Learning to shoot?

[pete6032]

I'm looking for a new hobby. I don't own any guns, and I've only ever shot a pistol once at a range. It didn't do much for me, it was OK, but kind of expensive. I'm wondering if I went out and bought a Mosin Nagant and took it to a range if I could take a class to learn how to shoot? I know just about zero about guns but I have an appreciation for these older weapons. Would it be weird to start learning to shoot using a Mosin? Do people start out on older weapons?

 

[highland145]

Mosin Nagant

She hurt me. Seriously. Not a mamby pamby round.

.22 I would suggest a Ruger 10/22 but the factory trigger on mine sucked.

And .22 ammo is scarce...blame Bush.

Aside from that, there's a gun thread with a bunch of guys just waiting for the next Batman movie...

You can get an antiquities dealer license without a lot of hassle, I believe.

 

[highland145]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2247648



Where do you live?

 

[pete6032]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2247648



Where do you live?

Illinois.

 

[Kwatt]

I'm looking for a new hobby. I don't own any guns, and I've only ever shot a pistol once at a range. It didn't do much for me, it was OK, but kind of expensive. I'm wondering if I went out and bought a Mosin Nagant and took it to a range if I could take a class to learn how to shoot? I know just about zero about guns but I have an appreciation for these older weapons. Would it be weird to start learning to shoot using a Mosin? Do people start out on older weapons?

Try to find a range where you can rent a rifle when you take a training course. You can try them out. I have never fired a Mosin but that power level is more than I would recommed for learning.

Depending where you live: A CO2 powered pellet rifle can be a good trainer. Or a PCP pellet rifle at a higher cost. CO2 is temperature sensitive. A PCP is not. If you can use it on your property you get more chances to practice and at a lower cost.


.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Not a particularly good gun to learn on. Harsh recoil, expensive ammo and not even an interesting rifle. The only thing good about it is that it's cheap. If you want to learn to shoot learn on a .22, if you want a phallic symbol to feel more manly at least get a better gun.

 

[highland145]

Illinois.

Sad. You should move to a red state.


Can you even buy a Ruger 1000fps pellet rifle?

 

[Merad]

The Mosin is not a good rifle for learning. It's big, heavy, unwieldy, kicks like a mule, and will likely only have mediocre accuracy no matter how well you do your part. If you just want to get one to take out and have fun every now and then, sure, there's nothing wrong with it. If you want to actually learn how to shoot a rifle, get a .22 and sign up for an Appleseed event in your area: http://appleseedinfo.org/search-states-display.php?qstate=IL&statename=Illinois

 

[Mide]

I started out with a Mosin. Fun stuff you learn a lot about maintenance and cleaning if you shoot surplus which in all respects is the only reason you're probably looking at the Mosin. 7.62x54r is a badass round. Yes it kicks but boy is it fun. If you're like me you'll get annoyed with the fact that the windage and elevation adjustments are very ghetto by today's standards.

 

[velillen]

I started out with a Mosin. Fun stuff you learn a lot about maintenance and cleaning if you shoot surplus which in all respects is the only reason you're probably looking at the Mosin. 7.62x54r is a badass round. Yes it kicks but boy is it fun. If you're like me you'll get annoyed with the fact that the windage and elevation adjustments are very ghetto by today's standards.

I pretty much agree with you. At ~20 cents a round it is stll nice ot just plink around with....especially if you put a limbsaver on it. I have three mosins (a 91/30, type53, and a m44) and honestly only shoot the type53 anymore (since its the cheapest and most beat up) and even then i hardly shoot it.


As for the op....hit up a range. Many have rental guns and you can get an instructor to help you out. 22s are great to start out on and learn fundamentals. After that moving up to a 223/556 rifle would be a nice step. They dont kick bad at all but offer more power than the 22. A 308 with a muzzle break doesnt kick bad at all either...you just have ot be mindful of those shooting near you if you use a break

 

[pete6032]

Is there any value to learning a pistol before rifle?

I see some ranges offer a standard NRA class that is basically gun safety + learning how to shoot a pistol, for about $100-$150. Has anyone ever taken one of these classes? Id imagine it would change depending on the range.

 

[Midwayman]

The Mosin is not a good rifle for learning. It's big, heavy, unwieldy, kicks like a mule, and will likely only have mediocre accuracy no matter how well you do your part. If you just want to get one to take out and have fun every now and then, sure, there's nothing wrong with it. If you want to actually learn how to shoot a rifle, get a .22 and sign up for an Appleseed event in your area: http://appleseedinfo.org/search-states-display.php?qstate=IL&statename=Illinois

I'd actually go here.
http://www.usrifleman.org/

There was a split in Illinois over the kinda crazy political nonsense the founder of appleseed was spouting in illinois. The sane guys moved to a new organization. However a .22 and an event like this is how you learn. I got my qualification at the 2nd event with a bolt action .22 (savage mkII)

 

[Brian Stirling]

A 223 is a great round that's fast with decent power and, although not cheap it isn't out there expensive either. In addition, many 223 rifles are very accurate and it has a very modest kick.

There are a ton of AR15 and most modern ones are derivative of the M4 combat title though the one I have, Bushy Varminter, had a 24 inch barrle and it much longer than the typical AR15.

they are great range guns and are also great fun when plinking or shooting watermelons etc. A light bullet is especially good a blowing stuff up owing to the greater velocity. The 55 gr Hornady rounds are great for that.


Brian

 

[MtnMan]

Go to a range that rents different guns. Get some basic instruction from the staff. They should be willing to help the novice, as a big part of their business is selling guns.

 

[Jaepheth]

First rifle I bought for myself was a M44 Mosin Nagant. I really enjoy shooting it, but the only cheaply available ammo is military surplus, and most of the ranges in my area have "no FMJ" rules.

I've gotten a lot of enjoyment out of flintlocks lately. There's pretty much no regulation on them, and you can recast your own bullets and play around with different powder loads on the fly if you're into that sort of thing.

You could also give clay pigeon shooting a go; that's pretty fun.


If ammo cost is a huge concern you could always go with archery.

 

[amddude]

http://www.appleseedinfo.org/

These guys will teach you how to shoot a rifle for virtually nothing.

Edit: for a purchase? On the cheap-ish I'd say get a remington 700 in 223. If you have a little more, I'd look at an AR (colt, bcm, lmt, spikes).

 

[WiseUp216]

9mm Carbine? Like a cheap Hi-point TS995 or a Kel-Tec Sub-2000.