April 12, 2026

Myths New Gun Owners Still Believe

Photo: A new shooter at the range, stance wide, grip uncertain — the range is where myths meet reality, and only one of them survives.

Most people don't start wrong on purpose.
They read something online. A friend told them. They saw it in a movie and it looked right. Nobody corrected them — so the belief stuck.

That's how myths work. They don't feel like myths. They feel like common sense.

But in the world of firearms, common sense that's actually wrong isn't just embarrassing. It's dangerous. Here are three of the strongest ones still circulating today.

The Myths

Myth 1: Racking the slide is enough of a warning.
Hollywood made this one. The dramatic sound of a pump-action or a racked slide as the ultimate deterrent. Loud, unmistakable, final.

Here's the problem.
Racking the slide means you weren't ready. It means a round wasn't chambered. And in a real situation, that half-second costs you.

Responsible carry means being ready before a threat ever appears. Not announcing yourself when one already has.

Myth 2: A bigger caliber is always better.
More power sounds like more protection. It's not that simple.

Recoil matters. Accuracy matters. What good is stopping power if your second shot lands in a wall? New shooters who jump straight to .45 ACP or .44 Magnum often sacrifice control for the comfort of feeling armed.

A round you can place accurately beats a round you can barely manage. Every single time.

Myth 3: You only need to clean it if it jams.
A gun that hasn't failed you yet is still a gun that needs maintenance.

Carbon buildup, debris, and dry components don't announce themselves. They wait. They wait until the worst possible moment and then they remind you.

Clean your firearm regularly. Not because it's misbehaving. Because you're responsible for it.

The Takeaway

Myths survive because nobody challenges them.

They get passed down at ranges, in comment sections, across kitchen tables. They sound reasonable. They come from people who mean well.

But meaning well isn't enough when a firearm is involved.

The best thing a new gun owner can do isn't buy better gear or take a harder class. It's question what they already think they know. Stay curious. Stay humble. And keep learning. Because the moment you think you've got it figured out, that's exactly when the gaps show up.

Until next time, stay locked and loaded.
- Randy, Locked N Loaded

Please add randy@gophercentral.com to your address book or visit here.

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