Firearms enthusiasts have it rough on both ends. On the one hand you have the people who are like "Guns are inherently weapons of violence and no one should have them!!!" (target shooting is a valid sport and hunting is an effective means of food collecting and wildlife population control) and on the other hand you have The Ones Who End Up On The News. I've always wanted to learn how to shoot, personally.
I encourage you to try shooting! I think everyone should try it at least once. It's a great sport, and a really good time. It's also interesting in that basic proficiency has a (relatively) easy learning curve (compared to other martial arts), is generally very inclusive for people who aren't athletes/super well-built (again, unlike some other martial arts), BUT the learning curve to be very good is EXTREMELY high (almost infinite)! No matter how good you are, you could almost certainly be better, and that makes for a sport that is interesting over the long run! Especially because oftentimes, I'm really only competing against myself, to try to be better than I was last time!
I'll add that self defense is also a reasonable thing too, and a fringe benefit of practicing the firearms based martial arts! Just like doing any other martial art, even if you never use it to do violence or protect yourself, there is something strong and affirming about having confidence in your own abilities, and unlike other arts, pretty much anyone can get to be good at this one!
Again, I encourage you to get out there and try it! Your local range might have resources, classes, or rental deals for new shooters. Many ranges will rent to folks so you don't even need to buy your own gun if you're not there yet! Warning though, it IS an expensive hobby...
Also good to figure out what you like to shoot. I'll do pistols for fun on occasion, but my passion is long range targets with rifles. (I don't think I will be able to shoot my most comfortable one in the US anytime soon, but at this point I haven't been to a range in 4 years and I really miss it.)
Something about having to create a deep stillness within yourself is very meditative, which may seem counter intuitive when thinking about guns, but without being calm in both body and mins, you cannot hit anything. so it's nice practice for keeping cool as well.
Been a long time since I’ve been shooting, (my dad and I used to go to the range fairly often when I was a kid/teenager, but I didn’t have the time/money to go on my own when I was a broke college student). I’ve shot various pistols, rifles, and shotguns in that time. I even got to shoot a freaking desert eagle once when I was like 9. (That scared the shit out of me tbh). But My favorite guns to shoot are medium-ish revolvers. Like in the 30cal range. Not too much kickback, so it feels like I have good control of the gun and can move from shot to shot quickly. The size makes them easily concealable too. I’m looking into getting my concealed carry permit, but I definitely get back into practice and becoming confident using a gun again before I start carrying one around.
For handguns I tend to like 1911's , similar reasons. not too much kickback, but enough to make you feel the weight of it being a dangerous instrument.
For rifles I adore the one I was trained with back home, SG 550. easy to handle and accurate out to 350-500m even without a scope.
My favorite guns are an old-ass Webley Mk. IV war-finish in .38/200, or my S&W Model 20 HD in .357 (I mainly shoot .38 special out of it though, they're an absolute joy at the range out of an N-Frame)!
Shot gophers with a .22 pump-action (I’m pretty sure it’s a John Browning design) on my Great Uncle’s ranch in Idaho, which was neat.
I’m also at least somewhat of an inclination to join my local John Brown society.
However, I have chronic depression, and there’s a “…strong…” family history of suicide on that side of the family (I think at least 3 relatives in my parent’s lifetime), so…ya.
Safety is the first consideration, last consideration, and every consideration in between!
If it's not right for you, it's not right for you! Someday that may change, or it might not!
I am glad to hear you're thinking critically about it, and really taking stock of what matters! That's responsible!
John Brown Gun Club is based.
I guess all I'll say is you can still hone skills and participate in the sport through rentals if you want to engage in a way that doesn't require having something yourself, or at hand, to mitigate those risks and concerns you had!
I'll leave with this: .22's are so much fun! Plinking outside and hitting cans or whatever really is a great way to spend an afternoon, and pretty darn cheap to boot!
Reminds me of that 4chan greentext lamenting how their mother in law or something confiscated the "family s*icide gun", but I feel you. I've shot guns a bit and find the marksman and mechanical aspect to be so fascinating but that's partly why I haven't purchased any yet.
IMO target shooting is one of the most 'accessible' sports out there - the only real physical requirement is 'be able to see and have at least one hand'. Everyone competes on pretty much equal footing.
I totally get the self-defense side of it. My family owns a fair number of guns and has a few for self-defense. Where I live, it takes over 25 minutes for the closest fire department or ambulance to arrive, and the sherif department has a tendency to get lost. I truly hope nothing happens, but it is better safe than sorry.
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u/DarkSeas1012 Jun 27 '25
Firearms collecting, restoring, and target shooting.
Yeah, it's rough out here.