Men buy a gun for lots of different reasons than women. Most women start out buying one for personal protection and then find out how fun it is! Men already know how fun it is most of the time. In general men have much fewer issues when considering a gun because of hand size, greater upper body strength and at least a general idea of what they want. But, men fall prey to the same types of traps that women do when buying a gun such as:

1. Salesperson’s recommendation because of what said salesperson (man) likes.
2. What is available.
3. Review on the internet.
4. Read an article of best guns or best guns for whatever particular use.
5. Making an incorrect decision because of lack of knowledge.

When you go to any retailer to purchase a firearm, don’t be afraid to ask questions. None of us knows everything there is to know so don’t worry about looking like a newb or a new gun owner. It’s okay to be both of those things! Don’t fall prey to feeling like they know way more than you so you should buy the gun they are recommending. There are many factors to consider just like for the ladies:

Things to consider before buying a gun!!!

• How the gun actually fits your hand.
• Shape and width of the backstrap
• Can you reach all of the controls, such as magazine release, with your dominant hand?
• For what purpose are you buying this gun?  Conceal carry?  Home protection?  Hunting?  The reason drives the end result.
• Too big or too small for your hand. Many men also have small hands and benefit from the myriad choices now out there. Those with really big hands will have lots of issues shooting teeny weeny little guns because they think it’s easier to conceal one.
• Where does the safety fall in relation to your hand?  This can really matter if you have large hands and shoot a small gun.  It can really eat into your hand.
• What is your budget?
• Not all guns are equal.  Cheaper guns have more problems such as jamming, failure to feed or extract and more.  There are many quality gun manufacturers and models at many price points.
• You can do this!!!  This is a process and a journey.  I was also a beginner once and am just further along in the same journey you are undertaking.
• It’s okay to take it slow and understand all the issues.  A lot is riding on this purchase decision and training curriculum.  Go at your own pace.
• Are there children in your home?  If so, a secure storage solution MUST be present.  There are a number of good solutions we can discuss.

Things NOT to consider before buying a gun:

• Salesperson or spouse’s recommendation.  They mean well but will likely have zero idea what you really need or what will work for you.
• Internet recommendations.  Most reviewers are men and manufacturers send them new model pistols to shoot and review favorably.  The features they like may not matter to you.  Their hands will be a different size from yours. They make it look like it will operate perfectly for you but how many takes did it take to film that video review?
• About internet research, it can be a great place to start.  But it cannot take the place of the actual holding and shooting of a gun.  You may need to shoot 10 before you settle on one that just feels right.  Consult someone qualified (me!) to help you get the right fit. Yes, gun fit is a real thing. All quality gun ranges have many makes and models you can rent. Take advantage of this as it really helps you narrow down what you like and don’t like. In order to rent guns you have to purchase ammunition from the range. All ranges that have a rental program offer very competitive pricing on ammunition.
• Caliber!!!  All calibers have plenty of stopping power.  With proper fundamentals and good training, you can learn to shoot the gun of your choice with great skill.  There are pros and cons to everything in the gun world.  And, everyone has an opinion!  Yours is the one that matters most.
• Size of the gun!!!  Small is not always better.  In fact, small is usually not better.  It takes a lot more time on target and at the range to be proficient with a small gun.
• Type of gun.  Some say semi-auto pistols are the best.  Others say revolvers.  Once you understand the issues and proper gun fit, you will decide what is best for you.

This is a very personal decision, and it should be your decision. Buying the firearm that fits your needs is a no-judgement zone! Shoot as many types as you can before you make the final choice. Take time to educate yourself. It’s better to spend time on instruction and training to help you narrow things down.  You don’t want to spend a lot of money on a pistol and discover shortly that it doesn’t really meet your needs.  It needs to be an informed decision and it’s better to make the right one the first time.

So, all the above points are a great place to start thinking about what is best for you and your situation.  I am non-judgmental and my classes/training are a non-political zone where all Americans, regardless of affiliation, are welcome.  The only “political” issue you will hear me talk about are things related to the Second Amendment.  I don’t care what color party anyone ascribes to and am here to help anyone exercise their second amendment right.

We offer a complete line of firearms education in every discipline. To view our current class list click here.