Keep Your Firearm Running!
Keep Your Firearm Running – Too often we see new shooters, and occasionally seasoned ones, getting a new firearm that they drop big money on and skip on crucial items to keep their rigs running for their intended use. Frequently manufacturers will only supply the minimum, a few magazines (if you are lucky), but little else. Here are some things to look at when you get that new purchase to make sure you can avoid the extra trips to the store.
One of the biggest things people forget is most rifles, minus lever guns and some 22s don’t have sights for the firearm out of the box. This overlooked expense can result in not being able to shoot that new firearm, or if the sights aren’t in stock could be weeks to get them in. I would recommend looking at options beforehand. This would go the same for bolt guns and not having the correct rings (1 inch or 30mm is a difference…buyer beware) and not having a good scope.
Something else that is overlooked is magazines.
While this is obvious for military pattern rifles as that is how they hold ammunition, it is less intuitive for some bolt guns. Nothing will ruin a hunt faster than having placed your loaded 3-round magazine in your truck to make it legal to travel, and forgetting it after you have walked a mile, and now you have a single shot or a no-shot…. ask me how I know. It is good to get a few backup magazines. Other overlooked items for the rifle are a good sling (hands-free capability is awesome), a good cleaning kit including bore snakes, and a solid bore cleaner and lubricant.
For handguns, there are a few other considerations aside from what is mentioned above. First is a good quality holster for intended carry. I usually have 1-2 holsters per pistol pattern as I might carry it concealed or hunting, as well as I do have a few chest rigs. Second is holsters for spare magazines, as like above stuff happens. For revolvers, I would look at speed loaders and holsters for them as well, as loose rounds in a pocket are neither fast nor efficient.
I would also consider looking into night sights/High visibility sights as most pistols are lacking in that capability if you ask it is incredibly important. If not both sights, focus on the front sight post as most pistol shooting instructors focus almost entirely on it for rapid target engagement. I would also recommend good lubricant and bore cleaner for the pistol, and as stated above I am a fan of bore snakes.
The last thing to look at is ammunition, which I have written about before, but it is crucial. Having a pistol or rifle does not make you an expert, and the only thing that does is practice, and lots of it. Your firearm may love a certain type of ammo and fail to eject on others. Also, a lot of firearms have a break-in period of a few dozen to a few hundred rounds.
The purchase of a firearm is only the start, and it is important to make sure you consider all of these bases so your new tool is useable, carriable, and able to perform its best the minute you leave the store with it.
Also, be sure to check out JM4 Tactical for your holster needs!
Author: Ian Bolser
