal time between each reload. If you wanted to extend the firing time, you could use 4 drum magazines and 3 reloads, but they didn't do that.

In other words, what they did is not possible. So, if you believe that an AR-15 can just be used to spray bullets for minutes at a time, I hope I've corrected the record for you.

Now, the story continues it's absurdity (although fun). These assailants stop spraying the home from the outside, and decide to enter. They still haven't reloaded at this point, but even if we're to assume they did, given the standard tactical vests they appear to be wearing, they would be out of ammo when they walked into the house. Not a great idea if you are trying to take out a Bruce Willis character, but hey, it's a movie.

The only exception to this is the assailant with the SAW rifle who uses a belt to feed his machine gun it's ammunition. With a long enough belt, there's the potential that he could spray for 30 seconds, but I don't know much about that platform, so I won't comment on that.

Now, you may be thinking, "come on, it's a move, don't be so particular." I'm right there with you. I love that scene even though it's absurd. Here's the problem though. People see that scene and think it's a realistic representation of what those firearms are capable of. That's the experience they've had with a rifle like that, so when the media or politicians say things like "no one should be allowed to spray bullets from an AR-15," that's the image that may come to their mind, and they may be inclined to agree. They may see an AR-15 and think "why would someone want the ability to spray out a seemingly endless stream of bullets?" The problem is, no one can...at least not with the platform depicted in the movie that politicians will hold up in a press conference claiming they are trying to protect the public from.

It's movies like this, that while fun, fuel the miss-information out there and establish perceptions that many of us are judged against. Why would I want a firearm that can spray bullets continuously like that? I don't know, for fun I suppose. It's a civil right, so why not? But my point is, don't make those assumptions about that firearm platform or about owners of that platform. It's not real.

Thanks and be safe.

To The Range - First Time or Getting Back

Background

Did you just buy a firearm? New to shooting and going to the range for the first time? Has it been so long that you forgot what to expect. No problem, I'm here to help. We all know the feeling. Firearms can be very intimidating to new or inexperienced shooters, and there are so many things to remember including that long list of rules the range will ask you to review before you enter your lane. Let's ease you into that experience by establishing some expectations up front.

Safety Reminder

Before you start, let's remember the safety fundamentals:

1. Always assume the firearm is loaded
2. Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot
3. Keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction and never toward anything you aren't willing to destroy
4. Be sure of your target and what's behind it

Before You Go

Read the Manual

I know many people have a natural tendency to skip reading owners manuals, but this is one you cannot skip. Owners manuals are usually a short read but contain critical information. Read it. Make sure you understand it. Read your firearm. Key pieces of information including caliber & some warning will be printed on the firearm itself.

Familiarize Yourself With the Firearm

Long before you hit the range, say a few weeks or at least a few days, pull your firearm out and become familiar with it. Make sure it's unloaded, and start handling the firearm in a safe way. Get a good feel for the grip. Try different grips to find the hand placement that works for you. If you are shooting a semi-automatic, practice moving the slide back and forward smoothly in a controlled manner (don't let it slam forward). Practice locking the slide back. If it's a rifle or shotgun, practice the action (pump, lever, bolt etc.). Get a feel for how it works. Pick up the firearm and practice aiming (in a safe direction while it's unloaded). Be sure you know how to grip and manage the firearm well, rehearsing in your head the shooting dynamics. For semi-automatics, with the firearm and magazine unloaded, practice inserting an empty magazine and releasing it.

Practice safety steps like ensuring the firearm is unloaded and safe. Make sure all the components are secure. Check your magazines to make sure the springs seem to be functioning well. If your firearm has a detachable magazine, load and unload the magazine a few times to make sure you have that down and to check the magazine itself under pressure. Field strip the firearm. Yep, take it apart (the major components) and inspect them. Make sure you have oil/lube in the right places, and that the barrel is clean and dry. 

