Buying a gun is a serious deal and is not something that should be taken lightly. Deciding to purchase a firearm is one that should not be done on a whim and should be researched plenty.
You don’t have to become an expert and know all the revolver parts or what caliber everything is, but you should be researching on safety and other local laws.
While laws and customs may differ from state to state, it’s essential to consider the following things before you go ahead and make a purchase.
Your Purpose for the Gun
When you decide that you’re going to be purchasing a firearm, you have to think about the why. Why do you need it? What is it for?
Most people purchase guns for a few reasons: safety, collection, hunting, or a hobby such as skeet shooting or target practice. While everyone’s reasons may differ, you need to think about why you’re going to purchase yours. That’s going to help you decide if you want to buy a gun and what kind of gun you may end up buying.
Safety Rules
You might have heard the first rule of gun safety is always to assume it’s loaded, even when you know it’s not. Besides this, you need to know about other regulations as well.
We recommend taking a gun safety class in your area. Local firearm stores or even big-box places like WalMart will host classes or give you direction on where you can find one. Some states require gun safety classes, or at the very least, you go through some courses.
Local Laws
While safety rules are essential, gun laws and rights are going to differ by state. Some allow you to have an open-carry permit while others forbid this altogether. You might be able to walk into a store in some places, while others require lengthy background checks.
If you’re purchasing a gun online, you need to know about shipping laws as well and what you can and cannot ship over state lines. In a situation as serious as this, you won’t be able to get by with the excuse, “Oh sorry, I didn’t realize.”
Are You Ready to Take Care of It?
Just like any other big purchase in life, your gun is going to require consistent maintenance and care. You may have to take all the revolver parts and clean them, and that can take plenty of time.
Even though you’re not entering a relationship, owning a gun is a commitment to maintenance, safety, and following the rules. You will have to make other purchases as well that go beyond just the gun and bullets.
Could this be a Hobby?
If you’re thinking about turning your gun enthusiasm into a hobby, then you should know that such a hobby can be quite expensive. It’s not just purchasing the guns themselves, but it’s all the accessories you will need for cleaning, bullets, safety gear, and more.
Plus, we imagine you’re going to want to go to a shooting gallery or outdoor gun range from time to time, and those places usually have membership fees. There’s nothing wrong with it being a hobby, know that it can become expensive very quickly.