Part XIV: First-Time Shooters
As someone who has dedicated myself to turning America back into a Nation of Riflemen, I’ve been really remiss in guiding people along the first steps. The most common question I get asked is: If I want to become a shooter, where do I start in terms of the gun(s) I should get?
Now, I try to answer each letter on a personal basis—everyone has different needs and concerns—but really, what is needed is a basic idea.
So here we go with some recommendations (others may differ; void where prohibited).
I always recommend that the beginner shooter should learn with a .22 pistol, preferably a semi-automatic. Firstly, a .22 pistol has no recoil to speak of, and the ammo is cheap, so practice can be frequent (which it should be for everyone, but the beginner most of all). Secondly, the act of shooting a semi-auto is less of a hassle than that of a revolver (like learning to drive a car with auto, instead of a stick shift). But that’s really a question of taste. As for which gun, I’d recommend one of these:
My favorite is the Buckmark (I own three, and may still get a fourth), but other people are just as appreciative of the other two guns. It all depends on how it feels in your hand. The Beretta, if it matters, is quite a bit more expensive than the other two.
Now, some people prefer to start shooting with a revolver—there’s a little more control in that each shot requires preparation (as opposed to a semi-auto where you just pull the trigger). That being the case, if you want a .22 revolver, then there are three I’d recommend, without reservation:
- Ruger SP101. This is a double-action revolver—pulling the trigger actuates the firing mechanism. Easier to fire, not so easy to get good accuracy. (The SP101 makes for a decent little carry gun as well, in its .38 Special version.)
- Ruger Single-Six. This is a single-action revolver—you have to cock it before each shot. Slightly more ungainly, but you can shoot a SA revolver with considerable accuracy.
- S&W 617. This is also a DA revolver, and costs about $100 more than the other two—but you get a 10-shot cylinder, compared to the other two revolvers’ 6-shot cylinders.
All these guns will last you a lifetime. Don’t compromise by getting a cheaper gun—you’ll end up buying one of these anyway—and you’ll avoid problems along the way. Whatever you decide to get, expect to shoot about a thousand rounds (total cost: $45) until you get more comfortable with the whole shooting thing. And, for what it’s worth, the .22 pistol will do admirably as a self-defense piece,
if you have nothing else. (Remember that the .22 pistol is the preferred gun of real hitmen—NOT the cannons you see them using in the movies.)
And speaking of self-defense, let’s talk about that next.
Here’s what I recommend:
1. As a home-defense piece, the shotgun is the best idea, with a couple of reservations: a shotgun is somewhat unwieldy in close quarters (such as inside a room), and if loaded with buckshot, a shot can go through walls and perhaps injure someone on the other side. With those reservations in mind, here’s my recommendation:
A 20-gauge pump-action shotgun—easy to learn to use, no recoil to speak of, plenty of action on the other side of the barrel. Any one of these would be good:
(Don’t let the “youth” designation put you off. The smaller stock makes for a more-handy weapon in a confined space, and, in a pinch, your wife could use it as well.)
If you just HAVE to have a 12-gauge pump-action, then the Mossberg 500 as above will do fine, or get the tried-and-tested Winchester 1300 Defender or Remington 870, also as above. Ithaca makes excellent 12ga. pump-action shotguns, too. Be warned, however, that the 12ga. recoil takes some getting used to—ignore the sneers of the Macho Brigade: trust me, it’s not a small concern.
2. Now, as for a “bedside” gun, here’s what I have to say on the subject:
Short version: get a short-barreled revolver in .38 Special. Here you can get a secondhand gun without any qualms: this is a gun you’ll shoot a little to get used to, practice with a couple of times a year and just have around. (It also makes for an excellent carry piece —I carry one as a backup gun, myself.) And speaking of which…
3. Finally, we get to the most problematic area, the “carry” gun. Of all the different types of application, this is the one which will be most heavily influenced by personal choice. The hard-and-fast criteria are:
- concealability (must hide under your clothing)
- portability (must be comfortable to carry)
- shootability (must be easy to shoot)
- lethality (must be able to take down a goblin)
Remember, the most important thing about a carry gun is that you carry it—it’s no use at home.
During the winter months, when I’m wearing a coat, I carry a .45 pistol; in summer months, when the clothing is lighter, I carry a snub-nosed .38 Special revolver.
I used to make all sorts of hard rules about carry guns, but it’s pointless, really. What you’ll carry is what you’re most comfortable carrying and shooting. Here are a few recommendations:
This is by no means a comprehensive list, of course, just an indicative one, but it should do to start off with.
My only caveat with a carry piece (and especially a smaller gun) is that you must, repeat must load it with premium defensive ammo like Federal Hydra-Shok, Winchester SXT, Remington Gold Saber or CCI/Speer Gold Dot. Glaser Safety Slugs are also an option—in several of my guns, the first round to come out of the muzzle is a Glaser, the rest are premium hollowpoints.
In any event, try all different types of ammo—then pick one that feels the best to you, and buy up a decent supply (minimum 100 rounds). Practice your shooting at least once a month: your life may depend on it. Practice drawing and firing (with an empty gun, duh) constantly, until it becomes second nature and you don’t have to think about it.
Oh, and incidentally, here’s what I think all “beginner armories” should contain:
1. A .22 pistol
2. A 20-ga. pump-action shotgun
3. A .22 rifle
4. A medium-caliber “bedside” gun
5. A large-caliber pistol
6. A SHTF gun—although the shotgun will do sterling duty in that regard, nothing says “Keep Away!” like a decent semi-auto rifle—what the gun-fearing wussies (GFWs) would refer to as an “assault” rifle, like the AK-47 or Armalite AR-10.
That’s an absolute minimum of
four guns—the .22 rifle and pistol for practice, fun, and all-round housekeeping; a shotgun/SHTF gun, and a self-defense bedside / carry handgun.
There you have it: what I consider the basis of a decent firearm portfolio—one that will satisfy quite admirably the requirements of a citizen militia. And, as a side benefit, it will give you endless hours of shooting fun, too.
Finally, remember that without ammo, a gun is just an expensive club. Always have enough on hand ("enough" being at least 1,000 rounds of .22 LR, and 100 rounds for each other gun). Don’t listen to the fools who ask, “Why do you need so much ammo?” Gun ownership is not about “need”—it’s about preparedness.
Shoot safely, be prepared, and keep ‘em in the X-ring.