Clean It

When you purchased your firearm, you should have purchased a cleaning kit with it. If you didn't, do so right now, before you use the firearm. Some firearms come with factory lube or oil that will help the firearm function without needing to clean it before first use, however it's considered best practice to clean and oil the firearm before you take your first shot. Cleaning it will also give you an opportunity to practice handling the firearm and inspecting the components - especially the barrel. The owners manual will describe how to clean & oil the firearm, but Hickok45 has some great tutorials for different firearm types:

Glock Cleaning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZf4mUM10Vc
Revolver Cleaning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiWNZgtu2uw&nohtml5=False
AR Cleaning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwK3j615734&nohtml5=False
1911 Cleaning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wPPUXU3Lhc&nohtml5=False

Practice

I highly recommend purchasing Snap Caps for your firearm as they allow you to safely load, chamber a round, and practice pulling the firearm's trigger. Snap Caps are "blanks" that don't actually make a sound when you pull the trigger, but allow you to repeatedly dry-fire your firearm without causing any damage. Do that a few times just to get the feel of the trigger and to practice the mechanics of loading, aiming, and pulling the trigger.

Eyes and Ears

Make sure you have a good set of eye and ear protection before you head to the range. You can most likely rent a set there, but a basic set will cost you no more than $30-$40 dollars, so it's well worth the investment.

At the Range

When you arrive, if it's your first time or if you haven't been in a while, you'll likely be asked to review safety information & range rules. You may be asked to present your firearms & ammunition to ensure they are safe (unloaded) and of an ammunition type that is approved by your range. Some ranges will ask you to answer a series of questions about the material you read. Don't worry, and don't get stressed out. Most of the information will be common sense.

Oh, and don't forget to grab a few targets. When selecting targets, choose ones that will be useful to help you train - shooting in small groups in a controlled manner. You might be tempted to pick up a zombie target or a hostage target. That's fine too, but I find that target sheets that have multiple targets on them are the best bang for my buck.

In the Booth

Ok, it's time to get serious. Breath, relax. This is where I started freaking out on my first range visit. I was alone in that booth, alone on the range, with my firearm and ammunition. Take a few breaths. There's no rush. No pressure. Unpack your firearm and point the barrel down range. Pull out your ammunition and magazines and set them beside your firearm. Keep the area as clear as you can and make sure your eyes and ears are on.

If you are pistol shooting, I recommend you set your target between 5-7 yards away. That may not seem like much, but trust me. If you are rifle shooting, try 25 yards to start. Once you feel comfortable, you can always move that target. Right now, it's about easing into this process as safely, securely, and comfortably as possible.

Load up a magazine (or cylinder), and chamber a round.

Stance & Grip

There are many ways to stand and shoot, but there are generally two types used by professionals: the weaver and the isosceles. Google them for some video tutorials. Try these two out and go with what works for you. You can place your feet in a parallel stance, with both arms extended straight in front of you, parallel, gripping the firearm grip with your dominant hand, while wrapping the other hand around it. Alternately, you can stand with your dominate foot behind your other foot. This will naturally turn your body slightly. Grip the pistol with your dominant hand, arm straight, wrapping your other hand around the first, but bending your second arm slightly. Either way, once you have a strong stance, lean forward slightly and bring the firearm up to your eye level.

Rifles are different of course since one had will be on the grip, the other on the fore-end. There's not a lot of variation here. If your range allows it (and you aren't shooting a shotgun), try shooting from a seated position first.

Make sure you have a firm grip, but don't squeeze too hard. Just firm.

A few side notes about your grip. First, if you are shooting a semi-automatic pistol, keep your hand and fingers away from the slide. Don't have any part of your hand touching the slide, or directly behind the slide. If you do, it can cause a minor injury when a shot is fired. Second, if you are shooting a revolver, keep your hands clear of the cylinder (behind and below). If you are too close, you'll feel a blast. If you are even closer. Well...

