Not really a FAQ but I thought I'd post here for a simple newbie report.
My friend and I got our RPALs earlier this year, and while we know a few people into shooting we don't have any background in it. Been meaning to get it done a few years ago but we took way too long to spend the time to get it done. Anywho, we have each purchased a .22 to learn to shoot based off advice in these forums, thanks CGNers! All we now had to do was get to a range for our first visit. We both live in the GTA so we had a few options but based on what I'd read here and advice from a few people we settled on Silverdale.
For those who have been to ranges and grown up around gun people it might not seem intimidating but as we didn't, we had that first day of baseball season jitters where you nervously walk out to meet your teammates. After a 2 hour drive with traffic we were still a little concerned about how we would be treated as newbies. This is where I give a big, nay HUGE, thank you to the staff of Silverdale. They were nicer and more welcoming thank we could have imagined. No looking down on the newbies (and we're not exactly teenagers), and didn't bat an eye when we said we'd never been to a range. Exceptionally polite, joked around with us, made us feel right at home. We couldn't have asked for a better reception.
We spent the afternoon plinking terribly at the shortest range, but had the time of our lives. With our lack of experience, untouched equipment and dumb grins I'm sure we were stand out newcomers, but man was it fun. We had some nice conversations with others at the range, and I even got to handle an SR-22 that I had been eying before I got my Wildcat.
So in closing, this is less of a FAQ and more of a glowing thank you to the staff, members and weekend guests at Silverdale for making this an easy sport to get right into. Falling back into my baseball analogy, this is definitely a team that my friend and I feel a part of.
My friend and I got our RPALs earlier this year, and while we know a few people into shooting we don't have any background in it. Been meaning to get it done a few years ago but we took way too long to spend the time to get it done. Anywho, we have each purchased a .22 to learn to shoot based off advice in these forums, thanks CGNers! All we now had to do was get to a range for our first visit. We both live in the GTA so we had a few options but based on what I'd read here and advice from a few people we settled on Silverdale.
For those who have been to ranges and grown up around gun people it might not seem intimidating but as we didn't, we had that first day of baseball season jitters where you nervously walk out to meet your teammates. After a 2 hour drive with traffic we were still a little concerned about how we would be treated as newbies. This is where I give a big, nay HUGE, thank you to the staff of Silverdale. They were nicer and more welcoming thank we could have imagined. No looking down on the newbies (and we're not exactly teenagers), and didn't bat an eye when we said we'd never been to a range. Exceptionally polite, joked around with us, made us feel right at home. We couldn't have asked for a better reception.
We spent the afternoon plinking terribly at the shortest range, but had the time of our lives. With our lack of experience, untouched equipment and dumb grins I'm sure we were stand out newcomers, but man was it fun. We had some nice conversations with others at the range, and I even got to handle an SR-22 that I had been eying before I got my Wildcat.
So in closing, this is less of a FAQ and more of a glowing thank you to the staff, members and weekend guests at Silverdale for making this an easy sport to get right into. Falling back into my baseball analogy, this is definitely a team that my friend and I feel a part of.
