10 Mistakes Every New Gun Owner Makes (And How to Avoid Them)
Everyone starts somewhere. Here are the most common mistakes new firearm owners make and practical advice to avoid each one.
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I want to start this one with a confession: I've made some of these mistakes myself. Not all of them, but enough. And every instructor I respect will tell you the same thing. Nobody comes out of the box as an expert. The goal isn't perfection - it's awareness, humility, and a willingness to learn.
So here are the ten most common mistakes I see new gun owners make, along with what to do instead. No shame. Just practical advice from someone who's been doing this a long time.
1. Choosing Too Much Caliber for Your Body
This is the number one mistake I see, and it happens because people buy based on what they think they need rather than what actually works for their hands, frame, and experience level.
A .45 ACP is a serious round. So is a .357 Magnum. And for some people, those calibers are a great fit. But for many first-time shooters - especially those with smaller hands or less upper body strength - starting with a full-power caliber means fighting the gun instead of learning the fundamentals.
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Start with .22 LR or .380 ACP. Learn trigger control, sight alignment, and grip without the flinch factor. You can always move up once your fundamentals are solid. There is no shame in starting small. In fact, it's the smart play.
2. Not Trying Before Buying
Would you buy a car without a test drive? Then why would you spend $400 to $800 on a firearm you've never held, let alone fired?
Many ranges rent firearms, and that's exactly what they're there for. Try several. See what fits your hand. See what you can manage the recoil on. See what you actually enjoy shooting - because if you don't enjoy it, you won't practice, and a firearm you never practice with is a liability, not an asset.
This is literally what FST's familiarization sessions are designed for. I have twenty-two pistols across five calibers. Come try them. Find your match. Then buy with confidence. Check out our Training Options page for details.
3. Skipping Formal Training
YouTube is a wonderful resource. I use it myself. But watching a video about safe firearm handling and actually practicing safe firearm handling under the guidance of an instructor are two very different things.
A video can't correct your grip in real time. A video can't notice that you're anticipating recoil and pushing the muzzle down before the shot breaks. A video can't create the muscle memory that comes from hands-on repetition with someone watching and coaching.
Get training. Real, in-person training. Whether it's with me or someone else, invest in at least one formal session before you start building habits on your own - because bad habits are much harder to unlearn than good habits are to build.
4. Storing Loaded and Unlocked
This one isn't just a mistake - it's a safety emergency waiting to happen.
Data shows that states with secure storage requirements see a 35% reduction in unintentional child shootings. That's not a small number. That's lives saved by the simple act of keeping firearms locked and unloaded when not in use.
I'll go deeper on safe storage in a future post, but the basics are straightforward: invest in a quick-access safe or biometric lockbox, store your firearm unloaded with ammunition nearby but separate, and if you have children or regular guests in your home, treat secure storage as non-negotiable.
Oregon has its own safe storage law - ORS 166.395 - and you should know what it requires. We cover that on our Oregon Firearm Laws page.
5. Over-Oiling
I spent six years as a military armorer. I have seen things done to firearms that would make you wince. And one of the most common? Drowning the gun in oil.
More oil is not better. A thin film of lubricant on the moving parts - that's it. Excess oil attracts dust, dirt, and carbon fouling. It gums up the action. It can actually cause malfunctions rather than prevent them.
When you clean your firearm, apply a light coat of oil to the slide rails, barrel hood, and any metal-on-metal contact points. Wipe off the excess. That's the whole process. Check out our Maintenance and Care page for a detailed walkthrough.
6. Buying Based on Brand Hype Instead of Fit
The internet will tell you that there's one correct answer to "what gun should I buy?" and that answer changes depending on which forum you're reading.
Here's the truth: the best firearm is the one that fits your hand, that you shoot well, and that you'll actually practice with. A $300 pistol that fits you perfectly will serve you better than a $900 pistol that's too big for your grip.
I always recommend trying before buying - but if you're doing online research, focus less on brand loyalty and more on ergonomics, reliability records, and how the firearm feels in your specific hands. Our Choosing Your First Firearm page has guidance on what actually matters.
7. Never Practicing After Purchase
Buying a firearm and never shooting it is like buying a guitar and never playing it. The skills don't develop through ownership - they develop through practice.
I recommend at minimum a range visit every month or two for the first year. Dry fire practice at home - with a verified unloaded firearm, in a safe direction - is also incredibly valuable for building trigger control and sight alignment habits.
If cost is a barrier, look into .22 LR conversion kits or consider purchasing a .22 for practice. The ammunition is dramatically cheaper, and the fundamentals transfer directly. Our Marksmanship Fundamentals page covers the core skills to practice.
8. Ignoring Maintenance
Your firearm is a mechanical device. It needs maintenance. Not just when it stops working - regularly.
After every range session, clean the barrel, wipe down the slide and frame, and lubricate the moving parts. Every few hundred rounds, do a more thorough field strip and inspection. Look for wear, cracks, and carbon buildup.
This was my job for six years. I maintained dozens of firearms in harsh field conditions. The ones that were cleaned and inspected regularly ran reliably. The ones that were neglected caused problems at the worst possible times. Your firearm deserves the same attention.
9. Impulse Accessorizing
I get it. Accessories are fun. A red dot sight, a weapon light, a new trigger, a laser - the options are endless and the marketing is persuasive.
But here's the reality: an optic can't fix bad fundamentals. A weapon light doesn't help if you don't practice with it mounted. A lighter trigger on a firearm you haven't mastered is actually dangerous, not helpful.
Master the basics first. Learn to shoot your firearm well with iron sights. Get comfortable with the stock trigger. Then, when you have a specific need that an accessory addresses, add it deliberately and practice with it until it's second nature. Our Optics and Sights page can help you understand your options when you're ready.
10. Not Planning for Who Else Has Access
This is the mistake people don't think about until it's too late. You secured a firearm. Great. But who else lives in your home? Who visits regularly? Do your children know what to do if they encounter a firearm? Do your roommates know there's one in the house?
Access planning isn't optional - it's a core responsibility of ownership. If children are present, firearms must be locked and stored where kids cannot reach them. If you have guests, think about whether your storage method accounts for someone unfamiliar with your home.
Have conversations. Normalize talking about firearm safety with the people in your life. And if you have kids, teach them the basics: stop, don't touch, run away, tell an adult. The NRA's Eddie Eagle program - whatever your feelings about the organization - has solid fundamentals for teaching children what to do if they find a firearm.
The Bottom Line
Every single one of these mistakes is fixable. Every single one of them starts with awareness. If you recognized yourself in any of these - good. That means you're paying attention, and paying attention is the first step toward being a safer, more responsible gun owner.
And if you want help with any of this - from choosing the right firearm to learning maintenance to understanding storage - that's exactly what FST is here for. Reach out through our Contact page or check the Training Options to get started.