Went to a shooting range for the first time. TAKE MY MONEY!

[slugg]

I've always thought guns were cool, but I never really grew up around them or anything. I've always considered getting one, but for some reason, just never put much thought into it. Until today.

I went to a shooting range for a birthday party. Holy crap, that was awesome! I really enjoyed it! And it completely settled all nerves I had regarding handling guns. I'm definitely a lot more calm about it. An ex-military guy came up to me and told me that I'm "deadly, freakishly accurate for a first timer." Hah, cool. I shot a variety of guns: pistols and rifles of various makes and calibers.

So now I'm really considering finally getting one. The only problem is that there are hundreds, if not thousands of choices. I want something that is cheap to operate (i. e. cheap ammo, so I'm thinking 9mm), is decent for target shooting, and decent for home defense, god forbid. The main "mission" of the gun would be for shooting targets.

While I understand that 22lr rounds are super cheap, they kinda bore me. I got no excitement out of shooting a 22. I mentally expect some level of recoil when shooting a gun, but 22's have none. The "feel" just isn't there and I'm not interested.

I'm not really sure where to begin or what kind if prices to expect. New versus used, etc. Are there any particular noob-friendly characteristics I should look for? Any words of wisdom for a first timer?

 

[Mai72]

Why a gun? Can I persuade you to take up a less violent hobby?

Please, no trolling. -Admin DrPizza

 

[JEDI]

meh.. you're ATOT.. gold plated or GTFO

as for gun preference, rent out every 9mm they have and shoot a mag from each.
see how they feel.

if you just want it to shoot paper targets, then get a glock 17.
33round mags makes it more fun w/less reloads

 

[Mai72]

meh.. you're ATOT.. gold plated or GTFO

as for gun preference, rent out every 9mm they have and shoot a mag from each.
see how they feel.

if you just want it to shoot paper targets, then get a glock 17.
33round mags makes it more fun w/less reloads

That looks dangerous.

 

[brainhulk]

I use Beretta m9a1 and cz sp-01+ winchester supreme elite 9mm hollow points. The sp-01 is awesome

 

[pontifex]

Why a gun? Can I persuade you to take up a less violent hobby?

stfu and gtfo

 

[olds]

9MM ammo is cheap and plentiful. Modern bullets for HD way better than they used to be.
The Ruger P95, if you can find one is about $300 before taxes/fees.

 

[olds]

Why a gun? Can I persuade you to take up a less violent hobby?

I can be an ignorant moron, too.

 

[brainhulk]

I think a 22lr is good practice for accuracy so you can work on your trigger pull. Anticipating recoil causes your hands to flinch. 22's have no recoil and are cheap. I have a browning buckmark that has very nice stock trigger pull

 

[slugg]

I think a 22lr is good practice for accuracy so you can work on your trigger pull. Anticipating recoil causes your hands to flinch. 22's have no recoil and are cheap. I have a browning buckmark that has very nice stock trigger pull

Researching some more, it looks like your recommendation is the most commonly given advice. After giving it some thought, I think I agree. I should develop good technique before moving up to a more major caliber. While I may not particularly like the 22's, I figured I could use it as a learning tool. If I ever get bored with it, I guess I could sell it.

The only problem with buying a 22 is that almost nobody rents them. The spur nice range I was at yesterday doesn't rent a single 22.... So how do I pick one?

So how about the topic of used versus new? Anything else to consider?

 

[BUTCH1]

Why a gun? Can I persuade you to take up a less violent hobby?

I don't think shooting at paper targets at a rifle range is "violent", maybe OP lives in a bad neighborhood and desires a means to protect himself, I'd get one myself, (my neighborhood has gone downhill in the last couple of years) but I'm too cheap LOL, I have to rely on a knife and a pit-bull if an intruder broke in.

 

[slugg]

Why a gun? Can I persuade you to take up a less violent hobby?

Keep this bullshit out of my thread. I'm trying to learn something. If you don't like it, take it up in your own thread.

Mods: please help me keep this thread on topic if it goes south. I really do want advice and want to learn something here.

 

[OutHouse]

Yea .22, s are awesome learning technique

 

[TerryMathews]

@OP: while boring, the lack of recoil is exactly why you should start with 22lr. Develop good shooting habits then add in managing recoil.

Hard to go wrong with a nice bolt-action 22lr rifle to start with while you master things like your sight picture and trigger pull. Check your local gun classifieds too if you're in a state where private party sales are legal. You can usually buy a nice old bolt rifle (and in guns older is usually better unless you're looking at "high tech guns") for $100ish.

 

[pontifex]

Researching some more, it looks like your recommendation is the most commonly given advice. After giving it some thought, I think I agree. I should develop good technique before moving up to a more major caliber. While I may not particularly like the 22's, I figured I could use it as a learning tool. If I ever get bored with it, I guess I could sell it.

The only problem with buying a 22 is that almost nobody rents them. The spur nice range I was at yesterday doesn't rent a single 22.... So how do I pick one?

So how about the topic of used versus new? Anything else to consider?

.22 ammo is very hard to find now and also has become super expensive as a result.

As for guns, if you want semi-auto pistol, can't go wrong with Browning Buckmark or Ruger Mark # (whatever the latest one is).

semi-auto rifle Ruger 10-22 is pretty much the gold standard.

Bolt action - Savage make very nice and accurate rifles

Lever action - Henry are really nice.

Single action pistol - Ruger Single Six is great.

 

[Paladin3]

Why a gun? Can I persuade you to take up a less violent hobby?

Answer two questions for me:

1. How do you propose to get guns away from people who intend to misuse them?

2. If you somehow magically got all the guns away from people, wouldn't those bent on doing harm to others just pick up some other weapon?

You see, the problem isn't the weapon of choice, it's the desire in the hearts of some human beings to do evil towards others. Until we conquer that, all you are achieving by being anti-gun is taking guns away from the law-abiding. The criminals who are the real problem laugh at your anti-gun efforts. Actually, they applaud them.

Please don't come back with any weak arguments like "taking any guns off he street helps" because that just disarms the good guys. There is no way to disarm criminals with more laws.

If the average person can be taught to safely operate a car, then they can be taught to safely operate a gun. A gun really isn't a very complicated tool. In the hands of a trained individual it can be a tremendous tool for protecting us from evil.

The sad fact is that sometimes the good must step up and fight against the evil of our world. A gun is the tool of choice when push comes to shove. I'm sorry so many anti-gunners hide their heads and refuse to accept this basic reality of human nature.

A good person with a gun and training is nothing to fear.

 

[brainhulk]

Researching some more, it looks like your recommendation is the most commonly given advice. After giving it some thought, I think I agree. I should develop good technique before moving up to a more major caliber. While I may not particularly like the 22's, I figured I could use it as a learning tool. If I ever get bored with it, I guess I could sell it.

The only problem with buying a 22 is that almost nobody rents them. The spur nice range I was at yesterday doesn't rent a single 22.... So how do I pick one?

So how about the topic of used versus new? Anything else to consider?

The indoor range near my house had 22's. I just did research on the interweb and everybody said the buckmark had one of the best stock triggers. Don't know much about ruger pistols but I believe they have every mod available to them so you can turn it into a professional grade race pistol...lol

 

[zanemoseley]

Now if you want some real fun go find a range that has skeet, trap and sporting clays fields. I shoot skeet every chance I get and wish there was a sporting clays course near me.

 

[brianmanahan]

you should go shooting with madoka, i hear he has guns to spare: http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=36329635&postcount=342

 

[Paladin3]

Lever action - Henry are really nice...

Good taste, sir! I really like the .22 Henry Golden Boy rifle with it's octagon barrel. A young person could do a lot worse for a first rifle.

My first rifle as a kid was an single shot Ithaca model 49, below, and I always wished it was a repeater.

 

[Puppies04]

You forgot the YAGT in the title.

 

[pontifex]

Good taste, sir! I really like the .22 Henry Golden Boy rifle with it's octagon barrel. A young person could do a lot worse for a first rifle.

My first rifle as a kid was an single shot Ithaca model 49, below, and I always wished it was a repeater.

I have a Golden Boy with octagon barrel. It is really nice. I don't shoot it much though. I think my favorite .22 rifle that I own is the Savage Mark 2 BTVS. That thing is super accurate with Wolf Match ammo.

 

[ultimatebob]

Why a gun? Can I persuade you to take up a less violent hobby?

Hey... I totally agree that we should be keeping guns out of the hands of crazy people. It's too bad that almost every post Sandy Hook gun law that I've seen tries to take them away from Everyone who isn't willing to pay for a permit or submit to some sort of registration. I'm not Adam Lanza, so please stop trying to treat me like that just because I happen to own a gun.

Anyway... getting back on subject. I think that you should go to a gun store that has a built in shooting range and test fire as many demo/rental models as they let you until you find the right gun that you like.

 

[gorcorps]

I strongly recommend going to ranges that rent guns, or go with friends who has them. There's no "wrong" gun really which is why there's so many to choose from. You need to shoot for to know what you like. Everything has a different trigger and different weight, and my tastes changed the more guns I tried.

I really like my CZ SP01 shadow because it's metal frame (not plastic) and it's very accurate for me. It's heavy though and some don't like the double/single action trigger.

However, punching holes is paper has gotten boring to me. I love taking the shotgun out for clay shooting and hunting though.

 

[BUTCH1]

Answer two questions for me:

1. How do you propose to get guns away from people who intend to misuse them?

2. If you somehow magically got all the guns away from people, wouldn't those bent on doing harm to others just pick up some other weapon?

You see, the problem isn't the weapon of choice, it's the desire in the hearts of some human beings to do evil towards others. Until we conquer that, all you are achieving by being anti-gun is taking guns away from the law-abiding. The criminals who are the real problem laugh at your anti-gun efforts. Actually, they applaud them.

Please don't come back with any weak arguments like "taking any guns off he street helps" because that just disarms the good guys. There is no way to disarm criminals with more laws.

If the average person can be taught to safely operate a car, then they can be taught to safely operate a gun. A gun really isn't a very complicated tool. In the hands of a trained individual it can be a tremendous tool for protecting us from evil.

The sad fact is that sometimes the good must step up and fight against the evil of our world. A gun is the tool of choice when push comes to shove. I'm sorry so many anti-gunners hide their heads and refuse to accept this basic reality of human nature.

A good person with a gun and training is nothing to fear.

With so many guns already in the hands of the good and the bad, gun control at this point would be irrelevant. I highly doubt criminals obtain guns via any legal means anyway since they've probably got a felony conviction (or several) they would unable to pass the background check to just walk in and buy one. On the realistic side though yes, one can kill people in a number of different ways but an AK-47 or similar style weapon gives one the ability to kill dozens in a short amount of time that could not be accomplished with a handgun, knife, axe, ect. Since criminals obtain guns via illegal sales new laws would do nothing to prevent another Sandy Hook unfortunately.