{"id":126303,"date":"2020-03-25T16:28:24","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T20:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=126303"},"modified":"2020-03-25T16:28:24","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T16:11:26","slug":"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/","title":{"rendered":"Clay&#8217;s COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"471\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.31.52-AM-1024x471.png\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-126326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.31.52-AM-1024x471.png 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.31.52-AM-400x184.png 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.31.52-AM-150x69.png 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.31.52-AM-768x353.png 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.31.52-AM.png 1201w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Author filming at Independence Indoor Range in 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alright, this is not the usual fare for our GunsAmerica readership. But it is something that needs to be said. If you are a regular, it will have some entertainment value, if nothing else. You can have a chuckle while you gaze upon your safe full of options, likely while sitting on your throne of 5.56\/308 ammo cans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is also something you can share with the people undoubtedly asking you a million questions right now. And it is a place to engage the collective brain trust of our readership. If you have something to add or some sound advice, please toss it in the comments down below. Given the currently deteriorating situation, you may help save someone&#8217;s life.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other episodes in this series:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/clay-survival-foods-covid-19-crisis\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Clay on Survival Foods for COVID-19 Crisis (How to Avoid Eating Your Pets)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/clay-staying-fit-and-sane-during-quarantine\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Clay on Staying Fit and Sane During Quarantine<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Clay\u2019s COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/clays-covid-19-gun-buying-guide-for-noobs-part-ii-holsters-slings\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Clay\u2019s COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs Part II: Holsters &amp; Slings<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/clays-covid-19-gun-buying-guide-noobs-part-iii\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Clay\u2019s COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs Part III: Flashlights &amp; Broadswords<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/clays-covid-19-gun-buying-guide-noobs-part-iv-sights\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Clay\u2019s COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs Part IV: Dinosaur Tech and Space Age Sights<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"796\" height=\"454\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.19.36-AM.png\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-126320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.19.36-AM.png 796w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.19.36-AM-400x228.png 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.19.36-AM-150x86.png 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.19.36-AM-768x438.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><figcaption>LWRC SMG.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is the situation that I have seen firsthand. MANY people that never thought they would need one, are suddenly lined up at the gun store. Visa cards, gold coins, grandma&#8217;s silverware &#8212; turns out that in a crisis, paying for a gun becomes a high priority. This has nearly overwhelmed the background check system, which is a fight for another day. And it includes more than a few \u201cpersons\u201d that were gun-grabbing commies last week, wondering why anyone needed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/double-barrel-magazine-extended-clips-former-lapd-sergeant-reveals-extreme-ignorance-on-guns-and-gun-laws\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">semi-fully automatic assault machine gun rifle with double-barrel magazine extended clips<\/a>. Who are now dismayed to learn that they can&#8217;t mail-order an M-60 machine gun nor a run-of-the-mill hand cannon to their front door, &#8220;gun show loophole&#8221; or not.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, first off, WE F*CKING TOLD YOU SO!!!!!! There, it&#8217;s out of the way now. But we are still going to help you. I, for one, hope this lesson sticks after the crisis averts (assuming it does and people aren&#8217;t killing one another in the streets next week or month over a 12-pack of Charmin). Even if we as a nation never fire a round in anger during COVID-19 season, a lot of people are going to be comforted by some variation of Mr. Colt standing watch. If even 10 percent of the people now panic buying convert to the church of &#8220;Guns Are Fun,&#8221; we have gained a powerful set of allies. We have a chance, right now, to set the gun grabbers back 30 years. So not only am I going to help you, I am going to encourage all of my friends with guns to help you. And that, my dears, is an army in itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we look at the facts on the ground we have to make a number of assumptions, all of which are bad. First, most of the desirable stuff is already likely gone. Second, nobody buying a gun for the first time today is going to get A.) Training from an expert in the near future B.) Enough ammo for practice and self-training. They might not even get to test fire that weapon, which is horrifying. But, we got what we got.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"791\" height=\"551\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.31.09-AM.png\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-126325\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.31.09-AM.png 791w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.31.09-AM-400x279.png 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.31.09-AM-150x104.png 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.31.09-AM-768x535.