Guides
All 94 articles from Buy More Guns, newest first. Search, filter by topic, or sort to find the one you need.
Rifle, Shotgun or Pistol: Which Gun for Rural Property?
Rifle, shotgun or pistol for acreage: a job-by-job matrix for barn pests, snakes, coyotes and farm chores, with cartridge picks and the trade-offs of each.
Rifle, Shotgun or Pistol: Which Gun for Rural Property?
Rifle, shotgun or pistol for acreage: a job-by-job matrix for barn pests, snakes, coyotes and farm chores, with cartridge picks and the trade-offs of each.
Ruger vs Smith & Wesson: Which Gunmaker Earns Your Money?
Ruger vs Smith & Wesson at the brand level: history, pistol lineups, rifles, warranty and service terms, and which maker fits which buyer, minus fanboy noise.
Is It Legal to Give a Gun as a Gift? Gifts vs Straw Purchases
When buying a gun as a gift is legal under federal law, how it differs from a straw purchase, and safer routes like gift cards and dealer transfers.
How to Use Range Rentals to Pick Your Next Gun
Turn a range rental session into a real buying test: which guns to compare, how many rounds, what to score, and how to keep the test fair, with a scoring sheet.
How to Sell or Trade In a Gun to a Dealer Without Losing Out
Selling or trading a gun to a dealer: research its value, prep it, choose between cash, trade credit and consignment, and handle paperwork and transport.
How to Buy a Police Trade-In Pistol (and What to Check First)
Police trade-in pistols can be strong used buys. What agencies sell off, holster wear vs real wear, night-sight age, magazines, and a step-by-step check.
How to Budget for a Gun: Ammo, Optic, Storage and Fees
The true cost of owning a gun: how to budget for transfer fees, ammunition, storage, eye and ear protection, a light or optic, holster and training.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy a Gun?
Federal minimum ages to buy a gun from a dealer (18 for rifles and shotguns, 21 for handguns), the under-21 background check and how state rules differ.
Best Guns That Hold Their Resale Value (and Why They Do)
Which guns keep their value on the used shelf, and why: Glock, SIG P365, Remington 870 Wingmaster, Tikka T3x and more, plus the habits that protect resale.
Gen 5, 2.0, Mk IV: Why Guns Get Generations and Which Matter
Glock Gen 5, M&P M2.0, Ruger Mark IV and P320: what gun generation names mean, what actually changed, and which generation details matter when you buy used.
Can You Buy a Gun in Another State? The Federal Rules, Explained
Federal rules for buying a rifle, shotgun or handgun outside your home state: what a dealer can sell you in person, what ships home, where states add more.
Best Youth Rifles and Shotguns for a Kid's First Centerfire
Short-stocked centerfire rifles and 20 gauge youth shotguns for a young shooter moving past rimfire: fit, recoil, cartridge choice and the picks worth a look.
Best Hog Hunting Guns: Rifles and Shotguns That Handle Pigs
Hog hunting gun picks across bolt rifles, semi-autos and slug shotguns, with cartridge notes, light and optic advice, and the trade-offs that matter on pigs.
Best American-Made Value Guns: Rifles, Shotguns and Handguns
American-made value picks across rifles, shotguns and handguns from Ruger and Mossberg, plus how to confirm where a specific gun was made before you buy it.
Benelli vs Beretta Semi-Autos: Inertia vs Gas, Explained
Benelli runs on inertia, Beretta runs on gas. How each system cycles, what it means for recoil, cleaning and light loads, and which suits your hunting.
Pump vs Semi-Auto Shotgun: Which Should Your First Shotgun Be?
Pump or semi-auto for your first shotgun? Compare recoil, ammo pickiness, cleaning, cost class and resale for clays and bird hunting, then pick.
Mossberg 500 vs Remington 870: Which Pump Shotgun to Buy?
Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 for birds, clays and all-round use? Receivers, safeties, era-by-era build quality, parts support and resale, compared.
How to Inspect a Used Rifle or Shotgun at the Counter
A step-by-step checklist for used long guns: clear it, then check the bore, crown, action, stock, screws and headspace warning signs before you pay.
Gunmakers With the Best Warranty: What the Fine Print Says
SIG, CZ, Taurus, Savage, Henry and Ruger warranties compared from their own published terms: length, transferability, registration and exclusions.
