This is long but I’m pretty deep into collecting and shooting firearms.

Assuming you are not a privileged person buying a gun in Vermont is as simple as going to the gun store, telling them what you want and filling out paperwork. The background check process is usually quite quick, mine go through in about 10 minutes. Parro’s is the best gun store in the state, they have a really nice 25 yard indoor range and all the handguns, shotguns and rifles are out on display so you can handle them without having to ask. Obviously do not point them at anyone because they may respond badly to that.

The most popular option for home defense these days is an AR15 chambered in 5.56. It’s much easier to shoot a rifle with proficiency that handgun, you’ll be surprised how difficult it is to hit a target at 7-10 yards with a handgun when you’re new by hitting targets at 100 yards with a rifle is something I can teach someone in a half hour. 5.56 is extremely effective at stopping human threats and the ammo isn’t that expensive. Get a S&W M&P Sport II or Ruger AR556, they are both trustworthy budget options. Aero, Windham and Del-Ton are also trustworthy budget options.

If you want to hunt deer something like a savage axis I.O.I or Ruger American would be a good budget option. .308 Winchester Is the ideal cartridge because it is the least expensive full power cartridge that will take anything from small deer to big moose pending on bullet construction.

If you want to hunt turkeys 12 gauge pump with a 28” barrel will do the trick. Türkiye loads cost more than what you use for dove or squirrels but they are worth it. I recommend a Mossberg 500, if you can get one that comes with both of 18.5” and 28” barrel it’s even better because you can switch between two in seconds. Longer barrel is for hunting birds, the shorter barrel is effective for self defense with buckshot or hunting out to about 75 yards with rifled slugs. A full power rifled slug throws 1 oz of lead at 1,600 fps, that will take any game animal in North America especially if you purchase loads meant for large and dangerous game. Please never use birdshot for self defense or hunting anything bigger than burdens, it will not get the job done.

If you plan on carrying you have tons of options these days. I tend to carry full size pistols, namely Berettas and CZ’s. That said they’re big and heavy, pretty much the best subcompact carry option these days is a G43x or Smith and Wesson Shield Plus. I’m old fashioned and prefer a safety on my carry pistol because I’m going to carry it for decades and probably never have to draw so I like the peace of mind but if you have a good retention holster you really don’t need a safety. Don’t buy a crappy generic holster, avoid leather go with Kydex.

If you plan on shooting please always wear hearing protection, for some reason a lot of people seem to think they don’t need to when they’re shooting outside and they do permanent catastrophic damage to their hearing. It’s best to use both properly inserted ear plugs and earmuffs at the same time, from an old man with tinnitus I can promise you you do not want tinnitus.