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Everything a New Gun Owner
Needs to Know

You searched for something, ended up here, and want a straight answer. That's what this section is. No preamble, no disclaimers beyond what's legally required, no talking down to you.

DJ Cavalcanti
Written by DJ Cavalcanti
Founder, DownRange · Washington State
All (12)Getting StartedCCW & CarrySafetyHome DefenseSafe StorageAmmunitionMaintenanceLegalTraining

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THE ESSENTIALS
Buying Your First Gun: The Complete Beginner's Guide
GETTING STARTED

Buying Your First Gun: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Everything you need to know before walking into a gun store.

12 min readREAD →
How to Get Your CCW License (State-by-State Guide)
CCW & CARRY

How to Get Your CCW License (State-by-State Guide)

15 min readREAD →
The Four Rules of Firearms Safety (And Why They Save Lives)
SAFETY

The Four Rules of Firearms Safety (And Why They Save Lives)

8 min readREAD →

All Articles

12 GUIDES
Home Defense Basics: What You Actually Need
HOME DEFENSE · 11 min

Home Defense Basics: What You Actually Need

The right firearm, a workable plan, the right storage.

Jun 2
Safe Storage 101: Keeping Your Guns Secure and Accessible
SAFE STORAGE · 9 min

Safe Storage 101: Keeping Your Guns Secure and Accessible

Prevent theft and accidents without sacrificing defensive access.

Jun 5
Ammunition Explained: What to Buy and Why
AMMUNITION · 10 min

Ammunition Explained: What to Buy and Why

Calibers, grain weights, hollow points vs FMJ — simplified.

Jun 9
Your First Time at a Shooting Range: What to Expect
GETTING STARTED · 7 min

Your First Time at a Shooting Range: What to Expect

Rules, etiquette, and how to make the most of your first session.

Jun 12
How to Clean and Maintain Your Firearm
MAINTENANCE · 10 min

How to Clean and Maintain Your Firearm

Field strip, clean, and lubricate your pistol in 20 minutes.

Jun 16
Understanding Gun Laws: A Beginner's Legal Overview
LEGAL · 13 min

Understanding Gun Laws: A Beginner's Legal Overview

Federal law, state law, and how they interact — what you need to know.

Jun 19
How to Choose a Holster for Concealed Carry
CCW & CARRY · 11 min

How to Choose a Holster for Concealed Carry

IWB, OWB, appendix — how to choose the right carry method.

Jun 23
Dry Fire Training: Get Better Without Spending on Ammo
TRAINING · 9 min

Dry Fire Training: Get Better Without Spending on Ammo

Professional shooters spend more time dry firing than live firing.

Jun 27
What Is the NFA? Suppressors, SBRs, and More Explained
LEGAL · 12 min

What Is the NFA? Suppressors, SBRs, and More Explained

After the 2026 tax stamp elimination, NFA item interest exploded. Here's the guide.

Jul 1

More guides are on the way

New beginner articles publish weekly. Topics include: red dot vs. iron sights, 9mm vs. 45 ACP, CCW in constitutional carry states, and more.

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