Gun Counter Slang: NIB, LNIB, Safe Queen and Other Terms
What NIB, LNIB, 98%, safe queen, trade-in, TALO, CPO, C&R and other listing and counter terms mean, and what each one should make you check before you buy.
The Names Behind the Guns: Glock, Ruger, Taurus and Mossberg
Curtain rods, a mourning eagle, a zodiac sign and a Swedish immigrant's pocket pistol: the true origin stories behind four of America's best-selling gun brands.
Ruger American Gen II vs Savage Axis II vs Mossberg Patriot
Three value deer rifles, compared on triggers, magazines, stocks, barrels and scope packages, with a clear pick for each kind of first-season hunter.
Bolt-Action vs Semi-Auto Rifle: Which Should You Buy First?
Bolt or semi-auto for a first centerfire rifle? Compare by job (deer, plinking, property), accuracy, cost class, legal limits and upkeep, then decide.
Best Upland Bird Shotguns for the Money: Pheasant, Quail, Grouse
Upland shotgun picks for pheasant, quail and grouse: over/unders, semi-autos and pumps compared on weight, gauge, chokes and fit, with honest trade-offs.
Beretta Turns 500: Inside the World's Oldest Gunmaker
A 1526 receipt for 185 barrels, 15 generations, a submachine gun, the M9 and the A400: how Beretta reached its 500th year in 2026, and what it means for buyers.
Buying a Used Gun Online: Questions to Ask and What to Check
A practical checklist for buying a used firearm from a distance: what to ask the seller, what to verify at the dealer, and red flags that mean walk away.
Firearm Serial Numbers, Transfers and Records: Owner Basics
What Form 4473, the dealer bound book and serial numbers do, what private sellers and owners must keep, and how state rules differ. As of October 2026.
Your Second Gun: Which Path Makes Sense After the First
After a first handgun, should the second gun be a carbine, a shotgun or a .22 rifle? Three paths with specific picks and the non-gun purchases to make first.
Lead Exposure at the Range: What New Shooters Should Know
How lead reaches shooters through dust, hands and clothing, what NIOSH and CDC guidance suggests for hygiene and ventilation, and who needs extra care.
Ruger PC Carbine vs Henry Homesteader vs Kel-Tec SUB2000
Three pistol-caliber carbines compared by magazine strategy, takedown or folding design and use at home or the range, with a decision guide by what you own.
Best Packable Rifles: AR-7, 10/22 Takedown, Little Badger, M6
Five packable .22 and combination guns compared on stowed size, caliber, capacity and realistic roles, with an honest take on the bug-out idea.
Ruger Mini-14 Ranch vs Mini-Thirty: Which Ranch Rifle?
Same Ruger action, two cartridges: 5.56 in the Mini-14 Ranch against 7.62x39 in the Mini-Thirty. A decision guide on ammo, mags, hunting use and handling.
Maverick 88 in 12 Gauge vs 20 Gauge: Picking a First Shotgun
Maverick 88 pump shotguns in 12 gauge (18.5-inch Security) and 20 gauge (22-inch) compared on recoil, ammunition choice, fit and home-defense use.
Kel-Tec RDB Survival Review: A Bullpup 5.56 for Packing Light
A desk review of the Kel-Tec RDB Survival 5.56 bullpup: what the layout offers, the trade-offs of downward ejection and who should skip it.
Gun Deals Are Mostly Noise: How to Read a Retailer's Sales Page
MAP pricing, rebates, bundles and the real costs behind a marked-down gun: a plain checklist for judging any promotion before you act on it.
Hi-Point JXP 10mm Review: The Meme Gun, Judged Fairly
A paper review of the Hi-Point JXP 10mm: what the specs, the warranty and the cartridge mean for weight, reliability questions and who should buy it.
Guns for Small Hands: Grip Circumference Isn't Everything
Trigger reach, backstraps, slide effort and magazine release placement matter as much as grip size. How to fit a handgun to small hands, with three examples.
GSG Firefly .22 Review: A Budget Trainer vs the Ruger Mark IV
A desk review of the GSG Firefly .22 LR pistol, where it makes sense as a plinker or trainer, and when the Ruger Mark IV Target is the better buy.
Teaching a New Shooter: A First Range Day Plan
A paced plan for introducing someone to shooting: safety talk, dry practice, rimfire first, ammo counts, what to rent and how to end on a good note.
