[shaggycat]

Greetings,
I am currently in college in the great city of Nashville, Tn. I am trying to decide upon my first centerfire handgun. I am considering several 9mm's (Hi-Power, P226, USP) but have an intense desire to buy a 1911. They feel incredible to hold and are, IMO, the most beautiful hunk of metal on the planet.

The only centerfire handguns I have shot are an old S&W Model 10 and a Polish P-64. So besides .38 special and 9x18, I have very little centerfire experience.

I don't want to plop down a large chunk of cash for a .45 and find I have made to large a leap from my Buckmark. So, to make an unnecessarily long story longer, I would like to rent as many of the guns I am considering as possible.

So far, the only place I have found that rents guns is Gun City (which is a little pricey and from what I hear, not the nicest place either). It is 15$ to get into the range then $7.50 to $30 for the gun rental.

I don't know how reasonable a price that is, but I would like to spend as little as possible (college student and all). Any advice on a cheaper/better option?

[real_name]

I must recommend Guns and Leather (http://www.gunsandleather.com/) in Greenbrier, just north of Nashville on I65.

I first heard of them via Oleg Volk, the owner of this site, and now only shop there. I do however use the range at Hobson Pike (http://www.tnoutdoorsmen.com/srhec.htm) instead as I prefer outdoor ranges.

They have a range, rental guns and lots of great guns to buy.
They are open every day too, which beats most stores here in TN.

[Gary G23]

When you go to Guns and Leather you might want to drive ten miles up the road to Second Amendment Gun Shop in Springfield. They have an indoor range and I think they rent guns but I'm not sure.

[lastcavalier]

I'd second the recommendation of Guns and Leather. Nice shop, nice people (I went in knowing very little and was helped out a lot). Doesn't cost too much, and they've a decent selection of guns to rent.

[shaggycat]

Thanks for the replies. I will make it out to rent a few either this weekend or the next and will definately post a review/ranger report of whichever firearm I purchase when I decide.

[erict]

If you get north of town about 7 or 8 miles up I-24 west there is a gun shop in Joelton called Academy of self Protection and they rent guns for a decent price there.

They rent Glocks for $8-$10 or so and others (1911's etc.) in the $12 range.

They are very easy to deal with and I shoot at their range sometimes in the winter. It's $8 to shoot as long as you want and women shoot free on Fridays.

[TN-popo]

OnTarget in M'Boro has an indoor range and rents handguns and full-auto Class IIIs.

[Byron]

I second On Target. Their staff will take time with you. Byron