Help the newbie at the shooting range...

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve got a day off tomorrow and I thought that I would head down to a nearby shooting range. I’ve never fired a handgun before, but I have scared some clay pigeons with a shotgun.

I called the range and they said that they will rent guns and give me some safety training before they let me out on the range. My question is what sort of gun should try? Here is a list of the guns that they have for available for rent. I’m a big guy, but I don’t want something that is going to be physically tiring and I am interested in accuracy more than anything.

The cost is $7.50 for gun rental + $12 for an hour of range time + ammo. Are these prices reasonable? I don’t know how they compare. Also, how much ammo can a person go through in an hour, and what should it cost?

2

Well, the prices are in line with my local range. As for weapon choice…your first time with a handgun, I recommend renting a .38. Try the Police Positive. easy to learn and fire, minimal things to remember, reasonably accurate. Then you can move to an semi-automatic. There I would recommend the Beretta 92FS.

As for ammo amounts…I tend to burn through ammo. In an hour, a box of 50 should be fine for a start. For .38 reloaded wadcutters, maybe $7 a box. For a box of 9mm, expect to spend maybe $9.

Have fun! :smiley:

3

They don’t seem to carry a .38 revolver there, but the .40 S&W is available. I am not familiar with that model, but I am very familiar with the Beretta 92FS. Talk to the guys at the range, they handle new folks all the time, and based on your size and perceived ability, I’m confident they will recommend a good fit for you. If they are clueless, I’d say go with the 92FS.

4

I’m sure Silenus and UncleBill know much more about guns than I do. Thus I provide the novice’s perspective.

I’d try the Buckmark. It’s the only .22 they have. If cost is at all a concern, the .22 ammunition is likely to be cheaper. Also, it won’t tire out your hands and will be easier to keep accurate, since recoil will be less of a factor. Also, beginners (of which I am one) often will have accuracy problems based on anticipation or overcompensation for the recoil. If your goal here is to a) put some holes in a piece of paper and b) learn a little about shooting, the .22 is great.

If you have trouble hitting the target at all, don’t be embarassed to put it really close, like 10’ away. It’s distinctly possible that you’ll be missing in a particular direction, and from that you can figure out what you’re doing wrong. In fact, there are diagnostic targets that have quadrants labelled with the mistake you’re making…but it’s been way too long since I’ve been shooting to remember any of it.

The few things I remember distinctly are:

Focus on the front sight.

Unless you’re a robot the gun is going to wander over the target a bit. Try to minimize this, but otherwise don’t worry about it

Squeeze the trigger slowly. The idea is to have a “surprise break” meaning that you aren’t anticipating when the gun goes off, thus can’t flinch, twitch, etc.

Combining those two, when the sights are wandering over the target, don’t think “It’s over the bullseye, pull the trigger now!” That leads to horribly bad accuracy.

Don’t let any part of your hand stick up into the path of the slidey-part. Ouch.

That appears to be the sum total of my wisdom on the matter.

Have fun!

5

Um, okay, it’s not the only .22, I just didn’t read your link very thoroughly. Silly me.

6

Why not a .50 BMG? :wink:

7

UncleBill, sure they have .38s there. Colt Police Positive. Left side, third box. That’s why I recommended it. :smiley:

8

I’d give the edge to the Buckmark over the Ruger 22/45. The orignal version of that Ruger has, IMO, a too-slick finish on the grip that I don’t particularly like. I owned one for a while and sold it. I’m not the only one who feels that way and Ruger apparently has taken the hint as the new MkIII version of that pistol has a textured finish on the grip. I own two Browning Buckmarks, a standard model they show which is now my wife’s gun and a target model.

The Browning and Ruger are both full size guns with a grip similar to the government model Colt. Weight shouldn’t be a problem but it make take some getting used to for a new shooter.

The S&W 63 is a J frame kit gun IIRC, which is quite a bit smaller. You may actually find it more difficult if you have big hands, at least when first starting out. I have big hands but do fine with my diminutive Walther P22.

