Got a membership at the local gun range

[tweakmm]

I've been meaning to join the local gun range for a while now, and just recently got a job on the same street as it, 50 yards down from my new office. Needless to say I decided it was fate and bought a 3 month membership today after I got off.
I know next to nothing about firearms and the range rented guns so just asked advice on what to shoot. I started out with a Ruger .22 because the ammo was so cheap, fired a few boxes and then traded it in for a Rugger 9mm. Fired a box of 9mm.
So. Freaking. Satisfying.

This stuff can get expensive fast. A box of 50 .22s was a buck and change while a box of 50 9mms was more than $10.

I'm probably going back tommorow with a friend of mine who has been meaning to join also and fire another few hundred rounds from another .22. The pea shooter ammo is chicken scratch but shooting anything else can get pricey.

Damn, one day and I'm already hooked.

Well, time to go party guys. Hope everyone has a nice evening. :beer:

 

[Sukhoi]

That ammo sounds rather expensive to me. Bring your own.

 

[Kilgor]

Yeah you can get 9mm cheaper than that but the range most likely makes you use their ammo if you rent a gun.

 

[N8Magic]

Niiiice.

I've been meaning to check out the local range, but I don't know how to approach it. Do you just walk in and say "I want to learn to shoot!" ?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: N8Magic
Niiiice.

I've been meaning to check out the local range, but I don't know how to approach it. Do you just walk in and say "I want to learn to shoot!" ?

yup.

 

[msi1337]

buy your ammo locally at Wal-mart, or online in bulk... winchester white box is good for cheap..also you can't go wrong with CCI mini mags for 22, CCI Blazer for 9mm.

and yes, shooting is an excellent form of relaxation coupled with concentration on learning a new skill.

if you get into it more and decide to purchase your own firearm, I highly recommend the following..in order in which I chose mine

Springfield XD-9 (awesome gun... by far my fave gun I have shot for the $$)

Browning BuckMark (excellent 22 target pistol..extremely accurate and cheap to shoot)

Bersa Thunder 380 (although an odd caliber, it is extremely easy to conceal (with permit) and packs about as much punch as a .38 revolver)

Smith & Wesson 357 magnum 6 shot revolver... was my favorite gun, but I started out like you did about a year ago... I had never shot a "real" gun before that. When I ran full load 357 magnum through this it was honestly very scary. The recoil, blowback, and noise alone will put you in your place real fast!

 

[necine]

I'm hoping to buy a gun soon.

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: Kilgor
Yeah you can get 9mm cheaper than that but the range most likely makes you use their ammo if you rent a gun.

Yup.

I'm sure I can get ammo cheaper elsewhere and that will probably be the biggest catalyst to me purchacing my own firearm. Buying a gun is still a while off because I have absoultely no idea of what kind of piece I want. So I'm stuck with the range's guns(not bad at all) and the range's ammo prices(pretty bad) for a while atleast.

Definitely going to head over to the range and shoot a few hundred off for lunch tommorow.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: tweakmm

Originally posted by: Kilgor
Yeah you can get 9mm cheaper than that but the range most likely makes you use their ammo if you rent a gun.

Yup.

I'm sure I can get ammo cheaper elsewhere and that will probably be the biggest catalyst to me purchacing my own firearm. Buying a gun is still a while off because I have absoultely no idea of what kind of piece I want. So I'm stuck with the range's guns(not bad at all) and the range's ammo prices(pretty bad) for a while atleast.

Definitely going to head over to the range and shoot a few hundred off for lunch tommorow.

Wait till you realize how many guns you will end up with. A full setup would likely be a shotgun, hunting rifle, "fun" rifle (SKS/AK), .22, at least two handguns.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: tweakmm

Originally posted by: Kilgor
Yeah you can get 9mm cheaper than that but the range most likely makes you use their ammo if you rent a gun.

Yup.

I'm sure I can get ammo cheaper elsewhere and that will probably be the biggest catalyst to me purchacing my own firearm. Buying a gun is still a while off because I have absoultely no idea of what kind of piece I want. So I'm stuck with the range's guns(not bad at all) and the range's ammo prices(pretty bad) for a while atleast.

Definitely going to head over to the range and shoot a few hundred off for lunch tommorow.

From what a friend of mine has said (he's tried to talk me into buying guns for years) a .357 mag revolver (S&W or Ruger) is a very good choice. You can get em used pretty cheap. Being a revolver there isn't much to go wrong, and you can shoot anything from cheap .38 special up to .357 mag.

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: tweakmm

Originally posted by: Kilgor
Yeah you can get 9mm cheaper than that but the range most likely makes you use their ammo if you rent a gun.

Yup.

I'm sure I can get ammo cheaper elsewhere and that will probably be the biggest catalyst to me purchacing my own firearm. Buying a gun is still a while off because I have absoultely no idea of what kind of piece I want. So I'm stuck with the range's guns(not bad at all) and the range's ammo prices(pretty bad) for a while atleast.

Definitely going to head over to the range and shoot a few hundred off for lunch tommorow.

Wait till you realize how many guns you will end up with. A full setup would likely be a shotgun, hunting rifle, "fun" rifle (SKS/AK), .22, at least two handguns.

Oh, I already know.
I'm going to have a freaking collection at the end of it all.

I already want to get a shotgun, a skeet puller and a bit of land in the country. Skeet shooting is sooooooo fun.

 

[drum]

you just reminded me it is almost time for my families traditional trap shooting on Thanksgiving!
last year it snowed so hard we had to quit early

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: N8Magic
Niiiice.

I've been meaning to check out the local range, but I don't know how to approach it. Do you just walk in and say "I want to learn to shoot!" ?

Pretty much, yes. Just tell them you would like to learn how to properly operate a firearm. Just about all ranges offer a class or something on safety and technique.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: N8Magic
Niiiice.

I've been meaning to check out the local range, but I don't know how to approach it. Do you just walk in and say "I want to learn to shoot!" ?

just tell the guy u never shot b4 and ask for some basics.

1st:
learn safety. ie: do not point the gun (even empty) at anyone. and remove the clip, THEN check/clear the chamber. (doing it the other way would chamber the next bullet from the clip, thus the gun wont be empty.)

Then learn how to shoot.
ie: how to grip the gun
how to aim
etc

if theyre' not busy, it shouldnt be a problem for a quick 5 min demo

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: N8Magic
Niiiice.

I've been meaning to check out the local range, but I don't know how to approach it. Do you just walk in and say "I want to learn to shoot!" ?

Yup.

I knew enough that unless you're in the lane you don't hold it like you're firing, you keep the clip out and the chamber open . Then when in the lane always keep the gun pointed down range.

Chances are the guys there are going to be nice, they asked if I had any experience and I said I shot a bit when I was younger. When they asked what kind of gun I wanted I told them they knew better than I. When they selected the gun all they did was explain where the safety and clip release was. Then the guy went out to the range for all of 30 seconds to show the best way to tape up a target.

Operating a firearm is ridiculously easy. Just point and pull the trigger. :laugh:
Getting good at operating one, not so much.