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px\" \/><figcaption>Author with 5.56 AR-15.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best Gun to Buy: <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>My number one choice remains an AR-15 in 5.56\/223 chambering. But good luck finding one right now. However, a few gems do remain. In my local market at least, it seems like all the cheap and mid-priced ARs are gone. But the really &#8220;nice&#8221; (read <em>expensive<\/em>) models are still here. Things like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/daniel-defense-3-gun-dominator-m4v7-pro-5-56-full-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Daniel Defense M4V7 <\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/sig-sauer-mcx-virtus-long-term-endurance-test-part-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">SIG MCX<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/985314747\/Nemo-Arms-Battle-Light-Pistol-5-56-Nato-Cerakote-Burnt-Bronze.htm\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Nemo Battle Light<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/lwrci-ic-a5-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">LWRC IC-A5.<\/a> If you can get a couple of boxes of ammo to go with one of those (no ammo means all you have is an expensive bat), consider you are going to have to pay a premium. Getting a high-end gun right from Day 1 does pack some advantages, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"279\" height=\"423\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.18.48-AM.png\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-126319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.18.48-AM.png 279w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.18.48-AM-198x300.png 198w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.18.48-AM-99x150.png 99w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 279px) 100vw, 279px\" \/><figcaption>LWRC, a premium AR brand.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/Search\/Family\/2\/1\/AR15-Rifles.htm\" campaign=\"BuyARsGA\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\">***Start Shopping GunsAmerica for AR-15s Right Now!&nbsp; Local Sales Are FREE!***<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&#8217;t think for a second that a noob with a high-end rifle is going to outshoot a seasoned hooligan with a battered SKS that shot a spam can per week leading up to this. It won&#8217;t happen. But&#8230; a high-end rifle is likely to have a very forgiving trigger, which does help with accuracy. And you can grow into it after the crisis ends. You are still going to have to shoot a pile of ammo to do so, but you are essentially paying for all your upgrades at once. Consider yourself taxed.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"789\" height=\"397\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.13.31-AM.png\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-126318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.13.31-AM.png 789w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.13.31-AM-400x201.png 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.13.31-AM-150x75.png 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.13.31-AM-768x386.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 789px) 100vw, 789px\" \/><figcaption>SIG MCX in 300 AAC chambering.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Next Best Gun to Buy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The second choice in the AR family is merely thinking outside the box. Lots of ARs in 556 here are gone, and all the bullets are too. But you can still buy rifles in both 300 AAC and 6.8 SPC. That might not be the best choice in normal times, but these aren&#8217;t normal times. If you burn through a stash of say, 250 rounds of 6.8 SPC, one of two things is very likely. Either you are dead or you have won. If you won, I suggest battlefield recovery ASAP. You may also be able to find <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/nemo-xo-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">a large frame AR, in 308, 6.5 <\/a> Creedmoor, or 260 Remington. You pay a cost in weight, but the side benefit is the bullets are going to be devastating to whatever you hit.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Okay, we haven&#8217;t been very out of the box yet. I just wanted to clarify that an AR is still King, in my opinion, if you can find one. After an AR would be any variant of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/arsenal-inc-ak20-shot-show-2020\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">AK<\/a>, then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/ruger-pc-carbine-chassis-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">9mm Mag fed Carbines <\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/springfield-m1a-tanker-unboxed\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">M1A <\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/milsurp-sks-carbine-need-know\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">SKS<\/a>, in any particular order you can think of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/rifles.htm\" campaign=\"BuyRiflesGA\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\">***Start Shopping GunsAmerica for AKs, PCCs, M1As, SKSs Right Now!&nbsp; Local Sales Are FREE!***<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"474\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.20.29-AM.png\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-126321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.20.29-AM.png 790w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.20.29-AM-400x240.png 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.20.29-AM-150x90.png 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.20.29-AM-768x461.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption>Big Horn Armory, yes, with a red dot sight<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other Options:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a class then, my next choice would be a lever-action rifle. Lever-action rifles are surprisingly agile and instinctive. Even for you AR guys, if you have never shot one, you might be shocked at how easy it is to snap around. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/henry-45-70\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Henry makes <\/a>an excellent rifle, as do many others such as Marlin and Big Horn Armory. Caliber, you have to make a choice. Rifle calibers will reach further, and generally hit harder. But pistol calibers have more capacity. My Big Horn Armory <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/big-horn-model-89\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">review<\/a> gun was chambered in 500 S&amp;W, which would be an excellent choice. Bonus to lever actions: ammo may still be on the shelf. For pistol caliber, look to 500 S&amp;W, 44 Magnum, and 357 Magnum\/38 Special. (Like revolvers, many 357 rifles will also shoot 38 Special, two calibers for one gun.) In rifle calibers, 30-30 is a classic, but other options exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;m going to catch some grief for this next part, I always do. But I would take any rifle over a shotgun. However, the shotgun is next down the line. Rifles and shotguns are both what we call \u201clong guns.&#8221; Long guns are easier to shoot accurately, deal more damage per round (even in pistol calibers, as the longer barrel creates higher projectile speeds), and are harder to hurt yourself with. Very relevant to the new shooter crew.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"794\" height=\"441\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.21.17-AM.png\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-126322\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.21.17-AM.png 794w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.21.17-AM-400x222.png 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.21.17-AM-150x83.png 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.21.17-AM-768x427.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 794px) 100vw, 794px\" \/><figcaption>Mossberg 590A1, author&#8217;s first choice in pump-action shotguns.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It can be argued that shotguns create more devastating wounds at closer range, and let&#8217;s just say that is true for now. They do come at a cost though. First, they are harder to load. Once they are empty, the cost to get them back running is time you don&#8217;t have (Mag fed being a rare exception). Second, years of 3 Gun shooting has taught an unmistakable lesson. A shotgun, especially a semi-auto shotgun, is the least reliable weapon in the arsenal. They have gotten better over the years, but they are still more likely to jam than anything else. Even a pump shotgun is easy to short stroke under pressure. If you grew up duck hunting, this might not be a factor. But for the truly new, it matters. Third, you have to aim a shotgun just like you do a rifle, with greater recoil. The irony is that the closer a target is, the easier it is to miss with a shotgun. While the spread on a gauge does help you somewhat at range, it takes a further distance than most people would think to open up. And fourth, the manual of arms is difficult compared to most rifles.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So while a shotgun isn&#8217;t a terrible choice, it is behind the rifle in my opinion. My order for shotguns is somewhat subjective, but here we go.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Option one in my book is a pump action. Yes, you can screw it up. But, a pump is still orders of magnitude more reliable than a semi-auto. I like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/mossberg-590a1-retrograde\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Mossberg 590A1 <\/a> as a top pick.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/shotguns.htm\" campaign=\"BuyShotgunsGA\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\">***Start Shopping GunsAmerica for Shotguns Right Now!&nbsp; Local Sales Are FREE!***<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"697\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/shooting-1-1024x697.jpg\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-125612\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/shooting-1-1024x697.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/shooting-1-400x272.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/shooting-1-150x102.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/shooting-1-768x523.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/shooting-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Jordan Micheals with Henry .410 lever gun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Option two is a little off the beaten path, but our own Jordan Michaels just reviewed the Henry lever-action<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/henry-410-side-gate\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\"> shotgun. <\/a> Don&#8217;t rule out the lever gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"586\" height=\"336\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.07.25-AM.png\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-126316\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.07.25-AM.png 586w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.07.25-AM-400x229.png 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.07.25-AM-150x86.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 586px) 100vw, 586px\" \/><figcaption>Side by side shotgun<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Option three is a side-by-side. These have an advantage in simplicity, but they lack capacity. I strongly recommend getting some dummy rounds (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabelas.com\/product\/A-Zoom-Aluminum-Snap-Caps-and-Training-Rounds\/741263.uts\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">aka snap caps<\/a>) and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cowboyactionleather.com\/product\/SB01\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Cowboy Action style belt <\/a>if you go this route. It takes time and effort, but a talented SASS shooter can chuck lead from a side-by-side faster than most mortals with a pump action. Don&#8217;t rule this out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"290\" height=\"471\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.10.54-AM.png\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-126317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.10.54-AM.png 290w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.10.54-AM-185x300.png 185w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.10.54-AM-92x150.png 92w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px\" \/><figcaption>Beretta 1301, author&#8217;s first choice in semi-auto shotguns.