Buying guns for novice and youngsters
I have had several regrets in selling off firearms that I wish I would have held on to. One of my biggest regrets was selling a Russian Saiga rifle off because I couldn’t get anything but 5rd magazines for it, and then I found out that it was possible to legally alter the firearms so that it could take 30rd magazines. It was a very small gunsmithing alteration that would have been done in a few minutes. You just had to know that it could be done.
Another regret I had was selling off a Ruger 10/22 rifle because the gun wasn’t very accurate compared to my Marline bolt action rifles, but after taking several kids to the range, I found out that the children under 8yrs old had trouble with the length of the rifle stocks and something as small as the Ruger 10/22 would have worked since it had such a short LOP. If a gun isn’t junk, you may want to think about why you should hang on to it, because you may wish you did.
Hogue grips are molded from a synthetic rubber that will help you keep your grip during rapid fire or slow fire engagements. There are other options for replacing your factory grips on semi-autos and revolvers. Remember that it is normal to have to customize a firearms grips because all of us are not the same, and one way to improve our accuracy, and shooting skills is to customize a firearm to our particular tastes. You may want to think about this the next time you go to a gun shop and check out the same model firearm, but with different grips.
I have had an above average level of firearm training, but I am very much aware that I’m no expert. I think anyone that claims to be an expert tends to have the wrong attitude and will eventually fall victim to complacency. There is a pretty well known youtube video of an “expert” showing students about firearms as he ends up putting a bullet into his foot in front of a class of school kids. One of the most important things I have learned about close and personal fighting with firearms is rifle and pistol sight differentiation. On a rifle you can shoot a bullseye at 300yds with your ACOG, but at 6ft, you might end up putting a bullet 3 inches over a bad guys forehead due to the barrel and optic offsets.
I was not a big fan of putting flashlights on rifles until I started working in the field and realized that having a light on a rifle was the most practical thing to have with a firearm after having bullets. It may sound funny to hear such a simple observation, but it’s true. How many times during the day do you think you’ll need to pull a firearm for defense in your home and how many times do you think you may need it at night? Most criminal activity occurs in low light and not having a light means not identifying your target.
There has been much talk over the last 2 decades about lasers and flashlights being a liability to an operator more so than an asset. In about 45 seconds of teaching closer quarters combat and inside the home self defense, a laser is an obvious outing of a users location. I understand that if you are trying to sneak around your house and take out a threat, a laser that is turned on will tell the threat you are near. Flashlights run the same risks if they are used incorrectly, but try and tell a SWAT Team to enter a dark room and determine where a threat may be hiding and whether or not an innocent bystander is hiding in the dark.
I’m the type that goes through sticker shock whenever I go to gun shops or gun shows and see the prices the NIB guns cost. People seem to think that buying used means the gun is closer to breakage than a new gun. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are several manufacturers that are making incredible reliable and durable firearms that may have fewer than 500rds through. If you look at barrel life and frame life, those guns are in the equivallent of being in the early stages of grade school. There are plenty of used police trade ins that just have holster wear and probable only were shot during qualification each year by an LEO.
We’ve all seen skyrocketing ammo prices and a run on various styles of weapons. There was a run on guns and ammo as the economy started to tank and also a shift in the Political climate. Back in 2006 there was a hint that the now Democratic controlled Congress might get cocky and try putting another 1994 assault weapons ban in place and gun owners became concerned, then there was the Obama administration win in 2008. For those old enough to remember the political climate in the 1990s, we’ve seen this shift before.
There area a lot of good upgrades one can do to a firearm, a fighting rifle should be customized to fit an operator. Advanced Technology makes some quick and easy upgrades for your shotgun or carbine that can give you better grip or balance. Shotgun shell holders on the buttstock or riding side saddle is a practical tactical upgrade you can do on your remington 870. The fiberforce stock for the MAK90 is a way to legally get around some firearm bans and are a big step up compared to the stupid thumbhole stocks. Attach a rifle sling that fits yoru purpose from Blue Force Gear, they come in 1 point, 2 point and 3 point attachements. Minor firearm modifications make need to be done to attache rifle slings, but do some research on various rifle sling configurations to see what works for you.