Factors That Affect the Purchase of a Firearm

Firearm Factors to Consider

by

Thomas Macarle

CEO Mac Arms LLC

So, how do you choose the right firearm for you? This article entails some suggestions for consideration before investing a fair amount of money.

My advice is always going to be first, go for quality. Spend the extra money to get something good, especially for personal defense. If you think about it, you will want quality for the simple reason that if you ever have the need to use this firearm for defending your life, there is only one thing you need from the firearm…that it works. The aim of course is up to you, training and practice will help that increase in situations. If you take the chance to save a few bucks on quality, you risk the defense not being there when you really need it…and that is the only time when it counts. I remember a true story that I read about two hunters that were in the woods when they became separated. One stumbled into a bear in which it surprised him from behind. The hunter turned around and the bear was so close and fast that the hunter only had time to put the rifle barrel in its' mouth. He pulled the trigger and heard...click...nothing. He was severely injured as his buddy heard the screaming to come help. He did survive, although many scars tell his story. Now, I am not writing that this persons gun was not high quality, but just try to eliminate failures by going with wiser brands.

Researching brands and prices can be very long and tedious. In general, the more you spend, the more the gun is worth, the more proven it is, the higher quality. Usually again, these are the manufacturers that perform more “tests” on their firearms which equates to a slightly higher price. They are going to go that extra little bit without cutting as many corners. They are going to use more expensive materials. One other decent reason to not worry so much about the higher expense, is that they hold their value really, really well. Of course, value also depends on what you have on the gun, night sights, finishes, grips, etc….

The first thing to keep in mind when shopping for a firearms is, no matter what anyone tries to sell you, the truth is…it is what YOU like, not what the dealer wants to get rid of because it has been in inventory too long. It is not what your colleague, acquaintance, or friend thinks is awesome. It is what you feel ergonomically comfortable, the size and caliber are for your needs, the action is what you want, and the look is great as observed by you. Ultimately, you are going to use, keep, and know your firearm. Make sure it is one YOU want. Learn it and use it. Get good at shooting it on a regular basis. 

Alright, let’s get down to actual guide of purchase. There is no “set” way of what to do first, but there are important factors to consider. So many in fact that is really comes down to eliminating. The way I feel may be the best way to represent purchasing a firearm is to offer how I would select one. You can by all means choose a different order, but keep some of the factors in mind. The main factors are: manufacturer, action, caliber, ergonomics, safeties, and eye appeal. First and foremost of course is to figure out what your needs are. Are you going for concealed, open carry, short range, long range, competition, target, cowboy, personal defense? etc…

First, I would consider the manufacturer. This is where some research comes in. Choose a name that has been around for a while. However, there are many good brands out there that are not as well known. I like to have manufacturer’s that have been around a while and constructed models and gained experience of what works and what doesn’t. They have refined mechanics and functions from consumer responses and so forth. They have tested mechanics and models over time to gain a better understanding of how things work together.

Second, I look for action types. Single action, Double action, Single/double action, Double action only, bolt, pump, are some of the action types found on handguns and rifles. Research these to your liking. Details will not be written in this article. Basically, it comes down to what happens when the trigger is pulled. There are hammers, strikers, hammerless, bolt, pump, etc... types of guns. All of these are going to affect the overall function feel of the gun.

Third, caliber is a concern for needs. Factors to consider are recoil, size, and the ballistics you want. (Ballistics you can adjust a little after purchase as in the different grains and powders of bullets.) The factors for consideration on mass of the firearm is: The more massive the gun, the more inertia it will have, the more it will resist the explosion for the recoil. In essence, the more massive (heavier) the gun, the less recoil. (This is of course up to a point.) There is a balance between size, caliber, powder, and bullet. However, on the other side, the larger more massive the gun is, the heavier it is to handle and carry. So, tailor it to your needs.

Fourth, once you have a manufacturer, the action type, and caliber; look for something that is observably appealing to you. Go for cool, unique, stylish, sexy, something that rocks when you look at it. If it looks nice to you, you will take better care of it and use it.

Fifth, ergonomics. Pick up some styles of guns and make sure they feel good. Does it fit your hand well? Where ever you purchase a firearm or are just looking, go to a store that carries many of the firearms you are thinking about. Ask to hold many different models along with proper handling. (There are proper ways to hold all guns, I have seen many black eyes, bloody noses, and bloody fingers from improper handling. I have even read where competition shooters who are crazy good with handguns tried to fire a certain type of rifle and broke his teeth. So if a professional hand-gunner can do it, so can you.)

Another thing to consider applying to this guide is the amount of safeties you want on a firearm. Thumb switch safety, grip safety, bullet chamber safety, trigger pull safety, locking safeties, cocked and locked safety, de-cocker, etc... are some of the safeties offered by many manufacturers. Some people like, some people want off. Search for what you want.

In summary, it is completely up to you on which firearm you are going to choose. Looks, action, manufacturer, ergonomics, caliber, safeties, are some factors to consider when choosing a firearm. Weighing in your needs will allow you to narrow the many firearms out there to a manageable number to choose from. Remember to have fun and always maintain respect for the firearm at all times.

"One false move can change yours, others, and many lives...forever." © Mac Arms LLC.

About Author

Thomas Macarle has been the owner of Mac Arms LLC for over a year. He has instructed in physics and chemistry for over 14 years.

http://www.macarms.com