Ready to start being responsible for your own safety? This is an important decision, since U.S. courts on all levels are clear on this point: you are on your own, and a gun gives you options in a bad situation. Buying your first gun and getting your carry permit is a serious investment, and your bank account can take a hard hit. Soften the blow by spreading out the load over 9 months. Here's a sample plan on how to responsibly arm yourself with a $400-500 handgun on a monthly $100 budget for concealed carry within 9 months or less. This plan can be adjusted, according to the price of the desired handgun.
Month 1
Month 1
- Buy a handgun barrel cleaner and other cleaning-maintenance supplies.
- Sign up for a free Learn To Shoot class with DrGuns.
- Buy a handgun mini-safe.
- Begin to window shop for your handgun.
- Find a friend (or friends) that you can talk with (and you enjoy spending time with them), and share experiences and thoughts about responsible gun ownership.
- Become a life-long student of basic gun skills, conceal carry strategies and situational tactics.
- Start to find places for target practice.
- Buy a set of "THE DRILL" dry-fire cards.
Month 2
Month 3
Months 4, 5, 6, and 7
Month 8
Month 9+
- Pay for and take a CCW class.
- Talk with experienced gun owners, read online, and decide on a caliber and frame style.
- Buy about 100 bullets for the caliber of gun you plan to buy.
- Buy a holster.
Month 3
- Apply for your conceal carry license.
- Sign up for firearms safety class with a local Sheriff or Police department. You may have to travel.
Months 4, 5, 6, and 7
- Save $100 for your gun purchase.
Month 8
- Buy your gun and 50 defense rounds, like hollow point, etc. (Congratulations!)
- Buy and try out a couple of holster types.
- Buy or make your targets.
- Buy eye & ear protection.
- Start your dry fire drills (several times per week)
- Start your target practice with live ammo, monthly or more frequently as needed.
Month 9+
- Buy a membership in a group that will defend your right to protect those you love, like the NRA, Second Amendment Foundation, etc.
- Buy/order extra magazines as soon as you have the money.
- Take a Shooting Under Stress class.
- Buy snap caps, and a boresighter.
- Buy your storage bullets and as many practice rounds as you are comfortable with having on hand.
- Consider participating in IDPA or IPSC.
- Consider becoming a firearms safety instructor.