Gun Buyers Guide

If you are looking to purchase a new or pre-owned gun you should find the following guide particularly helpful. Its sole purpose is to ensure you make an informed decision and address some very important issues before making that all important purchase.

All part of the service

Here at H G Hopkins we adopt a traditional approach and it has always been our philosophy to help customers make an informed decision. We would rather turn business away before giving anything other than good sound advice. We are always happy to help and why shouldn’t you make the most of our years of experience. It is just part of the service and it is of course free of charge.

Which Gun?

On the face of it choosing a gun is easy but getting the right gun for you and your needs can be a tad more difficult. We would recommend that you always get as much advice as you can and don’t be afraid to ask questions. The more you ask, the more you will understand and the more likely you will end up with the right gun for your needs. There are many things to consider and we are always happy to provide help and advice should you need it, so do not hesitate to drop into the shop or give us a call on 01270 762404.

Buying Considerations

When buying a gun the following points can help you to make the right choice:

• Most people have a budget. Establish your budget and stick to it.
• Find out as much as you can about the different types of gun available to you within your chosen area of sport. Make sure the gun you are considering is appropriate and suitable for purpose.
• Try to get an understanding of the balance, weight and fit of a gun. If you’re not absolutely sure then seek advice from the experts before going any further. We will happily advise you in this respect and there is no charge for this service.
• Talk to your shooting colleagues but remember we are all different so what is good for one person may be totally unsuitable for another.
• If this is your first gun, it would be wise to buy from a recognised gun shop. After all, you wouldn’t want to end up with a pile of expensive scrap metal. A competent gunsmith will also be able to check that your chosen gun is a reasonable fit and you will benefit from a warranty and after-sales service.
• If buying a new gun, find out what is included as part of the package. Even a brand new gun should be cleaned, oiled, inspected and checked by your local gunsmith before use and this should be part of the service, not an extra. We provide this as part of the service at no charge.

How comfortable are your shoes?

A strange question to ask but buying a gun is similar in many ways to buying a new pair of shoes. There are many different types, styles and sizes of shoe and most people wouldn’t dream of buying a pair without first having their feet measured, trying them on and walking about to see if they are comfortable.
It’s no different when buying a gun and once you decide on a type and style of gun, you must ensure it fits you and is suitable for purpose or you will be very disappointed with the results.

Ensure your gun is a good fit

If, for example you were buying a shotgun you should carefully consider gun fit. The standard stock on a production gun is designed to fit the average person and if we were all average then that would be the end of that. When buying a shotgun, get your gunsmith to check how well it fits you. He should do this as a matter of course and if he doesn’t, your dealing with the wrong person. Hopefully you won’t need to make any alterations at all and it is unusual to have to make major and costly alterations to a gun stock.  In most cases, minor and inexpensive stock modification is all that is required and doing so will make a considerable difference to your shooting accuracy.

Completely new to shooting?

We have helped countless numbers of people that are interested in taking up shooting but are not sure where to start. If you are new to shooting and would like to know how to get more involved then we can help. We can advise you on all aspects of the sport and make sure you get off to a great start without making costly mistakes. Just give us a call on 01270 762404