Who,rents guns, who goes to supervised ranges.

[Sam1911]

I would also be very surprised to learn that 80+% of people here live within an hour of a range that provides training and gun rentals.

Hmmm... now that would be quite a thing to try and figure out, for sure. Or even as a reliable estimation. Wonder how it could be done?

While I think placing a one hour drive limit on getting to a range to try a gun or take in a training class is cheating one's self out of a good thing (heck, I drive nearly that far to work and often 2.5 times that far to matches) it would probably be easier to figure than some other distance. Still, I don't have the information at hand to begin to put that together.

Still and all, I'd have to vote for YES, I think 80% of the population does live within reasonable travel distance of a place they could rent guns and get some training. It's a guess, but I don't think it's far off.

 

[JSH1]

It's been a good while since many of us have seen any .22LR ammo, let alone "cheap" .22LR....

Even buying 22 LR on line for $0.10 a round is cheaper than any other factor loaded ammo i can think of.

We have quite a few ranges that rent guns in my area. I've been thinking about heading over the border to Washington to visit the English Pit. It is $19 for range access and $15 to rent a gun.

 

[chicharrones]

By the same token, city dwellers don't usually have anywhere to shoot where they can do anything other than shoot paper or steel targets on a square range.

Yep. I miss the days when I had access to rural land and those shooting opportunities. Partly because of urban sprawl and partly due to changes in life's circumstances, I've been mostly a paper puncher for many years now. It's different, there are good and bad sides to both.

 

[olafhardtB]

OK, I will let you all in on the basis of my opinions. First I am 71 years old and a disabled combat US Army veteran who received NO handgun training. Once I decided I wanted to learn to shoot a handgun, I bought a S&W 22 kitgun and taught myself how to use it. I then used it for years for among other things self defence. It worked. I shot feral dogs snakes and lots of rabbits with it. I have shot a lot more stuff with 22 rifles. All the stuff I shot with a 22 either dropped or ran of which is what a self defense gun is supposed to do. Every person I showed it to in fear or anger, and there were several, seemed to come to my way of thinking quickly. My fortunes improved and I now have a nice 357. If a person wants to learn to shoot a rifle or handgun , it is my experience that the absolute best way, hands down, is to get a 22 and go shoot. Once I realized that 22lr is indeed worth $5-6 bucks a box, I have had little trouble finding more than I can shoot. The reason why I disagree with a lot of what we tell new shooters is that in my experience it just ain't all that hard or complicated.

 

[BLB68]

I did have center fires, I was just more confident hitting what I was hopefully wanting to hit with the 22.

Amen to that. The importance of actually hitting your target can't be overstated.

 

[Warp]

I have ranges all around me, as I did in my last state of residence. Many ranges and gun stores combined. Lots of guns to rent. Most ranges monitored, though with varying degrees/levels of scrutiny and attention. All but one rent guns.

Every commercial range I know of has training courses and competitions of some kind worked in

I have nowhere I can just go outside and shoot.

Still and all, I'd have to vote for YES, I think 80% of the population does live within reasonable travel distance of a place they could rent guns and get some training. It's a guess, but I don't think it's far off.

I agree.

 

[JohnKSa]

Offhand, I know of at least 3 ranges within half an hour of my house that rent firearms. I know of at least 2 others that are a little farther than that which also rent guns.

Here's the list of guns I know for a fact a person could rent in this area. I realize there are duplications in the list--they're there for two reasons. In some cases it's because the same gun is available in multiple calibers. In other cases it's because I didn't bother to go through the lists from the different ranges to delete all the guns that were available from more than one range.

The list includes full-auto and suppressed firearms. The list is most certainly not complete.

