Silicon valley shooting range?

[Chrono]

Hello

I would like to get into shooting soon. I have a question though of where would be a good place to start? I live in northern California and would like to know of any clubs or orginizations that are particularly helpful for beginners. Also are there any really good ranges to go to. I found this one in another thread
Scottsdale Gunclub
it's looks really impressive, too bad for me it is in Arizona. Any place like this in Northern California? Thanks for the help.

Ryan

 

[johnniet]

There's a Sunnyvale Rod & Gun Club, and another place in Santa Clara that has some of the NRA courses (check www.nrahq.com).

 

[Chrono]

Thanks.

I rember seeing the sign for the rod and gun club while driving. I'll have to check that one out. Thanks

 

[kinzli]

Chrono, here's my take - the bay area ranges are always crowded. There's also one in particular where the counter staff are real charmers (not!), and I get really mad every time I venture into one of those places. I finally quit going. It scares me to think of these yahoos with loaded guns shooting next to me.

On the "other" side of the hill in Watsonville is a great little indoor range - Markley's. The guys there are all friendly, and it's a safe place to shoot. Prices are decent, range is new and very clean, and it's never crowded. Usually when I go there's only maybe 1 or 2 other shooters, sometimes I'm the only one (with my wife, of course).

I don't have anything to do financially with Markley's, only a very satisfied customer. If you're coming from outside the area anyway, take and extra hour and try out this range, I think you'll be happier.

 

[Joe Talmadge]

kinzli: which range has the counter staff with the attitudes? The counter staff at National used to have bad reputations, but the place has since been bought by Reed's, and in the few times I've been back, the staff has fallen all over themselves to be helpful. I haven't been to Targetmasters in many many years, but back then they were a bit curmudgeonly, but good guys once you got to know them.

Joe

 

[kinzli]

Joe, it was TargetMasters that I was speaking of.

I'll give you my experiences for the past 2 times I was there.

1st time (about 1.5 years ago) - went in to shoot a new 870Police, 12ga, at their indoor shotgun range. Great, only place in the area that allows shotguns indoors. As I walked into the shotgun area, I pass the handgun shooters. I watch as I see numerous folks walking around, presumably hot, with muzzles every which way, laughing, bouncing around, etc. I was glad to be in another range, alone. On exiting, I brought this up to the counter person, who responded with "Boys will be boys". I find this incompetant at best from a firearms shop and range. I told myself I'd never go back again.

2nd time (about 6 months ago) - Even though I told myself I'd never go back, I did, thinking that maybe I'd give them the benefit of the doubt, and that maybe the management had changed or something. I was in the market for a new firearm anyway and thought I'd see what they had. I walked in, place was crowded, and there were numerous counterfolk having their own conversations amongst themselves while helping customers, and throwing miscellaneous sarcasms at the customers. At first I was taken aback when I heard this, but figured that they're just burnt from retail sales, etc. and it's understandable that on a weekend, in a busy place, attitudes can grow, etc, so I blew it off. Well, I blew it off until I heard them throw a few cuss words in the mix. I found this distasteful personally, but also terribly unprofessional. That was all I needed, I promised myself to never go back.

That's my personal experience, your mileage may vary. I hope they have changed their act, I'd like to think that most gun shops are responsible and reputable. Someone please tell me that my experience was an isolated one