The Practical Guide to Guns and Shooting, Handgun Edition

Using an un-intimidating and delightfully entertaining approach, The Practical Guide to Guns and Shooting, Handgun Edition helps beginning and intermediate shooters learn safety, handgun operation and related concepts including purchasing, range etiquette, and accessorizing. While a valuable resource for readers who have no experience with guns and shooting, the book is also helpful for beginning and intermediate handgun owners.

“Americans are buying guns in record numbers,” observes author Tom McHale. “However, it’s not easy for someone new to the world of guns and shooting to get up to speed. Even a first visit to a gun store or range can be intimidating. Our goal is to simplify and take the mystery out of all of it.”

In light-hearted style, The Practical Guide to Guns and Shooting, Handgun Edition offers easy-to-understand and practical tips for topics including:

Types of guns: The guide outlines not only the different types of handguns like pistols, revolvers, and derringers, but also explains the pros and cons of different actions for the reader’s intended use.

Gun safety tips: The book covers the rules of gun safety in depth, taking care to explain why safety procedures are so important. The guide also covers “safety etiquette” rules expected at shooting ranges.

How to buy a gun: Chapters on gun stores, federal licensing, and even how to buy new and used guns online take the mystery out of the process so that potential gun buyers can shop with knowledge and confidence.

Basic shooting techniques: For new and experienced readers alike, the book covers important skills like stance, trigger control, natural point of aim, malfunction clearing, and grip.

Ammunition: Readers will understand the difference between rimfire, centerfire, practice, and self-defense ammunition and why using the right type is so important.

Cleaning and maintenance: Step-by-step procedures with photos show new gun owners how to clean their handguns and what to do (and not) do for corrosion-free storage.

Accessories: Readers will learn about lights, lasers, holsters, and optical sights, including their pros and cons – in plain English and without all the technical jargon.

Resources: The guide directs readers to resources for in-person and virtual training, gun, ammunition, and accessory purchases, and legal issues.

The Practical Guide to Guns and Shooting, Handgun Edition makes the process of getting from beginner to experienced, safe, and competent simple and fun. Loaded with pictures, this book provides everything one needs to know to get started with the shooting sports.

What readers have to say...

"I have had training and practice but time passed. This book did a fantastic job of reminding me of all I learned and more. It also will act as a excellent outline for helping others to learn the proper way of all things gun related. This book was as near to perfection as it could be, relative to my needs. I have likely never given a training book such high praise."

"I’ve had my Concealed Carry license for 20 years. But I just recently decided I want to learn so much more. I don’t have any close family or friends near me, so I started researching and teaching myself. This book explained so much. I just can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate this tool. I highly recommend it for all beginner to intermediate shooters who are simply trying to educate themselves beyond just hitting a target. And the humor is very welcomed as well! It’s so simple to understand and breaks down absolutely everything."

"I enjoyed Tom's words of wisdom. I have a basis in rifle shooting but no knowledge of handguns. Easy to read, humorous, I particularly like the way he takes time out of the narrative to explore the language of handguns. If you are new to the concepts as I was I can recommend this book."

"For me, this book was terrific. A lot of basic info on handguns including safety, researching, buying, training, practicing, further reading... a really good primer. Valuable read without the confusing back and forth with attitude you get in so many online forums. I got the sense Mr. McHale is truly concerned with the reader learning, he’s not just writing to show how smart or right he is. Funny too, had me actually laughing out loud while reading in a room by myself. Ok, that part was a little unnerving, but still... After reading about how to research, and then walk into a gun shop for the first time and behave well and ask the right questions, it took the nervousness out of it for me - gave me confidence, and made my first purchase enjoyable. Much thanks to Mr. McHale."

"My daughter told me she wanted to learn how to shoot a firearm and and asked if I would help her. I was happy to hear she wanted to learn that skill and delighted she ask for my help. Shooting and guns were very familiar to me since I got my first firearm, a .410 shotgun, when I was ten years old and spent many years in law enforcement. I told her I would happy to teach her the proper skills of owning, shooting, and being responsible of using a firearm. The first thing I looked for was a good book concerning guns and the responsibility of owning and using one.
That's when I ran across The Practical Guide To Guns and Shooting by Tom McHale. Before I gave it to my daughter I thought I would skim through it first to see if it was any good. As it turned out I read the whole book in half the day and learned a few things myself. What I really liked about the book other than a ton of good information, is the authors style of writing. He uses humor though out the book to make learning points. It is very effective and makes the read fun. I highly recommend this book for amateurs and knowledgeable folks both. I guarantee you will learn something."

"This is a great book for anyone looking to buy a handgun for the first time and does not know where to start. The author breaks down the various types of handguns, what you will need to accompany the new purchase (holster, gunsafe/action lock, proper cleaning tools, etc). There is also good information for new shooters on dry fire practice at home, how to establish a proper grip on the firearm, range etiquette and what to expect at a range. Hundgun safety is dicussed throughout the book, and how to apply it to various situations."