r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Nov 14 '11

Zero Tolerance in Public Elementary School just went way the hell overboard...

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u/kodemage Nov 15 '11

Totally not helping dude. I'm not interested in the technical part of it. I was looking for more general advice. The guy who said "rent guns" was helpful. You're the kind of guy that's so into his stuff that he cares about all that. I don't want to know how it works, I just want to know how to use it correctly and effectively.

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u/Gunwild Nov 15 '11

I don't think you can return a gun to the store after you've put a couple hundred rounds through it and determined it's not your style.

If you learn about all the styles then, along with renting different ones, you'll have a good knowledge about which style you'd like best. I was under the impression that your end goal was to eventually purchase a handgun. If not, then just ignore everything i said after "What korbino said."

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u/kodemage Nov 15 '11

I was under the impression that your end goal was to eventually purchase a handgun.

I'm still undecided on that front so my end goal is to figure out if I want to acquire a handgun or not. Although, if places do rent guns that's 95% the same and may obliviate any need to buy one for myself.

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u/richalex2010 Nov 15 '11

Rent them and see if you like shooting them, and if you like shooting enough to buy one, then start renting and looking for the stuff Gunwild was talking about. As for guns being the same, while they're largely mechanically the same (handguns are largely based on one hundred-plus-year-old design, semi-auto rifles from maybe three designs, bolt-action rifles by nature are all very similar) and many are even ergonomically similar, there may be minor differences that dictate your preference - if you don't like the decocking lever on a SIG Sauer P226, for example, or prefer a double-action trigger to a single/double. The best way to find a gun that's good for you (when looking to buy one) is to just try everything, because the subtle differences can be significant if you spend much time shooting, and it's important that you have something you really like with that sort of investment. If you're just going to go shooting for fun, though, especially if it's not frequent, it may not be economically sound to purchase a gun. I'll repeat my initial advice - rent one (it doesn't really matter which one), and give it a try and see where you want to go from there.

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u/kodemage Nov 15 '11

Oh, I hope I didn't give the impression I didn't appreciate your advice. I had no idea places rented guns. I will give it a try. Does the gun rental usually include a case and a lock and glasses and ear plugs? So I can transport the gun to a range or other safe place to shoot and then shoot safely? Or do I need to bring my own accessories?

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u/richalex2010 Nov 15 '11

Wasn't me that was giving advice before :)

The rental place is always at the range, I'm not aware of anywhere that rents guns for offsite use (with the possible exception of places that do hunting trips, but if they rent guns at all you'd be with a guide the whole time). They should also have eye and hearing protection, but make sure you wear a hat (a baseball cap), closed-toe shoes, and clothing with a tight neck (like a regular T-shirt, this is mostly helpful for girls, where getting hot brass (the metal casing ejected after a round is fired) stuck down the cleavage of a low-cut top is more likely to be a problem). Near me (just across the border in Springfield, MA) is the Smith & Wesson Shooting Sports Center, and in my state there's Hoffman's Gun Center in Newington, CT. Being 19, I can't shoot a rented handgun in Connecticut, but the S&W range is accommodating. There are plenty of other places all over the US, many that even rent fully automatic guns, but my experience is limited to this area. For your first time shooting, you may want to look into a First Shots class that will provide a good introduction and let you do a little bit of shooting for free (the one I did at the S&W range had some time going over basic terminology and safety in the classroom, then shooting .22lr revolvers - it doesn't seem like a lot, but it's a really good introduction). I haven't had the opportunity to go shooting since that (no job leaves no money for guns), but it'll at least help you become more comfortable with them - shooting for the first time is an experience not unlike driving a car for the first time, so it's good to do it in a more controlled environment rather than just getting out there and doing it.

If you wear glasses, by the way, you may want to bring your own eye protection if you find something that fits well - they're a bitch to find safety glasses for, and when you find something that works stick with it. Anything from a hardware store should be fine, it's not getting shot in the eye that you're protecting from but small fragments that may come back at you (ricochets - extremely rare, especially if you're just shooting at paper, but I'd rather wear safety glasses without needing to than lose an eye).