Your first gun range visit

What happens on a first visit

NSSF suggests asking the range manager, safety officer or counter staff to go over the range rules and fees, and saying that you are new so they can take you through the safety orientation. [1]

1. Check in at the counter

   Ranges check you in here. The rules they post cover photo ID, a signed waiver and, at some, a safety briefing for first-time shooters.

   281 ranges post a waiver rule · 138 a photo ID rule · 199 a safety briefing rule

2. Rent what you need

   1,174 ranges list firearm rentals and 196 rent eye and ear protection. Some require a rental gun to be fired with ammunition bought at the range.

3. Shoot from your lane

   Range staff or a range safety officer run the firing line. Ranges post rules on cease-fires, drawing from a holster, rapid fire and the targets you may use.

   391 ranges post holster or rapid-fire rules · 403 target rules · 166 range-officer rules

One range’s process: the NRA Range asks every shooter to complete its paperwork and show a valid photo ID, and its waiver can be filled out online before you arrive. It assigns lanes first come, first served, in one-hour increments, and does not rent firearms. [2]

The rules ranges post

2,342 ranges list their rules, or who can visit, on their USA Arms pages. These are the topics they cover, by how many ranges mention each, with one example of each in a range’s own words. A range that doesn’t post a rule may still have one, so ask when you call.

1. Banned ammunition, such as steel core or tracers583 25%

   Steel core / armor-piercing rounds and tracer ammunition are prohibited.Saddle River Range, Conroe, TX

2. Age limits and minors531 23%

   Club rules require that a club member be on the range when anyone under the age of 21 shoots a rifle.Rifle and Pistol Club of Fort Dodge, Fort Dodge, IA

3. Caliber and velocity limits489 21%

   Handgun calibers only (17HMR - 500 S&W).The Buffalo Trading Company, Findlay, OH

4. Members’ guests463 20%

   Life Members have no limit on Guest visitation.Lima SABRES Shooting Association, Lima, OH

5. Eye and ear protection451 19%

   Eye and ear protection must be worn at all times near any shooting area.Sportsman's Training Center, Augusta, KS

6. Approved targets403 17%

   Movable target stands, cardboard backers, and staple guns are provided; shooters supply paper targets.DEGuns Shooting Range

7. Drawing from a holster and rapid fire391 17%

   No drawing from holsters without staff approval.Range 42, Medina, OH

8. Reservations and walk-ins320 14%

   Range is first come / first served – no reservations necessary.Clark Brothers Gun Shop, Warrenton, VA

9. Signing a waiver281 12%

   Check in and register before going to the range; everyone going to the range must check in and sign the waiver.Burtzland Outfitters LLC, Alliance, OH

10. Safety briefing or orientation199 8%

    Range: Range orientation video is required before use.AimHi, New Albany, OH

11. Range officers and cease-fire166 7%

    Users must designate an Instructor or NRA Certified RSO responsible for range administration; the complete SOP applies to lower-range activities.Big Springs Shooting Complex, Searsboro, IA

12. Arriving unloaded or cased163 7%

    All guns must be cased or holstered.North Metro Regional Public Safety Training Facility, Maple Grove, MN

13. Photo ID138 6%

    You must have a valid state or government-issued ID to use our facility.37 PSR, Bunnlevel, NC

14. Alcohol and drugs112 5%

    All lanes: Alcohol or drug use before or while shooting is prohibited.RifleGear Range, The Colony, TX

15. Ammunition bought at the range66 3%

    Rental firearms: Ammunition for rentals must be purchased from Buds Gun Shop & Range at the time of rental.Bud's Gun Shop & Range, Sevierville, TN

16. Closed-toe shoes and clothing42 2%

    Open-toed shoes are prohibited; avoid low-cut shirts.Parma Armory Shooting Center, Cleveland, OH

17. Shooters per lane and time limits37 2%

    All Range USA ranges: Maximum of 2 shooters per lane.Range USA Villa Park, Villa Park, IL

Each range counts once per topic, from its posted rules or its note on who can visit; the share is of the 2,342 ranges that post either. Examples are quoted from posted rules, from different states. NSSF and NRA each publish their own gun safety rules, and both call for eye and ear protection. [3] [4]

Public ranges and private clubs

1,523 of the 2,522 ranges whose pages say who can shoot (60%) are open to the public. Most of the rest are clubs for members and their guests.

463 ranges post rules for members’ guests, so a member can sometimes bring you along.

When ranges are open

Of the 1,279 ranges that list weekly hours, 88% list Saturday hours; Monday is the day the fewest list (53%). 466 (36%) list a day that runs to 8 pm or later.

A day a range doesn’t list is not always a day it is closed; check its page or call.

Questions to ask when you call

1. Is the range open to the public, or to members and their guests only?
2. Can you walk in, or should you reserve a lane?
3. What does an hour of lane time cost, and are targets, a rental gun or eye and ear protection extra?
4. Can a first-time shooter rent a gun, and must its ammunition be bought at the range?
5. What ID, age limits and waiver apply?
6. Is there a safety briefing or orientation for first-time shooters?

Each range sets its own rules, prices and hours. Confirm them with the range before you go.

Common questions

How much does it cost to go to a gun range?

Ranges on USA Arms that list an hourly lane price charge a median of $20 for an hour; the middle half list $19 to $25. A day pass has a median listed price of $20. A gun rental, listed as its own charge, has a median of $15. Ask what the price includes.

Can you rent a gun at a shooting range?

Many ranges can: 1,174 of the 4,486 ranges on USA Arms list firearm rentals. Some require a rental gun to be fired with ammunition bought at the range, and some do not rent at all. The NRA Range, for one, asks shooters to bring their own firearms or come with someone who has them.

What do I need to bring to a gun range?

Among the rules ranges post on USA Arms are eye and ear protection (451 ranges), a signed waiver (281) and photo ID (138). 196 ranges list eye and ear protection as a rental. If you bring a firearm, 163 ranges post a rule that it arrive unloaded or cased.

What should I wear to a gun range?

Ranges that post a dress rule ask for closed-toe shoes; a few also rule out low-cut tops or loose clothing. NSSF’s safety rules call for eye and ear protection whenever you shoot.

Do you need a reservation for a gun range?

It depends on the range. 320 ranges on USA Arms post a rule about reservations or walk-ins: some take shooters first come, first served, and others book lanes ahead. The NRA Range, for example, takes no reservations.

Are gun ranges open on Sundays and Mondays?

Of the 1,279 ranges on USA Arms that list weekly hours, 88% list Saturday hours, 72% Sunday hours and 53% Monday hours.

Do you have to be a member to shoot at a range?

At most ranges, no. Of the 2,522 ranges on USA Arms whose pages say who can shoot, 1,523 (60%) are open to the public; most of the rest are clubs for members and their guests. Ranges on USA Arms that sell memberships list a median of $152 a year for one adult.

How old do you have to be to shoot at a range?

Each range sets its own age rules; 531 ranges on USA Arms post one. They include a minimum age to shoot and a requirement that minors shoot with a parent or guardian. The NRA Range’s minimum age is 7.