My wife and I just started in the firearm community. We picked up some guns per our friend's and saleman's advice. Besides those people how did you learn about guns, ammo, accessories, etc? What websites, magazines, etc. do you recommend? I'd rather start learning myself than rely on others. Most times I have no idea what you guys are talking about with all the acronyms and numbers.

There's a lot of good information on YouTube, when I ever I look into buying a new gun I do lots of research on YouTube and other gun forums. Hickok45 is a pretty well known guy that has a lot of good gun review videos.

Welcome blckdrgn!

The world of firearms is a continuous learning process.

I would suggest starting by getting familiar with your weapon system as well as you can. In addition to here, check out Internet forums of the gun(s) you own and ask questions. Talk to folks at the range or the gun clubs. You can learn a lot from fellow enthusiasts.

There are also lots of things you can learn on youtube. Ie, learn to care and maintain your firearm at YouTube. Lots of videos.

I also suggest heading over to the NRA and signing up as a member. The American Rifleman magazine is good.

Welcome brother...it always great when someone (or someones) take up sport shooting! What guns do you currently own? From there, just google away or ask here!

www.thehighroad.org is a good firearm forum. Being a general forum it covers anything and everything unlike some of the more manufacturer specific forums, not that they aren't great sources of information as well.
Welcome to the 2a community. 

I hear where your coming from  i too just recently got into target shooting and the firearms community maybe like three months back. I have found youtube and online forums great places to find information. Also anytime you have a question just send out a post the guys here on 2Ahawaii are some of the most helpful and friendly guys you will find anywhere and are more than willing to give advice. welcome to the forum.

I just signed up for NRA and picked the Rifleman magazine. I also picked up a few assault rifle magazines and the handgun buyers guide. I'll check out youtube but I'm a little wearily of what is good advice or not. Any websites you like to buy from or do research?

As far as what I bought, I barely even know what they are. lol. Kinda went by looks and what my friend said was good. S&W 38 special revolver, Springfield 1911 9mm, Colt 45, Desert Eagle 50, and Steyr Aug 223. Still trying to register some of them.

There's a lot of good information on YouTube, when I ever I look into buying a new gun I do lots of research on YouTube and other gun forums. Hickok45 is a pretty well known guy that has a lot of good gun review videos.

I'll second Hickock45, I am not usually too interested in the particular guns he reviews since for the most part they are generally handguns. You don't seem him shooting rifles too much at "the compound" but the videos are usually both informative and entertaining and he practices good gun safety and awareness as well. there are also plenty of other great people on youtube with all sorts of gun channels. But of course there are some bad ones too. One that comes to mind immediately is these teenage looking kids shooting guns in their backyard pool to see how they react underwater. Mean while you can hear neighbor children in the background  Once you start researching more and more into a gun you want to buy you will learn more info. Before I started researching into building my long range rifle I did not know what the heck a 20 MOA scope base was or what it did or what the significance of a free floated barrel was. When you see a term or something you do not know, just google it and try to take it all in!

I just signed up for NRA and picked the Rifleman magazine. I also picked up a few assault rifle magazines and the handgun buyers guide. I'll check out youtube but I'm a little wearily of what is good advice or not. Any websites you like to buy from or do research?

As far as what I bought, I barely even know what they are. lol. Kinda went by looks and what my friend said was good. S&W 38 special revolver, Springfield 1911 9mm, Colt 45, Desert Eagle 50, and Steyr Aug 223. Still trying to register some of them.

congrats!.... thats a nice start to a collection...... btw  its a modern sporting rifle.  Assault rifle is considered fully auto.  Assault just sounds scary so the media used that nice label

 

From fh? Howsit! I like thehighroad forum, www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/, www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/ and military arms channel on YouTube.

As previously mentioned Military arms channel and HICKOK45 have about 300 and 800 uploaded videos each respectively on youtube. If you're looking for information on a specific weapon theres a good bet they've covered it.

I just signed up for NRA and picked the Rifleman magazine. I also picked up a few assault rifle magazines and the handgun buyers guide. I'll check out youtube but I'm a little wearily of what is good advice or not. Any websites you like to buy from or do research?

As far as what I bought, I barely even know what they are. lol. Kinda went by looks and what my friend said was good. S&W 38 special revolver, Springfield 1911 9mm, Colt 45, Desert Eagle 50, and Steyr Aug 223. Still trying to register some of them.

