We’re going to look at the basics here since this article is intended for beginners. I’ll try to suggest a few of the bare-bones basics in beginner guns and accessories needed to launch you into the hobby of shooting.
Admittedly, this hobby can be overwhelming because of the bewildering array of guns and gear to choose from. Let’s look at some suggestions. I’ll make every attempt to show items that are modestly priced so beginners are not unduly burdened. Keep in mind that going the inexpensive route does not necessarily mean cheap or inferior.
Beginners Guns
Considering that it’s all about shooting, let’s start by checking a few beginner guns out. Normally, I’ll ask a person what they intend to accomplish or use the guns for when they ask me which gun(s) is best. For now, let’s assume you want to start off with some target shooting and maybe home defense. Plenty of people want to defend themselves these days — and for good reason.
Most of what I’ll recommend in beginner guns are of the .22 Long Rifle caliber. The ammunition is inexpensive and offers low noise, muzzle blast, and recoil. It’s unlikely to scare new shooters away. And given the low price of the ammunition, a lot of practice can be done with it. Of course, you don’t have to stick to the .22LR caliber to start out. You can go larger if you desire.
Before you ever fire your first shot, I suggest you get some training in the fundamentals of safety and marksmanship. You can always improve your accuracy skills later on, but safety is far above that on the list of priorities.
Beginner Guns – Rifles
Ruger 10/22
The 10/22 is one of the most popular semi-automatic rifles today, with over seven million produced since its inception in 1964.
It’s a lightweight (five pounds), reliable, accurate, and fast-handling carbine. Normally, the price is a little under $300; so the initial investment is not huge. The overall length is 37 inches. They are available with a wood stock or synthetic stock in blued or stainless finishes. In fact, there are over a dozen various configurations that the 10/22 comes in, so there are lots of choices.
10/22 magazines come in a variety of capacities: 10, 15, and 25-round. Ruger factory magazines are most common. The rifle comes standard with a flush-fitting, rotary, 10-round magazine and are very slick. All operate with supreme reliability.
Given its well-deserved reputation for reliability and options for capacity and accessories, the 10/22 is a viable option for plinking or home defense. Some people scoff at a .22LR for defense, but with a 25-round magazine in place, it’s nothing to sneeze at.
Even experienced firearms people consider the 10/22 an essential part of their battery and a great addition to a collection of beginner guns.
Savage MK II FV-SR
The Savage is another .22 Long Rifle, this one being a bolt action. It’s simpler to operate than a semi-auto; so that might appeal to some people.
This rifle’s fluted barrel is 16.5 inches long and made of carbon steel. It wears a bronze/tan Cerakote finish, which not only looks cool but resists corrosion. The overall length is 32 1/4 inches and the weight is 5 1/2 pounds; so it’s short and light. The synthetic stock wears a Kryptek camouflage pattern, which is very effective at helping the rifle blend in.
The Savage is fed by a standard 5-round magazine. 10-round magazines are also available for this rifle.
The end of the muzzle is threaded if the user wants to add a muzzle device or sound suppressor. It comes with a screw-on thread protector. The rifle features Savage’s Accu-Trigger, which has a superbly light and crisp trigger pull and is adjustable. Savage also included an oversized bolt handle, which I like a lot.
I mounted a Vortex Optics 1-8x Strike Eagle scope on my FV-SR and it has been a wonderful combination. Accuracy with this rifle and scope is excellent, yielding 1/2-inch groups at 50 yards.
Even though this is “only” a bolt-action .22LR, this is one of my favorite rifles to take to the range, it’s just a ton of fun! Retail on this rifle is around $350, but it’s available for well under that at most gun shops. This one is highly recommended.
Beginner Guns – Handguns
If you want to go all-in (and you should), you’ll need a handgun or two to take to the range. Let’s take a look at a couple here to get you started.
Ruger MK IV 22/45
Yes, another Ruger firearm. Are you seeing a trend here? No, they don’t pay me to push their guns. They’re just very high quality.
The MK IV 22/45 is a semi-auto .22LR pistol fed by a 10-round magazine. The grip angle is the same as the 1911 .45 caliber pistol, hence the 22/45 name. The grips are checkered Polymer and feel just like those of a 1911 pistol.
Earlier pistols in Ruger’s MK lineup were a little complex to field strip, and people voiced their discontent with that aspect. Ruger listened, and the MK IV 22/45 has a takedown button that makes field stripping the pistol so easy, it’s amazing. This is one of the reasons I highly recommend this pistol. It’s incredibly easy to clean and maintain.
Another stellar aspect is the great accuracy it offers. And, being .22LR, there’s almost no recoil and the muzzle blast is tame. Reliability is outstanding as well.
