Originally Posted by
ArcticHound
1) Don't know about shooting ranges near London, sorry.
2a) I would recommend finding a range where you can try a few firearms out to see what you like. Not just firearms either, but calibre. .22LR is fairly easy to shoot (very low recoil) and relatively inexpensive, but the ammunition availability can come and go. For pistol rounds, 9mm is fairly inexpensive - especially when purchased in bulk - and the recoil is not too harsh. Ultimately, if it's your first firearm and you want to get lots of practice in, you can't go wrong with .22LR and it's always good to have one in your collection for the day you want to introduce shooting to a newcomer.
As for the firearms themselves, a lot of that is subjective - like picking out a car. What feels right to you? Do you want the exact same trigger pull every shot (double-action only/striker fired) or something that can do single-action shooting as well, where the trigger pull will be very light. Polymer firearms will generally be lighter in weight, but that also means less weight to absorb recoil. Grip size relative to your hand, where the controls are located, how it feels when you bring it up to sight in, etc. Some pistols have a high bore axis (where the barrel sits relative to your hand), which can make the recoil flip the gun up a bit more. As you can see, it really helps to be able to fire a large variety of firearms and calibres to see what you like.
2b) Once you have the gun you want picked out, you can either order it at a brick-and-mortar store, buy it online and have it shipped to you, or purchase a used firearm. If it's non-restricted, you supply your PAL and, if at a store, take it home with you straight away. If restricted, you will need to wait for the transfer request (moves the registration into your name) to be approved as well as get an Authorization to Transport to move it from the store to your home. The nice thing about buying online is you can skip the ATT part as it gets shipped to you (unless you miss the delivery and have to go pick it up at the Post Office, in which case you will need an ATT for that little trip).
Do your research and find what the most reasonable price is for the firearm you want. Also keep in mind that when buying used, many people often ask far more than the firearm is worth, so be diligent and make sure you have some ideas on what is fair price-wise. If you *do* need to transport a restricted home from the store, you will need a locking device for the firearm (trigger or cable lock typically) as well as an opaque case which is also locked. Some firearms come in cases that can be locked with a padlock, but keep in mind that most of those are not designed to accept the firearm with a trigger lock installed (they are too narrow), so a cable lock may be the way to go in that instance. In the long run, you are probably better off purchasing a decent pistol or rifle case since you will be using it for years to come to transport to and from the range.
3) Figure out where you plan to store your firearms. For restricteds, you are okay storing them in a case, trigger/cable locked and the case locked as well. Always unloaded, regardless of class. You can keep ammunition in the same case as the firearm, but if you purchase ammo in bulk, there won't be much room, so I prefer dedicated ammunition boxes/cans for that. If you can afford it, get yourself a decent gun safe or cabinet and bolt it to the floor and/or wall. You will need to buy yourself some eyes and ears (safety glasses and hearing protection) - there are lots of options out there and you can do your own research on what may work best for you - everything from passive sets that sit over your whole ear, to active ones that use electronics to cancel loud noises while still allowing you to hear things like range officer commands, to ear buds that sit inside your ear canal.
I would say don't spend a lot until you have dipped your toes in a bit, but buy the best things you can afford. If you have a friend who shoots, go to the range with them and see if you like any of their firearms, or find a range that rents firearm packages so you can try a few things out. If you decide in the long run to do a lot of shooting, you can look into reloading your own ammunition, but that is probably down the road aways if you're just starting out.
Hope this helps.
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