Tips for buying first gun?

[zeenon53]

I've noticed that there are a few gun owners on this bored, all of which know more than me. I've been wanting to buy a gun for a long time and went shooting with a friend and the wife for the first time before x-mas. After thinking it over for a while I still want one, and the wife is on board.

In NC I can pretty much walk into the shop, fill out paperwork, and walk out with a rifle. I already have the paperwork to get my handgun permit but figured I would start off with a rifle. That leads me to either an AK-47 or AR-15. My main concerns are reliability and ease of use. What is the best way to go about buying a gun? There is only one gun store within an hour of me so they pretty much set the bar. I want to make sure i'm getting a good deal.

[Express]

pretty sure your first gun should not be an AR or an AK.

you have a little bit of learning to do.

[CamelBiscuit]

If it was me---- AR-15. Hands down.

[Fredds112]

First gun I bought when i turned 18 was an AR15.

While I may not agree with havequick on football teams I do agree with him on this one. All you really have to choose is whether you want a Direct Impingement or Piston AR. After you do that, there is an infinite amount of aftermarket things that you can do to it, if you want.

[CamelBiscuit]

Originally Posted by Fredds112

First gun I bought when i turned 18 was an AR15.

While I may not agree with havequick on football teams I do agree with him on this one. All you really have to choose is whether you want a Direct Impingement or Piston AR. After you do that, there is an infinite amount of aftermarket things that you can do to it, if you want.

I'm a pats fan. I lost a bet.

[E90SoFlo]

Originally Posted by Express

pretty sure your first gun should not be an AR or an AK.

you have a little bit of learning to do.

why?

[ChaneRZ]

Just get an AR, AK , and handgun. That's what I did.

[Gregxi]

Originally Posted by HaveQuick

I'm a Giants fan. I love a Eli.

fify

[CamelBiscuit]

Originally Posted by Gregxi

fify

Not cool Greg.

[CamelBiscuit]

Originally Posted by ChaneRZ

Just get an AR, AK , and handgun. That's what I did.

Holy crap red dawn!!!

[Redcapote]

New member here, but have owned a variety of firearms, am ex-military, and have had a FL Concealed Weapons permit.

The question that may be most important is what do you want this firearm for? Do you want it for home protection? Do you want it just to take to the range and have fun? Do you want something more focused on long-range accuracy because you have a long-distance range close to home?

Ammunition after about 2004 started to climb in price to pretty much double in price by 2008. So if you're going for home protection to protect your family, nothing beats a 12 gauge shotgun. If you could only have one firearm for your home, without a doubt a 12 gauge is best for a variety of reasons (such as, a .223 round out of an AR-15 will travel through walls more than you want for legal implication reasons). If you want my recommendation on a concealed carry handgun, I'm very much a fan of the Walther PPS 9mm. And I've had lots of Glocks, when I discovered the Walther I never went back to a Glock. If you want the best ammunition in a handgun, go to Double Tap Ammo. If you want the best ammunition (accuracy-wise) in an AR-15, go Federal Match. Noveske makes the highest quality AR's in the world. You'll pay, but it's the M5 of AR's. Most importantly, if this is your first firearm, learn the laws, pay for some training, be safe, and remember it's always loaded. It's always loaded. It's ALWAYS loaded. Train your wife, train your kids when/if you have them.

[CamelBiscuit]

Originally Posted by Redcapote

New member here, but have owned a variety of firearms, am ex-military, and have had a FL Concealed Weapons permit.

The question that may be most important is what do you want this firearm for? Do you want it for home protection? Do you want it just to take to the range and have fun? Do you want something more focused on long-range accuracy because you have a long-distance range close to home?

Ammunition after about 2004 started to climb in price to pretty much double in price by 2008. So if you're going for home protection to protect your family, nothing beats a 12 gauge shotgun. If you could only have one firearm for your home, without a doubt a 12 gauge is best for a variety of reasons (such as, a .223 round out of an AR-15 will travel through walls more than you want for legal implication reasons). If you want my recommendation on a concealed carry handgun, I'm very much a fan of the Walther PPS 9mm. And I've had lots of Glocks, when I discovered the Walther I never went back to a Glock. If you want the best ammunition in a handgun, go to Double Tap Ammo. If you want the best ammunition (accuracy-wise) in an AR-15, go Federal Match. Noveske makes the highest quality AR's in the world. You'll pay, but it's the M5 of AR's. Most importantly, if this is your first firearm, learn the laws, pay for some training, be safe, and remember it's always loaded. It's always loaded. It's ALWAYS loaded. Train your wife, train your kids when/if you have them.

Hide your wife hide your kids.

[zeenon53]

Eventually I plan on having a nice collection of all sorts of guns. The main purpose of my first gun will be for home protection and taking to the range for fun.

[miiipilot]

Originally Posted by zeenon53

The main purpose of my first gun will be for home protection and taking to the range for fun.

Do you have access to an outdoor range or gun club or a lot of land?

The reason why I ask is if you are getting a rifle, you will not fully enjoy a higher caliber rifle (.22LR is fun indoors) if you don't have access to an outdoor range.

I was looking for a rifle. Wanted a few: PS90, Steyr Aug, MSAR STG, 552 or SCAR.

Im in Cleveland, OH and I cannot find an outdoor range within 25 miles. And the indoor ranges are all small except for 1 place. However they are just 25 yards and only allow you to have 1 round in the mag at a time.

And a .223/5.56 or 7.62/.308 wouldn't be too difficult at 25yds

Start with a pistol. You will get more use.

I bought a SIG 522 for plinking. It's cheap and fun.

[zeenon53]

There is an outdoor range close to me. There is also the local gun club.

[ChaneRZ]

Home protection should be handgun or shotgun. Using a rifle is not recommended because of over penetration and that thing will be loud!

[EINSER M]

handgun first then AR15!

[TK-421]

what he said^ (.40 Sig P226 E2 like I'm doing)

[O-cha]

I fail to see the draw of AKs and ar15s without full auto. They are just semi auto rifles with small bullets. If you want a semi auto rifle, buy something cool, like an M1.

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=640752

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by O-cha

I fail to see the draw of AKs and ar15s without full auto. They are just semi auto rifles with small bullets. If you want a semi auto rifle, buy something cool, like an M1.

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=640752

Could not disagree more (re: the AK and AR). M1s are fine.

Full auto is more about "fun" than utility (for us civilians). Anyone who knows anything about guns knows that full auto has a limited purpose, and I'll give you a hint, it's not precision shooting.

[O-cha]

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

Could not disagree more (re: the AK and AR). M1s are fine.

Full auto is more about "fun" than utility (for us civilians). Anyone who knows anything about guns knows that full auto has a limited purpose, and I'll give you a hint, it's not precision shooting.

No shit full autos for fun, so is buying a semi auto rifle, you can't use them for hunting, they have no "utility" either. So why buy an ak or ar15 that shoots little baby rounds, that's boring as hell.

Might as well get something with a little style and oomf.

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by O-cha

No shit full autos for fun, so is buying a semi auto rifle, you can't use them for hunting, they have no "utility" either. So why buy an ak or ar15 that shoots little baby rounds, that's boring as hell.

Might as well get something with a little style and oomf.

You'll go poor from shooting an M1 for fun.