Daugherty16
New member
Safety First, Safety Last, Safety Always
Achilles, welcome to the world of firearms, and to the very best forum i have been able to find on the subject. But be careful - shooting is highly addictive and nobody can ever own enough guns. Being a well-armed and skilled shooter can also mean being habitually broke.
With that out of the way, you need to learn the rules for firearm safety, memorize them, and live them every day. Even non-gun owners should know these rules. Yes, shooting can be a safe, fun, lifelong pursuit, but it is also a deadly serious pursuit. A single accident can forever change your life or those of others. A typical handgun bullet travels at around 1200 miles per hour (rifles 2-3 times that fast), cannot be dodged, curved, or recalled once fired. So learning how to safely handle, operate, clean, store and share firearms isn't optional; gun owners assume those responsibilities upon exiting the gun store with a new purchase and the responsibility continues for life.
I like to say to those i've taught, that if you ever lose your awe and respect for the incredible power of life and death you hold in your hands, sell them and never look back. Can you have fun with guns? Yes, lots. But you never "play" with them. Ever. Look up some old threads about accidental discharges on this forum, and read about what happens from a single moment of lax attention - and mostly from lifelong shooters! And these are ones who survived their mistakes.
Know your legal standing. Some states outlaw hollow point ammunition, for example. You need to know, unquestionably, what your rights and obligations are for the state in which you live, and for any other state (or country) you will travel to with a firearm. Ignorance is never an excuse. Read the statutes, consult a lawyer, do what you have to do.
The NRA offers the most comprehensive system for training firearms instructors that i am aware of, but appleseed seems highly respected by several prior posters. Anyway, learn the 4 basic rules by heart - all gun safety essentially flows from these basics. Then you'll need some handling experience. How old are you? Can you legally buy a pistol? Then i recommend going to a local gun shop and handling some pistols. See how they feel in your hand. To your eye as you sight in on the other side of the store (pointed high enough to avoid any other people in the shop - always). Work the action, insert/eject the magazine. Thumb off the slide release and feel the slide jumping back into battery. No pressure, no ammo, just breaking your cherry, as it were.
Most states require some formal education/training before you can buy a pistol. Typically the NRA basic handgun course is sufficient, and you should be able to google up the names of local NRA-qualified instructors or check in at your local gun shop. But you have to know your laws. Then once you have a carry permit, your education is just beginning. The laws on self-defense and on lethal force are subtly different from state to state. This forum is a great place to discuss tactics and training, play out what-if scenarios, analyze real events, and share an occasional joke, but no-one can help you un-break a law after the fact. Sounds daunting? Good. That is the right frame of mind in which to start out.
If you don't take anything else from this, it is to treat firearms with respect and diligent care all your life, and they will reward you with new friends, wild game for your table, the satisfaction of well placed target rounds, and could even save your life.
Best of luck to you, and constant vigilance.
Achilles, welcome to the world of firearms, and to the very best forum i have been able to find on the subject. But be careful - shooting is highly addictive and nobody can ever own enough guns. Being a well-armed and skilled shooter can also mean being habitually broke.
With that out of the way, you need to learn the rules for firearm safety, memorize them, and live them every day. Even non-gun owners should know these rules. Yes, shooting can be a safe, fun, lifelong pursuit, but it is also a deadly serious pursuit. A single accident can forever change your life or those of others. A typical handgun bullet travels at around 1200 miles per hour (rifles 2-3 times that fast), cannot be dodged, curved, or recalled once fired. So learning how to safely handle, operate, clean, store and share firearms isn't optional; gun owners assume those responsibilities upon exiting the gun store with a new purchase and the responsibility continues for life.
I like to say to those i've taught, that if you ever lose your awe and respect for the incredible power of life and death you hold in your hands, sell them and never look back. Can you have fun with guns? Yes, lots. But you never "play" with them. Ever. Look up some old threads about accidental discharges on this forum, and read about what happens from a single moment of lax attention - and mostly from lifelong shooters! And these are ones who survived their mistakes.
Know your legal standing. Some states outlaw hollow point ammunition, for example. You need to know, unquestionably, what your rights and obligations are for the state in which you live, and for any other state (or country) you will travel to with a firearm. Ignorance is never an excuse. Read the statutes, consult a lawyer, do what you have to do.
The NRA offers the most comprehensive system for training firearms instructors that i am aware of, but appleseed seems highly respected by several prior posters. Anyway, learn the 4 basic rules by heart - all gun safety essentially flows from these basics. Then you'll need some handling experience. How old are you? Can you legally buy a pistol? Then i recommend going to a local gun shop and handling some pistols. See how they feel in your hand. To your eye as you sight in on the other side of the store (pointed high enough to avoid any other people in the shop - always). Work the action, insert/eject the magazine. Thumb off the slide release and feel the slide jumping back into battery. No pressure, no ammo, just breaking your cherry, as it were.
Most states require some formal education/training before you can buy a pistol. Typically the NRA basic handgun course is sufficient, and you should be able to google up the names of local NRA-qualified instructors or check in at your local gun shop. But you have to know your laws. Then once you have a carry permit, your education is just beginning. The laws on self-defense and on lethal force are subtly different from state to state. This forum is a great place to discuss tactics and training, play out what-if scenarios, analyze real events, and share an occasional joke, but no-one can help you un-break a law after the fact. Sounds daunting? Good. That is the right frame of mind in which to start out.
If you don't take anything else from this, it is to treat firearms with respect and diligent care all your life, and they will reward you with new friends, wild game for your table, the satisfaction of well placed target rounds, and could even save your life.
Best of luck to you, and constant vigilance.