Hi I’m new and also a new gun owner

[American123]

I felt it was a good choice too. They really wanted me to get an AR but I felt a shotgun is a good first choice for a first gun. I got it for home protection. I will need to find a good place to shoot it so I'm used to it and can work on my aim etc. I do plan to go get a handgun and maybe an AR later on.

For the record, an AR will have less recoil to shoot, so in regards to what would be easier to shoot, definitely the AR, but a shotgun is pretty standard first purchase for people wanting something for their home. It was my first as well

As others have suggested, while it is still convenient and less paperwork to do so. I would definitely buy an AR lower. You don't have to do anything with it, but having it ahead of time will save a lot of headache.

 

[SunShineShan82]

Ok, I'll go check it out tmw and grab one. I think I'll need more ammo anyway so I'll be looking for that too. I liked one of thr AR's I saw. I didn't want something that could penetrate any of the walls since I've got two houses close to me with kids and I've got my own kids too. I also would prefer for my home defense gun to be one shot to stop any person. I don't mind the weight or the recoil so much as I've shot guns before. I always did like the AR's but for a first gun this shotgun will be perfect.

 

[SunShineShan82]

Not in Washington it isn't. Unless you get an AOW or non-shotgun "firearm" ( Serbu Super Shorty or Mossberg Shockwave respectively)

It's too long for what? I'm really new to all this so what does he mean?

 

[Ducati_Meister]

Welcome. There are lots of great resources here, but obviously take it with a grain of salt. There are those who like to commit to the act of "thread crapping", but luckily it's far and few between. Ask questions and be safe.

 

[Xaevian]

Welcome to the forum and to WA! Register to vote, and please support the 2A.

 

[American123]

Ok, I'll go check it out tmw and grab one. I think I'll need more ammo anyway so I'll be looking for that too. I liked one of thr AR's I saw. I didn't want something that could penetrate any of the walls since I've got two houses close to me with kids and I've got my own kids too. I also would prefer for my home defense gun to be one shot to stop any person. I don't mind the weight or the recoil so much as I've shot guns before. I always did like the AR's but for a first gun this shotgun will be perfect.

Youtube research will be really informative for you as this path continues. For example, just about 100% of firearms have the capability of penetrating your house and entering a neighbors house, and it goes against common sense in many ways but the light and high velocity rifle rounds (like for thr AR) over-penetrate less than a lot of pistol and shotgun rounds. It's a mass vs speed situation.

Regarding the recommendation to get just an AR lower. You can get a completed one for under $200 easily, then, with time as your interest grows, you can get the upper half without having to deal with whatever paperwork is required at the time.

 

[madmax]

Not in Washington it isn't. Unless you get an AOW or non-shotgun "firearm" ( Serbu Super Shorty or Mossberg Shockwave respectively)

Got one of those too

 

[SunShineShan82]

I'll need to research all of these terms so I know 200% what everyone's saying. Shotguns are more straightforward than AR's to me and it's one reason I got one.

 

[SunShineShan82]

Got one of those too

View attachment 670515

I'm not sure what mean. Is this ok or not ok?

 

[SunShineShan82]

Welcome to the forum and to WA! Register to vote, and please support the 2A.

I'm registered to vote and yep I will.

Welcome to the forum and to WA! Register to vote, and please support the 2A.

Thanks! I am registered to vote and I will.

 

[American123]

I'm not sure what mean. Is this ok or not ok?

Figuratively speaking: Some commenters are effectively asking you to sprint at an olympic level after you basically just walked.

 

[SunShineShan82]

Welcome. There are lots of great resources here, but obviously take it with a grain of salt. There are those who like to commit to the act of "thread crapping", but luckily it's far and few between. Ask questions and be safe.

Thanks I appreciate this!

 

[SunShineShan82]

Figuratively speaking: Some commenters are effectively asking you to sprint at an olympic level after you basically just walked.

Haha yeah I noticed. Like what AR low and something else. Hahaha. I'll look anyway and get some knowledge on it.

 

[Ducati_Meister]

Thanks I appreciate this!

Of course lol. I used to work in a gun shop, so I hope I can provide some insight where I can.

 

[American123]

Haha yeah I noticed. Like what AR low and something else. Hahaha. I'll look anyway and get some knowledge on it.

Think about an AR as 2 halves. Bottom half - lower, you have to do paperwork for when you buy it, top half - upper, you don't. It's no more complicated than that.

Palmettostatearmory.com will become a popular site for you I'm sure.

 

[SunShineShan82]

Any good places for shooting a shotgun in a range in the greater Seattle area? A lot of the rural areas are at least 3hr drive both ways which I don't think should be done given the current situation.

Any recommendations for a handgun as a second gun for personal protection outside the home but not limited to outside.

 

[SunShineShan82]

Think about an AR as 2 halves. Bottom half - lower, you have to do paperwork for when you buy it, top half - upper, you don't. It's no more complicated than that.

Palmettostatearmory.com will become a popular site for you I'm sure.

I'll check this out. Thanks!

 

[User 1234]

For every firearm you want to buy or possess, it has to be legal on a federal level and legal on a state level. There isn't any type of firearm in the country that isn't legal with the right paperwork. However, for most people who only have a driver's license and do not have any National Firearms Act tax stamps, they are not allowed to have the following types of guns:

Handguns with a vertical front grip;
Shotguns with a barrel under 18";
Rifles with a barrel less than 16";
Firearms that fire more than one round for each trigger pull;
Firearms with a bore diameter more than 0.5 inches;
Shotguns with revolving cylinders;
Grenade launchers;
Suppressors (called silencers by most laws);
And some other niche items.
In Washington, it is presently legal to have a short barreled rifle if you have the approved federal NFA tax stamp for it and are in compliance with federal law, and legal to have a suppressor if you have the approved federal NFA stamp for it. NFA items require much more paperwork than "regular" items and are more heavily regulated. For example an SBR owner cannot take it across state lines without first getting federal permission from the ATF. The NFA world can get complicated very quickly.
There are also many "workarounds" that gun manufacturers have gotten bolder with during the last few years, such as AR "pistol braces" and Mossberg's Shockwave (not a shotgun because it never had a shoulder stock, thus not a short barreled shotgun). A person needs to be careful about modifying these types of guns to ensure they remain legal. For example, on an AR pistol an angled front grip is fine, swap out for a vertical front grip without an AOW stamp or SBR stamp, and you might get hit with a federal felony. The ATF changes its interpretations of these "workaround" firearms every few years, including how they measure them for various legal lengths, and whether or not the gun changes categories if the user uses it in certain ways. Much to learn, but very interesting.

 

[User 1234]

There are actually some AR uppers which the ATF requires to be serial numbered and transferred as a firearm. But those are rare, e.g. Safety Harbor 50BMG bolt action uppers.

 

[Ducati_Meister]

Any good places for shooting a shotgun in a range in the greater Seattle area? A lot of the rural areas are at least 3hr drive both ways which I don't think should be done given the current situation.

Any recommendations for a handgun as a second gun for personal protection outside the home but not limited to outside.

I'm a member at the Federal Way discount guns and indoor range in Federal Way. They have many handguns to try and have classes for all levels. I'd call them and ask about shotgun use and training, as only slugs are allowed in the main range.