A hello and a question or two

[echobeach]

Hello I am a Brit am 46 and am from Manchester in the UK. A Brit who loves shooting and handguns but rarely gets to shoot unless on vacation.

So a few questions ?

I am a frequent visitor to San francisco and the Bay area and has been frustrated in my attempt to go shooting as the ranges will only allow you to shoot and hire a weapon if you either have a gun licence, are shooting with a current member.

Is this general in California or a San Francisco/Marin rule ?

I have been taking time to fly to Las Vegas where I regularly shoot at American Shooters indoor range. Any accessible ranges in the Bay area that would be available for my use ?

Silly question time. It puzzles me when I see Americans go out into the deserts /country and start shooting rifles. how do they know what or who is beyond their sight ? Isn't that very dangerous.

Anyway hello from Manchester

Phil

[Baconator]

Hello I am a Brit am 46 and am from Manchester in the UK. A Brit who loves shooting and handguns but rarely gets to shoot unless on vacation.

So a few questions ?

I am a frequent visitor to San francisco and the Bay area and has been frustrated in my attempt to go shooting as the ranges will only allow you to shoot and hire a weapon if you either have a gun licence, are shooting with a current member.

Is this general in California or a San Francisco/Marin rule ?

I have been taking time to fly to Las Vegas where I regularly shoot at American Shooters indoor range. Any accessible ranges in the Bay area that would be available for my use ?

Silly question time. It puzzles me when I see Americans go out into the deserts /country and start shooting rifles. how do they know what or who is beyond their sight ? Isn't that very dangerous.

Anyway hello from Manchester

Phil

We don't have gun licenses, the only requirement that I know of is the handgun safety permit.

When shooting in the desert, you are required to shoot into a mountain or some other suitable backstop for your rounds to get in to. Obviously not all people follow these rules, so I always keep a mental note of who is shooting around me and where they are.

Sorry I can't speak to other places to shoot in the bay area, as I am in Southern California and surrounded by all of the free desert shooting.

[well206]

The places here I have been to, no need for a gun license (not in California). But to rent a gun, you have to already have your own or just have someone with you when you go shoot.

If you need someone to come with you when you shoot, PM me. You can even post in the Shoots, Meetups, and Range Stories forum and probably find some other Calgunners who would like to go shooting with a visiting Brit.

[echobeach]

Should have said already own a registered firearm rather than licence (very british )

Back in the UK at the moment but next visit I'll take a look at the shoots, Meetups section and see what is going on,

Thanks

[Oceanbob]

Welcome Phil..!....

Welcome to Cal Guns and to Californistan..!.lol

The reason you can't shoot alone in most ranges (without becoming a known member or with another person) is SUICIDE prevention.

Several ranges have had (over the decades) single shooters arrive, rent a gun and buy some ammo then shoot themselves in the head at lane 15.

This is more common than you can imagine. My advice to you would be to introduce yourself to the owner of the range, show him your passport, mention that you visit the Bay Area all the time and would like to buy an annual membership in his range. (mine cost a couple hundred a year; free range time..discounts on ammo etc...)

Or maybe someone here will offer to shoot with you. I'am in Los Angeles, but we have plenty of Bay Area shooters on this website.

Desert shooting is marked by the BLM (a Federal Agency called the Bureau of Land Management; 264 million acres of public lands, located primarily in the 12 Western States,) These shooting areas are published and well known by Gun Clubs and most shooters. Some gun clubs publish maps of designated shooting areas. Of course, you must be aware of others including hunters and fellow shooters when you're out in the Desert or parked in a canyon that has become a popular shooting area.

Take care
Bob

[echobeach]

Thanks Bob, suicide eh, that never occurred to me.

Funny story though.I was stood on the Golden Gate Bridge a few weeks ago. lovely sunny day, just staring down at the water below and some seals darting in amongst the waves. suddenly a Police officer taps me on the shoulder and asks if i am ok ! Hehe he thought I was going to jump !