Sight Picture

This is going to vary from firearm to firearm, but I'll speak from generalities. If you are shooting a pistol, you should have a sight picture that presents 3 dots to you or 3 points of reference: two at the rear of the slide or pistol, one at the front of the barrel or slide. You want those three dots to line up, or if you don't have dots, you want the front sight to fill the space between the rear sights. For AR sights, you want that front post in the center of your rear sight. Focus on the front sight or front dot and look through it toward your target. You want that front dot directly where you want to make a hole or impact on your target.

Before You Pull the Trigger

More safety information for you. Don't pull that trigger yet. After you do, if you've pulled that trigger all the way back and nothing happens. Stop. Don't pull it again. Keep the firearm pointed down range for a good 30+ seconds. You may have a round in the chamber that has a delayed ignition and it could go off at any moment. With the firearm pointed down range, drop the magazine, then pull the slide fully rearward and lock it back. Inspect the chamber and make sure it is clear. If the round is still chambered, put the firearm down and go get help.

If you pull the trigger and hear the boom, the slide retracts, but doesn't close all the way, stop. Drop the magazine by pressing the magazine release button and removing it. Pull the slide fully rearward and lock it. Inspect the chamber. The brass may not have fully ejected and may have caused some other problem. Clear the brass. If a round is in the chamber, drop the slide gently, and pull it back again. Repeat a few times to make sure that round is extracted successfully.

Trigger Pull

Ok, take a few deep breaths again. Relax. The gun is about to go boom and you are about to feel recoil. The recoil won't hurt, but the shot will surprise you. Let it happen. The key here is aim, but don't worry so much about being precise. Your first few shots should be about getting comfortable with pulling the trigger, feeling the recoil, and hearing the sound. You need to aim and be sure of your target, but try to focus on just getting to know the experience, and no so much about shot placement. You'll probably be tempted right away to change your grip. Go for it.

Some keys here. I recommend pulling that trigger slowly, all the way rearward, then releasing after the boom. Do that a few times. You'll notice there is a bit of up-take before the firing pin strikes the primer (before the boom). This is a safety feature in semi-automatic pistols, giving you a chance to be sure you want to pull that trigger. In double action revolvers, this is part of the cycling process. Every gun is different, so you want to really get to know that feeling, and get to know when the "click" or "bang" will happen.

If you are shooting a rifle, that up-take may not be present. As soon as the trigger moves on a stock AR for example, it goes bang.

Follow-Up Shots

Ok, now that you have the initial experience under your belt. Have fun. Enjoy the next however many shots. Try variations on target distance. Shoot in groups and change targets once you lose track of where the last hole was. You need to be able to discern where that last shot went so you know where to aim for the next shot. Take it easy, stay in control, breathe, and have fun!

Be safe and have fun.

Firearms Myth 7: Gun Ownership is Rare

Ok, this one really bugs me. It's not necessarily a stated myth. It's more implied by nature of the media and Democrat politicians demonizing gun ownership in America as some fringe, legacy attribute of our Republic left over from the days of hunting. It's perpetuated by politicians who pass laws restricting the purchasing process, ownership, or ammunition supply, claiming those laws keep firearms out of the hands of criminals. See the implication there? It's that most people engaged in purchasing firearms or related goods, have malicious intent or are up to no good. By creating this image that pro-gun people are either legacy in mindset or malicious in nature, the media and politicians are planting the thought in your mind that gun owners are few and far between.

As gun sales are currently surging at record numbers, there are also ongoing attempts by mainstream media outlets to say gun ownership is actually declining. Yep. Crazy huh? I've cited a few articles below where these media outlets - in the same article - present a series of facts (selected facts) and then present their analysis, based on a ton of unstated assumptions, to try to get you to think that gun ownership is declining. To the myth!

Firearms Myth 7: Gun ownership is rare.

This myth couldn't be further from the truth. I'll even use the mainstream media's data points & articles to illustrate this.

