Renting Guns

[ts]

Hey guys - I always hear everyone say, "before you buy a gun, go rent it and see how you like it." Someone recently made a comparison of, "would you buy shoes you never tried on before?"

I have only rented 1 hand gun before - all the other hand guns I shot were friends guns.

I remember when I did rent a gun though, I went with a friend that wanted to shoot a Glock just because he never shot one before. We went to the range, paid lane fees, the charges for renting the gun, etc. The total came out to be around $75 (if memory serves me correctly we only put through around 100 rounds of 9mm). I just found that to be a lot of money to test something out before you buy it.

When you can pick up a Glock for ~$400. $75 is a lot of money to test it out I though. Or did the place I went to just charge a lot?

[Technical Ted]

When you can pick up a Glock for ~$400. $75 is a lot of money to test it out I though. Or did the place I went to just charge a lot?

Try spending $400 on a gun, shooting it for awhile, deciding you don't like it, then trying to get back your money's worth.

[leelaw]

It's just a suggestion..

Get some range time or at least handle something before you buy it. Did I fire a Raptor before I bought one? No. Did I know what to expect based on experience with similar variants? You bet.

It's a preventative measure so you don't get into something without knowing anything about it.

[Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck]

No, I'd say that price was, more or less, par for the course. However, I would point out, like Technical Ted, that it's a smaller investment than buying the aforementioned $400 Glock and finding out that it's totally unsuited for you.

Testing a gun might not be all that feasible given time constraints and other limiting factors, but it never really hurts to get a good feeling for gun before committing to it.

[Franksremote]

Some ranges do charge significantly more than others. Up north the rental is almost 2x what they charge in Milpitas. Also, their requirements for purchasing ammo to shoot in their guns gets the bill up there pretty quick too (you'll find that if you buy a box from them, they usually won't bother you if you shoot your own afterwards). Take advantage of range specials, TMW has "Happy Hour" M-F 1-4; lanes and rentals are half off. Last time I went with a friend who rented a gun and we shot for an hour, he bought 1 box of ammo, 2 targets and it was ony $25 for the whole shibang.

[mike452]

"before you buy a gun, go rent it and see how you like it." Someone recently made a comparison of, "would you buy shoes you never tried on before?"

Never had any problem buying a handgun that I didn't try.

The best way is go to Angeles Range and talk to people with the gun you like and get them to let you try it. People always ask if I want to try their guns on the weekends. Just tell them their gun is cool.

[randy]

If you live in the San Fernando the cheapest way to shoot at an indoor range is to get a membership at the Firing Line. For about a $150.00 a year the membership includes range time and all gun rentals, a shooter sharing your lane is half off. Shoot as often as you want. You must use their ammo in their guns.

Oaktree in Santa Clarita is $28.00 to shoot and rent a gun ammo is about $16.00 for a hundred rounds of 9mm.

Ask the counter people what they recommend, what holds up, and the ups and downs of whatever you are considering.

They all have the guns they favor and the ones they dislike. They can tell you what holds up and what doesn't. The pros and cons of many different models.

Good luck

[eviioiive]

make a friend that has one of everything...

[ts]

I have already made a few friends with many cool hand guns. I like the USP .45 a lot - although I never shot a 1911 before, I am looking forward to shooting a nice one. I find with Glocks, once you shot one model - you've basically shot them all. Even as a novice shooter I notice you have to hold them at a different angel. I still want to shoot a Glock 27, those baby Glocks are so gosh darn cute, I wonder what the recoil is on the .40 S&W mode. Thanks for your advice guys.

Tony

[donger]

Hey guys - I always hear everyone say, "before you buy a gun, go rent it and see how you like it." Someone recently made a comparison of, "would you buy shoes you never tried on before?"

I have only rented 1 hand gun before - all the other hand guns I shot were friends guns.

I remember when I did rent a gun though, I went with a friend that wanted to shoot a Glock just because he never shot one before. We went to the range, paid lane fees, the charges for renting the gun, etc. The total came out to be around $75 (if memory serves me correctly we only put through around 100 rounds of 9mm). I just found that to be a lot of money to test something out before you buy it.

When you can pick up a Glock for ~$400. $75 is a lot of money to test it out I though. Or did the place I went to just charge a lot?

Hey man, aren't you trying to buy a $8000 watch? Why are you complaining about a measly $75? Plus you haven't taken into account that you would have had to pay for the range fee and the ammo regardless.

[Travis]

The range I frequent in Solano County has a great selection of rental guns andit really sn't that expensive to try something new. Even if you go specifically to try out a particular gun, you should get out the door for around $30. Of course, if you were going to the range anyway, you are really only out a little more than $20 to rent a gun and buy a box of ammo. The worst part is paying outrageous amounts for range ammo

Range fee - $8.00
Target - $1.25
Gun rental - $7.00
Box of 50 rounds (9mm) - $14

[WokMaster1]

I have already made a few friends with many cool hand guns. I like the USP .45 a lot - although I never shot a 1911 before, I am looking forward to shooting a nice one. I find with Glocks, once you shot one model - you've basically shot them all. Even as a novice shooter I notice you have to hold them at a different angel. I still want to shoot a Glock 27, those baby Glocks are so gosh darn cute, I wonder what the recoil is on the .40 S&W mode. Thanks for your advice guys.

Tony

Go rent one....

[alpha_romeo_XV]

It's only once a year but the Tuner's/Raahauge's shooting fair ( Corona/So.Cal.) is a good way to try out a lot of different guns for a nominal ammo charge. I walked away with a very different opinion of what I liked and didn't like after just a 5 rnd trial of various makes/models. Some smaller gun ranges have similiar vendor demo fairs too - check around you're area. The next Raahauge's is comming up June 1, 2007. Link: http://www.raahauges.com/sportsfair.htm

[Satex]

We went to the range, paid lane fees, the charges for renting the gun, etc. The total came out to be around $75 (if memory serves me correctly we only put through around 100 rounds of 9mm). I just found that to be a lot of money to test something out before you buy it.

If that is your perception of this hobby, you should never get into it. After all, every time you shoot, you are dumping lead downrange and wasting money.

When you tried out that rented pistol - did you get practice? Did your skills improve? Did you learn something? If so, you got your money's worth.

If you rent a pistol you discover you absolutely hate you saved yourself the frustration of spending $400-$1,500 on it only later to want to sell it and go through the process again.

While I don't rent a pistol to make a decision, I do go to the store and see how it fits my hand - that is one of the most important criteria in my mind.

[tcp]

+1 on the shooting fair. it's by far the best place to go and try out just about any gun for sale here in california. you get 3-5 rounds per dollar and get to shoot as much as you want. in the past they also had a guy with a gatling gun. it's the one place that will have guns you cant rent almost anywhere else. i tried a cz-p01 last year and was sold. too bad kimber does not show up. mark your calender and go. with $75 you'll shoot plenty.