If i was in your shoes, I would start by searching for "how to clean your (insert gun here)" videos on YouTube and watch at least 2 or 3 of each gun. For each gun you buy, the first thing you might want to do and to learn how to do is to clean it.   If it is brand new, it will have factory grease and gunk and you will want those off our gun before you shoot them. Even if it is used, you'll still want to lean them in case the previous owner didn't.

For YouTube channels, here are the gun-related ones that I find informative but you may find ones that you'll like on your own.  At least, these will be a good start:

Iraqveteran8888 - great general gun info videos

Sootch00 - lots of good reviews
Sensibleprepper - lots of good reviews
Sturmgewehre - good video reviews
Nutnfancy - good review videos but I find him long winded

Talontraininggroup - short how to use your firearm videos
Ptmccain - very good how to maintain your firearm videos
Midwayusa - very good gun smithing videos. Not sure you'll want to mess around with gun smithing your guns though. Let a pro do it.

Nravideos - be aware of the 2a issues
Colionnoir - great and insightful argumenter for gun rights

some of us have stronger opinions about nutnfancy than "long winded"
http://2ahawaii.com/Smileys/extended/shaka.gif

If i was in your shoes, I would start by searching for "how to clean your (insert gun here)" videos on YouTube and watch at least 2 or 3 of each gun. For each gun you buy, the first thing you might want to do and to learn how to do is to clean it.   If it is brand new, it will have factory grease and gunk and you will want those off our gun before you shoot them. Even if it is used, you'll still want to lean them in case the previous owner didn't.

For YouTube channels, here are the gun-related ones that I find informative but you may find ones that you'll like on your own.  At least, these will be a good start:

Iraqveteran8888 - great general gun info videos

Sootch00 - lots of good reviews
Sensibleprepper - lots of good reviews
Sturmgewehre - good video reviews
Nutnfancy - good review videos but I find him long winded

Talontraininggroup - short how to use your firearm videos
Ptmccain - very good how to maintain your firearm videos
Midwayusa - very good gun smithing videos. Not sure you'll want to mess around with gun smithing your guns though. Let a pro do it.

Nravideos - be aware of the 2a issues
Colionnoir - great and insightful argumenter for gun rights

Welcome, and have fun --good advice above, and all I want to add is...

(1)Keep your booger hook off the bang switch.

(2) Don't point the damned thing anywhere you can't repair the hole.

Why?

(3) Because every gun is always loaded.

(4)  Acronyms are for the lazy writer.

(5)  Don't be afraid to ask "dumb" questions.  We all started somewhere.  I've been shooting for over 60 years and I'm still learning.

(6)  Don't just e-mail your lawmakers and respond to polls.  Sit your soft pink or brown or yellow or red or black tushie down and write them a letter.  Unfortunatley, a large part of the shooting game nowadays involves defending what is a fundamental civil right.  Like sitting in the front of the bus if you want to or using "whites-only" toilets and drinking fountains.

Terry, 230RN

come to the next forum pau hana
tentatively scheduled for second thursday in july?

Welcome, and have fun --good advice above, and all I want to add is...

(1)Keep your booger hook off the bang switch.

Why?

(2) Because every gun is always loaded.

(3) Don't point the damned thing anywhere you can't repair the hole.

(4)  Acronyms are for the lazy writer.

Terry, 230RN

Welcome!  Get ready to go broke!  Lol!

230RN made a great point. You probably already know them, but just to be sure, know and follow the 5 rules of firearms:

1. Treat every gun as if it's always loaded.
2. Don't point the gun at anything you're not willing to destroy/kill.   
3. Don't put your finger on the trigger until your sights are on your target.
4. Know your backstop. ( what will stop the bullet )
5. Buy a .22LR firearm.   ( the more the better ) ( That's not really a rule but it should be.  )

There's no such thing as an unsafe accidental discharge, just a negligent one.

Side notes:
- Don't sweep the muzzle in gun shops or at the range. No one likes a gun pointed at them and the Range Officers ( ROs) will go nuts.
- Stay behind the yellow line during a cease fire.  You constantly hear the ROs getting on guys for that. I got yelled at for that my first few times at the range.

All of the above mentioned sources are great ones and the more you surf the web you'll find the ones you prefer.
Watch out for gun snobs. There are a lot of guys who talk down firearms they've never even owned or shot just because they don't like the XYZ economy brand. Try to find people who have owned and shot them when dealing with reviews and opinions.

Welcome to the community and sounds like you've already got a collection many of us would like to have.   

come to the next forum pau hana
tentatively scheduled for second thursday in july?

+1

Well said my brothers! You guys covered EVERYTHING except ONE MAJOR THING...


HAVE FUN (as long as you are doing it safely)!