Sengkelat speak heap big truth, exactly what any shooting coach will tell you. Follow that and ignore everything you ever saw in a movie and you’ll do fine.

Rule 1. **Every gun is loaded
Rule 2. Never allow your gun to point toward anything you do not wish to destroy
Rule 3. Keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are on target and ready to fire.
Rule 4. Know your target and what is beyond.

9

In addition to what other dopers have offered, protect your ears. While I’m sure they offer safety glasses/goggles, I’ve learned to be very careful about my hearing, and use earplugs with smaller caliber weapons, adding the headphone style if larger hand cannons are in use.

Have fun, become comfortable with a smaller caliber first.

10

Thanks for the input. I’ll go in with the idea of using either the Buckmark or the Police Positive (and probably end up with Super Blackhawk :slight_smile: ). They do carry Magnum Research products but sorry Gabe that will have wait. Of course, I will consult with the guys at the range and if they have a compelling reason for me to use something else I will take that under advisement.

The range is 100 yards. I don’t trust my eyesite at that range even with my glasses - what distance could a noob expect to hit the target from?

I understand the basic rules that Padeye mentioned. The range does offer eye and hearing protection, but I’ll probably take my own earplugs- I hate using someone elses phone.

Anything else I should be prepared for? Will my hand get bruised, even with a 22 or a 38? Will my clothes smell of gunnery?

11

Great advice all around.

I don’t think you have to worry about bruising, at least I’ve never experienced it with handguns. You might get some oil on your hands, but I don’t know about smelling “of gunnery”, but that could be because I like the smell.

As far as guns go, I’m partial to the .357. I like revolvers. But the Buckmark or Police Positive are good guns to start with.

Obey the rules…Have fun!

12

If you are firing pistols, they will have targets at considerbly closer range than 100 yards! I’d start at about 25 feet, until you get the hang of the weapon, then do groups back to maybe 100 feet. If it’s further away than that, use a rifle or leave it alone! :smiley:

13

100 yards for a handgun is an extreme distance. 25 yards is a more common distance for handguns.

14

Your hand is almost certainly going to be sore as hell the next day. It’s very easy to strain your hand by either holding the weapon too loosely or too tightly. As a beginner, you’re very unlikely to have a great grip. And you almost certainly will notice a chemical smell from the gunfire. Wash your hands well before you eat.

15

Why don’t you check with the range to see if they have an ‘intro’ course that willl let you fire a number of different guns so you can get a feel for their differences?

We have a place in Edmonton called the “Wild West Shooting Range” or something llike that. They have a package there for $30 or so that lets you shoot 10 rounds out of a .38, 9mm, .40 auto, .45 auto, .357 mag and .44 mag. I did that a month ago or so, and it was interesting to see how they all compared. I’ve got a 9mm auto, but I had never shot a .44 magnum before or a .38. What a huge difference between them!

16
      • Just a thought–whenever I go to the range I always bring earplugs and earmuffs, because if I don’t bring the earmuffs, it never fails: someone with a brand-new 44 mag and ten boxes of ammo takes the lane next to me…
        ~
17

I’m usually the one you gets pissed that people don’t read links. Figures. I think the AR-15 photo threw me off the scent. Anyway, for range pistol shooting, I use 7 or 15 yards. I don’t hunt with the pistol, so any real-life use would be defensive, and I don’t feel all that threatened when someone is 50 yards away, our house just ain’t that big.

18

I love to shoot the .45 Model 1911. It’s my favorite handgun. However, sometimes I will use a range .38 or .22 simply because the ammunition is so much cheaper. Shooting is fun, it’s easy to put a lot of rounds downrange in a short period of time, and .45 ammo costs!

19

I own a Smith & Wesson .357mag and my hand is sore/bruised the day after shooting, although I only go maybe once a year. When I took a date (weird date) she rented a Glock 9mm and enjoyed it considerably. She fired one round from my gun and nearly got put on her ass.

If you can, buy some human shadow targets. They make a great conversation piece. I have several hanging in my office.

20

Also wash well before being booked.

:smiley: