Why Not Trick Out My Gun?

When owning a firearm, it is easy to get tempted by the myriad of “gadgets” and “improvements” that are available for you as enhancements. This is especially true for AR 15’s, certain shotguns and various handguns. However, it is not always a good idea or recommended that you augment your firearms with these devices no matter how “tacti-cool” or functional they may seem for your firearm of choice.

First, if you were to ever use your “enhanced” firearm in a defensive situation, the firearm could be used against you in a court of law - should the case go to trial. An aggressive prosecutor may use it as a reason for why you resorted to using your firearm instead of a lesser lethal means. In other words, the prosecutor will argue that you were anxiously seeking for an opportunity to use your “Tricked Out” firearm.

Second, many of the enhancements available on the market are not really enhancements at all. For example, putting a heat shield on a shot gun. Really? When will there be a need for this item? It is highly unlikely that enough rounds will be fired to require such a device. However, it does give the shotgun a “tacti-cool” aesthetic that many are looking for and enjoy.

Another example that comes to mind is the bump stock. There is sufficient data on-line that demonstrates considerable accuracy is lost when using a bump stock over just firing faster with a standard stock AR-15. Moreover, with the recent tragedy in Las Vegas, this is certainly an unnecessary risk that should be avoided. So, while it will provide shooting fun at the range, care should be taken to only utilize the firearm in that venue and not for self-defense scenarios.

While there are many other examples that come to mind, the aforementioned illustrations are sufficient to make the case for gun owners to be cognizant of what they are buying and why they are buying it.

Finally, the enhancements can be quite costly while providing no measurable benefit in functionality or other stated improvements. That being said, gun owners are encouraged to weigh the cost of the expenditure against the benefits touted – evening if only for aesthetic reasons.

Some question to ask are, Is the money better spent on the enhancement or more ammunition? After all, a firearm without ammunition is not very useful. Will this enhancement help improve accuracy, reduce reloading time, facilitate with certain required actions, etc.?

Certainly, there are products available that can provide measurable or perceivable improvements, but only when the decision to purchase is thoroughly thought thru should the decision be made.

In conclusion, as gun owners are bombarded with a plethora of “gadgets’ and so called “enhancements,” they should take the time to consider all the ramifications of purchasing any of these products. Doing so will help prevent potential legal problems, ensure the stated benefits are real and that money is spent wisely. In short, make gun ownership a more enjoyable and safe experience.