How to Choose the Best Outdoor Shooting Range to Practice Your Shooting Skills

How to Choose the Best Outdoor Shooting Range to Practice Your Shooting Skills

 

Nothing beats quality trigger time at the range, but if you're from the US, it can be challenging to select the ideal range from a large number of alternatives available. This quick guide will make it easy for you to pick the best outdoor shooting range to perfect your skills.

 

Factors to Consider While Choosing a Shooting Range

 

Before choosing a range, keep the following factors in mind to ensure that you shoot at the best range:

 

1) Safety Standards

 

a man and a woman wearing all black in a shooting position

Credit: Envato Elements/ LightFieldStudios

 

Safety should always come first. Find out in detail what safety management practices your potential favorite range has in place.

Choose a range where safety training is required, where all external firearms must be brought in cased and unloaded when not in use, where firearms are always kept on benches in the stalls, and where firearms are only ever directed down range. Additionally, ask the range whether they have range officers in place to make sure that everyone is abiding by the range's rules.

 

2) Features and Rentals

 

2 armalite guns in a shooting range
Credit: Envato Elements/ LightFieldStudios

 

If you're new to shooting, you generally want to practice with a variety of guns to gain more experience. In addition to offering a wide selection of services, a great shooting range will also let you rent firearms while you're there. They will also have shooting classes where you can practice your skills with a professional, so keep an eye out for this.

 

3) Air Purification System

 

air filtration system

Credit: Envato Elements/ bilanol

 

Without an air filtration system, a pistol range can soon become dangerous since lead is spewed into the air every time a bullet is shot. A person exposed to lead smoke from weapons may eventually experience symptoms that are harmful to their health. These symptoms may have an effect on almost every organ in the body, including the kidneys and the brain.

To ensure your safety, find out if the potential range that you want to choose has an air purification system.

 

4) Welcoming Atmosphere

 

a range officer welcoming a newbie in a shooting range

Credit: Envato Elements/ LightFieldStudios

 

It can be intimidating to train at a range without a friendly atmosphere, especially if you're a newbie. When you first visit the range, it is crucial to take into account the behavior of the staff, front desk employees, and even the range officers. If everyone is friendly and can put you at ease, you are guaranteed to have an amazing experience.

 

How to Stay Safe at the Range

 

Once you've decided on a shooting range, be sure to keep these suggestions in mind to assure your constant safety:

 

1) Follow the Rules

 Most ranges have rules in place to assure your complete safety, so be sure to abide by them. The rules may be posted at the front door, on the range's website, or you may need to watch a safety video when you first visit. There is no excuse for disregarding a range's rules. If you violate the rules, you run the risk of endangering both yourself and your fellow shooters.

 

2) Protect Your Ears and Eyes

 

man wearing safety glasses and earplug in shooting position

Credit: Envato Elements/ LightFieldStudios

 

Eye protection can protect your eyes from any bullet fragments that may fly in your direction while you are shooting. On the other hand, ear protection helps to prevent irreparable harm to your hearing. It lowers ambient noise to levels that are safe for the ear. The rules of your range may not mandate you to wear safety glasses and earplugs, but you should still do so to prevent long-term damage.

 

3) Dress Appropriately

Bare skin and hot brass don't go along. Shorts, open-toed shoes, and shirts with V-necks or low cuts are unacceptable attire for the shooting range. Instead, think of wearing trousers, sneakers, and tight-collar shirts.

 

4) Wash Your Hands After Your Shooting Session

 

wash hands with running water

Credit: Envato Elements/ jijieforsythe

 

After firing or before taking a break, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and running water to get rid of any lead residue you might have picked up from the primers or the dust from the bullet. Some shooting ranges also offer lead-cleaning wipes for getting rid of lead particles. Make sure to use them if you come across them.

 

5) Feel Free to Request Assistance

If you're not sure about something, don't be afraid to ask for assistance. The range master is there to help you and answer any questions you might have. If you have any questions about anything, ask them.

 

Summary

 

Every gun range in town claims to be the best. By using the above tips, you can choose your best option and have an awesome experience.

While practicing at the hunting range, you'll need shooting targets to perfect your skills. To shop for targets that are suitable for shooters of all skill levels, check out EasyShot.

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