Five Absolute Musts for Brand New AR-15 Owners Part -1

PSA PA15 MidLength Midwest BUIS AimPoint Comp M3
The AR-15 is a popular choice for new gun owners since it’s an accurate, lightweight, reliable firearm. Like all firearms, it must be handled with respect and strict adherence to the four rules of gun safety.

Unlike new gun owners,  most readers on this site are very familiar with the safe operation of their weapons. But with the vast increase of new gun-owners panic-buying as a result of recent insanity, some basic-level information is necessary to help these new folks. And since, by and large, the most common self-loading firearm in America is the AR-15, it only makes sense that a new gun owners article center around this modern sporting rifle (MSR).

And to ensure as many of these people as possible actually read this piece, it’s broken up into bite-sized pieces as a list. That way overwhelmed reader’s eyes won’t glaze over. So, with that in mind here are 5 must-haves for brand-new gun owners and their AR-15 carbines.

AR-15 or Any Gun: Follow the Rules

This one is paramount. If you take away nothing else from this article, new owners will be measurably better off with this one in mind. Also, this one applies to any, and all firearms.

This might shock some of you, but firearms are dangerous tools. Much like a miter-saw, or a lawn-mower, if you screw around with a powerful tool you can really hurt, or even kill yourself. Thankfully, someone already figured out four easy rules to follow for otherwise clueless shooters. I’m going to list them below, and give you a breakdown of what they mean. They are mostly self-explanatory, but I’ve made the mistake of assuming competence in the past, and it’s taught me that nothing is fool-proof.

  1. All Guns Are Always Loaded
    No, this doesn’t mean you should keep your firearms loaded at all times. It means you should treat them like they’re loaded at all times. Countless people have been shot with “unloaded guns.” This is an entirely avoidable situation. A gun only fires in one direction – from the end of the barrel. This is known as the muzzle – AKA the dangerous end. This brings us to rule number 2.
  2. Never Point a Gun at Anything You Aren’t Prepared to Destroy
    This one is pretty simple, but people breaking this rule are responsible for most of all accidental shootings. It’s impossible to shoot someone or something if your gun isn’t aimed at them. Easy solution – don’t aim at them. More than that, shooters should be aware of their muzzle at all times. Many shooters find it easier to do this if they imagine a deadly laser beam emitting from the barrel at all times. Whatever works for you, it doesn’t matter. Just don’t aim your firearm any anything you aren’t trying to shoot.
  3. Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger Until You’re Ready to Shoot
    Again, this is a very easy rule to follow, and one that is very logical. Despite what Hollywood and the media would tell you, guns do not simply, “Go off.” They are precision machines that require a user to perform a specific action to discharge the weapon. Yes, I know it’s comfortable for new shooters to rest their fingers on the trigger, but it’s needlessly dangerous even with the safety on. Remember, no mechanical safety is 100% reliable, nor should we expect one to be.
  4. Be Sure of Your Target and What is Behind it
    While popular media might have us believe that bullets magically ricochet off of sheet metal or the sides of cars, the reality is quite different. Bullets are traveling very fast. So fast, that they can penetrate wood and thin metal easily. This rule is designed to make sure shooters won’t put up a thin wooden target out in the woods, and shoot through it towards a distant neighbor’s house. While there is no definitive guide to what stops bullets, a thick pile of dirt or a very steep side of a hill or mountain is 100% effective.
New gun owners First AR15 Rifle and Pistol
New AR-15 owners have a ton of choices available to them. On top a Palmetto State Armory Midlength AR-15 with a NODAK NDS AR15 pistol on bottom.

New Gun Owner? Read the F&^*ng Manual!

Now that you’re familiar with what safe handling of firearms entails, it’s time to familiarize yourself with your firearm in particular. This one is boring and unexciting, but absolutely critical. Read the manual! Yes, I’m one of those guys too, who doesn’t read the manual when he gets a new piece of technology. But fumbling with programming your DVR is annoying, accidentally discharging your rifle through the wall into your neighbor’s cat – or worse – is a big deal.

Don’t worry, the manual has pictures, and is designed for the lowest common denominator. Because there’s no such thing as a minimum IQ requirement for firearms ownership (thank God!) every manual has to be made so that dumbest guy reading it can understand it. If you’re reading this blog, congratulations! You’re not the dumbest guy, and so you’ll have no issues following along with the kindergarten-level vocabulary and big pictures of the manual. Yes, I know it sucks, but just do it the first few times you take the gun out or decide to clean it. At the very worst, you’ve wasted 10 minutes of your time. It’s worth it, and your neighbor’s cat will thank you.

At this point, new owners should at least be able to use their firearm safety and employ it properly when needed. It will take hours of practice to become proficient, but take comfort in knowing that you’re on the right path. And since we’ve already gone over a ton of information, we’ll wait until part two, to get into the specifics of what you’ll need to get the most out of your new firearm.


Jim GrantAbout Jim Grant

Jim is a freelance writer, editor, and videographer for dozens of publications who loves anything and everything guns. While partial to modern military firearms and their civilian counterparts, he holds a special place in his heart for the greatest battle implement ever devised and other WW2 rifles. When he’s not reviewing guns or shooting for fun and competition, Jim can be found hiking and hunting with his wife Kimberly, and their dog Peanut in the South Carolina low country.