American Tactial 1911
Arsenal SAM7R
Beretta 92A1
Beretta CX4 Carbine
Beretta Nano
Beretta PX4 Compact
Beretta PX4 Full Size
Beretta PX4 Mid Size
Beretta Tomcat
Berretta PX4
Bond Arms extra barrels for45 LC/410 ga
Browning High Power
BushmasterXM15-E2S
Chappa Rhino 200DS
CZ 75P07
DPMS LR-308
FN FNX40
FN Scar
FNH 12 ga
FNH Five-Seven Pistol
FNH PS90
FNH SCAR 16S Light
FNS9
Glock 17 Gen3
Glock 19-Gen 4
Glock 21 Gen 4
Glock 22 Gen 4
Glock 23
Glock 26
Glock 27 Gen 4
Glock 30
Glock 31
Glock 32
Glock 36 w/ extended mag available
Glock 42
Glock 43
H&K HK45
H&K P2000SK
H&K P30
H&K USP
H&K USP-C
H&K VP9--
H&KP2000
Ithica Home Defense 37
IWI Tavor
Kahr CW40
Kahr CW45
Kahr CW9
Lionheart LH9
Lionheart LH9-C
Rock Island M1911-A1 CS
Rossi Circuit Judge
Ruger 10/22
Ruger GP100
Ruger LC380
Ruger LC9
Ruger LCR
Ruger LCR22
Ruger Mini14
Ruger MKIII
Ruger MKIII- TARGET
Ruger Redhawk
Ruger SP101
Ruger SR40
Ruger SR40-C
Ruger SR9
Ruger SR9-C
RugerSR45
S&M M&P45
S&W 10
S&W 637-2
S&W 638-3
S&W 642-2
S&W 686 2 1/2" & 4" barrels
S&W Bodyguard w/laser
S&W M&P
S&W M&P Shield
S&W M&P w/Laser
S&W M&P15
S&W M&P-C
S&W M&P-C
Sig P220
Sig P226
Sig P229 SAS
Sig P232
Sig P238
Sig P250
Sig P250
Sig Sauer P226
Sig Sauer P229
Sig Sauer P229
Sig Sauer P239
Sig Sauer P239
Sig Sauer P938
Sig Sauer SP2022
Smith & Wesson 63
Smith & Wesson Governor
Sprinfield XDM45 3.8C w/Laser
Springfield 1911-GOVT
Springfield XD40C
Springfield XDM 3.8
Springfield XDM9
Springfield XDS
SpringfieldXD40
SpringfieldXD9
SpringfieldXD9-C
SpringfieldXDM
SpringfieldXDM40C 3.8"
SpringfieldXDM45 4.5
STEYR AUG
STI Escort
STI Ranger II
Taurus 85 w/laser
Taurus Judge
UTS-15 tactical shotgun
Vector Arms UZI
Walther PK380
Walther PPK
Walther PPQ
Walther PPS 9
WaltherPPS

Glock Pistols
9 MM – 17, 19, 26, 36
357 SIG – 31,32, 33
40 S&W – 22, 23, 27, 35
45 ACP – 21SF, 30SF, 36
10 MM – 29SF, 20SF
Beretta Pistols
9 MM – 92FS
CZ Pistols
9 MM – P-07, 85B, 85C
40 S&W – P-06
380 ACP – 83
CZ Rifles
22 LR – 452
FN FNA Pistols
9 MM – FNP-9
45 ACP – PNP45 Tactical
H&K Pistols
9 MM – P7, P30, USP-C, P2000, USP
40 S&W – P2000, P2000SK, USP
45 ACP – HK45-C, HK45, USP, USP-C
Kimber Pistols
45 ACP – CSTS Goldmatch II, Compact Stainless II, Ultra CDP II
Para USA Pisols
45 ACP – Companion
Ruger Pistols
22LR – Mark II
357 Mag – SP101
45 Long Colt – Vaquero
Ruger Rifles
22LR – 10/22
SIG-Sauer Pistols
380 ACP – P-232, P-238
9 MM – P-226, P-229, P-239, P-250
40 S&W – P-226, P-229, P-250
357 SIG – P-239, P-250
45 ACP – P-220, P-245, GSR, 1911 TACOPS
Smith & Wesson Pistols
380 ACP – Bodyguard
38 SPL – 10, 638
Springfield Pistols
9 MM – XDM
40 S&W – XDM, XD-40
367 SIG – XD-357
45 ACP – XDS, MIRCO COMPACT, XDM, 1911 MIL-SPEC, XD45, 1911 A-1
Walther Pistols
22 LR – P22
380 ACP – PPK, PPKS
Sub-Machine Guns
9 MM – UZI, Sterling
45 ACP – M1928A1 Thompson, M3A1 Grease Gun
Suppressed Guns
22 LR – Walther P22 Pistol, Colt M4 Rifle
9 MM – UZI Sub Machine Gun
45 ACP – H&K HK45 Pistol
5.56 NATO – AR-15

 

[hso]

I don't know of any place

Which is common for a lot of people regardless of what they're looking for.

I think a lot of the advice we give noobs is totally impossible hot air. ...No body rents guns or has a variety you or your wife can try out. The closest thing I see to training classes are a few CHP classes. When on the forums I read when somebody asks "What sort of gun should I get?" Or,"What shall I get my wife?" they are invariably told to go to a range and try a different guns out.

We're obligated to give the best advice, which happens to be try to fit the gun to the person by handling something in each family of firearms with careful attention to proper fit (see corneredcat) and try them in an environment most conducive to learning to handle the firearm safely. It makes no sense to tell someone to do less than the best approach, does it? If you have the ability to get the variety of firearms together to fit the firearm to the person then you don't have to rent them. If you have a place to shoot that you don't have to pay a range fee then you don't have to pay for range time. If you don't have those luxuries then the resources of a rental range are what you have to resort to IF you want to start out the best way possible. If you don't have any of those resources then you're going to have to make do the best you can.