[Oceanbob]

Thanks Bob, suicide eh, that never occurred to me.

Funny story though.I was stood on the Golden Gate Bridge a few weeks ago. lovely sunny day, just staring down at the water below and some seals darting in amongst the waves. suddenly a Police officer taps me on the shoulder and asks if i am ok ! Hehe he thought I was going to jump !

Laugh-out-loud.....Gee Phil...maybe you should have said "I'll feel much better if you take me shooting officer.".....

[Baconator]

Thanks Bob, suicide eh, that never occurred to me.

Funny story though.I was stood on the Golden Gate Bridge a few weeks ago. lovely sunny day, just staring down at the water below and some seals darting in amongst the waves. suddenly a Police officer taps me on the shoulder and asks if i am ok ! Hehe he thought I was going to jump !

Did you tell him you do not consent to searches?

[MrOrange]

Welcome aboard!

All yah Calgunners, ya know it's pronounced "Ah-low!" doncha?

Always nice to hear from pro-gun types overseas, behind enemy lines. I have a friend in Bristol I keep up an old-fashioned email discourse with, and they're absolutely horrified at the thought of average folk owning guns.

As I understand it, you're only allowed to own certain government-specified long arms in specified calibers for licensed hunters, is that right? So whacha got in your arsenal, if you don't mind sharing?

Speaking of which:

Should have said already own a registered firearm rather than licence (very british )

Back in the UK at the moment but next visit I'll take a look at the shoots, Meetups section and see what is going on,

Thanks

Don't be shy about asking about a particular type of firearm you might be interested in shooting. I'm sure there are more than a few of us who would be proud to trot out some of our "liberty teeth" for you to try.

The range at Chabot is about as far west as I go. It's across the Bay from ess eff but it would be a pleasant drive for ya.

[Divernhunter]

I am near the bay area and have an outdoor range to shoot at. I also have plenty of firearms so no need to rent. Contact me and I will take you out and you can shoot all you want.

[Oceanbob]

This..!

I am near the bay area and have an outdoor range to shoot at. I also have plenty of firearms so no need to rent. Contact me and I will take you out and you can shoot all you want.

This is what makes CAL GUNS a great thing..! ^^^^^

[ojisan]

I am near the bay area and have an outdoor range to shoot at. I also have plenty of firearms so no need to rent. Contact me and I will take you out and you can shoot all you want.

This is what makes CAL GUNS a great thing..! ^^^^^

Wait...wait...
Nobody said anything about letting the Brits in here.



















Just joking!
CalGuns:

[echobeach]

Personal arsenal.....nothing at all. City dweller who has always been interested in defensive handgun. No need for a shotgun , there are exceptions to the gun ban but never really understood them.

The idea of personal weapons for defence really has never been accepted in the UK . It is so different from any concept of gun ownership as understood in the USA.

I think historically, perhaps until the 1930's then the upper classes owned weapons but not sure on my history at all.

Can I explain my interest logically , probably not.

I just like guns. how they operate, how they feel, how they shoot....so not logical at all !

Generally left wing but believes in the right to bear arms. I like the skill in shooting, the ability to defend oneself but i rarely get the chance to shoot. i have spent money learning to shoot then may not shoot again for a year or so.

Personally i like 1911's. i'd like a good Kimber Ultra Carry . i'd like to be able to go to a range and shoot. Unfortunately never going to be able to here in the UK. Owning such a handgun would mean 5 years in prison. The united kingdom is rabidly ant gun .Could go to Belgium/Switzerland etc but costs far too much.

Makes do with Vacations. would like to attend a shooting school, been looking at the US shooting academy in Tulsa.

[echobeach]

Just decided to have a read of the UK's gun laws and here they are if anyone is interested in taking a look.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_the_United_Kingdom

[Agent Orange]

"The United Kingdom has one of the lowest rates of gun homicides in the world. The overall homicide rate is also low."

Interesting if true. I knew the gun rate was low but thought the overall homicide rate was fairly high.