A couple people had expressed interest in this topic, and I have a bit of extra time for a couple days, so here goes:
Bona fides: I am a former infantry NCO and sniper, hunter, competitive shooter, reloader, hobby gunsmith, sometimes firearms trainer and currently work in a gun shop, mostly on the paperwork/compliance side. Back in the day, was a qualified expert with every standard small arm in the US inventory circa 2003 (M2, 4, 9, 16, 19, 249, 240B, 21, 24, 82 etc.), and today hang around the 75th percentile of USPSA classifications. I've shot Cap-and-Ball, Trap and Sporting Clays badly; Bullseye and PRS somewhat better and IDPA/USPSA/UML/Two-gun with some local success. Been active in the 2A community since the mid-90s, got my first instructor cert in high school, and have held a CPL for almost twenty years now.
I certainly don't claim to be an expert in every aspect of firearms, there's huge areas that escape my knowledge base, but if you've got questions I'll do my best to answer.
Technical questions
Gun control proposals for feasibility
Industry
Training
Wacky opinions
General geekery
Some competition links (not my own) just for the interested.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=U5IhsWamaLY&t=173
https://youtube.com/watch?v=93nEEINflXE
https://youtube.com/watch?v=utcky0zq10E
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Notes -
Hi. I'm from Europe, and have never held a real weapon in my hands. I'm visiting Oakland, California in February, and I'm looking for recommendations about how to go about changing that.
I think renting and shooting an AR15 would be a good combination of easy, fun and interesting. Are there better alternatives?
Would you recommend finding an indoor or an outdoor range?
How much instruction should I expect / ask for?
How much ammo would I use on a couple of hours?
Could/Should I ask for iron sights, red dot or scope?
Can I assume the range has sufficient ear protection available? + Eye protection, targets etc.
What would you recommend I read/watch before?
Thanks!
First, where you're going is not only one of the most gun-unfriendly areas in the country, but also one of the furthest from any gun friendly areas. Your best option is Las Vegas, but that's around nine hours by car away. If you find yourself there though, that's the place to splash out. Unless you know someone into guns in Oakland, it might be hard to find something local. Out in the countryside there might be some options. Can't help you there, I live a couple thousand miles away.
1: Plenty of alternatives, but you know what you want. Usually I start people out on .22s, but if you want the full monty experience and are limited in time and money, go for what you want.
2: Outdoor if you can, but this may not be available.
3: As much as you're willing to pay for
4: Your first time shooting a gun? I wouldn't expect very much, fifty to a hundred rounds, maybe less. Depends a lot on your personality, the range you're at, and your financial resources. Ammo is expensive.
5: Red dot or scope will be easiest to learn on
6: Yes. If they don't have these three things, you shouldn't be there for your first time.
7: Something on the platform you want to shoot. Elsewhere in this thread someone asked similar things about the AR-15 platform, and I linked an operational overview video. To supplement that, and because that one is firearm specific, here's a safety video that's at least mildly less boring than most. https://youtube.com/watch?v=W2Vrc2R1oGU
Reno is about a 4 hour drive and has pretty good ranges, both indoor and outdoor. My grandfather was an avid collector but lived in San Jose, so 2-4 Reno trips per year were a big chunk of his vacations.
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There are different, not better alternatives. A good indoor range will let you pay one fee for multiple rifles. Plan a rental chain based on caliber, purchase that, and try out 2-3 different things. Also try something with a suppressor if they have it. Consider doing both a rifle and a pistol.
You're in one of the least gun-friendly cities/states in the country. You'll take what you can get. A great outdoor range with friends > an indoor range with friends > indoor range alone > outdoor range alone.
Most gun shop employees will show you the manual of arms, all will give you good gun safety tips and rules to follow. In terms of good shooting technique that's generally beyond their pay grade, but you should watch a couple of youtube videos about great grip/handling for what you plan to rent if you want to have a good time.
You can always go back and purchase more ammo. Get around 60 rounds for a rifle and 50 for a handgun. Since this is your first time at the range I expect you'll be exhausted from nerves by that point, but if you're not just walk back to the desk and buy more.
Yes, they'll have all the sensory protection you need.
My major suggestion would be to try and find a "gun guy" in the locale to go with you.
Your first time shooting, put a single round in the magazine. Load the weapon. Aim it with your finger off the trigger. Press the trigger up till it resists, take your first shot. Set down the weapon and breathe.
Do the same thing with 3 rounds next, then 10. Then whatever you want.
Thank you
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