As a shooting range owner, this is a question I hear a lot. But that’s like saying “I want to buy a car, which one should I get?” Do you want a sports car, SUV, pick-up truck, or luxury sedan? To know the answer to that, most people look at what their primary use will be, then decide which sports car, truck, or SUV they want.
The same holds true for guns. You have to first identify what your application is to help you decide which gun you want. There’s target shooting, hunting, skeet shooting, long range target shooting, novelty (such as Old West-style guns), protection in the home, and protection out in public (with a concealed carry permit). These are just a few of the categories to consider.
Another major aspect to consider is your physical stature. For instance, you don’t want your 97 pound girlfriend to be afraid or hesitate to pull the trigger on a shotgun in a dire situation for fear of a big kick. A lot of women want the cute little pink gun, but the smaller and lighter the gun, the bigger the kick as you go up in caliber. Weight of the gun plays a part in kick but they can be tiring to hold. While we can’t go into all the factors, here are a few to consider for the most popular reasons to buy a gun.
Home protection: Usually a shotgun is recommended for home protection for its wide shot pattern, making it easy to hit a target. But the length of a shotgun can be a problem, too. If you are the explore-the-house-to-confront-the-intruder type, a shotgun may not be your best choice because of its length. Be careful not to choose something so powerful that if you miss, it will go through your wall and into a neighbor’s house. But if you are the type to sit in your room and wait for an intruder to confront you, a shotgun in your hands ready to fire is a good choice.
Concealed carry: I have found that no one single gun satisfies my concealed carry needs. Your physical stature comes into play as well as what you are wearing and how you’re wearing it. For instance, if I’m dressed in casual, loose clothing, I don’t mind the size of my FN 5.7. For tighter fitting clothing, my SIG 9mm is a nice size. If I have a shirt tucked in with no jacket, my Smith & Wesson Bodyguard in a wallet holster is my choice.
The reason some people have so many guns is that different guns fit better with different applications. Get clear on your application, then try and find a range that may have a rental gun you want to see how it feels to fire. But if you can’t find a rental to try, the chances are you’ll end up with more than one anyway, so don’t be afraid to “pull the trigger” on a new purchase.
Eric Brashear is the owner of Shoot Las Vegas, a tourist machine gun shooting range in Las Vegas.