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Option four would be my last choice for the noobs, if only for the reliability issue. It should also be said, in a panic, you could empty the tube much faster than you intended. This is not a place to cheap out either. I highly recommend the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/beretta-1301-tactical-shotgun-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Beretta 1301 <\/a>or the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/26-round-12-gauge-benelli-m2-xrail\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\"> Benelli M2<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If Nothing Else&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Absolutely last on the list is any form of hand cannon. This is for two reasons. First, with absolutely no training, your ability to hit the floor if you drop it is in question. A pistol is by far the hardest weapon to master, as any shooter on this site will tell you. Even police, with at least some training, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/nypd-9-shooting-bystander-victims-hit-by-police-gunfire\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">routinely miss the perp<\/a>. (In case you didn&#8217;t click the link, hitting 9 bystanders would get you kicked out of any military unit I ever served in, if not a court-martial.) Second, with its short barrel and other things that make them awesome for concealed carry but troublesome for noobs, you are much more likely to hurt yourself. With a rifle you might shoot your foot by accident, but with a pistol any part of the body is in play, including your head. If you do end up with a pistol, and you&#8217;ve never trained, for God&#8217;s sake be careful!  Learn the four rules of firearms safety.  This applies to all guns not just handguns but now is as good a time as any to remind you of them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/DZ8nDK0V4AAI7WH-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-126362\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/DZ8nDK0V4AAI7WH-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/DZ8nDK0V4AAI7WH-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/DZ8nDK0V4AAI7WH-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/DZ8nDK0V4AAI7WH.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption>(<em>H\/T: Colion Noir<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to pistols, you have two choices of action, subset by multiple choices of size. To break it down to the lowest level, we have to simplify a lot of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"787\" height=\"471\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.28.26-AM.png\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-126323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.28.26-AM.png 787w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.28.26-AM-400x239.png 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.28.26-AM-150x90.png 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.28.26-AM-768x460.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 787px) 100vw, 787px\" \/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/glock-19x-accessorized\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Glock 19X<\/a>, another author&#8217;s favorite.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, how it works. Which is pretty much a semi-automatic or a revolver. Many times, we tell new shooters to get a revolver. And it does have some positives. It has by far the easiest to learn manual of arms. As in, it is pretty hard to screw up loading and unloading in terms of safety. Not impossible. But pretty hard. Second, it is about the most reliable gun in the arsenal. With few exceptions, they almost always go bang. And 99.9% percent of the times they don&#8217;t, just pulling the trigger again resolves the issue.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The downsides to a revolver? They usually have a long, stiff trigger. While you can make precision shots quickly with that trigger, it takes lots of practice. Which you have zero time to learn. Second, they come with a significantly reduced capacity. 8 rounds on the high end, and 6 is normal. Couple that with a steep learning curve to be able to reload quickly, and you can see the drawbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/revolvers.htm\" campaign=\"BuyRevolversGA\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\">***Start Shopping GunsAmerica for Revolvers Right Now!&nbsp; Local Sales Are FREE!***<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Which leaves a semi-auto. If you must go semi-auto pistol, I recommend you get the biggest gun you can find and hold comfortably. Not in caliber, but in frame size. Larger \u201cduty class\u201d guns are not only easier to shoot, but they have a higher capacity. I like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/new-king-polymer-guns-sig-p320-x5-crusader-edition\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Sig P320X5 <\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/glock-34-gen-5-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Glock 34 <\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>9mm is by far the most popular round today, which means you might not find any around. In that case, you have to choose a different caliber that is likely to recoil more. If this is your first rodeo, that recoil isn&#8217;t great to have, but it isn&#8217;t a deal-breaker. I would look for 45 ACP, 40 S&amp;W, and 357 Sig, in that order. But if push actually comes to shove, don&#8217;t completely shy away from the big boys. Like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/magnum-research-44-magnum-50-ae-13-hours-desert-eagle\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\">Desert Eagle 50AE <\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"560\" title=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.29.11-AM.png\" alt=\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" class=\"wp-image-126324\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.29.11-AM.png 790w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.29.11-AM-400x284.png 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.29.11-AM-150x106.png 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-25-at-8.29.11-AM-768x544.