According to a 2013 report from the Pew Research Center (see http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/06/04/a-minority-of-americans-own-guns-but-just-how-many-is-unclear/), 1/3 of Americans admitted that someone in their household owns a firearm. Sure, that is a minority of the population, but consider that for a moment. One out of every three houses on your street, in your neighborhood, in your apartment complex, contains a gun owner. The Pew Research Center goes on to estimate there are around 310 million firearms owned privately in the US, enough to arm every man, woman and child. That's a lot of owners, and a lot of firearms. As a side note, given liberal democrat hysteria about firearm ownership, you'd think with 1/3 households owning firearms, there would be mass shootings or gun battles on every street corner. One article below even claims suicide rates increase with gun ownership, yet nationally, as gun ownership increases, homicides and suicides involving a firearm are dropping drastically.

Now, a quick caveat. Statistics on gun ownership are generally believed to be on the low-end because many survey responders who are gun owners are hesitant to provide specifics due to privacy concerns. So gun ownership numbers are likely lower than actuals.

Let's restate that. It's likely that at least 1 out of every 3 homes in America contains a firearm owner, and that number is likely low.

Not so rare after-all. In fact, recent studies have shown gun ownership in America is skyrocketing with monthly sales continuing to set records and doubling in figures since 2011.

According to the NRA-ILA (see here https://www.nraila.org/articles/20150911/summer-2015-new-record-for-gun-sales), FBI data indicates firearms sales in the US increased month-over-month for 8 straight months in 2015, with more recent articles indicating 2016 is continuing the trend. The trend or surge started in 2010, when Democrats starting with President Obama began threatening new legislation to restrict firearm ownership. Surges have also followed terrorist attacks, and the growing ISIS threat. Regardless, the data says gun purchases have been increasing since 2010 and are still growing.

Another study by the Pew Research Center in 2015 showed that the majority of Americans at 52% favor securing gun rights for Americans and decreasing restrictions on purchasing & ownership. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/17/despite-lower-crime-rates-support-for-gun-rights-increases/

Here's another fun trend. According to data in 2015 published by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), women represent a considerable demographic of new gun owners. According to their research, more than 30% of gun purchases since 2010 (the current surge), were by women. Further, more than 40% of women who own a gun, personally own more than 1 and have purchased them in the past 10 years. Other data suggests these numbers are even higher in 2016. See here http://www.gunsandammo.com/gun-culture/women-gun-owners-nssf-1/. Among many women surveyed, they cite personal defense as the primary reason to purchase a new firearm. That aligns with FBI statistics on the growing number of CCW applications. Threats are increasing and people want the assurance that if confronted with a personal threat, they will have the upper hand.

Now let's look at the numbers in another way.

According to data from the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/10/21/the-average-gun-owner-now-owns-8-guns-double-what-it-used-to-be/), the average gun owner in America owns more than 8 firearms. I'll say that again. The average gun owner in America owns more than 8 firearms. That's 2013 data, during the period of record breaking sales that are increasing in volume & frequency. It's likely well beyond 8 firearms per owner at this point. Well beyond in fact, as the Washington Post also claims (although there's no hard data to support this), that many new purchases are by existing gun owners. If that's true, then the ratio of guns to owners is rapidly increasing.

So, let's correlate that to the households statistic. If every owner owns at least 8 guns, and there's an owner in 1 of every 3 homes in America, that's far more than 2 firearms for every home. That supports the Pew Research Center's assertion that there are enough firearms for every man, woman, and child in America.

Now, the Washington Post article goes on to claim that the number of households containing a firearm is down from the 50% rate observed in the 70s, thus inferring that gun ownership is on the decline. That's their guess, and not necessarily supported by the data. In fact the data directly conflicts with that myth. You see what's happening? They give you data, then twist it with their analysis to leave you with a myth. With gun sales skyrocketing today, and most buys being first-time buyers, that tells us ownership on a per capita perspective is steadily rising, despite the surveys.

