What Pistols would you most enjoy shooting at a indoor Range?

Not the answer you want to hear probably, but I would say whatever is the "flavor of the week" mixed in with what he shop thinks would be "easy sellers". Its business, after all. I would probably go "heavy" on CCW type pistols, since that seems to be what type of handguns are selling the most these days, with a strong leaning to first time buyers.

Are long guns included? An ARten and fifteen, an M-oneA or even a ten guage shot gun would be fun.
An eight seventy pump, everyone like to rack a twelve guage.
A three hundred black out with supressor. That would make some ammunition money.
A Bren S-one for something non AR.
Obviously no range is complete without a Thompson.
A Tikka or Ruger Rpr in six and a half Creedmoor will also raise bullet monies.
A red Savage Rascal for the boys. And a pink one for the girls. And a blue one for me, because I like that little gun. Canadian made too I belive.

I agree with and expect that there will be sets of common "try before you buy" pistols. These will be easy to figure out. It will be any that a customer is capitulating on. Nearly a guaranteed sale if they can try it first.
If they like it they buy it, if not you have one to rent.

I would say too, a Desert Eagle in fifty AE, a nicer nineteen eleven, an M-nine clone, various Ruger marks, and Smith and Wesson revolvers, but I own all these. So maybe instead...

A Taurus Tracker seventeen hmr, again ammo money.
Everyone wants to try a Judge too.
A single action sixer, and a cowboy hat to go with it. Or even black powder charged cases, at a premium of course.
The afore mentioned Racing guns, with ports, comps and colors.
A Tangfolio Witness.
A Thompson Center pistol in fourty-five seventy, expensive ammunition again.
A Browning High Power or CZ seventy five.
A Buckmark Contour would be an inexpesive stand-in for a Hammerli.

I'm sure that there are more I would like to try...I mean your customers would like to try.
I hope all goes well for your adventure!


Oops! Read the title again. Sorry about the rifles.

I agree with Demi-human that people go to a rental range because they want to "try before they buy." So stock the biggest sellers in full, compact, subcompact, and pocket pistols.

After that, a few that most people won't have shot before but maybe saw in a movie and would like to try. Luger? P38? Makarov? Webley? How about some themed package rentals? Handguns of WWII? Handguns of the Eastern Bloc? Handguns of James Bond? Dirty Harry special?

I like the movie firearms ideas. The Bond films, the Charles Bronson Death wish series, High Plains Drifter. Or maybe something like 'The Guns of John Wayne'. That might be an expensive package, but also an entire range day.
I really like the idea of a Thompson sub-machine gun. Would it count since it is a pistol caliber?

1KPerDay said:

Get one of each popular striker pistol and pocket gun du jour.

However for flavor plus historical interest you should have:
Chiappa Rhino
Coonan .357
Colt SAA .45
Colt 1911
Smith M29
Walther PPK
Desert Eagle .50
Luger(right)
CZ75
Beretta M9
SIG P226
HK P7M8

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+1 on the PPK. People love movie guns, especially anything Bond.

I forgot, too, you might as well get a MAC and a Tech-9 while you're at it, for those white boys who like to play gangster in their spare time. Lots of rich white kids who are obsessed with gang culture, music, and movies.

Some ideas:

CZ 75 or SP-01 9 mm
A decent government (full) sized 1911 in .45 ACP
Glock 17 9 mm
Glock 26 9 mm
H&K VP9 9 mm
S&W 686 4" .357 magnum
A good .22 LR pistol (Browning Buckmark, Ruger)
Walther PPQ 9 mm
CZ P-10C 9 mm
S&W M&P 2.0 in 40 S&W
Glock 20 in 10 mm
CZ P-09 9 mm

SKILCZ said:

Some ideas:

CZ 75 or SP-01 9 mm
A decent government (full) sized 1911 in .45 ACP
Glock 17 9 mm
Glock 26 9 mm
H&K VP9 9 mm
S&W 686 4" .357 magnum
A good .22 LR pistol (Browning Buckmark, Ruger)
Walther PPQ 9 mm
CZ P-10C 9 mm
S&W M&P 2.0 in 40 S&W
Glock 20 in 10 mm
CZ P-09 9 mm

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Great list. Based upon my experience, I'd definitely have a CZ 75 or SP-01 high on the list because it's a gun that MANY people want to own once they shoot one (which means they immediately like the gun). And it's a gun that, strangely, a lot of people haven't shot.

