jkh@jade.BERKELEY.EDU (Jordan K. Hubbard) (06/14/86)
Article: 6:13
I have done very little shooting. Just .22 pistols and rifles
with my friends at their farm when I was younger. I enjoyed what
little shooting I've done and am interested in finding out more
about it. Here are a few questions: Where can one shoot? Are
shooting ranges usually full of crazed survivalists types or will
I find reasonable and friendly people there? Will I have to purchase
a gun to use or will ranges provide guns? What costs are involved?
What books should I read to learn more?
Any words of advice would be appreciated!jkh@jade.UUCP (06/17/86)
Article: 6:16
Finding places to shoot is hard enough around here that you'll
probably want to find a regular range. In my visits to ranges and gun
shows, while relatively few, I have yet to meet a crazed survivalist.
As for the ranges, they generally rent time on the range, and will
usually sell you targets. Almost all will expect you to bring your own gun(s).
The only places I've heard of which rent guns are those which rent machine guns
for those who want to try rock and roll. I don't think there is one in the
Bay Area (but if you hear of one let me know!). So plan on borrowing from a
(very good) friend or buying your own.
If you haven't been shooting in a long time, or don't feel totally
confident about it, I'd suggest taking along an experience shooter for safety
reasons. At very least avail yourself of a basic safety course such as is
offered by the NRA. *Much* better safe than sorry.
Have a good time!
--
--Craig
...{ucbvax,sun}!pixar!goodjkh@jade.BERKELEY.EDU (Jordan K. Hubbard) (06/21/86)
Article 6:20 > Article: 6:13 > > I have done very little shooting. Just .22 pistols and rifles > with my friends at their farm when I was younger. I enjoyed what > little shooting I've done and am interested in finding out more > about it. Here are a few questions: Where can one shoot? Since you didn't include your location that isn't an easy question to give a *specific* answer to. Try looking in your phone directory (try the yellow pages under clubs). Don't forget to try under "sportsmen's clubs" as well as gun clubs and shooting ranges. Better yet, visit local gun shops and sporting goods stores and get acquainted with owners and/or sales persons (to say nothing of customers). It has been my experience that all three categories will be friendly and, often, helpful. > Are > shooting ranges usually full of crazed survivalists types or will > I find reasonable and friendly people there? The only club I've belonged to, other than NRA, is the local Sportsmen's Club and that hasn't been my experience. My opinion, though you didn't ask for it, is that the survivalist fad is bad for the shooting sports. It gives the idea that shooters are only interested in killing *people* and the more people are who hold that view, the easier it will be for the anti-gun/anti-hunting contingent to demand and get restrictive gun control laws. > Will I have to purchase > a gun to use or will ranges provide guns? It depends on the club and on what you want to do. > What costs are involved? Again, it depend on what you want to do. If you shoot a lot or if you would enjoy reloading, try it. If you will shoot only occasionally, I don't think it would be worthwhile. If you shoot rimfire you can't (for all practical purposes). If you buy from a local shop you have somewhere to go if you have problems. If you don't feel that this is worthwhile, some holders of FFL's will order for you at a nominal surcharge over their cost (5 - 10%, for example). Look at an issue of _Shotgun News_ for examples of dealer prices. You don't say what kind of shooting you want to do, but I expect that you can get started for a few hundred dollars if you buy all of your own equipment. DON'T FORGET HEARING PROTECTION AND EYE PROTECTION. I like industrial safety glasses with large plastic lenses. If you read the advertisements of many manufacturers of "shooting" glasses what they say that their products will do for you is to "improve visibility of your target." Few have much to say about eye safety. > What books should I read to learn more? Join the National Rifle Association, as a start. Ask them for a list of books that they publish. Pick a book that matches what you want to do. TAKE A HUNTER SAFETY COURSE if available in your state/locality EVEN IF YOU DON'T PLAN TO HUNT. Try some magazines first. With your NRA membership you will have a choice of _American Rifleman_ or _American Hunter_. Some others, in no particular order, are: Field and Stream, Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, Shotgun Sports, Gun Dog, Skeet, Shooting Times?, Guns, and many others. Check out a good news stand. Look also at the _Gun Digest_ and _Shooters' Bible_ series of soft cover books (annuals) usually available at sporting goods of gun stores. When you have decided what kind of shooting is of most interest to you look at some of the specialty books and periodicals. > Any words of advice would be appreciated! Most of the shooters that I know are good friendly folks and love to talk about guns and shooting. They comprise about the same cross-section of types as you find in the population at large. You will probably like some and dislike others. Find some and say hello. Tell them you are interested in getting started and see what happens. Charlie
jkh@jade.BERKELEY.EDU (Jordan K. Hubbard) (06/21/86)
Article: 6:21 I'm not sure what the range availability/conditions are up in the S.F. Bay area these days, but we have two indoor shooting ranges and two outdoor ones (that I am familiar with) here in San Diego. The greatest percentage of the people that I have meet at the range have been rather normal, comfortable people. I have shot with families (men, women and children), the experience has been very pleasant. The indoor ranges in particular do have 'range guns' in a good, broad variety available. They arn't cleaned as often as I clean my own, but are in good condition. The outdoor ranges do not provide range guns but do have reloaded range ammunition available at a reasonable rate. Both indoor and outdoor ranges have regular firearms courses available where they teach proper handling, safety and use of guns. They also teach you about the legal aspects of gun ownership and carrying. Incidently, one way to find a firing range is to contact your local police. One of the open-to-the-public outdoor ranges here in San Diego is the local law enforcement associations range. Rick Forrister, TeleSoft, San Diego
jkh@jade.BERKELEY.EDU (Jordan K. Hubbard) (06/21/86)
Article: 6:22 > Article: 6:13 > > I have done very little shooting. Just .22 pistols and rifles > with my friends at their farm when I was younger. I enjoyed what > little shooting I've done and am interested in finding out more > about it. Here are a few questions: Where can one shoot? Are > shooting ranges usually full of crazed survivalists types or will > I find reasonable and friendly people there? Will I have to purchase > a gun to use or will ranges provide guns? What costs are involved? > What books should I read to learn more? > > Any words of advice would be appreciated! I've shot at two ranges in the Bay Area. The first is behind Saratoga. (The name escapes me, but they are listed in the Yellow Pages under "Rifle Ranges".) Like most outdoor ranges, this is sort of primitive. They rent spotting scopes, but no weapons. There are 50 and 100 yard ranges for rifles, 25, 12, and 6 yard ranges for handguns, and a plinking range where you can set up cans and other appropriate targets. NOT a good place to go for handgun shooting, since you have to wait for a cease-fire to go out and check you target. The other range is a pretty typical indoor range over in Milpitas, called Targetmasters. They rent a variety of handguns. The manager is a very friendly helpful fellow -- his parents are working there as well and are a little less so. Of course, if you want to do serious handgun shooting, this is a better place, since targets are attached to a little metal clip that you can run back and forth with an electric motor, unlike an outdoor range. Clayton E. Cramer