Your Money’s Worth

by
posted on March 21, 2012
2012321113736-moneyworthblog8-9pix-005_m.jpg

It's no secret that the economy is hurting and that few Americans are spending heavy on recreational activities and equipment. Still, lots of folks are involved in the shooting sports and many are newcomers. And of course, most of us are interested in managing our funds to get the most for our money. So here's my take on where you need to put your money at the beginning of a career in handgun shooting. Obviously, the heart of the matter is making your money go as far as possible. It's the old homily of “waste not, want not.”

While a miss is a waste of sorts, you are going to have to accept that you'll miss to some extent. This happens in the process of learning. The point is that you need to practice a lot to learn the principles of good shooting. Your first purchases should be respectable quality eye and ear protection, and then you need a decent .22 pistol or revolver. From actual shooting experience, I know that the autos of Ruger, S&W and Browning (even the low-end versions) will hold the X-ring of a standard American 25-yard target. Smith and Ruger revolvers will do the same and I expect that there a lot of other brands of .22s that will stay with them. These guns are competitively priced and .22 long Rifle ammo is one of the last great bargains in the business. You will get your money's worth in the learning process by shooting on the cheap until your skill develops. That may take a while, but the learning process is a big part of the fun. I have been doing this for a very long time, and I now understand that learning to shoot is protracted and may even go over my life's horizon. But I am still having a good time in the process.

This may seem patronizingly simple, but I have seen too many shooters give up on the game by pricing themselves out of a great hobby. Skills are developed through diligent effort, and you can seldom buy your way in with equipment purchases. You don't buy smarts in a five-gallon can; you learn them through study and application. I have often seen shooters convince themselves that they need the latest and greatest custom 1911 with all the bells and whistles. They end up with a magnificent pistol that can cost well into four figures with special features that are worthwhile to only 1 percent of the shooting population. Disappointment is often the result and folks understandably give up when the new “wundergun” doesn't vault them to the top of the heap.

This also applies to the defensive firearm situation. Personal defense is a function of mindset over all other factors. Good equipment matters, as does good gunhandling and pure marksmanship, but the ability to decide quickly in a life-threatening emergency is paramount. Accept that you can't buy bullseyes; you have to develop them.

Latest

OA Defense 2311 pistol left-side view on concrete shown with optic and light attached accessories black gun
OA Defense 2311 pistol left-side view on concrete shown with optic and light attached accessories black gun

Review: OA Defense 2311 Compact

Despite having been made popular by John Moses Browning over 100 years ago, his sacred M1911 design has soldiered on into the modern era, and companies like OA Defense are taking to the classic military platform in all-new ways, improving functionality by nearly tripling the design's capacity with double-stack mags, adding optic-mounting capabilities and more.

New For 2025: POF-USA LMR & P15 BASE Rifles

POF-USA's LMR and P15 BASE rifles are designed to get the company's patented rifle technology into the hands of more users than ever before.

Preview: Athlon Midas TSP1

The unmagnified Midas TSP1 from Athlon Optics features an etched-glass reticle and a nitrogen-purged, one-piece aluminum chassis.

Gun Of The Week: KelTec KSG410

Watch our Gun Of The Week video this week to learn about an American-manufactured bullpup pump-action shotgun in .410 bore made by KelTec CNC Industries of Cocoa, Fla.

The Armed Citizen® Dec. 6, 2024

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

All In The Grip: Angles, Contours & Texturing In Modern Handguns

After thousands of rounds sent downrange, the author has some insights on the nuances of handgun design and marksmanship, and it all revolves around the gun's grip.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.