I6turbo said:

Great list. Based upon my experience, I'd definitely have a CZ 75 or SP-01 high on the list because it's a gun that MANY people want to own once they shoot one (which means they immediately like the gun). And it's a gun that, strangely, a lot of people haven't shot.

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Yea, I would vote for a CZ75, too. And a Browning Hipower.

The 1911 is always fun to shoot and I rarely leave it home for a range trip. There are many shooters that would like to shoot a 1911 but the high price of the gun scares them off. Being able to try one before buying one will make the 1911 popular as a range gun IMO.

The pistols I most enjoy shooting at any range are the ones I own.

For a selection that shooters can choose from just have a variety of calibers in both compact and full size, so shooters can see the differences in handling between the size of the pistol, and in recoil between the calibers and size. Throw in a few revolvers, too.

bangswitch said:

The pistols I most enjoy shooting at any range are the ones I own.

For a selection that shooters can choose from just have a variety of calibers in both compact and full size, so shooters can see the differences in handling between the size of the pistol, and in recoil between the calibers and size. Throw in a few revolvers, too.

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Surprisingly enough, I love shooting pocket guns. Big challenge at first but have been shooting them almost weekly since the LCP first came out. Blew through 4 LCP's. I carry a pocket gun all the time, so I figured why not be proficient with it. Hands down now for pocket gun of choice is the Beretta Pico. Just love shooting the mild mannered Pistol and the quality is top shelf and ultra reliable.
I also have been shooting my other carry guns often. Thousands of rounds through the LC9 and now LC9S. I started shooting the LCR9mm about two years ago. Horrible with it at first, but two years of diligent practice has paid off.

I'm with the "rent what you sell" crowd. If I was putting together a range/store ideally I'd want to have available for rent everything I regularly carried in the store. However, that would be a lot of guns and may take a couple years to work up to. In that case, look at your top sellers (or, since the store may not be open yet, what were the top sellers at the gun stores where you used to work, and if brand new to the industry, see if your distributors and nearby gun stores can't give you a heads up). On the various gun forums, we often tell new shooters, or anyone looking for a new gun, to try before they buy. Make that possible.

At minimum:
1) A .22lr pistol
2) A .357mag medium frame revolver (or a .38, though preferably both)
3, 4, 5) A duty size 9mm, .40 and .45
6, 7) A subcompact (G26/27, M&Pc, etc) 9mm and .40
8) A snub (probably aluminum since the 442/642 seem to be owned by more people than any other)
9) A small single stack 9mm (Shield, Kahr, P290, P938, etc)
10) A .44mag revolver
11) A 1911 (sorry, unless your duty sized .45 that you pick is a 1911, you will need 11 since a 1911 is a must)

For the autos, I'd stick with brands you carry. For the revolvers, S&W would probably be best, though Taurus for cost savings or Ruger for even more durability than S&W may not be bad ideas.

That said, a few "fun guns" to encourage rentals and the sale of range ammo would be smart. As others have said, full auto (if legal for gun stores in your area) tend to be high demand rentals around here, and they'd really encourage ammo sales. Silencers would be interesting. I don't know the laws in Canada, but if they aren't legal (or even if they are) there are some other guns that are interesting enough that they'd likely make you stand out from the competition and they'd get some demand. Cowboy guns, both revolvers and lever actions are interesting. A semi-auto Thompson would stand out and be a fun gun to shoot. A range I go to used to have an M1 Carbine which I rented quite often. If the other indoor ranges around you are pistol only, be sure to harden your range for rifle calibers (if too expensive, at least harden it enough to allow up to .223 and 7.62) which would make you stand out both for shooters with their own guns and for renters. Either way (pistol calibers only or allowing rifle calibers), try to have an AR (.223 or 9mm) and AK (7.62 or 9mm).


If you are looking at 10 guns due to initial finances, one way to possibly supplement your available rental guns, is to rotate some of the used guns that come in through your rental cabinet. Until you can afford to build up your rental guns, when a used gun comes in that you think might be a good addition, put it in the rental cabinet. You can even keep it available for sale in case someone wants that gun so you don't lose a sale. Or, you can have a policy that allows people to rent any non-consignment used gun in stock.

