how do you meet fellow gun owners?

[DubbytheGreat]

I'm new to the world of guns and gun ownership so I wanted to learn how some of you met your "range buddies". Not many of my friends are into shooting and I don't believe a single one of them owns a gun. My step dad is into doing idpa matches but he works out of town most of the time. I don't know how to "gauge" peoples interest in firearms while still being somewhat discreet about it.

It would be nice to have a couple buddies there to encourage a little friendly competition

I'm in central Florida if that helps at all

 

[Ranger Roberts]

This forum is a pretty good place to start. You'll find a lot of members in central Florida. For me, I've met a lot of fellow gun owners, that are now range buddies at the local gun shop. I've also made a good amount of "gun friends" at outdoor target ranges. If you frequent a particular range, you'll start to run into a lot of regulars.

 

[fdf]

When I did go to public ranges, I would shoot as far away from anyone as I could, if the range was crowded, I left.

Not knowing folks or and how safe or unsafe they are, being close to strangers is the last thing I want.

When I went to the public ranges, it was to shoot, not socialize. I do not want strangers disrupting my concentration on what I am there for.

As far as competition shooting goes, which I do, I only shoot sanctioned matches with one or more range officers.

I did have to shoot one match next to a person who I did not like shooting next to. He shot a hole in the bill of his ball cap with a pistol. He said, see what I did, I called for a Range Officer and they escorted him away.

We are all different when it comes to being social, I do not shoot and socialize.

That's me and I can do what I wish for my personal safety.

 

[DubbytheGreat]

Thanks Ranger, I'm a younger guy (23) and I don't see all that many people my age out where I normally go (hot shots) Daytona Beach. Haha it doesnt seem like people my age don't really shoot or play golf for that matter

I try to get younger people into golf, tennis, shooting and even driving stick shift haha (lost art) like writing in cursive

 

[HammsBeer]

I'm just the opposite, I love to chat and socialize with other shooters at the range. Often I start off by asking what they are shooting and how do they like it, is it reliable, etc. I'll offer them a chance to shoot a mag through my gun, and they ussually reciprocate. I've been able to try alot of guns this way for just the cost of a mag of ammo.

 

[aarondhgraham]

If you want to meet some range buddies,,,

If you want to meet some range buddies,,,
Join a shooting range.

Okay I was trying to be a smart-alec,,,
But that's where I have met most of my range buddies.

I belong to the Stillwater Rifle & Pistol Club,,,
It's a members only unmonitored range,,,
I have met several real nice folk there.

A benefit of joining a club like the one I am in,,,
Is the amount of different firearms you will get exposed to.

When I decided I wanted a Wonder-9,,,
I started paying attention to the other members,,,
If I noticed a pistol I had never fired or hadn't heard of,,,
I would offer to let them shoot anything I had brought that day,,,
For a chance to run a magazine or two of rounds through their pistols.

I always brought my 6" S&W 629 and some ammo just for that,,,
Over the course of a few months I think I got to shoot,,,
Just about every top-shelf 9mm in existence,,,
That's how I decided to buy my CZ-75B.

I also kept a box of 9mm FMJ in my bag,,,
Just in case someone was willing but was low on ammunition..

I was out there one time and saw an older gentleman,,,
He was there to let his grand-daughter shoot a small .22 rifle,,,
The only problem was that he had forgot to put any ammo in his range bag.

I turned him on to two 50-round boxes of mil-surp Remington,,,
He offered to pay me $5.00 a box but I said no,,,
It was worth it to see the girl having fun.

Next time I saw him he said, "I've been hoping to run into you again.",,,
Then he handed me two boxes of his reloaded .44 magnum,,,
Turns out he is a small time commercial reloader,,,
He specializes in precision target ammo.

So find a nice membership club and join up,,,
The opportunities for pleasant social encounters are there.

Aarond

.

 

[PJSprog]

You'll have the highest chances for success is you go to the places where shooters gather; gun shops, shooting ranges, gun shows, etc.

It may take some time to find the right shooting buddies. You'll spend a fair amount of time filtering out the ones you really don't want to be around. Don't get in a hurry. Just start meeting people, and you'll figure out the rest.

Welcome to the shooting sports, Dubby. Be safe, and enjoy.

 

[chhodge69]

Join a shooting range/club
Participate in IDPA, USPSA or other competitions
look online for a local gun forum
look up your local R2KBA activism group

 

[fdf]

Kind of what I thought as I was typing, younger folks socialize more than us older cranky guys. I go to shoot and go home safely.

We all get to do as we wish thank goodness.

 

[DubbytheGreat]

I definitely see your point fdf. I want to be as safe as possible while out at the range. I want to focus more on co workers and other "fence sitters". Like I said I'm my original post I'm new to shooting and I was a so called fence sitter only a couple of months ago. I would like to get other young people involved in shooting not only for their own safety but to progress our second amendment struggle. I would like info on tactics used in order to bring up shooting to friends and co workers without possibly making them uncomfortable

 

[DubbytheGreat]

Volusia gun and hunt club is very close to where I live so I will check into that. I must admit I'm a little shy when it comes to meeting new people. That's why I was hoping to "convert" a few people lol

 

[Old Dog]

I don't know if your region has any local gun forums ... Up here in the PacNorWest, we're blessed with a couple awesome regional forums where we bring a lot of younger shooters into the fold. I've seen forum members arrange meets with new folks who are perfect strangers, meet-ups, take 'em to the range and usually, you can end up with a whole network of shooting buddies to call for range (bro)dates.

