Anyone else seeing a massive influx of new shooters on their range?

[Podmonkey]

I certainly have. Everytime I go there are multiple newbies out there. Some have questionable taste in guns, some splurge on the good stuff, some over splurge on really good stuff they don't really need. Saw a younger guy with a Les Baer for "home defense". First time owner too. None of em know what they are doing, which is normal I suppose. I do worry about the adult first time owner mentality vs those that pick it up as kids.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Sadly haven't been to the range in some time, and the good news is mine is a local club so 1) there is usually never anyone there when I'm there (2) most/all members are somewhat past the new ownership phase.

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Few things

Some have questionable taste in guns,

This pisses me off (with a caveat) much of this is in fact due to the horrible mentality of "wOrKs FeR Me" or "jUsT aS gUd" or those who think they are gun people and try and explain how their garbage tier gun is actually "just as good" as a glock but only cost $85.

This also makes me mad when you see stores or friends/family pushing bad choices, not like bad quality as mentioned above but just bad options for the uses (and marketing also has something to do with this and it doesn't piss me off when companies just do capitalism compared to bad info)

Example first time gun owner goes out and buys 12g Shockwave because their uncle or whatever told then how 12g shotguns are the bestest for home defense because you don't need to aim, and then showed them the Shockwave and look its like a short barrel shotgun for cqb. Just hip fire it... you know if they don't run away crying after hearing you rack the pump.

Hell to add to that I'm not a fan by any means telling new shooters hey that glock 19 will be perfect for both concealed carry AND home defense.

Now for my caveat... buying dumb guns just as straight up range toys or just because the meme life is life, I've bought/owned completely useless defensive/offensive guns just for the fact that when I go to the range I want to just make noise and laugh.

Or or well 2020 was hard to find things. And sometimes all you could find was maybe a maverick 88 (yea its a mossberg 500 but also not).

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some splurge on the good stuff,

This makes me happy.

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some over splurge on really good stuff they don't really need.

Honestly (also with caveat) I can't be mad at this either


Example of my caveat

Saw a younger guy with a Les Baer for "home defense".

This is actually a perfect example of my caveat.. first 1911s take a good bit of understanding and maintenance to keep running (compared to say modern striker fired polymer guns)

Now does this mean this first time gun owner can't keep that gun running.. not at all he could end up being a future 1911 expert and that's awesome and what I even hope happens.

Can that $3,000 +/- 1911 work as a home defense gun.. shit of course it could, a single shot .22lr could work as a home defense in some cases.

Now we have to put all that together.. new owner of a more complex firearm (1911), how many times have we seen well kept 1911s at the range with the owner bragging about how they never had an issue.. then 3 rounds into the first mag to show off it jams... not a big deal at the range, little ego brusing, some balls busting.. now if that was a self defense/home defense situation, the consequences are well final. Is that something he should have gone with first for that specific role? Personally nope

Then we can even argue a 7 round. 45acp pistol.....

Now at the same time we can take that original "really good stuff they don't need" (paraphrasing)

That same cost for the Les Bears that dude could have picked up a KAC SR-15 (or even SR-15 pistol) Now is a KAC or LMT or so on a bit overkill for a new owner (or even most?) Yea sure but it goes back to they will be getting something they can trust their life with and then some, get a much better option than a 7 round. 45acp (rifles easier to shoot, the right 5.56 ammo is just fine for HD if not better, 30 rounds > 7 rounds, ability to add a light depending on 1911, and something like a quality red dot or anything other than iron sights)



Sorry that was a nonsensical tangent but solid post @Podmonkey hopefully others may chime in

 

[Defilade]

Price of ammo? surprised anyone is at ranges. I'll bet new shooters trying out their brand new gun with 50 rds. lol

 

[Deplorable Me]

Negative. I have the range to myself. About 10 weeks running now.

 

[Phauxtoe]

I think most New gun owners are using public ranges and i dont generally go to those.
my main club has not taken any new members since the start of the Couf.

 

[Criticalt]

I sure hope not!!!
Id either yell at them or call the cops!!

JK.....id just inform them that this is my yard and they are trespassing.
Depending on how they respond to that.....they will either become new friends and welcomed to my range.....or I will chase them off with a shotgun.