The Washington Post also commented in one recent story that along with gun sales, applications for CCWs are increasing. Now, that doesn't necessarily imply a 1:1 ratio of new gun owners, but it does imply more interest in concealed carry. The Washington Post also noted (here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/05/gun-sales-hit-new-record-ahead-of-new-obama-gun-restrictions/) that gun sales surge after tragic events and calls from politicians for new gun control. That could indicate existing gun owners are buying up before new restrictions are implemented, but that doesn't answer the correlation between a tragedy, calls for CCWs, and new purchases. That correlation actually implies new owners. In fact, surveys following tragedies like mass shootings and terrorist attacks, show overwhelming support among the public for increased gun ownership and decreased restrictions. That's right. The Washington Post says ownership is declining, but people purchasing guns say the opposite.

I wonder if these media outlets actually talk to gun owners. In my own experience at local shops and ranges, I often see first time buyers. In fact, the majority of people hovering around the gun counter seem to be novices.

The numbers are muddy as you can tell. So are some of the articles I've referenced as the news outlets taint their analysis with their anti-gun agenda, again, trying to dispense the myth that gun ownership is rare. It's not. It's extremely popular and increasing, with national support for gun rights on the rise.

Myth busted.

Firearms Myth 6: AR stands for Assault Rifle

Ok, straight to the chase on this one. There are several related myths that I'll join into this one parent myth often perpetuated by the media. I'm sure you've heard it:

Firearms myth 6: AR stands for assault rifle.

The example or image used by the media and anti-gun people is the very common AR-15 platform. The M-16 and M-4 rifles used by the military are variations of the civilian AR-15. Often times, the media refers to these as "assault rifles" as do politicians. In fact, search for assault rifle ban and you'll see images of politicians handling AR-15s. Well it's in the name isn't it? Doesn't AR in AR-15 stand for assault rifle?

Uh, no.

That's the first problem. The AR in AR-15 stands for ArmaLite, the original designer & manufacturer of the rifle who sole the rights to the design to Colt in 1959. Today, many other manufacturers produce variants of the AR-15, so the name persists, although some manufactures such as Smith & Wesson have opted to dump the AR designation, replacing it with something unique. In the S&W example, their AR variant is designated the M&P 15. It's still an AR.

Regardless of the name, the media still likes to use that rifle as synonymous with the term "assault" Here's problem #2. A rifle is an object. Assault is an action. A rifle cannot assault anyone. You can't affix an action (a verb) to a an inanimate object. It's like calling all beer cold beer. It's not always. It depends upon what you've done with the beer - an action you must take to affect how he beer is used. You must make it cold. So is true of the AR. Any rifle can be used for assault, but simply being a rifle does not mean it will be or must be.

So, let's stop the discrimination of AR owners and labeling of inanimate objects. An AR rifle is a sporting rifle. No, it's not the same as the military M4 or M16 even if it looks similar and has similar functions. Sure, you can get military spec AR-15s, but these are still different in function, namely they are lacking the full automatic mode or "fun switch."

Stop it. It's not an assault rifle. It's an ArmaLite 15 variant. A bolt action .22 can be used for assault, just as a hammer can be. So stop perpetuating lies. Now you are informed.

Firearms Myth 5: Lots Means Malicious Intent

Disclaimer: this is a blog - a diary of my thoughts on things related to firearms. This is not intended to be a definitive guide to legal issues on firearms. These are my opinions, as they have been formed through my own private research & analysis. Do your own research. Consider this one data point.

Firearms Myth 5: Lots of <ammo or guns> means a person has malicious intent.

I'm sure you've heard it before or have read it. Some news article is released about someone who owns a lot of ammunition or firearms, and the speculation stirs:

"What were they planning to do with all those firearms?"
"Why would someone need all those firearms?"
"Why did they have all that ammunition?"
"What kind of person does that?"

The questions are often linked to an assumption that the only reason one would purchase & store numerous firearms or high quantities of ammunition, is if they had malicious intent. The media adds to the speculation - they must have been up to something - planning an attack, maybe selling firearms on the black market, maybe a crazy person storing up for armageddon.