 

[tarosean]

I live rural and my range is unsupervised about 10mins up the road. However, I can go to gun shops that rent guns and have indoor ranges with a 30min drive South or 40min drive west.

Course I suppose I am used to driving to get stuff anyhow. Need groceries, got to drive to the same places. Need wallyworld or other store, same thing etc. etc. etc.

price I pay for peace and quiet.

 

[22-rimfire]

OK, I will let you all in on the basis of my opinions. First I am 71 years old and a disabled combat US Army veteran who received NO handgun training. Once I decided I wanted to learn to shoot a handgun, I bought a S&W 22 kitgun and taught myself how to use it. I then used it for years for among other things self defence. It worked. I shot feral dogs snakes and lots of rabbits with it. I have shot a lot more stuff with 22 rifles. All the stuff I shot with a 22 either dropped or ran of which is what a self defense gun is supposed to do. Every person I showed it to in fear or anger, and there were several, seemed to come to my way of thinking quickly. My fortunes improved and I now have a nice 357. If a person wants to learn to shoot a rifle or handgun , it is my experience that the absolute best way, hands down, is to get a 22 and go shoot. Once I realized that 22lr is indeed worth $5-6 bucks a box, I have had little trouble finding more than I can shoot. The reason why I disagree with a lot of what we tell new shooters is that in my experience it just ain't all that hard or complicated.

I pretty much learned on my own too. But as HSO said, here, one should try to give the best advice. Seldom are all the possibilities known when you address someone's query. I have avoided the combat training courses in general.... I just don't have the interest and shooting 1000 rounds in two days sort of sounds expensive to me. I am frugal. Grew up that way and it just fits me. But I try to do what is needed for me whether it be shooting or buying a new TV set.

On the other hand, I do tend to buy what most people consider the higher grade guns because I think they're better. Fishing stuff is a weakness of mine..... it's a financial black hole.

 

[hso]

80.7% of Americans live in "cities" so it is reasonable to assume that there's a range within 50 miles of 80% of Americans. Whether they have rental counters is something that would require a lot of work to determine, but it isn't unreasonable to assume most do since they serve an urban/suburban population.

olafhardtB,

I also grew up without any range time shooting what we had at home. My dad wasn't a big gun guy and my instruction consisted pretty much of "Don't point that at anything you don't want to shoot and don't pull the trigger until you're ready." That's about it. No trigger control. No sight picture. No hearing protection. Nuth'n. I had a pellet rifle and shot myself in the leg with it once and it hurt a lot and I got the point about muzzle control and finger on the trigger without being crippled. I skipped some rounds off of the water shooting at debris in the slough and the neighbor nearest came down and pointed out that the bullets were skipping off the water and past his back door and that's how I learned to know what was on the other side of the target before shooting at it. Not ideal compared to today where we can provide all the lessons learned and rules and advice instead of people making the same mistakes over and over again.

We're fortunate now that we have a resource like THR and others where we can benefit from all the lessons learned from individual recreational shooters along with instructors and professional gun toters.

 

[22-rimfire]

Since the un-supervised range is about an hour's drive from me, I try to combine the trip with other activities like photography, hiking, or fishing. That justifies the trip even when gas was $3.75/gallon. Fortunately for now it is more in the $1.50/gallon area. The bad part is that I have to leave what amounts to a small fortune inside my vehicle while I do other things away from it.

 

[aarondhgraham]

I have to drive 70 miles,,,

I have to drive 70 miles,,,
But there is H&H Shooting Sports in Oklahoma City.

They have an indoor range and a large selection of rental guns.

I've gone there on occasion to rent/shoot a gun that caught my attention,,,
It's an expenditure for certain but I look at it as a 1-day mini-vacation.

They have quite the list of available rental guns,,,
On my birthday a few years back,,,
I rented/fired an FN P-90,,,
What a trip that was!

So indoor ranges with rental guns do exist,,,
And it's still good advice to suggest visiting one.

Aarond

.

 

[Rockrivr1]

Smith & Wesson in Springfield, MA used to have a very large indoor range with ROs that would rent all current models of their guns for sale and sell ammo for them as well. You could get training there and they had a very active IDPA/USPSA group there as well. If you joined as a member you could bring your own guns and ammo in there in calibers right up to 500 S&W. I used to visit a couple times a month as the range was very advanced with electronic target holders, great ventilation and good light.

The only problem I had, and it ended up being the reason I stopped going, was with noobs and gang bangers going in trying out guns even though they had no training and no clue how to act in the range. The ROs tried hard to show them but after an altercation with a gang banger, who they were throwing out while I was there, i wasn't comfortable being there any longer. They also had a couple of people go in and commit suicide as well. S&W finally closed the place down. Probably too many liability issues.

I ended up joining a gun club closer to where I lived. Not as nice of an indoor range, but only members who are gun owners go there. Much better that way.