There are a few different barrel lengths and weights available, so this pistol can be had in a few different variations. The one for this article has a 5 1/2-inch barrel and weighs 34.4 ounces; so it’s not exactly a pocket pistol.
This is a great pistol for starting out, and a lot of fun at the range. They’re usually available in the low $400 range.
Charter Arms Pathfinder
This one is a .22 Long Rifle revolver. Outwardly, it strongly resembles most .38 Special revolvers. This one, however, holds eight rounds of .22 Long Rifle. It weighs 19 ounces and has an aluminum frame, with all the metal having a matte finish that’s attractive.
It’s not a lightly-built revolver. It’s stout and meant for business. The hard rubber grip offers a positive purchase and has some finger grooves to help keep it from slipping in the hand. The barrel length is two inches.
This little wheel gun is surprisingly accurate for having such a short barrel. Of course, there’s virtually no recoil being a .22. The double action trigger pull is on the heavier side, but it’s pleasantly smooth. The single-action break was crisp and satisfying.
This revolver would be a perfect precursor to one in a heavier caliber, with shooters being able to learn the revolver’s manual of arms on this one. Charter’s Pathfinder has a retail price in the low $400 range, but it’s available in gun shops for under $400, normally.
The .22 LR
I know that I beat the .22 Long Rifle horse to death in this article, but it really is the perfect starter caliber. Inexpensive with low noise and recoil, it’s perfect to learn on. Beyond learning, it’s a great survival/long-term caliber. You can throw 1,000 rounds of .22LR into a backpack, hit the wilds, and it won’t weigh you down very much. That’s a lot of ammo that will last quite a while. Don’t overlook the .22LR. Even those who are heavily into the shooting scene typically have at least a few .22s in their collection because of the advantages that it offers.
Gun Accessories
When getting started, there are some must-haves before you head to the range. Here are some recommendations to get you ready for your first trip.
Cleaning Gear
I tend to go with the KISS Principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid) when it comes to cleaning gear. I have a one-piece cleaning rod that’s coated with hard rubber so it won’t damage any of the rifling on my rifles. That rod fits every caliber I own including the .22.
It’s not really important which kit you buy so long as it has everything you need: a cleaning rod, brush, jag, patches, solvent, and lubricant. Some cleaning kits are more complex than others.
One invention that I’m hooked on is the spray solvent/cleaner, which is the best thing since sliced bread. It’s especially great for getting into small spaces that are otherwise unreachable. For cleaning out the gas tube of an AR-15, there’s nothing better in my opinion.
Hearing Protection
These days, we enjoy some amazing hearing protection. Electronic units give us amplified hearing at the range while protecting our precious hearing.
If you’re on a tight budget, there are earplugs that you can use or passive ear muffs without electronics. There is ear protection to fit every budget. Don’t go to the range without it!!
Eye Protection
Our eyes are incredibly valuable, and you’ll want to protect them jealously. At the range, all sorts of dangers abound including debris kicked up by bullets. Bullet fragments, even bullets themselves, can bounce back (ricochet) and cause danger. Sometimes a gun can be damaged by faulty ammunition, causing fragments to fly.
Do not go to the range without some form of eye protection. It’s not worth the risk. Even if you’re not actively shooting, wear eye protection.
Range Bag
You’ll likely want to buy a range bag to tote all your gear to the range. Perhaps your cleaning kit. Certainly your eye and ear protection, ammunition, targets, and the dozens of other little items that you’ll eventually add to your shooting kit over the months and years.
As with anything else, there are simple, inexpensive range bags. There are others that can set you back a few bucks. Again, it depends on your needs and budget.
Ammunition
You’ll need some ammunition if you’re going to shoot. Whether it’s rifle, pistol, or a shotgun; you’ll need to grab some ammo. Do a bit of research and see what’s ranked the highest.
Personally, I often use ammo from larger companies such as Nosler, Hornady, Speer, and Federal, among others. Fiocchi and Sellier & Bellot are good choices, too.
Final Thoughts on Beginner Guns and Accessories
The suggestions above for beginner guns and accessories are just that – suggestions. By all means, dive into the research to see what you like for yourself. Maybe you’ll go with all of my suggestions or perhaps you’ll go in another direction entirely. That’s okay. Tailor your choices to suit your needs. Ask experienced shooters what they recommend if you’d like.
Also, this list is far from all-inclusive. There are speed loaders and magazine loaders that shooters enjoy, for example.
We’ve barely scratched the surface here. There was only room to list a precious few basics. There’s so much more out there and you’ll discover that as your love for the hobby takes off. Have fun with it!