Gunshop crowds sometimes seem to be a little stand-offish to the younger folks (at least up here, that's what I notice), but if you frequent a place long enough (occasionally making purchases), eventually people will get to know you and opportunities should follow.

'Course, you can always start dating a gal whose dad is a shooter ... (I turned a lot of my daughters' friends and boyfriends into shooters).

 

[DeadMoneyDrew]

Dubby, it's good to see that you are looking to get other young folks into shooting. I've been around guns since I was 0 years old, but like you I've only gotten into handguns recently.

On a couple different occasions I've gotten somebody interested in going to the shooting range by either mentioning a shooting activity in passing or by making a shooting related post on my Facebook page. Then if anyone reacted with any interest, I'd suggest a shooting trip.

Mind you, on a couple of occasions someone reacted negatively, so you've got to be ready to respond politely and respectfully to such a response.

 

[DubbytheGreat]

Old Dog that is really cool that you teach your daughters friends. I'm in the opposite situation my girlfriends parents are from new York and are very anti gun...

 

[Sam1911]

Volusia gun and hunt club is very close to where I live so I will check into that. I must admit I'm a little shy when it comes to meeting new people. That's why I was hoping to "convert" a few people lol

Years ago I was in the loner mode. Just me, or me and a pal, and that's all the shooting company I needed.

Then due to local circumstances I had to join a private shooting club. What an eye-opener! I can truly say I wouldn't be 1/10th the shooter I am now if I hadn't done that. Meeting a crowd of new people is tough, I know, but joining a club and then simply attending meetings, group shoot nights, competitions, and work parties will break that ice quickly and soon you can't help but meet new people and make significant, interesting, quality friends who are all at least as interested in shooting at you are.

 

[MagnumDweeb]

If you are in Central Florida, PM me. I'm in Seminole County, and I go between Orange and Volusia regularly. We'll meet up for lunch and have a chat. Then coordinate another time to meet up at the range. I'm an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, so bring a friend or two along for the fun. Just be prepared to get up early in the morning to get to the range before it fills up. And pickup your own ammo from Walmart if it isn't .22lr I have a sweet Ruger 10/22 you can pop on for a few mags just to try it.

 

[SC Shooter]

I really enjoy going to my gun club when it is not busy and striking up a conversation with some one who is there. Ask what their interests are, what they are shooting, etc. Invariably, you will spend about as much time getting to know someone as you spend actually shooting. I find this ismuch easier to meet fellow shooters in outdoor ranges than indoor. Outdoor ranges are more open, and the ranges have to to "cold" to change targets, pick up brass, A cold range is a great time to strike up a conversation.

 

[Ryanxia]

Hanging out at my local gun shop I've met a lot of neat people. Made some pretty good friends that I now shoot with.

 

[DubbytheGreat]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I guess I will really just have to "get out there" and make it happen.

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm new to the world of guns and gun ownership so I wanted to learn how some of you met your "range buddies".

Knowing the secret handshake helps alot.

Seriously, I have met most of my shooting friends either at a range that I had joined or as a result of spending time with them at some non-gun activities and the gun subject somehow surfaced during some idle time.

 

[taliv]

step 1: search for local competition clubs around you. uspsa / idpa / NRA etc

step 2: get the contact info for the match director

step 3: let the match director know you are new and willing to volunteer to help

you will suddenly have dozens of friends trust me

 

[cfullgraf]

Then due to local circumstances I had to join a private shooting club. What an eye-opener! I can truly say I wouldn't be 1/10th the shooter I am now if I hadn't done that. Meeting a crowd of new people is tough, I know, but joining a club and then simply attending meetings, group shoot nights, competitions, and work parties will break that ice quickly and soon you can't help but meet new people and make significant, interesting, quality friends who are all at least as interested in shooting at you are.

I definitely agree that getting involved with an active club can be rewarding and provide benefits to one's skills. I had a similar experience when I was shooting competitive skeet.

 

[Sam1911]

you will suddenly have dozens of friends trust me

Something that taliv hits here that I meant to add is that when you do this -- volunteer to be useful to others and/or actually participate in organized activities -- you get a double bonus. Instead of the lazy duffers who drag their butts to the range once in a blue moon to plink or the solitary types who are there to work on their bug-hole load, you'll meet the givers. The folks who it's actually worth your time and effort to know. The real "5%" types who make good things happen, who put effort into things not just for their own benefit, and who will challenge you to be a better shooter and a better person.

 

[Sol]

I don't meet new shooters...

I MAKE NEW SHOOTERS!

 

[M2 Carbine]

I'm new to the world of guns and gun ownership so I wanted to learn how some of you met your "range buddies".

How I meet them is a little unusual. I have a couple ranges on my place.
For years I've been teaching fiends and their kids to shoot.

A few years ago a neighbor lady asked me if I'd teach her to shoot.
I did and she brought two more ladies, who brought more ladies and so on.

I got a big laugh when I found out that five shooting club ladies I helped with their shooting, when they were asked how their shooting improved so much, they said,
"We have a "Secret Weapon".

There was another THR thread recently about showing your CHL for identification.
Sometimes I do show my CHL for identification, which many times causes the person to ask me about shooting, which sometimes leads to me teaching them to shoot.

I'm retired and spend a lot of time at the local gun store. I've met people there that I've invited to shoot, or learn to shoot at my place.