How to Shoot a Gun – First Time at the Shooting Range

How to Shoot a Gun – First Time at the Shooting Range Well, you bought your gun. You’ve done a bunch of dry fire practice and have a good handle on how your gun works. There’s only one thing left to do…off to the gun range                 Mindset Hold on there, you can’t just walk in and start bustin’ some proverbial “caps” into some paper targets. There are a few things you should know before you head over there. Your very first trip to a range can be a bit intimidating if not scary. I fully admit to having some cold sweats… Don’t hesitate to ask one of the employees any questions you might have. Trust me, they’d rather answer a beginner’s question than have to worry about the repercussions of a mistake. Whether you’re renting, accompanying someone, or bringing your own guns, here’s some information to make your trip to the shooting range a little more enjoyable. General Shooting Range Tips Every shooting range has their own set of rules, but here are some general tips. Listen to the Range Officer (RO). Follow the 4 Firearm Safety Rules:                   Bring eye and ear protection, get started with our Best Hearing Protection (2018). Sunglasses and prescription glasses are generally ok. Most will allow you to bring in your own ammunition for your own guns only. If you’re renting a gun, you’ll probably have to purchase the marked-up ammunition the range sells. Some ranges have additional restrictions such as no steel-core, tracer, or armor piercing ammo. These types of rounds can cause fire hazards or ruin targets. If you aren’t shooting, stand 1-2 yards behind the shooter. There will be a bright red/yellow line in front of the shooting table…do not cross it unless the RO says it is ok during a ceasefire. There might also be firing rate restrictions, such as no rapid fire or rapid fire that is limited to double-taps only. Most will also allow small children who can physically handle a firearm. Please keep an eye on your kids at all times! Pregnant women are advised not to go since there’s no hearing protection for the unborn. Check the range’s rules for spent brass casings. Some will not allow you to keep them since they collect and sell them. Costs can vary too. Some places charge one price for all day while others charge hourly. Phew, that’s a lot of tips…get ready for some more! Gun Rentals                 Some shooting ranges offer rentals of guns. However, there might be some age limits (18 for shotguns/rifles, and 21 for handguns). Or you have to be in a group to rent (to mitigate possible suicides). Renting is a great way to check out different styles and calibers. Even before you ever buy your first gun, see if any of your local ranges rent guns and go give it a shot. Keep in mind, these guns are usually maintained just enough to keep them working (if that). They are going to be a bit on the dirty and abused side. Still, it’s a cheap way to try some different guns out. If you aren’t 100% sure how the gun operates, ask an employee. On the range with live ammo is not the time to figure out how it works. You can start with our Beginner’s Guide to Guns. Curious Case of Gun Cases Don’t even think of going to the range if you don’t have a gun case. You don’t need some expensive hardshell case. The plastic case your gun came with is perfectly fine. Heck, a small cardboard box is fine. You just don’t want to walk in there openly carrying the gun in your hand. You will get yelled at…or arrested…or both. Also, and I’m going to type this slowly and in bold letters to make absolutely sure the point is made…do not, under any circumstances, carry a loaded gun into the range. Unload your gun, make sure it’s unloaded, double and triple check that it’s unloaded before you put it into the case before you leave your house. Gun ranges don’t mess around with this type of thing. Go With The Flow Here’s a high-level walk-through of what to expect from the moment you walk through the front door. Some things might be different depending on your range but this is essentially what is going to happen on your first trip:                   Make sure you have your gun unloaded and in its case before you go in. Go up to the counter, pay the range fee and buy some paper targets and ammo, if you need it. Just go with the cheapest stuff. You may also have to sign a liability waiver. Put on your ear and eye protection and then head into the range itself. Some places will walk you in and usher you to a bay. Other ones just hand you your receipt for the fees, point to the door and tell you “have a good time”. Set your stuff down on an empty bay. Go ahead and unpack your guns and mags and supplies. Keep your gun pointed downrange (“down range” means “towards the far side of the range where everyone is aiming and shooting their guns”). Somewhere, usually by the door, will be a big stack of cardboard sheets and a staple gun. Take one of your targets and staple it to one of those sheets. You only need one staple per corner. It’s ok to leave your stuff in your bay while you do this. Trust me, no one is going to mess with it. It’s amazing how polite and trustworthy people are when they’re in a small room where everyone is carrying multiple firearms. Most indoor ranges have electric target hanger…thingies. They are operated by a switch located inside your