Greg Lickenbrock is a senior firearms analyst and technical advisor for the largest non-profit organization dedicated to gun violence prevention and safety in the United States. He previously spent nearly a decade serving as an editor and writer for several outdoor and firearm-related publications.

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 2

Beyond the Book 3

Where to Go from Here 3

Part 1: Getting Started with Gun Safety 5

Chapter 1: The Basics of Safe Gun Ownership 7

Common Reasons to Own a Firearm 8

Gaining a sense of security 8

Hunting and recreational shooting 9

Taking part in history 9

Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Firearm 10

How will you secure it? 10

Who will have access to it? 11

When will you attend a training course? 11

The Four Rules of Gun Safety 12

Rule 1: Treat all guns as if they are loaded 13

Rule 2: Never let your muzzle cover anything you aren't willing to destroy 13

Rule 3: Keep your finger off the trigger until you're on target and ready to shoot 14

Rule 4: Be sure of your target and what is behind it 14

Knowing other important rules to follow 15

Checking Whether a Gun is Loaded 15

Checking semi-automatic pistols 16

Checking revolvers 17

Checking rifles or shotguns with detachable magazines 17

Checking rifles or shotguns with internal magazines 18

Chapter 2: Legally Speaking 19

Understanding U.S Federal Gun Regulations 20

The Second Amendment and its interpretations 20

The National Firearms Act of 1934 21

The Federal Firearms Act of 1938 23

The Gun Control Act of 1968 23

The Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 23

The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 24

The federal assault weapons ban of 1994 24

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act of 2005 26

Breaking Down Landmark Supreme Court Decisions 26

United States v Miller 26

District of Columbia v Heller 27

McDonald v Chicago 27

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v Bruen 27

Navigating State and Local Laws 27

Recognizing significant laws 28

Finding helpful sites and resources 30

Looking at Gun Laws Outside the United States 31

Canada 31

Switzerland 32

United Kingdom 32

Australia 33

New Zealand 33

Chapter 3: The Three Main Types of Firearms 35

Taking a Quick Trip through History: Cannons, Muskets, and More 36

Understanding early naming conventions 36

Sizing down for individual soldiers 37

Tracing 1800s innovations to today's guns 39

Going the Distance with Rifles 42

Understanding bolt-action basics 42

Leveling up with lever actions 44

Gaining speed with semi-autos 46

Sorting Out Various Types of Shotguns 51

Simplifying shotgun shells 51

Breaking down break actions 52

Moving from levers to pumps 54

Sizing up semi-auto scatterguns 55

Getting Hands on with Handguns 56

Grasping the revolver revolution 56

Charting the rise of semi-autos 58

Chapter 4: Purchasing Your Firearm 65

Your First Trip to the Gun Store 66

What to expect from salespeople 66

Deciding on the type of gun to buy 67

Trying before you buy 69

Knowing the Purchase Requirements 72

Filling out the required paperwork 73

Understanding holds and wait times 75

Part 2: Building a Gun Safety Mindset 79

Chapter 5: Introducing a Firearm into Your Household 81

Having "The Talk" with Your Family 82

Addressing your partner's concerns 82

Explaining gun safety rules to children 83

Teaching children what to do if they encounter a firearm 84

Entering those dreaded teen years 85

Letting Other People Know You Own a Gun 86

Understanding the Dangers of Overpenetration 87

Chapter 6: Safe and Secure Firearm Storage 91

Understanding the Locks (Sometimes) Included with Guns 92

The Child Safety Lock Act of 2005 92

How to use a cable lock - and why it isn't enough 93

The problems with trigger locks 95

Investing in Sturdy Steel with Gun Safes and Vaults 96

Factoring in size, construction, and more 97

Breaking down the various lock types 100

Avoiding less traditional storage options 102

Grasping the Importance of Storing Ammunition Separately 103

Chapter 7: Manual Labor 105

Looking Inside Your Firearm's Manual 106

Using the safety 106

Loading and unloading the gun 107

Disassembly made easy 108

Learning the warranty information 109

Watching Out for Other Warnings 110

