Buying your first recreational rifle is going to be an exciting process, but there are a few important variables that you must take into consideration. With a little bit of research and some patience, you will be able to find a great rifle at the perfect price.

Ease of Use

No matter how remarkable your first rifle happens to be, you aren’t going to enjoy it if you can’t comfortably use it. Before you make a purchase, you might want to head to a local gun store that has experienced team members. Those individuals will allow you to hold a few different rifles so that you can get a better feel for the weights and sizes of various models. At that store, you should be able to narrow your choices down to three or four models that you are comfortable holding.

Maintenance Needs

While most modern rifles are reasonably reliable, your firearm is going to require regular maintenance. Without the proper maintenance, you might run into a wide variety of mechanical problems that reduce your rifle’s lifespan. AR-15 rifles are known for being easy to maintain, and that particular model only has a few moving parts. All you will need for maintenance is a bore brush, a cleaning mat, solvent, and lubricating oil.

Optics

Many experienced shooters choose their scopes first and then purchase rifles that fit those optics. Scopes fill very precise roles, and they can often be just as expensive as the weapons themselves. Luckily, most new shooters don’t need to worry about investing in top-of-the-line scopes that cost thousands. A basic 4x scope is going to work fine in most situations including recreational shooting and basic target practice. That magnification should be adequate out to 300 yards as long as you are familiar with the rifle.

Caliber

There are a few different reasons why the caliber of your rifle is so important. In addition to impacting the overall feel of the rifle, the caliber is also going to impact how much it costs you to shoot the gun. If you want to keep your expenses as low as possible, then you might want to go with a 9mm or 5.56 rifle. Both of those calibers are very popular, and they are going to be cheap when you buy them in bulk.

After you have purchased your first rifle, you should consider taking a gun safety course. During that course, you will learn a wide variety of skills that you are going to keep you and your loved ones safe.