3. COMPARE VALUE: USED VS NEW
When buying a gun the question always arises, should I buy new or used? Though both have its merits, used guns often come with a few more perks to include a better price and sometimes more accessories. Often times, the term “used” conjures up images of broken-in, dirty guns but Sims says that’s often not the case.
“There are a phenomenal numbers of high quality used firearms out there that people went down that path of buying a pistol they thought they would enjoy and now they don’t. They’re trading it in the hopes someone out there will enjoy it more,” said Sims. “There are like new condition used handguns out there that you could save an average of 20-percent on buying preowned from somewhere like Guns.com.”
Additionally, used handguns also frequently come with the added benefit of accessories. Sims says he’s seen his fair share of used guns come into the Guns.com vault with accessories like extra magazines, holsters, upgraded triggers and sights, stippled grips and even optics. Opting for a high-quality used model handgun often times is a better choice for budget-minded buyers or those looking for more bang for their buck.
4. AVOID COMMON PITFALLS
First-time buyers should be wary to avoid common pitfalls when purchasing a first handgun. Namely, stay away from teeny-tiny pocket pistols and handguns. These often don’t offer as much comfort when shooting and they tend to come with significantly more recoil than their mid-size and larger pistol siblings.
“Those pocket pistols are designed to be exactly that — a concealed carry gun that you test fire every once in a while and use if you need to in a face-to-face situation,” Sims said. “The smaller the gun the more difficult it is to shoot in both accuracy and control. For first time buyers, I would recommend a plinking category gun that is a midsize handgun, low recoil, easy to shoot and operate.”