When I’ve taken a newbie shooting, partway through the adventure, most will smile broadly and say, “This is fun!”
Those reactions often carry a sound of surprise, because they hadn’t thought about the fun side of shooting.
There is skill involved, and it quickly becomes apparent that skills grow with practice, and there is a sense of pride and excitement with hitting on or near the bullseye on the target, especially for a newbie.
Pretty soon, they want to shoot from differing positions, distances and calibers.
I set people up with ear plugs or ear covers because shooting can be loud, depending on what kinds of guns are used. When shooting a .22 cal pistol or rifle, the ear gear isn’t as important because these are not loud guns.
Centerfire pistols and rifles, and shotguns of any gauge are much louder. So, too, are the ballistic shockwaves that add to the excitement and fun, even though they are a minor factor.
Our community has more gun ownership than no one but a gun store owner knows about. I owned a local gun store for years, and it always amazed me how many people in our community own a collection of guns for everything from home defense to targets and hunting.
Therefore, it may be easier than you think to connect with someone willing to introduce you to the sport, the mindset, the skills and the fun. Someone at one of our gun stores may be able to recommend someone.
I grew up target shooting competitively, hunting, and plinking out on the Mojave Desert and in the areas of our mountains which are open to firearms and hunting. The skills, patience, safety protocols, and understanding of nature I have gained serves me well.
Opportunities for organized shooting locally include Winchester Gun Club and indoor ranges in Ventura County. Then too, our National Forests, Mojave Desert and BLM land all feature places to shoot.
Research firearms closure areas before you go, to make certain you are going to an open area. Give any other shooters the space and respect they need; however, you may find them happy to talk and share experiences.
Shooting sports can be target shooting, trap and skeet, plinking, hunting, and others.
Safety is of utmost importance, and the fun factor is likely to surprise most folks.
Put it on your list of things to try out, if you haven’t yet drawn a bead on a target, taken a deep breath, let it partway out and then slowly and carefully squeeze the trigger while keeping the bullseye in your sights.