First-time Gun Owner’s Checklist

New gun owner checklist: Absolute “must haves”

Even if you don’t plan on shooting your gun often at all, these are things you still absolutely need to have. This part of the checklist is the bare minimum, so make sure you have these items covered as soon as possible. (See the “should have” and “nice to have” checklist recommendations further down the article for more things that make gun ownership and use easier.)

Legal documentation or firearms permits (where required)

The first thing you absolutely must have is any permits or documentation needed in your jurisdiction for the legal possession and ownership of your firearm. If you purchased your gun through a local dealer, chances are very good that they did it properly and you’ll already have any necessary purchase permits or firearm licenses in place before you take possession of your gun.

However, if you were given a firearm by a family member or friend (which is usually permitted in most jurisdictions, as long as you follow federal and local laws), or if you bought your gun from a legal private seller, you may still need to get your paperwork in order depending on where you live. In most states, non-prohibited persons (non-felons, in simple terms) of legal age can purchase firearms from private sellers without any paperwork, but some states still require you to notify your local authorities or apply for purchase/possession permits. In some areas, you may need a permit from law enforcement to even legally have a firearm in your home. So check your local laws carefully. A good place to ask is a local gun shop or online forum that is familiar with the laws in your state (and sometimes cities have their own particular regulations). Be sure to comply with all laws and regulations. It is YOUR responsibility to learn and follow your local laws.

Read your owner’s manual (and/or gain correct knowledge of how to operate your firearm safely)

Another must-have for any firearm owner is to obtain, read, and understand the owner’s manual for your specific firearm. If you bought a new firearm from a gun store or online dealer, it will come with the factory packaging and the owner’s manual. If you got a gun second-hand or used from a dealer, it will most likely not come with an owner’s manual. However, every reputable manufacturer will provide an owner’s manual free of charge upon request. Many have them available online as well.

It’s extremely important to familiarize yourself with all the features, controls, and functions of your specific firearm. Even if you think you know how it works, or if you used to have guns decades ago and are just getting back into it, it’s vital that you read up on your firearm model. There are new safety features, multi-function controls, and specific disassembly and reassembly procedures that may be unique to your new gun. Obtain—and actually read—your owner’s manual and learn how to operate your firearm safely.

If you’ve purchased a gun and you don’t know how it works, DON’T USE IT or handle it much, and especially don’t load it, until you obtain the manual and proper instruction to learn how. A gun you don’t know how to operate is potentially more dangerous to you and your family than it is to an attacker. Especially important is to learn and practice the four rules of gun safety. We’ve all heard stories of accidental shootings where the “gun just went off” or the person “didn’t know it was loaded.” In 100% of these cases, proper knowledge of safe gun handling would have prevented these tragedies. There are many different ways to describe the four basic gun safety rules, but in general:

1. Treat all guns as if they’re loaded unless you personally, immediately, and visually verify otherwise. Another way to put this is “all guns are always loaded.”
2. Never allow the muzzle/barrel of any gun to point at anything you are not willing to shoot and destroy. This includes the shooter's legs, feet, hands, other people, etc.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until your sights are on the target and you are ready to shoot.
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it. Don’t shoot at a target on the crest of a hill, for example, as you have no idea where that bullet will go.

Even if you’re handling your unloaded gun in your home, practice good trigger discipline and muzzle awareness. Never point your gun at yourself, your pets, or anyone else that isn’t trying to harm you.

A method for secure firearm storage

Every gun owner needs a method for properly securing a firearm when it’s not in use. In some jurisdictions, you may be held partially responsible even if your gun is stolen from your home and used in a crime. Some locales require certain levels of secure firearm storage, such as trigger locks or cable locks, a gun safe, or a handgun vault.

If at all possible, we strongly recommend you purchase a sturdy handgun vault at a minimum (if you bought a handgun, obviously), rather than using trigger locks or cable locks, which can be easily defeated. Gun cabinets can be appropriate in some cases, but a dedicated, fire-resistant, security-rated gun safe is a much better choice if you can swing it. If a cable-type firearm lock is all you can afford right now, get the best one you can, and make sure you use it properly to secure your gun when it’s not in use.

First-time firearm owner checklist continued: “Should have” or recommended items

Now that we’ve covered the bare minimum, “must-have” items on our checklist, let’s go over some things that every new gun owner should have, or that are strongly recommended.

Gun cleaning kit, cleaning patches, and gun oil or another suitable lubricant

This really should be a “must have” but it’s not strictly required for safe firearms ownership, particularly if you don’t plan to use your gun. If you do plan to actually shoot your gun (and you should), it’s a good idea to practice at the range at least once a month to keep your skills fresh, and this means you’ll need a good gun cleaning kit including gun oil. Your manual will tell you where and how much lubricant to apply, but remember, guns are machines, and machines require proper lubrication to function. Keeping your defensive firearm clean and properly lubricated is an absolute must.