That's all bogus. Statistically speaking, it is believed that 1/3 of US Households contain a firearm owner, and it is estimated that the average number of firearms owned by any one gun owner, is 8. Yep, 1 out of every 3 houses on your street contains around 8 firearms. If you store some range and defense ammunition for each firearm - let's just say 100 rounds (that's 2 regular sized boxes of bulk ammo), that's at least 800 rounds. 100 rounds lasts you maybe an hour at the range, so it's likely you'l store a few hundred rounds per firearm to begin with. Let's say you bought one of the bulk cases of ammunition for each of those firearms at 500 rounds each. That quickly builds up to 4,000+ rounds. Maybe your local firearm shop has a holiday sale and a case of bulk ammunition is marked at a significant discount. The cost conscious person might choose to buy another case now to save money over the year or years. Let's say there was a threat by the federal government to ban a certain type of ammunition that particular owner cherishes and they order 4 bulk cases. You can see how ammunition numbers can add up quickly. 10,000 rounds of ammunition is suddenly...actually quite reasonable.

In the initial months following the inauguration of president Obama, federal agencies began buying up ammunition at incredible rates. It became known that a policy of the administration was to create a supply problem among the public by using federal agencies to purchase all available ammunition at a rate that exceeded production. This was a method used to try to curb gun ownership without passing legislation. Ammunition became scarce and prices soared...so people stored up. They bought everything they could find, and in large quantities because they didn't know if or when supply would normalize. Fortunately, manufacturing caught up, and public scrutiny on these federal purchases caused the administration to back down. One of the results now, was people with large quantities of ammunition stored, and the concern that it could happen again - thus driving more bulk buying.

Ok, ammo makes sense, but wait...what about that estimate of 8 firearms per gun owner in America. Isn't that extreme? Why so many?

Simple. Let's say you start your journey into firearms ownership, as most people do, for personal defense reasons. You do your research, and decide a pistol fits your needs. Not sure where to start, but the store clerk recommends a Glock 19 as a good all-around pistol. Great. Purchase #1. You take it to the range, and enjoy shooting it. You get pretty good. But, it doesn't feel exactly the way you hoped it would in your carry option and you either plan to concealed carry (legally) in public or at home. Then, a manufacturer comes out with a new model that looks better; a slim package that feels great in your hand. M&P Shield becomes purchase #2. You take it to the range, and realize shooting is just fun period. Soon, you start inviting friends, and one of your friends brings along a rifle. You try it out and realize rifle shooting is fun too. You do your research, and decide to purchase something easy to shoot and readily available, let's say an AR-15. Great. Purchase #3. You love shooting it, and while at the range, you see people shooting clay targets with shotguns. Mossberg 500 is purchase #4.

See where I'm going with this? It adds up fast. Let's say you become so interested, you want to buy one firearm of each of the major designs:

1. Striker fired semi-automatic pistol
2. Hammer fired semi-automatic pistol
3. Revolver
4. Semi-automatic rifle
5. Shotgun
6. Bolt action rifle
7. Lever action rifle
8. Rimfire rifle

That's 8. If you plus 1 any of those categories, let's say for another caliber choice or frame size in the same function category, that easily gets you beyond the national average.

Is that extreme? Well, let's compare it to other sports. Let's pick on golf. Does a golfer hit the course with 1 club? Nope. He hits the range geared up with a bag that contains likely 10-11 clubs. Each club is intended for a different purpose. How about someone passionate about physical fitness. Do they purchase 1 exercise tool or 1 weight? Nope. Often times, they have multiple exercise platforms and multiple weights. I've known people who transformed their entire garage into a personal gym. I've known others who simply transform a room with a multi-purpose set, a stationary bike, some free weights, and maybe a yoga ball & some other accessories. What about a mechanic or wood worker? They don't just buy 1 set of wrenches or 1 saw. They have loads and loads of tools for different functions & capabilities. All of these different tools are designed for different purposes and we have no problem with bikers with multiple bikes, exercise buffs with loads of gear, golfers with 10, 11, 15, 20 clubs etc.

