So I am in the process of getting my rpal (damn thing is taking forever to get online) but I am worried about firing one for the first time. The safety course explained how to hold the various firearms, but I don't know how much recoil or force one actually produces. What is the best way to start shooting? I am thinking about getting a mosin-nagant (cheap and I love WWII rifles) though I heard the round is a bit powerful? Should I just go to a range and start shooting away?
Best way to start shooting?
- Thread starter Ioncannon
- Start date
I know where I took my rpal course, he also offered live fire training at a range. So you might be able to look into an instructor or someone in your area who does offer something like that. Possibly some indoor ranges in your area too that have guns for you to try out under the supervision of a range officer who could also walk you through it. I think I also noticed a thread in here that was either newbies meeting or mentoring that someone from the site in your area might even be nice enough to take you out.
Don't worry about recoil too much. Go to the range and just watch for a bit to get a feel for how the whole thing works there. Then get your new rifle out and shoot it. Pull the stock hard against your shoulder so it doesn't have room to kick back and punch you. You'll have so much fun you'll hardly notice the recoil. At the end of the day your shoulder might ache slightly. Minor detail.
If you're worried about handgun recoil, same thing. Just grip the gun firmly with both hands, as high on the handle as possible - look it up online how to do it - and fire. The blast seems pretty intense at first (you soon get used to it), but recoil is not a big deal. Just hang on tight for that first shot till you get the feel of it.
I went to the range for the first time yesterday. Shot my two Mosin's, SVT-40, 1911 Commander (.45 ACP) and my Tokarev TT33. Tons of fun. Took a few shots with my new shotgun too. I was a bit leery about recoil on the 1911, but it's not such a big deal - not a lot harder than the TT33.
The only bad part about shooting four ancient guns in one day is getting home and having to spend a couple more hours cleaning corrosive residue.
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Don't worry about recoil too much. Go to the range and just watch for a bit to get a feel for how the whole thing works there. Then get your new rifle out and shoot it. Pull the stock hard against your shoulder so it doesn't have room to kick back and punch you. You'll have so much fun you'll hardly notice the recoil. At the end of the day your shoulder might ache slightly. Minor detail.
If you're worried about handgun recoil, same thing. Just grip the gun firmly with both hands, as high on the handle as possible - look it up online how to do it - and fire. The blast seems pretty intense at first (you soon get used to it), but recoil is not a big deal. Just hang on tight for that first shot till you get the feel of it.
I went to the range for the first time yesterday. Shot my two Mosin's, an SVT-40, a 1911 (.45 ACP) and a TT33. Tons of fun. Took a few shots with my new shotgun too. I was a bit leery about recoil on the 1911, but it's not such a big deal - not a lot harder than the TT33.
The only bad part about shooting four ancient guns in one day is getting home and having to spend a couple more hours cleaning corrosive residue.
Great to hear! Can't wait till I get to go to the range for the first time! Too bad the app process takes soooo long...
I would STRONGLY advise you to get yourself a single shot 22 rifle to learn on too. Super cheap to shoot and the most important part is it teaches you to make every shot count as if it was your last, and to make the most of every shot. Once you learn that and then apply that to a semi auto you will be WAY more skilled then someone who learns on a semi auto, in general.
I find people who learn on a semi auto learn that you don't have to make every shot count because you can just saw away on it and mow it down because you know you have a magazine full of ammo.
welcome to the shooting sports, I guarantee you will have a blast!
Ps. I am an NCCP certified coach
I find people who learn on a semi auto learn that you don't have to make every shot count because you can just saw away on it and mow it down because you know you have a magazine full of ammo.
welcome to the shooting sports, I guarantee you will have a blast!
Ps. I am an NCCP certified coach
Umm, maybe you missed a bit of punctuation, as in "R/PAL's" but if you are getting a Restricted Possession and Acquisition Licence, you will not be able to buy a Mosin-Nagnat. You will be able to buy a restricted rifle, as in AR-15 and variants, or a handgun, but unless yo obtain a Possession and Acquisistion Licence for non-restricted, you can't buy nor own non-restricted firearms. Stupid law? Yup. The law? Yup.
'RPAL' is used generically to mean both to the people around me. I did both courses at once, wrote two exams, I have one 'Possession - Acquisition License' that says
Non-restricted
Restricted
I do not have two licenses. I have one that has both designations.
The mosin is a bolt action, not semi-automatic. Are you thinking of the SKS?
As silveragent said, when I say RPAL I mean both PAL and RPAL. I don't even think you can get a RPAL without a PAL.
Correct.
more about a 22
someone mentioned a 22 and making every shot count + cost issues.
I would like to add to that.
that I recently discovered that if you get a gun with too big a kick you will develop a "flinch"that will be hard to get rid of, the 22 cal would be good to practice and not develop any negative reflex.....I recently shot the Cz 858, not a big kick to that....
someone mentioned a 22 and making every shot count + cost issues.
I would like to add to that.
that I recently discovered that if you get a gun with too big a kick you will develop a "flinch"that will be hard to get rid of, the 22 cal would be good to practice and not develop any negative reflex.....I recently shot the Cz 858, not a big kick to that....
If I had to start over again I'd probably spend a lot less on hunting rifles and more on ammo and a good handgun. I'd probably buy a CZ shadow and shoot it a lot! And I would join some sort of competitive shooting sport as soon as possible.
But lessons are best learned through personal experience.
welcome to the sport!
But lessons are best learned through personal experience.
welcome to the sport!
I know it is a bolt action but it is a violent recoil compared to a 22. you can shoot 1000 22 rounds for the same price as a box of 20 large rifle rounds (from most any large rifle).
with a 22 you will learn stance, trigger control, sight alignment,breathing control exc and once you get better at that then try to use the bigger (more expensive) stuff with a more violent recoil.
To get good you need to shoot a lot. you can buy 500 22 rounds for 20 bucks. you could not even get yourself a box of 20 for a large rifle shells for 20 bucks.