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption>Desert Eagle, when you need to throw an absolutely HUGE bullet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/pistols.htm\" campaign=\"BuyPistolsGA\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\">***Start Shopping GunsAmerica for Pistols Right Now!&nbsp; Local Sales Are FREE!***<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I hope this helps, and more importantly, that we all get through this without actually descending into Mad Max world. But if we do, I will leave you with this from Niccolo Machiavelli,\u201c Before all else, be armed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\">***<a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/\" campaign=\"BuySellGA_Register\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\">Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica!<\/a>*** &nbsp;<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I hope this helps, and more importantly, that we all get through this without actually descending into Mad Max world. But if we do, I will leave you with this from Niccolo Machiavelli,\u201c Before all else, be armed.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":126361,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,226,234],"tags":[132,586],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-126303","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gunsamerica-authors","8":"category-clay-martin","9":"category-columns","10":"tag-buzz","11":"tag-column"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Clay&#039;s COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you&#039;re new to firearms and you&#039;re in the market for a gun, contributor Clay Martin has you covered with advice on what to buy and in what order.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Clay&#039;s COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I hope this helps, and more importantly, that we all get through this without actually descending into Mad Max world. But if we do, I will leave you with this from Niccolo Machiavelli,\u201c Before all else, be armed.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-03-25T20:28:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-09-06T16:11:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_0176-scaled.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Clay Martin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/x.com\/wayofftheres\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Clay Martin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Clay Martin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/2d1bfff6535fbff35f392292b3a6438a\"},\"headline\":\"Clay&#8217;s COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-03-25T20:28:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-06T16:11:26+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2397,\"commentCount\":16,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/03\\\/IMG_0176-scaled.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"Buzz\",\"Column\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Authors\",\"Clay Martin\",\"Columns\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/\",\"name\":\"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/03\\\/IMG_0176-scaled.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-03-25T20:28:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-06T16:11:26+00:00\",\"description\":\"If you're new to firearms and you're in the market for a gun, contributor Clay Martin has you covered with advice on what to buy and in what order.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/03\\\/IMG_0176-scaled.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/03\\\/IMG_0176-scaled.jpeg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1707,\"caption\":\"Author, absolutely hating his job of shooting thousand of rounds of 22LR\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Clay&#8217;s COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/\",\"name\":\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\\\/Digest\",\"description\":\"Gun Reviews, Industry News, and Product Reviews for Rifles, Pistols, Revolvers, Shotguns, Optics, and Ammunition. Looking to purchase a firearm online? Look no further than GunsAmerica.com, America&#039;s premier destination for buying and selling firearms.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"GunsAmerica\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/image-3.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/image-3.png\",\"width\":286,\"height\":156,\"caption\":\"GunsAmerica\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/gunsamerica\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/gunsamerica\",\"https:\\\/\\\/instagram.com\\\/gunsamerica_official\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/GunsAmerica\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/2d1bfff6535fbff35f392292b3a6438a\",\"name\":\"Clay Martin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/342fd5fbf8aeaec2e74b28ccf927ce75da797bfe1a8634d9b8640acc04d7544a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/342fd5fbf8aeaec2e74b28ccf927ce75da797bfe1a8634d9b8640acc04d7544a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/342fd5fbf8aeaec2e74b28ccf927ce75da797bfe1a8634d9b8640acc04d7544a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Clay Martin\"},\"description\":\"Clay Martin is a retired Marine and Green Beret, having served with distinction in the 3rd Special Forces Group. A multi-service, multi-decade sniper, he\u2019s also a seasoned 3-Gun competitor and a Master-ranked shooter in USPSA Production. When he\u2019s not writing about firearms and tactics, Clay is the author of the novel Last Son of The War God, a gritty story about dispensing justice the hard way. Follow him on Twitter @offthe_res or visit his website at Off-The-Reservation.com. Experience:\u2013 U.S. Marine Corps Infantry, Scout\\\/Sniper, and Recon Marine\u2013 U.S. Army Green Beret, 3rd Special Forces Group (ODA Comms SGT, Intel SGT, SFAUC Instructor)\u2013 Competitive Shooter \u2013 Master-ranked in USPSA Production, experienced 3-Gun competitor\u2013 Tactical Instructor \u2013 Extensive background in teaching carbine, pistol, CQB, and survival skills\u2013 Author \u2013 Fiction and non-fiction works on warfare, survival, and American resilience\u2013 2A Advocate \u2013 Defender of the Constitution and vocal proponent of gun rights\u2013 Outdoorsman \u2013 Idaho-based hunter, adventurer, and father of feral children and dogs\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/Off-The-Reservation.com\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/wayofftheres\"],\"gender\":\"Male\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/author\\\/clay-martin\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs","description":"If you're new to firearms and you're in the market for a gun, contributor Clay Martin has you covered with advice on what to buy and in what order.