Canik SFx Rival vs Springfield Prodigy: Competition Entry Guns
A striker-fired polymer 9mm against a hammer-fired 1911-style double stack: how the Canik SFx Rival and Springfield Prodigy differ for match shooting.
Taurus G3XL vs Canik Mete MC9 vs Diamondback G4 for Carry
Three value-oriented 9mm carry pistols compared on size, capacity, optics and shootability, plus what you give up against a SIG P365-class gun.
Best Budget Handguns in 2026: Five Value Picks by Job
Taurus G3XL, Diamondback G4, Springfield Hellcat OSP, Hi-Point C9 and JXP 10mm sorted by what each one gives up, with a pick-by-need table.
Zastava ZPAP M70 vs Arsenal SAM7SF: Which AK to Buy New
Zastava's ZPAP M70 in two furniture finishes against Arsenal's folding SAM7SF: stamped versus milled receivers, folding stock, magazines and who each suits.
Beretta A400 Xcel Multitarget Review: A Clays Gun, Dissected
A desk review of the Beretta A400 Xcel Multitarget 12 gauge: what a 30-inch clays semi-auto is built to do, how Kick-Off works and when spending up pays.
FN Five-seveN vs RTAC RT15 vs Kel-Tec R50: The 5.7x28 Question
A pistol, an AR-style rifle and a 50-round Kel-Tec carbine, all chambered in 5.7x28mm, compared on role, capacity and the ammunition cost you should weigh first.
Indoor vs Outdoor Ranges: Safety and Exposure Questions to Ask
Compare indoor and outdoor range visits by noise, ventilation, weather, accessibility and supervision rather than marketing claims.
How to Subtly Ask Dad What He Wants for the Range Without Blowing the Surprise
Listen for the complaint he repeats every trip. That is usually the answer.
Spooktober Collector Confessions: The 11 Things We All Pretend We Don’t Do
The scariest sentence in the hobby may be: “I’m pretty sure I have one of those somewhere.”
The October Range-Bag Horror Show: 13 Things to Throw Out or Replace
Mystery batteries. Crunchy foam plugs. A lens cloth that is now mostly sand. Terrifying.
A New-Year Resolution for Gun People: Know What You Own and Store It Like You Mean It
The point is not owning less. The point is being able to account for what you own.
The First Gift for a New Gun Owner Should Be Boring — and That’s a Compliment
Good safety gear is the rare present that gets more useful with repetition.
Holiday Visitors + a Growing Collection = Time for a Storage Reality Check
A house full of people is not the moment to discover your access assumptions were wrong.
Best Gifts for the Gun Guy Who Says “Just Get Me Ammo” — Without Guessing His Load
Collectors have a special talent for acquiring the exciting object first and building the infrastructure around it later. That is human. It is also how storage plans fall three purchases…
The Fall Range Day With Friends: How to Keep It Fun Instead of Turning It Into a Gear Flex
Collectors have a special talent for acquiring the exciting object first and building the infrastructure around it later. That is human. It is also how storage plans fall three purchases…
The Fall Collection Audit: What You Own, What You Use and What Needs Attention
October is a fine month to stop confusing accumulation with organization.
Why Eye and Ear Protection Are Better Gifts Than Random Gun Parts
No thread pitch, footprint, caliber or compatibility spreadsheet required.
Cold Weather Exposes Cheap Gear, Bad Habits and Overconfidence
Fall is when the little annoyances become obvious enough to fix.
Before You Buy Another Gun, Fix Your Storage Setup
The collection grew. The storage plan somehow remained the same size.
The film picked the wrong gun
Large animals at close range, defending a fixed position, salt water and corrosion, and carrying capability on foot — four film premises with real buying answers.
Shotshells, through rifling
Why rifled barrels spread shot so quickly, what .45 Colt and .410 revolvers are genuinely good at, and what to buy instead when defense is the real job.
The rifle that came with you
Survival rifles, takedown conventional rifles and folding carbines compared — weight, stored size, zero retention, and the storage rules that come with a vehicle gun.
The gun you'll actually carry
How to choose a defensive pistol: size class first, then reliability with carry ammunition, fit, sights and holster support — plus three guns that earn the recommendation.
Handgun round, rifle hits
What a 9mm carbine gains over a pistol and gives up against a rifle, magazine compatibility, and four ways into the category from takedown to AR-pattern.
Used is cheap. Unless it isn't
A ten-minute inspection routine for used firearms, the parts that actually wear out, and the three categories where buying second-hand is consistently the smarter purchase.
