Chad Cantrell's No Bull Gunfighting The Ultimate No Holds Barred Guide to Putting Big Holes in Bad People

When many people decide that they need to purchase a firearm to protect themselves,
they don't know where to start.

Here are the top ten mistakes that most first time gun buyers make when they purchase
their first firearm:

1. They buy on Price.

Many first time gun buyers don't know what they're looking for, so the first one
that they see for under a hundred bucks that looks "cool" is the one that they get. This
is a serious problem, and if you don't understand why, then you definitely need this article.

"Cheap" guns are just that. They're CHEAP, and cheap is not good. The problem with
cheap firearms is that they're made from cheap materials, and they don't have the best assembly
in the world. Target grade guns are tighter than rusted bolt, and cheap made guns tend to "flop"
and you usually can't hit anything with them because the accuracy is so terrible. Another thing about
cheap guns is that if they are a semi-auto, they won't function due to jams, misfires, and many other
"Murphy" Factors.

2. The gun that they buy is chosen by other people.

When you are buying a gun, especially your first one, be sure that you are the one that
picks it out. Listen to more experienced gun owners, but don't let them choose what you get.

Make sure that your new gun suits your needs, and fits your hands and body.

3. Wrong ammo selection.

If you're new to the world of firearms, I'm sure that all of the ammunition that you are shown
by the gun store owner looks the same, not to mention the catch phrases and terms that you're likely to hear
during your adventure. Full metal jacket. Hollow point. Match grade. "Ball" ammo. Expansion. Penetration.
Corrosive. Non-corrosive. I could go on forever.

How do you know what to buy? The answer lies in what you want to do with it. For the majority
of your practice sessions, which I'll talk about in a minute, you'll want to use inexpensive full metal
jacket (FMJ) or "ball" ammo as it's commonly called. For self defense, I suggest that you get some sort of
high grade defense ammunition. Be sure to get a few extra boxes of your defense ammo so that you can fire
it through your new gun to make sure that it functions correctly. Guns can be more finicky than your Mother-in-law.

4. They buy TOO MUCH Gun

Many times, when someone is an adult and they don't have very much firearms experience, they
tend to want to get "too much" gun. They think that they need a "Dirty Harry" kind of pistol instead
of something that will be reasonable enough for practical use. When you are going to buy a gun, make
sure that it fits your hand without being uncomfortable, and is small enough that you can carry it
comfortably on a regular basis.

5. People don't buy ENOUGH gun.

Another terrible problem with first timers is that they don't buy enough gun. What I mean by this
is that they want to buy something that will be totally comfortable when they carry it. I've saw people
carrying Russian Makarov's, Derringers, 3 shot revolvers, and microscopic .22 and .25 caliber handguns
of various types. There's an old saying that declares that no gun is too small for carry, and no gun
is too large to fight with. So, what do you do?

You find a happy medium that will combine the best of both worlds. Find a gun that is small
enough for you to carry daily, but is large enough for you to operate in a gunfight.

6. They don't understand what they've bought

This goes back to letting someone else picking their gun out, and then buying
either too much or not enough gun. You've got to understand your purchase what you need.
It's like buying a car - If you're going to be racing, you should stay away from the semi
trucks. If you're going to be hauling a lot of stuff, I wouldn't suggest a Ferrari.

Think about it, and get what will fill your needs, and not something that will be
like dragging an anchor around your neck. If you live in the desert, don't get a Desert Eagle.
It'll be too hard to conceal. If you're going to carry once in a blue moon, don't get something
that's complicated.

7. They don't get the right accessories

When you buy a gun, you've got to get extra mags, good ammo, the right holster, and a lot
more. You need a strong belt to hold your gun up. If you try to use a cheap belt from the Wal-Mart,
your pants are going to end up somewhere around your ankles. That's not a good thing - ever heard the
phrase "caught with your pants down?"

You'll also need to find a holster that will suit the type of clothing that you wear. For most
of your needs, you can get away with an Inside the Waist Band holster and a good belt slide holster. If
you have both of these in your foot locker, you'll be prepared for nearly any situation.

8. They don't learn how the gun works.

Anytime that you buy a new firearm, one of the first things that you MUST learn is how to take
it apart, and then put it back together. This is commonly referred to as "fieldstripping."

There are two major reasons that you have to learn how to do this. The first is that you need
to know how it works to operate it safely. If you have a malfunction during a gunfight, it would be a
handy thing to know what's went wrong. Knowing how your firearm works will go a long way in troubleshooting
it when it hits the fan.

The second thing is that you've got to keep your guns clean and lubed up. You wash your car and keep
the oil changed to keep it from crapping out. The same things have to be done to your firearm. Anytime you
shoot it, you've got to clean the gunk out to keep it working properly. Or, after it's been carried or stored for a
while, it can get caked up with dirt. Some people say that you should clean your guns every 500 or 1,000 rounds, or
every 6 or 8 months. Here's the rule that I live by; Clean your guns when they're dirty. Ingenious, right?
Also, you have to keep it lubed so that all of the parts keep getting along with each other.

9. They think that once they own a firearm, that all of their safety needs are met.

Most gun owners, and I'm not just talking about the new guys and gals, really believe that
once they buy a gun or get their carry permit that they are done with protecting themselves. They don't
realize that there's a whole lot more than just buying a gun. It reminds me of the people that buy a book
on Karate and order a black belt out of a magazine. There's a lot more to it than the belt and knowing how
to bow.

If you're going to use a firearm to protect your family, you had better learn how to use it. You
wouldn't buy a car with a manual transmission if you didn't know how to drive it thinking that you'd just
jump in and take off, would you?

10. They don't practice

So many people quit training after they learn to shoot. They don't realize that combat shooting
is a frangible skill. It's like keeping yourself in good shape. You don't go running once and then
think that you're done exercising for the rest of your life. You've got to keep at it. Do a little
something every day, and you'll be able to bank on your skills when the time comes to use them.