Even if all you have is some light 3-in-1 machine oil or some leftover motor oil, that will be sufficient to keep your firearm running reliably in nearly all cases. Cleaning patches can be cut from old cotton t-shirts if needed. Read our tutorial on how to safely clean your gun. Multiple sources offer quality, inexpensive gun cleaning kits, including Outers, Hoppe’s, Otis, and Tipton. If your cleaning kit didn’t come with cleaning solvent or oil and you aren’t sure what to get, a good CLP (cleaner, lubricant, protectant) will probably be sufficient. Any gun shop will have the supplies you need.

Eye and ear protection

This is another category that really belongs on the “must have” checklist, but it’s not strictly required for safe firearm ownership and operation. However, if you go to the range and forget your earplugs or shooting muffs (and good shooting glasses), you’ll regret it in short order. Guns are LOUD, particularly indoors, and can cause permanent hearing damage after just one shot. Cheap foam earplugs work well when used correctly (read and follow the directions; about 90% of people don’t use them properly in our experience). However, electronic earmuffs that allow you to hear normal conversations while still protecting your hearing against loud noises are one of the best investments you can make, and you don’t have to spend a lot to get them. Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic muffs are one of our top recommendations for new shooters, and they regularly go on sale for around $30.

Some people may elect to forego shooting glasses when hunting or shooting outdoors, but we always recommend them. Firearms can spray hot gases, metal particles, and flecks of burning gunpowder back into the shooter’s face if something is not quite right with the ammunition, a primer is pierced, a case ruptures, or if a revolver’s cylinder is not perfectly aligned with the forcing cone. Semi-autos can also throw sharp, hot brass back into your face occasionally. Eye protection is a very good idea. If you’re shooting steel targets at the range, eye protection is absolutely mandatory, and most gun ranges won’t let you shoot without eye protection.

A sufficient supply of quality ammunition

If you bought a hunting rifle and only plan to shoot 3-5 shots per year, having a couple of boxes of your favorite hunting ammunition may be sufficient for your needs. On the other hand, if you bought a sporting clays shotgun and plan to shoot one or two weekends a month, you’ll probably want to start buying your shotgun ammo by the flat, or perhaps invest in a shotgun reloading press.

If you’re a new handgun owner, it’s a very good idea to practice shooting your gun at the range at least once a month to gain and maintain good shooting skills, and you might shoot 50-100 rounds or more each time you visit the range. If your range has a regular supply of practice ammo at a reasonable price on hand, fine, but if not, you’ll want to start buying ammo in bulk, probably 500 or 1000 rounds at a time, and make sure you purchase enough to rotate through your defensive/carry ammo regularly to keep it fresh and reliable. Check your local gun shops and see if they can get you what you need. There are also several well-reputed online ammo shops such as SG Ammo or Lucky Gunner, but of course, make sure your local laws allow purchasing ammunition via the internet. Some states don’t permit this and you’ll have to buy your ammunition locally, perhaps even after you pay a fee or get an ammo purchase permit if your location is really stringent.

Note: Check your owner’s manual and make sure you purchase and use the right caliber and type of ammunition that meets the specifications of the manufacturer, and in the case of defensive ammunition, shoot enough of it to confirm reliable function before trusting your life to it.

Professional instruction/firearms training

This may be required for some permits (such as Concealed Carry Weapons/CCW permits) or firearm ownership in your locale, but even if it’s not required, it’s a very good idea to seek out professional, hands-on firearms training if you’re a new gun owner. A good instructor will help you feel comfortable loading, unloading, disassembling, assembling, and shooting your new gun, and can observe and correct potentially dangerous habits before they become a problem.

There are classes aimed toward hunting, sport shooting, competition, and concealed carry/defensive firearm use, so check out what classes are available near you. See our complete article on tips for new shooters for some handy advice, but we recommend seeking hands-on, professional instruction if possible.

Holster and sturdy belt (for concealed carry or competition handguns)

If you bought a handgun for personal protection/concealed carry, you’ll need to get a good holster, and it’s a good idea to get a dedicated gun belt that resists twisting. Just shoving a handgun into a dusty pocket or a purse is asking for trouble. A good holster will help protect the gun as well as help prevent anything from interacting with the trigger while your gun is in its holster.

Check out our article on the best concealed carry holsters for a good overview of the different types and models available.

Tactical or weapon-mounted light for defensive firearms

A flashlight mounted to your defensive handgun, home-defense shotgun, or tactical rifle is pretty much essential. After all, most bad guys like doing bad things under the cover of darkness, and you want to be sure of your target if you need to use your gun. Check out Surefire and Streamlight. Remember? “Be sure of your target and what’s behind it.”