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Nilsigne

I read the manual on my first rifle. It said not to climb trees with the rifle loaded. This begs the question of how many people have shot themselves while climbing a tree while armed : D

Wild Bill

@CFG, Yeah, my rifle manual said not to shower with my rifle, but that decision is up to me, the individual. Oh, and because the tyrannical, libtard governors of 22 states have ordered people to social distance, not shake hands, and stay at home, I will not comply with those dictates either. My Civil Rights and my individual decision, not the governor, mayor, or county commissioner.

Wild Bill

@USA, Ironic, huh?

Jeremy B.

Thanks for helping to spread the disease that has killed nearly 7 times as many Americans as 9/11 and all of Enduring Freedom/Iraq.

If China was behind Covid, they salute you.

RoyD

Lions and tigers and bears, Oh My!

Wild Bill

@JB, You compare an ongoing virus to a one time terrorist attack. That is comparing apples to oranges. That is most illogical. Do you do this regularly?
If you compare the death rate of this Chinese Corona virus to the death rate of the annual influenza, you will find that the two death rates are somewhat comparable.

hoss

Actually WB The other flu is more lethal than what covid has been. Now weather because of social distancing I don’t know. It was reported in Feb that 87,000Deaths were attributed to the flu.

Arny

Look at Switzerland lock down unwarranted & unacceptable. The death numbers are BS. https://youtu.be/hV8QtgDHvgw
comment image&jwsource=cl

Knute Knute

My guess is any numbers beyond one don’t fit in his/her head. Not enough room. Too full of CNN sound bites.

Wild Bill

@wjd, Jeremy thinks that he will not get the Chinese Corona virus. But he will. Jeremy also thinks that lives can be saved. They can not. Everyone die in their turn.

Knute Knute

“In the long term, everybody’s survival rate is zero”- Anon
But only anonymous bc I can’t remember who said it. 🙂

panem et circenses

You’ll be happy to know the cdc just cut the number of deaths attributed to the virus in half. And that’s probably still high. How could this be, you might ask? It’s because the books were cooked from the start and regular citizens and coroners have been skeptical. The word is finally getting out. You’re too trusting of the government.

JPM

A translation of Jeremy B.’s comment for his kindred and followers: “Baaaaaaaa, baaaaaaaa!”.

Knute Knute

I’m going to slightly reword that to:
Beeeeeeeee very afraid…. Beeeeeeeeeee very afraid…”
But only because it amuses me. JPMs way is actually better. More sheep like. 🙂

SEMPAI

@Jeremy B
Proceed to rail car 23 a man in a grey uniform will be waiting for you hand him your papers sit against the wall and make no noise.
If your not part of the solution your part of the problem. Get out of your house quit being scared..

Pastor Roy

Good for you! I’m with you all the way. My little church has not missed a single service, in defiance of our governor’s orders. Nobody wears masks, we don’t social distance. We practice good hygiene like we do during every cold and flu season. And nobody has even had a bad cold this scamdemic.

Knute Knute

I’m waiting for the manuals to say: “do not eat!” 🙂 Or: “WARNING: do not store firearms up your ass. VERY IMPORTANT!!!

Knute Knute

That reminds me of this George Carlin Routine:
https://youtu.be/4WJ_5OtyfDo?t=13

Darkman

It happens quite often. I know a person who did it years ago. Luckily he didn’t die. I’ve read countless stories over the last 50 years about people shooting themselves while climbing up to and down from tree stands. This is always the fault of the hunter and should not be considered an accident. Unloading your firearm before climbing is. One of the hard fast rules of hunting. Be Safe Out There.

RoyD

I remember a news story where the guy didn’t climb up the tree with a loaded rifle and still managed to get shot. It seems he loaded his rifle while still on the ground and then climbed up to his tree stand. Once safely ensconced on his seat he proceeded to bring his loaded rifle up to him using the rope he had attached to the barrel. Apparently something caught the trigger on the way up and he was the recipient of bullet from his own gun.

Wild Bill

@RD, Wow, if not for the seriousness of the wound, that would almost be funny.

Luv2shoot

At least he didn’t tie the rope through the trigger guard.

Knute Knute

I remember that story too! I seem to recall that he tied the rope to the forend and a twig caught the trigger on the way up. Round in the chamber, safety off. Naturally. Once doing something stupid, go all the way! 🙂

John Ruger

This guy, two weeks ago, received his covid check. He promptly ran out and purchased a self defense firearm pistol. He was staying in a homeless shelter at the time and took his knew protective firearm back. While in the parking lot he decided to stand outside his vehecle and study hes new purchase. As this article goes he failed on all four counts. The firearm was loaded. His finger was on the trigger. He didn’t pay attention to where he was pointing the gun and its was all down hill from there. The idiot fired the weapon, shot towards… Read more »

Knute Knute

To do serious damage with an UD requires violating at least two of the four rules. It takes a stack-up of errors upon errors. If the muzzle never covers anything that you don’t want to destroy, it doesn’t really matter if it goes off or not. It will only result in embarrassment, which doesn’t qualify as serious damage. If your finger is on the trigger w/o the sights on target, If you’ve followed rule one or two, again it doesn’t really matter. And so on. Here it is from the horse’s mouth: https://youtu.be/ILlgeQ5Lm6E?t=636 In fact, for you newbies out there,… Read more »

45crittergitter

Rule 5: Don’t read foul-mouthed Jim Grant.