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs","og_description":"I hope this helps, and more importantly, that we all get through this without actually descending into Mad Max world. But if we do, I will leave you with this from Niccolo Machiavelli,\u201c Before all else, be armed.\u201d","og_url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/","og_site_name":"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica","article_published_time":"2020-03-25T20:28:24+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-09-06T16:11:26+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1707,"url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_0176-scaled.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Clay Martin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@https:\/\/x.com\/wayofftheres","twitter_site":"@gunsamerica","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Clay Martin","Est. reading time":"12 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/"},"author":{"name":"Clay Martin","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/person\/2d1bfff6535fbff35f392292b3a6438a"},"headline":"Clay&#8217;s COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs","datePublished":"2020-03-25T20:28:24+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-06T16:11:26+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/"},"wordCount":2397,"commentCount":16,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_0176-scaled.jpeg","keywords":["Buzz","Column"],"articleSection":["Authors","Clay Martin","Columns"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/","name":"Clay's COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_0176-scaled.jpeg","datePublished":"2020-03-25T20:28:24+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-06T16:11:26+00:00","description":"If you're new to firearms and you're in the market for a gun, contributor Clay Martin has you covered with advice on what to buy and in what order.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_0176-scaled.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_0176-scaled.jpeg","width":2560,"height":1707,"caption":"Author, absolutely hating his job of shooting thousand of rounds of 22LR"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/clays-gun-buying-guide-noobs\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Clay&#8217;s COVID-19 Gun Buying Guide for Noobs"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#website","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/","name":"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest","description":"Gun Reviews, Industry News, and Product Reviews for Rifles, Pistols, Revolvers, Shotguns, Optics, and Ammunition. Looking to purchase a firearm online? Look no further than GunsAmerica.com, America&#039;s premier destination for buying and selling firearms.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#organization","name":"GunsAmerica","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3.png","width":286,"height":156,"caption":"GunsAmerica"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica","https:\/\/x.com\/gunsamerica","https:\/\/instagram.com\/gunsamerica_official\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/GunsAmerica"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/person\/2d1bfff6535fbff35f392292b3a6438a","name":"Clay Martin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/342fd5fbf8aeaec2e74b28ccf927ce75da797bfe1a8634d9b8640acc04d7544a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/342fd5fbf8aeaec2e74b28ccf927ce75da797bfe1a8634d9b8640acc04d7544a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/342fd5fbf8aeaec2e74b28ccf927ce75da797bfe1a8634d9b8640acc04d7544a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Clay Martin"},"description":"Clay Martin is a retired Marine and Green Beret, having served with distinction in the 3rd Special Forces Group. A multi-service, multi-decade sniper, he\u2019s also a seasoned 3-Gun competitor and a Master-ranked shooter in USPSA Production. When he\u2019s not writing about firearms and tactics, Clay is the author of the novel Last Son of The War God, a gritty story about dispensing justice the hard way. Follow him on Twitter @offthe_res or visit his website at Off-The-Reservation.com. Experience:\u2013 U.S. Marine Corps Infantry, Scout\/Sniper, and Recon Marine\u2013 U.S. Army Green Beret, 3rd Special Forces Group (ODA Comms SGT, Intel SGT, SFAUC Instructor)\u2013 Competitive Shooter \u2013 Master-ranked in USPSA Production, experienced 3-Gun competitor\u2013 Tactical Instructor \u2013 Extensive background in teaching carbine, pistol, CQB, and survival skills\u2013 Author \u2013 Fiction and non-fiction works on warfare, survival, and American resilience\u2013 2A Advocate \u2013 Defender of the Constitution and vocal proponent of gun rights\u2013 Outdoorsman \u2013 Idaho-based hunter, adventurer, and father of feral children and dogs","sameAs":["http:\/\/Off-The-Reservation.com","https:\/\/x.com\/https:\/\/x.com\/wayofftheres"],"gender":"Male","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/author\/clay-martin\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_0176-150x100.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126303"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":186536,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126303\/revisions\/186536"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126303"},{"taxonomy":"featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured?post=126303"},{"taxonomy":"hunt365","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hunt365?post=126303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}