Don't forget the pistol caliber carbines! Our local indoor range rents Beretta, Kel Tec, Sig, and M1 carbines. These make great step-up guns from .22s for noobs and give people the rifle experience without the noise or recoil.

Kimber Classic Custom (basically an M1911)
Argentine M1927 (basically an M1911)
Argentine M1927 with Colt Conversion Kit (with the Williams Floating Chamber)
Colt Woodsman, first model
Colt Officers Model Target in .22 LR
Ruger MK II heavy barrel with target sights
Colt M357 (basically the Python without the cosmetics)
Colt SAA (2nd generation in .357)
Colt New Service in .45 Colt
Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt

Honestly, I prefer to avoid indoor ranges. Don't like the fumes, noise, and people next to me. So I personally would only like to shoot whatever I'm considering buying next (in this case a Sig P227) as the only reason I go to the local indoor is to try something I'm thinking on buying. The local range, however, does sell brass at a reasonable rate and are great guys to shoot the bull with.

So... for the OP it'd be hard to go wrong with the basics. Some Sigs, 229, 226, 220 in whatever caliber is selling decent, probably mostly 9. Grab some Glocks, and M&Ps, a few 1911s and maybe an HK or Walther P99 and you are set.

Is the range tied to a gun shop and is the intent of the range to help sell guns or just have guns to shoot? IMHO the intent of the range would greatly alter the guns that I would choose. I love the BHP and shoot at least one everytime I go to the range but if the ranges primary function and intention is to support and create sales at a FFL shop attached to the range the BHP would be a poor choice since they are discontinued.

Range rentals cater to the Mass's. They do not make a lot of offerings, simply because they want to sell fast. At my LGS, they have a lot of newbies. First time buyers that read a lol of internet crap and the Mass media gun rags and preconceived nonsense. Want a pocket gun, They have two, LCP, and the Sig 238. They push the sale of the LCP, Give some spiel about how great they are etc.If the customer balks they push for them to try it out at the range. They then make the money on the range fee and their over priced ammo. Customer comes back after shooting the slappy LCP, say's no thanks, and then they show the Sig at three times the price. They do not want to have to do actual comparisons of guns. Time is money. What a shame for the first time buyer. So many other really nice guns out there. They do not even carry the Beretta's the Kahr's or the Kimber's for instance. Most of these guns will be bought by experienced shooters that will buy on line and not pay the high price that the LGS sells for.
Do you really think most of these buyers have heard of a CZ? Most have never heard of Beretta or Kahr.

FN 5.7 x22
HiPower 9mm
1911 .45 acp
1911 10 mm
Colt SA Army .45 LC
P320 9 mm
Desert Eagle .44 Mag
Ruger SuperBlackhawk .44 mag
.76 cal smoothbore flintlock

There is no wrong answer here.

I just did this with three friends a few weekends ago at an indoor range. 1200 rounds and $550 total. We shot:
Coonan in 357 magnum
HK VP 9
1922 Tommy gun fully auto 45 acp
1980's Uzi 9 mm fully auto

Good times!

Ru4real said:

I just did this with three friends a few weekends ago at an indoor range. 1200 rounds and $550 total. We shot: Coonan in 357 magnum HK VP 9 1922 Tommy gun fully auto 45 acp 1980's Uzi 9 mm fully auto Good times!

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Ru4real said:

I just did this with three friends a few weekends ago at an indoor range. 1200 rounds and $550 total. We shot: Coonan in 357 magnum HK VP 9 1922 Tommy gun fully auto 45 acp 1980's Uzi 9 mm fully auto Good times!

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Walther P-38
Browning HP
K frame S&W, i'd chose a M-15
GI 1911
PPK
S&W model 41 with a red dot.
S&W 625
PO-8
Mauser 96
Colt SAA

Range near me rents out guns, and requires you buy the ammo from them. I assume, aside from the added profit, it's also to be sure you're not putting explosive level reloads in their guns. While there have been several calls here for mega rounds, i.e., S&W .500, Desert Eagle .50AE, etc., many people will be shocked when they find out the retail price being asked for the shells.

This range has recently taken an M1-A rifle from rental and placed it up for sale because it wasn't being rented, people thought the .308 ammo was too expensive.

The one I already have: