First time at range?

johnniet

johnniet

Gold Member
Joined
Jul 12, 1999
Messages
4,682
We're all friends here (well most of us anyway) so I think I can admit...
:o I've never fired a gun in my life. :eek:

For the last few months been planning to drop by a shooting range sometime. Right now I have no need for a CCW, but someday I might.
Is that the right way to do it -- just drop in? Should I make an appointment? Try to get some instruction first?
And most importantly...what should I shoot the first time? :)
 
Check the phone book for ranges and or gun stores.
If they don't welcome walk in business, there are plenty of places that do.
Try to go with a friend who can loan you one of their guns.
Some ranges rent guns.
Beware of the place that rents/sells guns trying to sell you something you don't really want.
A .38 Special is a good beginer gun. Easy to learn with, easy to shoot. Carried and used throughout the land. If at all possible, try to find a range that offers instruction and CCW classes, particularly if they have both male and female instructors.

Hope this helps.
 
Most ranges offer an introductory safety class, I would highly, highly recommend taking that at least before heading into the range. You will learn a lot, and the guys on either side of you will appreciate it too :)

There's also gun clubs, and similar places in most areas that offer free or inexpensive courses about basic gun safety, take all that you can. I've been shooting for 25 years but still take a class on the average of once a year, since each instructor has something to offer, and we never know it all.

The "Macho BS" attitude is one you want to run, not walk away from. If you see it, I would suggest finding another range/instructor/club.

I think (and hope) that you'll find a range/club/instructor that welcomes newbies and teaches them properly.

I happen to be in Santa Cruz, and can suggest some ranges that are good and some that are not so good in the area if you're interested, as well as some good classes - contact me via email.

Best of luck :D
 
My advice would be to get some basic instruction, then try out a .22 pistol - low recoil will prevent you from developing a flinch, and will allow you to focus on the fundamentals: target acquisition, sight alignment, trigger squeeze. Once you are comfortable shooting the .22 and have the basics down, work for shot groups/accuracy at ranges from 25 - 75 feet. Once you can control your shots & maintain a decent group at 75 feet, then try a moderate caliber (.38, 9mm,etc..). Hopefully you will have developed good habits by then, and they will carry over to the larger caliber weapons.

Sam
 
Start with a .22 (and btw you'll keep shooting .22s all your life). There's a NRA safety course that's available anywhere in the US for a small fee, and that includes shooting practice. That's a great way to start. Ask at the range or at a gun shop.

Local rod & gun clubs are a tremendous resource, too. Imagine a bunch of friendly, knowledgeable guys, much like Bladeforums ... there's probably at least one near you.
 
If you have never shot a firearm before, go somewhere that has real training facilities. DO NOT GO SHOOTING with some macho full of B.S. co-worker or friend. Think real training - not Hollywood hype and water cooler chat.

I have had very good success with people who have never shot before with Glock model 17's. This is a full size semi-automatic 9mm pistol. You don't have the long heavy double action trigger pull to master or, the double action/single action transition to master. 9mm in a full size standard weight pistol is reasonable gun to train with. Recoil is light enough that flinch should not be a problem and, recoil is just enough re-enforce good technique.

A large full size pistol is easier to shoot and more forgiving then a small pocket pistol. It is basic physics and geometry dealing with sight radius and mass plus, a larger grip is easier to hang on to then those mouse gun 2 and 3 finger grips ;)
 
Interesting thread. Once I buy a car, I think I'll be purchasing a firearm (or two, or three, or...).

I'm in a similar situation, I've only shot a few firearms before. A .22 handgun, a .22 crappy bolt-action rifle, and an AK-47 (7.62mm ammo, not a conversion). The AK was cool. :) But this was at a vacation place in China, where they had pretty much nothing in the way of safety training. They just had a big dude stand next to me, to make sure I didn't run off with the gun.
 
AAPB,
This covers a lot of what we need. It includes a link to a course locator.
What do you guys recommend: FIRST steps, or Basic Pistol?
 
Johnniet,

Congrats on your new interest. Honestly, I shot for the first time maybe a year ago (if that). I was pretty intimidated about going to the range. I postponed it for longer than I care to admit. I talked to friends, LEOs, etc to find a place I could go to learn. Nothing seemed to work out so finally I called the range..duh :rolleyes:. I asked if they could refer me to an instructor or shooting classes. They gave me this wonderful gentleman's name. I called and he met me the next day. Then he met me every week for a few months. He even lent me his gun case, a couple of .22's, and ammo. He is a veteran pilot who flew/fought in the Korean war and in Vietnam. He didn't charge me a penny despite my pleas to pay him. I still have to buy him a gift certificate or something and maybe throw it in his car when he's not looking with a thank you note.

Learning to shoot has been a wonderful experience. Since I have a tremor in my hands, it is pretty challenging for me. I still have pretty good groupings. :) I just purchased an airgun so that I could practice more often. However, it certainly is no substitute to getting out to the range and practicing and becoming familiar with your gun. My instructor also assisted me in getting my CCW. I'm still trying to work out different methods of carry that I can do within my comfort zone. It opens up a whole new world of fun challenges. Good luck.
 
Hello all,
As a Brit I seldom get a chance to shoot but anytime I'm on holiday I head for the nearest yellow pages and a range. To my surprise I found the .38 revolver my favorite of all the hand guns I shot along with the Glock in .45 that a range officer offered to let me try for free.

I have been looking for a while for private instruction on hand guns and precision rifle for ages. If anyone here knows of a place that does precision rifle courses (Anywhere in the US) please let me know.

Cheers

Temper
 
johnniet,
I see that you are from California. The State imposed alot of new laws this year. I suggest you go to a Good gunshop that comes by reccomendation from someone you can trust. They will be able to give you a list of the requirements you need to purchase a handgun. The requirements changed dramatically from last year. So before you take a handgun course see if it will count towards one of your requirements for the state. That list is pretty long, but it is worth it if you want a handgun. It is best to buy now before the laws become even more stricter. However if you buy a long gun(rifle or shotgun) then you won't need to show your training or take a test. Some cities or counties are pretty hard to get a ccw in Kalifornia so check it out for your area. Down south here it is impossible, however thats where other selfdefense items come in handy:D Good luck.
 
Thanks for the tip cpk.
For now I'm not planning on shelling out the $$ for my own gun. I want to learn the basics, try a few guns at one or more ranges, and find out what I like. It's not clear that I'll still be in CA next year, so legal research will have to wait.
 
Wherever you go you're likely to have to show them the certificate that shows you've passed the NRA safety course, so that's something to keep in mind.... Most of the instructors charge about $25-30, in my area anyway, and it's well worth it. You'll get to fire a number of different pistols, for one thing.

What Sid said about a full-size grip is right on -- I'd much rather start a beginner on a full-size 9mm than a .22 pocket pistol. (I personally have a weakness for pocket pistols; I love them -- but they're not easy to shoot accurately.) The ideal starter is a .22 target pistol. That's a full-size pistol you can get a grip on, and it has good adjustable sights (pocket pistols don't always have sights at all, sometimes it's just a groove along the top of the slide). A target pistol has a good trigger, too, light and crisp. After you've learned to hit bullseyes with that, then you can face the challenge of trying to hit anything with a pistol you can only grip with three fingers, sighting along a groove less than 4" long while pressing a trigger designed to test the strength of two men and a boy. :cool:

You might get lured out onto some high-tension lines to shoot tin cans. There's nothing wrong with that, but you don't learn much from it. You learn from shooting at a paper bullseye target where you can see exactly where the bullet hits, so you have some hope of figuring out why it hit there and not where you intended.
 
I hope my post did not infer to use a pocket pistol -I'm thinking of a Browning Buckmark/Ruger Mark II for a good pistol to learn on -both have a good weight & grip size, both have a good sights (my preference goes to the buckmark here), both are fun to shoot & both are cheap to shoot so that you can shoot often. Both have limited recoil so that training sessions can be as long as your interest holds. And both are cheaper to own & operate than jsut about any other gun.

Sam
 
Thanks guys for this post. My brother and I were talking about the same thing. Some guy time you know. We the wife and kids at home. although she might like to do it too, huh! Paul
 
TDE,

Why don't you stay home and send the wife to the range. :p

Actually, it would be a nice gesture for you to take her with you and teach her how to shoot (if she doesn't know already). Afterall, women are, generally, more vulnerable than men. We need a means of defending ourselves too. I'm sure she'd appreciate your taking an interest in her security. It shows you care. ;)

Every woman should know how to shoot. If she already knows, take her so she can get some practice. :)
 
There is a lot of good information here for beginners. I have frequently been asked by non shooting friends to help start them into the shooting sports. When time allows, I love to help train new shooters, properly.
The firearm of choice that I like to start them with is the Ruger Mark2 Bull barrel target model. Full size grip, low recoil, and great sights. Combine that with good ear protection, and eye protection, and we go off to the range to start them out. If they are interested in rifle, the 10/22 Ruger. I love those Ruger 22's for fun and inexpensive plinking. It is true that the 22 is a caliber that is fun to shoot forever.
If professional training is avalible, get it! It is important to start your shooting training properly. Bad shooting habits that you may pick up from a friend can and frequently will stick with YOU forever. It is best to be trained by a NRA certified instructer if at all possible. Their training is designed to teach shooters the all important basics, safley and in a controlled enviroment.
I wish all of you new shooters, years of enjoyment in the shooting sports. It is a great pastime!:D
 
Start off with a .22 target pistol and move up. (I've been shooting for 45 years and I STILL enjoy shooting .22's!)

And if you can find a FEMALE firearms instructor - jump at the chance. Seriously. I like shooting with women and I have had some great instruction from women. No BS, nothing to prove, more patience.
 
Another vote for the .22 Ruger Mark I/II, with adjustable sights. I've seen used ones in good condition with very competitive prices, so check your local gun shops. A fellow I was lucky enough to shoot with awhile back used a Ruger Mark I bull barrel that had a customized trigger job. I found a used one in excellent condition...still have it, although last year I put a red dot sight on it...much easier for me to see with bifocals. The kids get a kick out of it too.
Although my friend didn't say too much about it, I found out that he shot at Camp Perry a few times. He showed me that it wasn't how much the equipment cost, but how well it worked....and suggested that I spend the extra money on practice ammo instead of fancy gear. Pretty good advice then and now...
Jim
 
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