Five Must Have Products for your New Handgun

Five Must Have Products for your New Handgun | Pistol

Have you recently purchased your first handgun, or simply a new pistol, and realized there are still a few things you’ll have to purchase? I hope that this short guide will help you get that range bag filled with all the basics you’ll need to start shooting regularly. These are also products that mostly range under the $50 price range, so these are also great gift suggestions for the novice shooter all the way to the avid pistolero!

Cleaning Kit

It should go without saying that you should keep your pistol clean. It is imperative that you always clean your gun after a day at the range. Gunpowder residue and other crud tends to build up in the nooks and crannies, and a proper cleaning will ensure that everything is working smoothly. Learning to clean your firearm will also teach you how all of the internal mechanisms work together, and will help you troubleshoot unexpected mechanical issues that may pop up at the range.

You can view our “How To” cleaning guides here: How to Clean a Revolver | How to Clean a Glock

Otis Technology 9mm Pistol Cleaning System FG-645-9 BX

If you’re an owner of multiple firearms, a universal cleaning kit would be a great addition to any range bag. There are also plenty of options in caliber specific portable cleaning kits. These will include everything needed to properly maintain your weapon, including bore brushes, jags and patches, solvent and oil, and are compact enough to fit in a small pocket. Most of the caliber specific kits will include additional tools for more in depth cleansing. These products range from just over $10 for a bare bones kit, and upwards of $50 for a premium kit.

Holster

Whether you intend to use your handgun for home defense or for carrying concealed, you should own a properly fitting holster. A holster will allow the user easy access to their weapon in the event of an emergency, and can also provide some additional security from unauthorized use. For instance, if someone picks up a firearm in a holster with level III or IV retention, there’s a good chance they will not be able to release that weapon.

DeSantis Thumb Break Mini Slide Holster – Style 085

You can learn How to Choose a Holster at this link. The choice is yours, and choose wisely. Larger people shouldn’t expect an IWB in the appendix location to be suitable choice. Carrying in the small of the back, for instance, may be a better option. Remember that choosing to go inside the waistband may also mean a bit of a wardrobe update since some extra room will be needed for comfort. Before making a purchase that may force you to completely update your wardrobe, take a look at outside the waistband concealable holsters.

Eye and Ear Protection

If you’re intending to be responsible, a good set of eye and ear protection is a necessity. You want eye protection with an ANSI 87.1 rating, and ear protection that provides an NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) of at least 20-30db.

ESS Interchangeable Eyeshield (ICE) Tactical LE Shooting Glasses 740-0007

Shooting glasses will run anywhere from a few bucks to close to a hundred dollars, depending on the quality and options you are interested in. Some glass kits will include separate lenses for different conditions, as well as extra frame parts in the event of wear and tear. Of course there are many inexpensive options that will get the job done, and won’t break the bank. Anything that is ANSI 87.1 rated is the only way to go. This rating is provided by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to ensure personal eye and face protection products provide the necessary protection from impact and liquid splash accidents.

Caldwell E-Max Low Profile Electronic Hearing Protection

Ear protection can run anywhere from a couple of bucks for some foam earplugs, all the way up to hundreds of dollars for electronic ear muffs that have an active microphone system. This system allows the wearer to have a conversation at a normal volume, and cuts off the audio in the event of a loud sound. The more expensive active muffs are highly recommended to instructors and students. However, for someone who is just looking for hearing protection for standard range days, a decent set of passive muffs will certainly do the job.

Check out our Introduction to Hearing Protection for more detailed information.

Speed Loader | Magazine Loader

If you purchased a revolver, speed loaders always a great accessory to have both at the range and for your every day carry. I personally own a Taurus .357 revolver that I like to shoot at my local range that charges by the hour. I’m sure it’s only a few minutes of that hour that I save, but it sure feels like I get more shooting in when I have the speed loaders ready to go.

9mm Mag Loader on left, Revolver Speed Loader on right

Automatic pistol magazines can be a bit hard to load, especially straight from the factory. There are speed loaders for these as well! A product like the Mag Lula is a reasonably priced item to add to any range bag, and saves plenty of time loading magazines. It is extremely simply to use, and is much better at loading magazines to capacity that is your busted up thumb.

Range Bag

Most reputable handgun manufacturers will include a carrying case for your new weapon. However, most of these cases will only hold the gun and maybe a few mags. If you’re intending on making more than a few visits every year to your local range, and good range bag is highly recommended. They range in sizes small enough to carry a sub compact and some accessories, and large enough to carry multiple pistols and a few boxes of ammo, as well as your eye and ear protection.

GPS Wild About Hunting Range Bag

All of the products mentioned above can be purchased at OpticsPlanet.com. Our call center staff is available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have. We employ many firearm enthusiasts who can point you in the right direction, and also answer any complex questions that may arise. Be sure to shoot straight, and shoot often!

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Mike C

Mike grew up in a household where his father would point out the different firearm models while watching action movies.He learned basic gun safety at a young age, and has been shooting ever since he was 6 years old. Mike also enjoys riding motorcycles, playing disc golf, and traveling the country to do either (or both!).Being from the Great Lakes region, he enjoys being outdoors as much as possible, especially to combat the cabin fever associated with our cold winters.

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