So should be true with firearms. A .22 rimfire is great for cheap, fun plinking or for beginners. 9mm is a great all-purpose round. Semi-automatic pistols are great all-around platforms but come in many shapes & configurations depending upon use. Then there's rifles of various types & calibers. There are lots of these "tools" and lots of them are collectables. It's totally normal for a firearm owner to have several firearms.

Let's explore this along another common path: hunting. You start with an interest in deer hunting and looking at your options, settle on a bolt-action rifle in a moderate caliber, say a Remington 700 in .270. Great, gun #1. You start practicing at the range and have a lot of fun. You realize having a sidearm while out on the hunt is probably a good idea (and recommended by your hunting buddies). You look around and choose a revolver because of the higher caliber options available to you, and since you plan on being out in the woods, who knows what you might encounter. You need 100% reliability. That shot must go off. Smith & Wesson 629 becomes gun #2. This combination works for a while, then a friend of yours invites you turkey hunting...gunna need a shotgun. Mossberg 930 becomes gun #3. That works. Now you want to have some fun, cost-effective plinking time in the off-season to continue maturing your skills. Enter Ruger 10/22 and gun #4. After a few years, you decide to up your game again and go for elk. You'll need a larger caliber...let's say a Ruger American in .308. Gun #5. See what I mean? Yeah, but that's a hunter, you say.

How about military (active or inactive)? You were trained to shoot and love it. Let's assume you start with what's familiar: an AR-15, a Beretta 92, and a 1911. That's 3 just to start. In fact, I've had friends who gifted other friends firearms as a military retirement gift. Let's say you want to do some distance shooting and add a bolt-action rifle with a scope to the mix. Now you are half the national average at 4 and loving it...but you're also interested in all those "plastic" guns you see around like Glocks or M&Ps or XDs etc. Don't look now, but you are close to the perception of being dangerous with 5 guns. Yeah, but that's military people, you say.

What about people who are history buffs and love the old west? Single action Ruger Vaquero, Marlin 1894 lever action rifle, and a Stoeger coach gun puts you just shy of the national average and still equipped to have some fun & competitive Cowboy Action shooting. Plus 1 spare or backup and you are one your way to getting sideways glances from the media. Then someone comes along with a rare piece of history - a 1911 that dates back to WWII era manufacturing. There's #4. But you say there aren't that many people out there like that.

What if you are the son or daughter of a hunter and you grew up shooting with your family. You have one or two firearms of your own that were perhaps purchased for you. Then, one day, you choose to buy one of your choice - just for you. That's 3. Then, your father passes away and leaves you with his collection of 8 firearms...well you just jumped the national average overnight. Does that really happen, you ask? Yep.

What about that person who just wants a firearm for self defense only. A woman who wants to ensure she always has the upper hand when danger comes lurking. Maybe a man who thinks it's a good idea to have a firearm in the house to protect his family...just a good idea. Cool, both people will start with 1 and may stay there. But, according to national averages, that's the rare exception. Maybe they decide their spouse or significant other should be armed as well. That's 2, and if you enjoy the sport, watch out.

Bottom line is, it's very reasonable and normal for a person to own 4-10 firearms and with those firearms, thousands and thousands, maybe ten-thousand rounds of ammunition or more.

All of these categories of people are normal, every-day, law abiding citizens who purchase legally, are responsible owners, and shoot regularly. They mean no harm and have no malicious intent. Yet they own what the media or non-gun owners would consider a large number of firearms. Should we roll our eyes at them and ask questions assuming malicious intent? No! Why would we assume the worst in each other?

At the end of the day, it's the person's actions or influences we should be concerned about, not the tool or the quantity of tools.