Recommendations for someone who isn't a "serious shooter."

[Averageman]

We know a kid who bought a S&W Sport AR. He doesn't shoot much at all, and we've had to fix a lot of broken stuff on that POS. Mag catch busted (crippling the gun)... I mean.. WTF? You can't save your life with a worthless gun.

It's hard sometimes to explain that to people, they need a first hand experience to understand just how crappy a rifle they get trying to save nickles and dimes along the way. Optics are the same way, but you have to prove it to people all the time.
I don't talk to many people about guns anymore, but when I do I say "This is what I have, this is why I bought it."
Explaining subtle nuances? You might as well talk to the dog.

[MountainRaven]

Glock 19/45/17/34 Gen4 or Gen5 w/ Ameriglo Bold sights
Spare OEM mags (5-10 total)
SureFire X300U
RCS Perun for Glock/X300U
RCS Copia

Colt LE6920 (alternatively: BCM pistol lower w/ SBA3 brace and a BCM Standard 11.5" URG w/o handguard)
Spare Magpul mags (5-15 total)
Aimpoint PRO
BlueForceGear VCAS sling
Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount Long Gun Light (with clicky tailcap)
Magpul MOE/MOE SL handguard
Magpul Cantilever M-LOK light mount
Couple of lengths of paracord to attach the sling to the rifle
RCS Pistol/Rifle/Rifle (or Rifle/Rifle/Pistol) Copia

Everything you need, nothing you don't.

[BoringGuy45]

Not sure what "LE" status has to do with anything. Most cops aren't like the LE guys who are members here, and in tune with good gear and stuff.

I'd guess that many non-LE guys here run a gun harder than many cops. That said... there's no excuse to buy cheap junk just because you're not a cop.

We know a kid who bought a S&W Sport AR. He doesn't shoot much at all, and we've had to fix a lot of broken stuff on that POS. Mag catch busted (crippling the gun)... I mean.. WTF? You can't save your life with a worthless gun.

You'd probably find that about 9 out of 10 cops really couldn't care less about their guns. That's not to say that most cops are anti-gun or wish they could work unarmed like British Bobbies. Simply that they don't give their gun, or any of their gear, much thought until they have to use it. I can say with almost absolute certainty, based on personal experience as a police officer, that your average civilian gun enthusiast spends probably 10 times the amount of time and ammo on the range every year that your average LEO does. Where your average cop has an advantage is that he at least had formal training in the academy. Your average enthusiast likely taught himself to shoot and is fraught with bad habits that he's too stubborn to admit he has. But for a trained civilian who has actually attended classes and practices continually, I can guarantee they are more proficient shooters than most cops.

I always told people that cops were the last people to ask firearms advice (other than, you know, liberal politicians). Even among the ones who are into guns, most aren't any better informed than your average Joe Blow gun store customer. When it comes to getting firearms advice, I always find that the best people to ask are reputable civilian trainers, because it's their mission to know gear, techniques, and laws. For cops, the gun makes up less than 1% of their job.

[FlyAndFight]

As already mentioned, it is imperative that the supposed "non-serious shooter" understand that the "Buy once, cry once" / "You get what you pay for" phrases are truly applicable in the case of firearms and their associated purchases.

Be there for them, Guide and assist as much as possible. Personal experience has shown that they will truly appreciate it, once they evolve into a more serious shooter.

[Dr. Bullseye]

I bought an AR in 2015 because of the threat of civil unrest and having to act now or perhaps losing my ability to ever buy one. I need a general, all around firearm. Pistols are for 6 ft., I need at least 60 yards. I shoot twice a month and have a specific goal when I shoot---something I am working on. Classes? Where? Who will pay for this? Screw that . Show me what can't be learned on youtube and practiced in person? I don't need fancy optics although I did buy them. Most likely, my first deployment will be in my basement or around the property after dark. Do you think I am going to be adjusting a sling or finding distance down a scope as my first move? I am not a soldier or operator and I don't want to be one. I simply work on shooting fundamentals in as many practical positions as my environment dictates and on movement.

