Are you on the hunt for your very first firearm?
Well, you’re not the only one. Tens of millions of Americans already exercise their second amendment right to own a gun. And many more join their ranks each year.
That doesn’t detract from the excitement of buying one though! You walk into the local gun shop and feel like a kid in a candy store! However, it can definitely be a confusing affair as well.
Picking the gun’s easy enough. But choosing from the endless gun accessory options can feel impossible! With so many ‘essential’ items available, it’s hard to know what you really need.
Know the struggle? Well, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a list of 7 essential gun accessories required by first-time buyers.
Keep reading to find out all about them.
1. Targets
There’s no point owning a firearm if you don’t know how to use it right? With that in mind, you’re sure to be doing your fair share of shooting practice.
Now, you could go wild-west on proceedings and line up a set of tin cans in your backyard. But we suggest buying some official targets to take down to the range instead!
Whether you opt for multi-grid targets, classic silhouettes, or more advanced options is up to you. Whatever you choose, you’ll be able to assess your groupings with greater ease, improve your accuracy, and enjoy the overall experience more.
2. Personal Protective Equipment
Make sure you look after yourself at the range too. Ear and eye protection are two essential accessories that’ll keep you safe while shooting.
Remember, firing a gun is dangerously loud and can release scalding hot shrapnel into the air. With nothing over your ears of eyes, you can suffer serious and permanent damage.
It’s not worth the risk! If you want to enjoy a long and happy life of shooting, then your hearing and vision need to stay intact. Purchasing PPE is pivotal to making that happen.
3. Ammunition
A gun without ammunition is like a car without an engine- pointless! Be sure to pick up a healthy supply of it when you buy the firearm.
Unfortunately, that can be easier said than done too. Not all ammo’s made equal, with the caliber, type, and grain all affecting the ‘user-experience’, as it were. You need the right type for your specific gun and experience-level.
Don’t know what you’re looking for? Ask someone that does!
The last thing you want is to fork out lots of money for ammunition that isn’t fit for purpose. The dealer will be able to point you in the right direction.
Oh, and think about buying some extra magazines too. Having back-ups means you’ll always have ammo to hand when you need it.
4. Cleaning Kit
Want your new gun to last well into the future? Well, you’re going to have to look after it! It just so happens that cleaning’s a key part of that process.
Enter the need for a gun cleaning kit.
These handy accessories contain everything you need to remove the dirt, dust, and debris that accumulates with use. Now, that’s important. Let this detritus build-up and the reliability of the weapon itself will suffer.
In other words, having and using the cleaning kit ensures the gun won’t let you down when you need it most.
5. Laser Sight
Okay, so laser gun sights aren’t necessarily ‘essential’. Yet they’re definitely cool, practical, and useful accessories.
For one thing, having a laser attached to your firearm is a sure-fire way to improve your accuracy. Rather than relying on vision alone, you see a red dot on the exact spot you’re aiming at! That removes some guesswork from the shot and reduces the likelihood of being off-target.
Now, that might feel like cheating when it comes to shooting at the range! But think about finding yourself in a life or death situation. Having that laser sight could make a vital difference to averting disaster for you or your family.
6. First-Aid Kit
Having a mini medical kit isn’t going to save anybody’s life in true emergencies! Yet it would be useful if you fall over at the range, cut yourself on a hunt, scrape your knuckles while reloading a rifle, and so on.
Honestly, there’s no shortage of ways you could get hurt when you’re firing guns, going on hunts, and spending time with a lethal weapon in the great outdoors. A first-aid kit means you’ll be better prepared for any minor medical issues that occur.
It’s up to you whether you buy a pre-made first-aid kit or make your own though. Either way, keep it stocked up with bandages, bandaids, antiseptics wipes, gauze, medical tape, and sterile gloves at a minimum. That should cater for the most common issues you encounter.
7. A Range/Gear Bag
Last but not least, you’ll need something to transport all this stuff you’ve been buying!
That’s where a range bag comes in. As the name suggests, it’s a purpose-built storage bag that’s designed to hold and transport your gun gear. With a wealth of pockets and compartments, you can put everything from your weapons and ammunition in there to smaller items like the best scope rings for your rifle.
It’s worth mention that these bags are even required by law in some states. Make sure you check and buy a bag that complies with the requirements of where you live.
Don’t Forget These Gun Accessory Ideas
Any gun enthusiast will tell you the same thing: there’s nothing better than purchasing your very first firearm!
It’s an exciting experience from start to finish. However, with so many guns and accessories to choose from, it can also be bewildering for the first-time buyer!
We hope this post will help in this regard. Keep these gun accessory suggestions in mind and the process of kitting yourself out should be far simpler. Would you like to read more articles like this one?
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