First Time At Shooting Range - Under 21

[Comp^2]

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[jcaoloveshine]

rules differ from range to range but usually at shooting ranges anyone over 21 can rent a handgun and as long as you are under their supervision you can shoot the rented firearm.

also, since you're going with a group of people its good to keep the action open and rifle or handgun unloaded when handing it over to the next person.

[WokMaster1]

I'd spend the money & get proper safety & beginners class. They will teach you the basics right the first time. Not to didh your buddy. I learned how to shoot from a friend who taught me a few bad forms. He was in the .mil, too. Then when I actually had to go through an NRA class for my CCW permit in GA, I found out that I was doing it all wrong.

Good luck!

[KenpoProfessor]

I'd spend the money & get proper safety & beginners class. They will teach you the basics right the first time. Not to didh your buddy. I learned how to shoot from a friend who taught me a few bad forms. He was in the .mil, too. Then when I actually had to go through an NRA class for my CCW permit in GA, I found out that I was doing it all wrong.

Good luck!

You say you were doing it wrong, could you be more specific? If the guy was in the military, then I would hope he was doing things the military way, and they may be different from what your NRA instructor told you. Were they different, or were they wrong? If wrong, why and how? Not being an a butt, just curious.

Oddly enough, I didn't learn the 4 rules until I hit the mil. at 17yo. All I had learned at that point was, all guns are loaded so don't be a dumb a ss and point them at people.

Have a great gun carryin' Kenpo day

Clyde

[Greg-Dawg]

If the guy was in the military, then I would hope he was doing things the military way, and they may be different from what your NRA instructor told you. Were they different, or were they wrong? If wrong, why and how?

Clyde

You have M4A1s vs. M9s usage time.

Most military are rifle dudes and most civilian ranges rent handguns. You can forget a lot of fundamentals when you don't pick up your M9 as much as your M4A1.

One guy at the range came in boasting about being a great Marine and when asked if he had any handgun experience...he replied: "I'M A MARINE!!!"

The range officer handed him a Berretta 92FS with one snap cap round in the chamber to show the RSO to safely unload the weapon.

After sweeping everyone at the range and the "Marine" couldn't find the magazine catch, he was politely kicked out.

Education and constant training is key.

[anothergunnut]

When I was in the USAF, I qualified on the then current duty gun, a S&W .38 revolver. As part of the class, we were expected to familiarize ourselves with the combat sight picture; we sighted on each other! That was hard for me to do, even though I didn't have a lot of experience with guns at the time. I don't know if the USAF still does that or if that was even the standard of the day but it was an eye opener. It was also where I transitioned from "never point a gun at anybody" to "never point a gun at somebody you don't intend to shoot". Nowadays, I go with "never point a gun at anything you don't intend to destroy".

[low94noma]

Usually 21 and up for renting handguns. It is good to see someone else getting into the sport. Make sure you take firearm shooting and owning to a responsible level because our actions all reflect on each other. All we need is to give another reason for some SOB to enact gun control laws.

[virulosity]

also, since you're going with a group of people its good to keep the action open and rifle or handgun unloaded when handing it over to the next person.

better yet, just leave the gun on the table and let the next person pick it up. Change shooters, not lanes.

[Fobjoe]

Find friends that own firearms you want to shoot in your area. Where are you located? I'm sure there's calgunners who would gladly let you try out their pistols and provide lots of useful information.