[turnburglar]

I think 99% of gun owners fall into the "non serious shooter" catagorey. And dont take that as a bad thing either, it just means some people can meerly appreciate a hobby and not make it a lifestyle. Nothing wrong with that at all. And really I dont care if you own 1 gun or a closet full of guns like some of my friends. If you dont know how to dissasemble and clean, or be profecient on the range with a gun; you are starting to put the emphasis in NON SERIOUS shooter. It makes my soul weep every time I am at my local indoor range and I hear another customer say: "Do you offer gun cleaning services?". I know for a fact, its not because the dude is so baller that his guns are perpetually filthy from suppressed use. It's because they dont know how. When I was in the military we litterally had a 1 day class on the M4 carbine. We spent about 4 hours talking about it, and then 3 hours shooting it. By the end of that I was able to: disasemable and clean, sight in, reload, and accurately fire from multiple positions. This isnt bragging, rather it is the standard that every gun owner should subscribe to achieve. You dont need to draw from concealment or own NVG's, but being taught the basics, and then going home and practicing those basics will get you REALLY far down the road. For not alot of money either. The misconception with classes is that; skills are perishable, but fundementals can always be practiced on your own. You could probably attend one or two really good classes, and have a skillset for life. It is just up to you to keep practicing in your own time.

So after getting a carbine class or two under your belt, the next place a non serious shooter should look to save money would be optics. It's insane to ask a working class person to spend "the price of the rifle on optics". Most shooter's simply dont see the value of optics on the 100 yard or less shooting they do. But they still deserve optics of ACCEPTABLE glass, decent features and a decent amount of reliability. Uncle sam let me borrow an aimpoint Comp M4, and I personally proved its reliability in afghanistan. Will I spend my own money on an aimpiont? No. My rifles all wear Primary Arms for glass or holosun for Red dot. In fact I probably have optics for 3 rifles and still havent spent aimpoint money.

My last tip of advice: shoot guns more than you collect them. As I said earlier I have friends who have WAAYYY more guns than me. Would I want them on the two way range with me? God no. It's the idian more than the arrow, applies here.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

I’d say look at it over a 24 month, three calendar year time frame. Glock now. Buy 200 rounds a month, shoot 100. Next spring buy a BCM AR. Same thing with 556 ammo. Spring 2021, look at buying an optic for the AR, and or a second glock. Continue ammo.

You’d have a Glock and 600 rounds, an AR and 1200rounds and a scope, or a second Glock, as a spare or special CCW version. Call the guns Birthday presents and the ammo is less than dinner out once for a family of four per month.

That and find a monthly local competition that you can make 4-6 times a year.

That’s nothing crazy. Not like you are finding random lowers in drawers you don’t remember buying, cases of 9mm of unknown origin, or unmarked mags that you can’t remember which gun they were for.

ETA; my buy plan with MountianRavens specifics, outside of maybe the x300 for the handgun- that is really nice, but pretty spendy.

[SteyrAUG]

I appreciate the whole "buy a 6920, Aimpoint, 20 Pmags, and a few cases of M193" but that just isn't something that a non gun guy is going to digest.

6920s are hardly the most expensive AR, in fact they are cheaper than some crap ARs. He can probably get by with the two mags Colt sends with the rifle and iron sights. But honestly if he can't afford a basic stock rifle, he shouldn't even bother.

[kerplode]

I’d say look at it over a 24 month, three calendar year time frame. Glock now. Buy 200 rounds a month, shoot 100. Next spring buy a BCM AR. Same thing with 556 ammo. Spring 2021, look at buying an optic for the AR, and or a second glock. Continue ammo.

You’d have a Glock and 600 rounds, an AR and 1200rounds and a scope, or a second Glock, as a spare or special CCW version. Call the guns Birthday presents and the ammo is less than dinner out once for a family of four per month.

That and find a monthly local competition that you can make 4-6 times a year.

That’s nothing crazy. Not like you are finding random lowers in drawers you don’t remember buying, cases of 9mm of unknown origin, or unmarked mags that you can’t remember which gun they were for.

ETA; my buy plan with MountianRavens specifics, outside of maybe the x300 for the handgun- that is really nice, but pretty spendy.

I like this idea...If I were starting from scratch this is a plan I would follow.

[WickedWillis]

Glock 19/45/17/34 Gen4 or Gen5 w/ Ameriglo Bold sights
Spare OEM mags (5-10 total)
SureFire X300U
RCS Perun for Glock/X300U
RCS Copia

Colt LE6920 (alternatively: BCM pistol lower w/ SBA3 brace and a BCM Standard 11.5" URG w/o handguard)
Spare Magpul mags (5-15 total)
Aimpoint PRO
BlueForceGear VCAS sling
Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount Long Gun Light (with clicky tailcap)
Magpul MOE/MOE SL handguard
Magpul Cantilever M-LOK light mount
Couple of lengths of paracord to attach the sling to the rifle
RCS Pistol/Rifle/Rifle (or Rifle/Rifle/Pistol) Copia

Everything you need, nothing you don't.

This is a fantastic list, for anyone that wants to train and have quality gear at a reasonable price.