Your Second Gun: Which Path Makes Sense After the First

The right second firearm depends on what the first one left unsolved: skills, home use or storage and travel.

The second gun is a different question from the first

A first firearm usually comes from a single driving reason: home defense, carry, a friend's invitation to the range. The second purchase is trickier because the easy answer, buy something cool, is the one most likely to lead to a safe full of things you rarely shoot. We cover the full sequence in our collection-order guide; this piece is about the specific fork after gun number one.

The principle: choose the second gun to fix something the first one left unsolved. That might be a skill gap, a home-use gap or a storage-and-travel gap. The three paths below map to those gaps, each with a specific example. We have not tested the guns named, and details come from listings and general knowledge.

Before you buy it: the order of operations

Before another firearm, check these four items. Each improves what you own.

1. Storage. More guns means more to secure, and the first safe or lockbox is often outgrown quickly. Our piece on fixing storage before you buy another gun makes the case in full.
2. Hearing and eye protection. Cheap to upgrade, expensive to neglect.
3. Practice ammunition. A second gun doubles the demand on your ammunition budget.
4. Training. A class teaches more than a purchase does.

If those are in place, move on.

Path 1: handgun first, so add a carbine

The gap: pistols are harder to shoot accurately than long guns. If your first gun is a handgun and you want an easier, more forgiving gun for the home or range, a pistol-caliber carbine is the classic second gun.

The pick: the Ruger PC Carbine is a mainstream example. The listing shows a 9mm with a 17+1 capacity and a barrel around 16.1 inches. It is a takedown design, and Ruger offers different magwell options so it can work with different pistol magazine patterns. Check that a magwell for your pistol's magazines exists before buying; magazine sharing is the whole logistical advantage.

Why it works as a second gun: shared ammunition with a 9mm pistol means one stockpile and one set of practice rounds. A shouldered gun is easier for most people to hit with. Our PCC buyer's guide goes into depth, and the three-way carbine comparison sets this Ruger against two alternatives.

Skip this path if your first handgun is in a caliber with few carbines, or you want a more flexible shotgun for several uses.

Path 2: a recoil-friendly home long gun

The gap: many households want a long gun for the house that anyone trained can run, and some members are sensitive to recoil.

The pick: the Maverick 88 Pump in 20 gauge is one value-oriented example. The listing shows a 22-inch barrel, a 3-inch chamber and a 5+1 capacity. A 20 gauge generally recoils less than a 12 gauge in a comparable gun, which can make practice more comfortable. For a longer comparison with the 12 gauge model, see our Maverick 88 12 versus 20 article.

Why it works as a second gun: a pump shotgun is simple, flexible and can serve for home use and for some field tasks. Whatever you choose, pattern it with the load you intend to use, and plan on storage that blocks unauthorized access. Our home defense guide covers the constraints.

Skip this path if you already have a carbine or an AR-type rifle for home use, or you would rather spend on a more refined shotgun later. A 22-inch barrel is also on the long side for tight indoor spaces.

Path 3: the skills path, a .22 rifle

The gap: you want to shoot more, better, for less money.

The pick: the Ruger 10/22 Takedown has an 18.5-inch barrel and 10+1 capacity per the listing, and it splits into two assemblies for transport. The 10/22 platform has a huge accessory ecosystem and ordinary controls, so it is a good rifle to learn fundamentals on and it travels well.

Why it works as a second gun: rimfire ammunition is mild and inexpensive, so you can shoot far more rounds. The fundamentals you build, sight picture, trigger control and breathing, transfer to centerfire guns. SportingRifles' rimfire training piece explains how.

Skip this path if you already own a .22 or your real need is something for defense.

A quick chooser

Budgeting for the first year of owning a second gun

The sticker on a second gun is only part of what it costs. A rough accounting helps you decide whether now is the time:

If you cannot fund the ammunition and storage without strain, the right second purchase is a little later. A gun you can afford to shoot is worth more than one you can only afford to own.

What not to do

• Do not buy to fill a safe. An unused gun is money you could have spent on ammunition.
• Do not skip the storage check. Every additional firearm is another responsibility.
• Do not buy the third gun's category first. A gun that overlaps your first adds less than one that fills a gap.
• Do not ignore legal limits. Magazine capacity, feature restrictions and transfer rules differ by place.

One last check

Write one sentence: "I want this gun to ___." If you cannot finish it with something specific and reasonable, wait. If you can, the right path is usually obvious.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications and publicly available information. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.