Famous on film, still in production
The .44 Magnum, the Colt Python, the Mare's Leg, the Western lever gun and the modern screen sidearm — what each is really like, and which deserve the fame.
Ambidextrous, allegedly
Ejection, safety, magazine release and bolt side — what genuinely matters for left-handed shooters, what is fixable with a part, and the designs that solve it properly.
Nobody else builds these
Bullpup shotguns, folding carbines and 33-round rimfire pistols — the Kel-Tec catalogue organised by what each gun is genuinely for, and what you accept in return.
The letter that armed 007
How a letter from a firearms expert in 1956 put the Walther PPK in Bond's holster, what the pistol is actually like to own and shoot, and which variant to buy.
Dark, indoors, one hand busy
Shotgun, carbine or handgun for defending a house — judged on identification, indoor blast, overpenetration and who in the household can run it.
Buy the job, not the gun
A first-gun buying framework built around the job you need done: platform choice, three sensible starting guns, and the full cost of getting competent.
Cheap guns, honest ones
Where the real reliability floor sits at the bottom of the firearms market, what you give up at that end, and five inexpensive guns that genuinely earn their place.
Smaller is not easier
Recoil, operating force, fit and sight acquisition are separate variables — which guns score well on all four, and the fixes that cost less than buying another gun.
The argument is mostly settled
A practical comparison of .380, 9mm, .40, .45, 10mm and .38 Special — capacity, recoil, practice cost, and the specific cases where something other than 9mm wins.
Online, then through a dealer
What happens between clicking buy and walking out with the gun: the FFL transfer sequence, what ships to your door, transfer fees, and where state rules change the answer.
Coverage first, character later
A deliberate buying sequence — rimfire rifle, defensive gun, general-purpose carbine, then specialisation — that reaches full coverage without duplicate purchases.
One receiver, every job
How to buy one shotgun that covers clays, birds, deer and home defense: gauge, action type, barrel swaps, stock fit, and the loads that switch the job.
Zero it. Then prove it.
Bore sighting, the 100-yard zero, and the two tests that prove your turrets do what the numbers say: the box test and the tall target test.
It’s probably not the scope
A diagnostic order of operations for wandering zero — mounts, action screws, barrel contact, parallax, ammunition and shooter position, before you blame the optic.
Thermal vs night vision
Image intensification and thermal imaging are not competing versions of the same tool. What each physically does, where each fails, and which one you actually need.
Spotting scopes & tripods
Angled vs straight eyepieces, why you rarely use the top magnification, and how to choose a tripod that will actually hold the scope still.
Red dot footprints
Mounting footprints, adapter plates, dot size, emitter types and battery access — how to avoid buying an optic your slide can
Reading wind
Why wind near the muzzle matters most, how the clock method works, what mirage actually tells you, and where each indicator stops being useful.
What goes in the bag
A working range day checklist — the essentials, the things people forget, the tools that save a session, and the medical kit that should never be optional.
MOA vs MIL
The actual geometry behind minutes of angle and milliradians, why mixing them causes misses, and how to choose the system you
LPVO, red dot, prism
Three ways to sight a carbine, compared on weight, speed, eye box, battery dependence and how each behaves with astigmatism.
How long does ammo last ?
The chemistry of propellant ageing, what humidity really does to a cartridge, and the storage conditions that turn a decade into several.
The hearing maths
What the Noise Reduction Rating actually measures, why real-world attenuation is lower, and what doubling up genuinely buys you.
What the rating promises
What a UL RSC certification really tests, how fire ratings are measured and by whom, and why steel gauge and anchoring matter more than the door.
First vs second focal plane
Where the reticle sits in a riflescope decides whether your holdovers are true at every magnification. The trade-offs, and which one suits your shooting.
Which zero ?
How height over bore, near zero and far zero interact, what maximum point blank range really means, and which zero fits which rifle.
8×42 or 10×42 ?
Why the two most common hunting binocular configurations behave so differently at dusk, and what the low-light numbers actually measure.
Speed against security
Quick-access lockboxes, biometric failure modes, child-access prevention duties, and how to choose storage you can actually open under stress.
Read the marking
The impact standards behind ballistic eyewear, what the plus symbol certifies, and how to choose lens tints for actual range conditions.
Uphill, downhill, both shoot high
The geometry behind angle-compensated rangefinding, why the rifleman