If you plan on taking any training classes, or you shoot a lot of matches, electronic hearing protection are worth their weight in gold. They will help you listen to the instructor give instruction and range commands without constantly taking off your muffs to hear. Do this enough, and one time you'll forget to put them on before shooting. At shooting matches, you can hear the start signal and range commands much easier, plus you don't have to keep taking off your muffs to join into the matchtime bull sessions. A very wise piece of shooting equipment.
Most folks will shell out big bucks for a nice firearm and buy a piece o' crud aluminum cleaning rod. The aluminum will eventually scratch and that scratch will fill with dirt and crud which will end up in the bore, possibly scratching it.
THE SOLUTION: Buy a stainless steel rod. Dewey makes a fine rod. It is hardened and swivels easily on ball bearings. Their rods will outlast many guns. It is a wise investment. Dewey markets coated nylon rods as well. I use the Stainless rods mostly- it will clean from the muzzle (with the use of a guide) or breech. But when I must clean a .22 from the muzzle, I use their coated rod.
The rod will set you back a twenty and last your life. Not too bad.
Once you use a brass jag on a rifle or pistol you will never use a loop again. The jag allows the patch to contact most if not all of the bore and makes for a more efficent and complete cleaning. You will also use fewer patches per cleaning.
COST: About 2.50. Worth every penny.
A wiping stick is a stainless steel ramrod with a comfortable handle and solid muzzle
guard. It is great for range use and not only will it prolong the life of the wood
ramrod, but the muzzle guard protects the chamfering and the stainless steel shaft
will not screw up the barrel like a wood ramrod will. It also doesn't break easily. Very
useful when pulling a ball. (Not like we ever need to do that!)
Do not bungle scope, stock and sight screws with that hardware store eighty nine cent
screwdriver. Buy a hollow ground blade that fits the screw slot fully and will not
damage the head. This will help keep your gun's value high and keep you sane.
Don't screw around with chemicals to remove leading. The Lewis Lead Remover is the
right tool for the job. The tool removes the deposits mechanically by way of brass
patches. A fouled barrel cleans up in a few minutes. Don't get the Hoppe's model,
get the Lewis. Cost: about 14 bucks.
What the brass jag does for the rifle, the Dan Allen does for the shotgun. The
nylon jag constricts and expands to fit everything from the chamber to the choke.
Most folks buy one in 12 guage and then after trying it, get one in every guage.
Great stocking stuffer at around three bucks.
Shooting Hardball .45 might not make you too popular with the neighbors, but they will
never know that you are practicing with an air gun. Today's "Adult Air Guns" have
a trigger and balance similar to a "real" gun and they make great practice. Try
practicing with one every night or two and see your centerfire/rimfire scores
go up.
A Pellet Trap is a necessary item for the Airgun shooter. I used to use a home made
one but they kept wearing out. (A .20 cal airgun will do that) I ended up buying
a trap that can stop up to .22LR high velocity. It stops my pellets easily and when
the neighbors aren't around, a little more...
If you shoot sporting clays a drywall compound bucket is a great item for carrying extra hulls, dumping your empties in, holding your water & other necesseties, and to use as a seat. Take one with you on your next trip out.