Owning a firearm is a big responsibility. Not only do you need to know how to use it properly, but you also need to know how to take care of it and buy the right products for it. Acquiring one without any prior knowledge will make the first few months or years much more difficult than they need to be.
Fortunately for you, we’ve compiled a short list of some common mistakes new firearm owners make that you should know about. As long as you avoid these, you shouldn’t run into any large issues down the road.
Not Knowing the Terminology
If you’re new to the world of firearm ownership, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the terminology quickly. There are lots of abbreviations and jargon in the gun world. If you misunderstand them or mix a few terms up, you could end up buying the wrong product without knowing it.
Many new gun owners buy the wrong bullets or get an attachment that doesn’t actually fit on their gun. Sometimes, new users aren’t aware of the differences between sights and scopes. While this is an understandable mix-up, it’s one that you’ll want to correct as soon as possible.
Overpaying for Certain Gear
Even if you take the time to learn all the terminology that goes along with gun ownership, you could still make an unwise purchase early on. When you’re new, it’s easy to get caught up with the big-name manufacturers and think you’re wasting your money if you don’t buy the best.
The opposite is actually the truth. While well-known brands offer great value, they won’t make a huge difference to new gun owners. You need to start out with something more basic and cheaper when dipping your toes into firearm ownership. Find out what you like and don’t like before spending tons of money on a firearm that doesn’t fit your personal taste. Once you’re more experienced and knowledgeable, you can start looking into the bigger brands.
Skipping Regular Gun Maintenance
Cleaning and maintenance are easily the most important parts of firearm ownership. This is one mistake many new gun owners make that you should know about and avoid at all costs. Even though most guns will last a long time, they need proper maintenance after each usage to ensure this. If you don’t clean yours often or skip this step entirely, your gun won’t last as long as you’d like it to.
Ignoring Valuable Advice
Finally, as a new firearm owner, you’ll want to make sure you listen to any sort of valuable advice you receive. While this applies to what we’re telling you today, it’s more important regarding the tips experienced users give you at the range. Bad habits die hard, so you’ll want to make sure you don’t develop any when starting. Proper training will ensure this doesn’t happen. Still, if someone points out that you’re doing something wrong, you should, at the very least, hear them out instead of ignoring them entirely.