Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Not sure if I should have put this in the range category or not. Feel free to move it if somewhere else is more appropriate.

Anyway, I am new to guns as a whole and am preparing to buy my first handgun. I'd like to possibly try a few models I have my eye on out on a range to make sure I like how it feels in my hand while firing (I'm a guy with small hands). I've been to Silver Eagle Group and I know they do gun rentals, but after the rental and buying ammo from them, it seemed pretty expensive if you were going to get 3-4 to try. A guy I was with said he thought Blue Ridge Arsenal does rentals that are more reasonably priced, but I haven't been down to check them out yet.

Could anyone else recommend a place to try a few different things before I buy that won't set me back 1/4 of the price of the new gun I'd eventually buy? I'm not looking to try anything exotic, but would like to compare say a Glock 19 to a XDm 3.8 9mm to a S&W M&P Compact 9mm on the range. Thanks for the help.

Hi Matt - welcome to VGOF!

I don't have any of the models that you have mentioned here, but I can get you some free range time near Stafford, VA if you manage to borrow any of those pistols from someone (or want to bring someone along).

I do have a S&W .40 cal that you can try out.

Well... it's probably too far for you but if you come to Yorktown I could probably hook you up with all 3 of those. Or you could drive on a little farther down the road to Bob's or Superior Pawn for $5 rentals and a $10/$12 range fee for as much time as you want. NoVA prices are outrageous. Heck, Richmond probably has something with much more reasonable pricing.

As far as I know, the only rental range in Richmond is Dominion.

You could also try The Range in Fredericksburg.

I'd offer to help, but I have none of those guns.

Thanks for the replies and the offers guys. Unfortunately I don't know anyone that has any of these around here. Yorktown might be a bit too long of a haul as I am in Leesburg. Dominion in Richmond's website shows a lot of choices on the wall on the "rental" portion of their site, might be worth shooting them an email to see if its worth the drive.

I initially dismissed the idea of there being anything worthwhile in Maryland, but it looks like Maryland Small Arms has 2 of the 3 along with a couple Sigs I wouldn't mind trying. Unfortunately, the more research I do into firearms, the more options I've been discovering.

It's pretty much an exercise in futility to try to find one gun that will suit all of your needs. However, you're on the right track by shooting what you're interested in before you buy.

to the VGOF.

Here is a link to the website of the range that I go to in Roanoke.

http://www.pss-range-training.net/home.html

You can see that their prices are $10/rental gun and $10/ shooting lane/hour.
They used to apply rental rate to purchase price, if you bought from them. Don't know if they still do that or not.

MattS wrote:Not sure if I should have put this in the range category or not. Feel free to move it if somewhere else is more appropriate.

Anyway, I am new to guns as a whole and am preparing to buy my first handgun. I'd like to possibly try a few models I have my eye on out on a range to make sure I like how it feels in my hand while firing (I'm a guy with small hands). I've been to Silver Eagle Group and I know they do gun rentals, but after the rental and buying ammo from them, it seemed pretty expensive if you were going to get 3-4 to try. A guy I was with said he thought Blue Ridge Arsenal does rentals that are more reasonably priced, but I haven't been down to check them out yet.

Could anyone else recommend a place to try a few different things before I buy that won't set me back 1/4 of the price of the new gun I'd eventually buy? I'm not looking to try anything exotic, but would like to compare say a Glock 19 to a XDm 3.8 9mm to a S&W M&P Compact 9mm on the range. Thanks for the help.

Not sure where you live, but the range I visit (now on occasion) usually has a number of rentals. I know they have the Glocks, and I'm pretty sure the S&W. Haven't been there in a while, so I'm not sure about the XDm. You can call and ask. I think the rates are about $10 for the rental, cost of ammo (which varies, and range prices are not really great), and whatever a lane is going for these days. I think they'll make you sign up for a 30-day membership, too.

For the ammo, if you know what you're going to shoot, save a few bucks and pick that up at Wally-Mart before going to the range. It looks like those are all 9mm, and that's reasonably cheap. I think range ammo is in the $10-11 range per 50.

Most ranges which do rentals won't let you shoot any ammo but what they sell. It is their gun and they don't want it blown up by bad ammo.

Makes sense. Though, if the caliber matches and it's factory ammo...

Still, probably for the best.

chfaunce wrote:Makes sense. Though, if the caliber matches and it's factory ammo...

Still, probably for the best.

That was the less cynical interpretation...

They make a killing by selling you ammo which is often reloads they created for above factory new prices.

gunderwood wrote: That was the less cynical interpretation...

They make a killing by selling you ammo which is often reloads they created for above factory new prices.

I figured as much. I rented a couple of things one day out of boredom, and the ammo they provided was a) overpriced, and b) absolutely filthy to shoot.

chfaunce wrote:I figured as much. I rented a couple of things one day out of boredom, and the ammo they provided was a) overpriced, and b) absolutely filthy to shoot.

Depending on the place, you can usually add "c) underpowered" to the list. Which can lead to more malfunctions, leading to a negative impression of the gun, leading to a lost sale.

MattS - I have several XDs, and a friend with a Glock 19. I would not mind meeting you at SEG at some point if you want to try out the XD|XDMs.

Don't know where you are, but if you're in NoVA, Sharpshooters (formerly Gilbert's) rents guns. It's $19 for the session, and last I checked, you could change your gun as often as you wanted. You do have to buy a box of their ammo, though, like many places. It's not *too* overpriced. They do have a 30-day membership fee ($10) and a lane fee ($10), which will cost another $20.

I haven't shot the guns you've described, but I have shot the Ruger SR9 and a Sig Sauer (some model, I forget). Both are nice guns to shoot, and of the two, the Ruger's actually affordable. It's roughly the same size as the full-size Glock 9mm, and it loves reloads.

I'd also suggest shooting a revolver or two, if you can. Semiautos are fine guns, but wheelguns have their advantages, too, especially when you bring reloading into the mix.