Avoiding the wrong ammunition 110

Finding the right balance of lubrication 111

Keeping the Record Straight 112

Chapter 8: Cleaning and Maintenance 113

Caring for Your Gun between Trips to the Range 114

Gathering the right tools and supplies 114

Taking your gun apart 116

Scrubbing the barrel 116

Inspecting the interior 118

Adding lube and other finishing touches 118

Dealing With the Usual Wear and Tear 119

Identifying common wear points 120

Replacing parts - and knowing your limits 121

Troubleshooting Two Larger Issues 122

Clearing bore obstructions 123

Removing light rust 124

Chapter 9: Getting to Know Ammunition 127

Making Sense of Rifle and Handgun Ammunition 128

Getting acquainted with cartridge components and naming conventions 128

Looking at the basics of ballistics and barrel rifling 132

Understanding today's handgun bullets 134

Recognizing various rifle bullets 137

Sorting Out Shotgun Shells 140

Discerning shell components and naming conventions 140

Defining shotshells by use 142

Chapter 10: Today's Firearm Accessories 145

Carrying Your Gun 146

Choosing handgun holsters 146

Selecting a sling for your long gun 148

Using Common Shooting Aids 150

Zeroing in with sights and optics 150

Holding steady with monopods, bipods, and more 153

Powering up with lights, lasers, and combination units 155

Customizing Your Gun 159

Upgrades you can do at home 159

Upgrades that require gunsmithing 161

Looking at Other Helpful Accessories 163

Chapter 11: Leaving Home with Your Firearm 165

Transporting a Gun in a Vehicle 166

Understanding relevant laws 166

Examining vehicle storage options - and their risks 167

Crossing State Lines with a Firearm 170

Traveling by road 170

Traveling by air 171

Carrying a Firearm on Your Person 173

Getting to know your state's carry laws and off-limit locations 174

Recognizing common carry positions 176

Avoiding injury while unholstering 178

Part 3: Discovering How to Use Your Firearm 181

Chapter 12: Basic Training 183

Understanding Why You Need to Attend a Training Course 184

Knowing What to Expect from a Training Course 186

Breaking down the types of courses 186

Considering three major factors: cost, time, and format 187

Understanding common course requirements 188

Evaluating course options 190

Finding a Training Course Near You 193

Range Safety Fundamentals 194

Explaining common range rules 195

Dressing appropriately 196

Protecting your eyesight 197

Protecting your hearing 197

Preparing for All Types of Weather 199

Continuing Your Education 200

Chapter 13: On the Mark 203

Learning the Basics of Accurate Shooting 204

Establishing a firm grip on a handgun 204

Holding onto a rifle or shotgun 207

Getting into position 207

Sighting in 213

Breathing for better accuracy 217

Controlling the trigger 217

Practicing Your Shooting Skills Safely 218

Maximizing your range time 218

Diagnosing your results 220

Overcoming Cross-Eye Dominance 222

Chapter 14: Reloading and Clearing Malfunctions 225

Dissecting the Anatomy of a Detachable Magazine 226

Reloading a Pistol Three Different Ways 227

The empty reload 228

The speed reload 231

The retention reload 232

Safely Unloading a Gun 233

Troubleshooting Common Pistol Malfunctions 234

Clearing a failure to eject 234

Fixing a failure to feed 235

Dealing with double feeds 236

Diagnosing ammo-related problems 236

Part 4: Think Carefully before You Shoot 239

Chapter 15: Hunting and Sport Shooting 241

Preparing to Hunt with a Firearm 242

Getting to know your state's wildlife agency 242

Attending a hunter education course 243

Becoming an ethical hunter 244

Breaking down various types of hunting 246

Gathering helpful hunting gear 249

Going for Gold at Shooting Matches 251

Learning popular shooting disciplines 251

Collecting helpful competition gear 254

Attending your first match 256

Chapter 16: Firearms and Self-Defense 257

Before You Reach for a Gun 258

Protecting your home from the outside 258

Protecting your home from the inside 260

Understanding the Castle Doctrine 262

Interpreting the castle doctrine today 263

Knowing the limits of the law 263

Creating an Emergency Plan 264

Understanding Self-Defense with a Firearm Outside the Home 266

Part 5: The Part of Tens 269

Chapter 17: Ten Common Myths about Firearms 271