Skip the MK23 if you don't have guns to begin with. I could write out a several paragraphs on why, but please just take my advice. Honestly, goes for all I've written below. Time is getting urgent, don't dive into the deep end of online gun arguments, the point is to get out and get good at shooting.
For pistols, get something that's proven and has common parts and aftermarket, and get it in 9mm, don't worry about other calibers till you know your shit. Striker fired is fine, don't sweat the tactical and technical stuff from gun-tubers.
If you like Glocks, skip them and get a Glock clone, namely the Ruger RXM. It's cheaper, often more reliable, more comfortable to shoot, shoots better, and has the modifications you're going to want to make already standard. It takes magazines from the most commonly used pistols in the world that are very cheap and reliable. Other excellent options: Smith & Wesson (S&W): Shield Plus, or M&P 2.0. If your strapped for cash, get the first generation Shield, their very cheap now days. CZ: P-10c, spring for the compensated version if you got the coin. Beretta: APX A1 Compact Sig: P365 (pretty bad company, but the gun works).
A lot of states have a purchase permit law for handguns, check your local laws.
Long guns - AR-15, specifically in 5.56 NATO with a 16" barrel. Under 16 inch barrel and it's more time and paperwork and learning the laws, and it's a really great barrel length that can be effective 500 yards and beyond if you're well trained.
A couple features to get:
- A free float handguard (easy to tell the difference, if it doesn't have an italicized A looking part towards the front of the barrel, then you're good.
- A phosphate coated bolt, it should be a dull charcoal black/grey with a somewhat rough texture.
- Purchase a Primary Arms SLx prism scope. 1x magnification if you don't see yourself shooting beyond 100 yards, 3x magnificationif you do. Prism scopes are pretty bomb proof and still work when the battery dies.
Quick and easy selection: S&W or Ruger, Palmetto State Armory if you feel like rolling the dice on everything being in spec, but either way go out to a range and start shooting it right away to see if everything works as it should. If not, most companies will repair it free of charge if it hasn't been clearly abused. Yes, you can ship guns in the mail, they only need to go to an FFL when it's transferring ownership.
Shotgun: Should be lower priority than the two above. Grab whatever used Mossberg 500 series 12 gauge that your local gun dealer has on the shelf. If they're out, order one or a Maverick 88 if you're on a tight budget. Load it with #4 buck shot for home defense.
Ammunition: it's expensive, which sucks, but stick with these basic rules:
- Buy factory made, new, brass cases ammo.
- If it has a bunch of bang wiz tech advertised on the box, it's probably bullshit.
- "Defense" branded rounds look better to a jury if you ever have to shoot someone and you get prosecuted. "Hunting" or "military" rounds do not. This is more expensive ammo but it's more effective for defense. Shoot some to make sure it works in your gun, use cheap stuff for training and target practice.
- TEST DIFFERENT TYPES OF AMMO! Some guns are picky and can jam and or be really inaccurate with certain rounds.
- Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) are usually your practice type round. It's lead with a copper jacket around it. THESE TYPES OF ROUNDS WILL GO THOUGH WALLS AND OTHER THINGS EASILY, so you really don't want to be using them in a defense situation because it can hit and kill people behind your target. Hence, load defensive rounds if you expect you'll have to shoot in self-defense. Think about who's on the other side of walls in your home, you won't want to shoot in those directions in general.
Quick and easy specific round types and brands: 9mm:
- For practice: 115 or 125 grain (grain is the weight of a bullet) FMJ. Most brands are decent, PMC and Fiocchi are my usual preferred.
- For defense: 124, 135, or 147 grain hollow point defensive. I like Hornady Critical Defense, Speer Gold Dot and Federal HST are also popular favorites. 5.56mm: 5.56 NATO guns can also shoot .223 Remington, but .223 guns are likely to eventually blow up if you shoot 5.56 through them; 5.56 has more pressure.
- For practice: 62 grain M855 or 55 grain M193 (sometimes branded "XM193"), pretty much any brand, see what shoots better in your rifle. PMC brand 55 grain .223 and M855 are my usual go to.
- For defense: Hornady Critical Defense 73 grain .223, Barnes VOR-TX 70 Grain, Fort Scott Munitions TUI any grain solid copper spun (SCS) are my picks.
To augment and train, .22 caliber all the way. .22 caliber is cheap, and gets you out training more. Get a cheap pistol, most are decent, to practice fundamentals. Hot take, but a shitty .22 is better to train with because you WANT IT TO JAM. It helps you to drill diagnosing and clearing guns. CMMG makes a universal conversion kit for shooting .22 out of an AR. They're the same width bullets, just way less power. It's stupid easy to install, just a drop in part and special magazines that come with it. You can get them starting at $150.
Alternative training without ammo - Mantis X. It clips on to most guns and the app guides you on fundamentals using dry fire. When you do dry fire, get yourself some snap caps (dummy rounds), it's better for the mechanical components.
Learn and drill how to field strip your weapons, get some Cleanzoil CLP for cleaning, and a basic cleaning kit. Learn the wear points and where carbon accumulates.
Lastly, get together with like minded people to train together and develop community defense plans.
A couple of really helpful YouTube channels: Tacticool Girlfriend - a fellow trans girl gun nut. Her vids will teach you all you need to know of how to get set up. Honest Outlaw - least chud coded gun reviewer. Lots of budget gun reviews. In Range TV - progressive gun tuber Lots of others out there, you'll see it in your recommendations.
