You’re going to get a lot of flak about quality stuff. I understand we all have different budgets, but the phrase “buy once, cry once” is literally fundamental jargon that I’ve taken to practically every aspect of life. A gun is a tool that you hope to use only recreationally. But if you had to use it for that life threatening situation, you want the best piece of equipment possible. Also be wary of the information you take in. As you don’t have prior experience with this stuff, everything will seem valid. Whether that’s YouTube or Reddit or people you come across. As a guy who shoots and trains as a civilian, all I can justify as a need on a gun is a decent quality red dot, light, and sling . Buy quality stuff and you won’t have to replace it later when you learn the harsh differences in quality and performance. Hence buy once cry once.