IAMA avowed liberal yuppie who went to a gun range for the first time today, AMA

[Zaku3]

1 hour ago, TheBladeRoden said:

Do they have the classics like Garands and Lee-Enfields?

I want to buy one so badly. A SMLE Mk III or Mk III*. Unfortunately I live in NJ, my mom hates guns, and I see a therapist so I doubt I'd get approved.

[Triage]

I always wanted to go and I want to feel comfortable knowledgeable about guns and I want to go to archery range 

 

I might be too liberal to own a gun but wanna know how to use one  

[CastlevaniaNut18]

It ain't that big a deal.

 

I guess it's kinda weird to me that some people treat it like it's a big thing, but then, I grew up around guns and have been shooting since I was probably 5 or 6. And while I've no desire to own an AR or anything like it, I don't really get what's so much more intimidating about the sound of one over any other gun.

[Triage]

6 minutes ago, CastlevaniaNut18 said:

It ain't that big a deal.

 

I guess it's kinda weird to me that some people treat it like it's a big thing, but then, I grew up around guns and have been shooting since I was probably 5 or 6. And while I've no desire to own an AR or anything like it, I don't really get what's so much more intimidating about the sound of one over any other gun.

For me it's fear kids (I guess they are old enough now) or like when my older was trying to sneak in the house and we almost took her head off with a katana thinking someone is breaking in.. That would have gone badly with a gun. Plus I used to be treated for depression and still have anxiety so there is that fear. I think once I was comfortable with one because training I wouldn't mind. Idk 

[CastlevaniaNut18]

I was referring more to the act of simply shooting a gun, not owning one.

[Keyser_Soze]

Yeah plenty of people can shoot guns without owning them these days. It's no big deal.

[CastlevaniaNut18]

Over 300 million guns in the country, most people probably know a gun owner in their life. 

 

Not sure if that was sarcasm. 

[Keyser_Soze]

It was mostly sarcasm and an allusion to mass shooters who steal guns to use in their shooting sprees.

[CastlevaniaNut18]

Erm, okay then. 

[johnny]

How did it feel to possess a small weapon with incredible stopping power that could stop almost all humans dead in their tracks 

[legend]

Maybe try skeet shooting next? I've only done it once, but it was pretty fun and seems like it would be a lot more fun than shooting a static target.

[Snaynay1]

Belt fed weapons are even more fun.  And wear some hearing protection next time if it is too loud. An AR is not very loud compared to other rifles out there. There is almost zero kick to one due to the buffer spring and it is pretty fun to shoot. Go to a range with an AR that has 300 + yard targets and see how you do.

[CastlevaniaNut18]

I would highly imagine he was already wearing ear protection at a gun range. That's pretty basic. 

[Guest]

12 hours ago, Kal-El814 said:

Whenever I’ve used a larger gun at a firing range, I’m alwaus stunned at how accurate I can be as someone who fires a gun once every 18-24 months. And if you throw a red dot or holo on it, forget it. 

 

Granted im firing at a still target in a controlled setting, I’m not pretending I’m anything that remotely resembles a sharpshooter... but that’s also kinda the point. 

 

Yeah, he had something...maybe a holo? It was just point dot at target, hit target right where dot was. Really unnerving to me.

1 hour ago, CastlevaniaNut18 said:

I would highly imagine he was already wearing ear protection at a gun range. That's pretty basic. 

 

The ranges I’ve been to require you to have hearing protection on. I just assumed that was standard practice.

[CastlevaniaNut18]

3 minutes ago, sblfilms said:

 

 

The ranges I’ve been to require you to have hearing protection on. I just assumed that was standard practice.

I would highly assume so. I've actually never been to a range, I grew up in the country and we just always did shooting on the back roads. Honestly, that's then only time I shoot these days, when I visit my family. Ear protection is essential. 

 

I don't wear it while hunting, for obvious reasons, but I'm typically only firing one shot at the deer, so it isn't as bad. Plus, my adrenaline is flowing, so I usually don't even notice the noise at that point.  

[CastlevaniaNut18]

Also, I'm just gonna assume Chris is a smart enough fellow to use ear protection when shooting.  

[Slug]

5 hours ago, CastlevaniaNut18 said:

I would highly assume so. I've actually never been to a range, I grew up in the country and we just always did shooting on the back roads. Honestly, that's then only time I shoot these days, when I visit my family.

I wish I knew someone around here with enough land that we could shoot on their land.  As it is we're stuck having to pay for indoor range memberships.   Back home in VA I was like you, just shot in the back woods at whichever family member's place.  So much better.