But seriously, I do occasionally go to a club range with friends, just to shoot with other people than just my close friends. We have noticed A LOT more people applying for membership.....like up 200% from 2019.
This is the best range in the area, not just the range....but the people too.
This club has a clubhouse with full bar and cheap drinks and a very nice 400 yard rifle and a 50 yard pistol ranges..
Booze and guns are the perfect mix!!

 

[JaguarJaguarGolf]

I don't see or hear any new shooters. I hear pistol shooting quite often around me.I go to a public very rarely. I shoot across the street at my hunting club. It just too convenient to do otherwise. At least 3 homeowners in my immediate area have pistol ranges and they practice regularly. Only one of those ranges is good for rifle and he only shoots his 45-70 before deer season.

 

[GOPerfect]

At a range, no, not really only because I do not use ranges that others use. I will not shoot where strangers are shooting.

As for new gun owners though; many at work have been investing more and more in guns other than their duty pistols. Many have been asking the correct people the correct questions and acting upon the knowledge they have received.

Even though there are few guns to be had and even less ammo, I do miss selling guns and working the gun counter. I used to love helping newbies pick out their first, second and third guns.

 

[Podmonkey]

My range is technically a private one but non members are welcome to come shoot, a member need not accompany you and the cost for 1 day, all day, is only $10. Yearly membership is only $50 so yeah, I see a lot of new folks. Some of tge guns people choose raise my eyebrows. Like the fellow who choose a Savage Axis in .243 as his first rifle. Nothing wrong with the Axis but why .243 for a range gun? Why on earth would you clamp a bipod onto the barrel? Am I wrong in thinking that is completely dumb? Then there have been multiple people with those POS Diamondback pistols. And numerous others with various micro 9s. Not a great choice for a first time pistol. There was a guy that got a S&W 4" Performance Center 686 as his first ever gun of any kind. Fantastic revolver but how does he expect to have any money left over for insanely priced .357 ammo?
Then a few weeks ago there was a guy who did a sensibly good job in selecting an M&P 15 as his first gun but then fell short with a Truglo red dot. He said he had hunting guns before but it was obvious from the way shooting and trying to zero he had never fired a gun before. He was at the 25yd line, would take 1 shot lean forward, squinting to see his POI and made random adjustments to his sight (he had no idea of the click values) and would take another shot. He had been doing that for over an hour before I took notice. I brought over my spotting scope, showed him how to shoot 3 shot groups, showed him how to make informed adjustments, even figured out his click values (1/2 MOA clicks I'm pretty sure) and some very basic shooting techniques like breath control, trigger press, sight picture and we had his rig zeroed dead center in 9 rounds. He was then shooting one hole groups @ 50 yards and he couldn't believe it, was getting sub 3" groups @ 100yds and was ecstatic. I told him to keep a close eye on his Truglo, check your zero frequently and recommended a Bushnell TR-25 if he decided a replacement was in order.
We gotta help these new people out!

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

I think most New gun owners are using public ranges and i dont generally go to those.
my main club has not taken any new members since the start of the Couf.

We've been taking on 15-30 per month.......but then again our current president is packing the membership with current an ex CO's so he can run the club into the ground for the foreseeable future.

 

[fresch]

I just hope the new gunners with kids do the right thing. As in bringing the children into the safety aspect of guns and not just hiding it in the house someplace.
That's the real reason kids shoot each/self other, lack of parental training, thus removing the temptation of the forbidden fruit.

 

[FrankenCub]

Haven't seen any new shooters yet. But, seems my range is in my yard I'd expect problems if I do.
Shit, I haven't even fired my new Shield 2.0 yet
A buddy set me up with 3 mags of Hydro shocks for defense and a couple boxes of blasting ammo. Gotta make time to make some noise with it.

 

[Robin]

No! They must be all out of all that ammo all of them are buying up.
Robin

 

[nortatoga]

My Club did not take in any new members last year because of Covid. We are in the process of online orientation follow by a Club range walk around/rules. I do know the Club Secretary has a large list of people that have inquired.

 

[Podmonkey]

Man, y'all have some inclusive clubs. Or maybe one like mine are uncommon. Actually that's why I joined where I did. At the time was driving OTR and I didn't have time for membership meetings and board reviews, this place I go all you need to do is ask for a membership and give em $50.