Top 5 Tips for Buying a Gun

So you’ve decided to buy a gun. Great! Where do you start? Do you get a rifle? Maybe a shotgun? A pistol? How much money are you willing to spend? Choosing a gun can seem like a very daunting task. Lucky for you, we’ve put together these five tips to help you choose the right gun for you. 

1.       Decide what it’s for. What purpose is the gun going to serve? Is it for sports and recreation? Is it for home defense? Are you looking for a gun for concealed carry? Maybe just a new gun to add to the collection? The answers to these questions will help you narrow down the choices and get you on track to choosing the right gun for you.

2.       Establish a budget. How much are you willing to spend? $500? $1,000? Knowing how much you plan to spend beforehand can help you in your decision-making process. Don’t forget about applicable taxes and background check fees.

3.       Review your options. Once you have decided the purpose of your new gun and established a budget, visit Sumner Gun & Supply and ask to see as many guns as you can. Tell an associate, “I’m looking for a concealed carry gun and I’m looking to spend about $500.” Or “I’m looking for a home defense gun; I’d really like a shotgun that costs less than $400.” This helps them know exactly what you are looking for and they can then show you several options.

4.       Try before you buy. Most gun ranges, including Sumer Gun & Supply, have a selection of rental guns. If possible, try the gun before you buy it. Maybe the gun you were looking at has more recoil than you expected. Maybe it’s too big or too small. Maybe it just doesn’t feel right, or you don’t like the trigger. Trying a gun before you buy it can help prevent you from buying a gun you don’t like. Also consider asking friends or family members if they have similar guns you can try.

5.       Accessories. Don’t forget to add accessories into your budget. For rifles, you will want to consider a set of iron sights, a scope, or a red dot sight, a sling, and possibly a bipod. For pistols, don’t forget about spare magazines. And for rifles, pistols, or shotguns, you will need ammunition. All of these items can be found at Sumner Gun & Supply or on our website sumnergunstore.com.

Following these five tips will help you on your gun-buying journey. And be sure to check our website sumnergunstore.com for more options. If it’s not in-stock in our store, it may be available from one of our distributors. Also, don’t forget to get some training with your new gun. Check out sumnergunstraining.com for a list of all the classes we offer.