Handgun shooting in near Orlando Florida

[xyzpilot]

Hi

I am going to the Orlando area for some holiday in a few days. I have a UK gun certificate and shoot long guns both at my home club and on the Bisley ranges. I plan on doing some shooting and a bit of gun related shopping on holiday. In particular handgun shooting as

1. The bit I have done was fun

and

2. I am PI**ED OFF I can’t do it at home.

I am looking for some advice.

Can you recommend a rental range that is good vale for a long afternoons shooting?

If I wanted a range with an extensive and interesting range of guns to rent would you recommend a different range?

Which shops would you go to for the best range of shooting related “toys”? (I can’t take guns or ammo home boo hiss)

Any advice on finding a gun show to visit in Orlando?

Any other advice?

Thanks in advance for your help

xyzpilot

 

[El Tejon]

How long will you be in the States? If you stay until January maybe you can catch the SHOT Show?

Some locals will be along shortly.

 

[Cacique500]

This is the one I would recommend:

http://www.shootstraightonline.com

Go to the Apopka location - very nice range there. It's less than 10 miles Northwest of Orlando.

 

[XDKingslayer]

I stumbled across the Apopka range this weekend. Very nice place. I didn't shoot as I didn't have time. I spent the holiday weekend in Apopka at the Wekiva Springs State Park (very, very nice place also). So I second going to the Apopka ShootStraight.

 

[Japle]

If you get over to the East coast, Cocoa Beach in particular, stop in at The Gun Site in Merritt Island. It's just south of SR 520, about 4 miles west of Cocoa Beach.

http://www.florida.worldweb.com/ToursActivitiesAdventures/TargetShooting/

He has lots of different guns to try, including full auto, last time I was there.

John
Cape Canaveral

 

[candr44]

When you get to Orlando, try looking in the phone book and make a few phone calls. There is a range that rents guns to tourists on John Young Parkway just off I-4.

There's also a gun show in Orlando on January 6-7 at the Central Florida Fair Grounds.

 

[Wes Janson]

I'm not an Orlando area resident, but I have to say that odds are the Apopka store is your best bet for your purposes. They usually have somewhere in the vicinity of a dozen or two dozen handguns for rent, so you're sure to find something interesting. Recently we had a British gentleman come out to our range (1 1/2 hour SW of Orlando) several times during his stay here in Florida, and shoot a rifle the club loaned him. Have fun!

 

[CrawdaddyJim]

The Shootstraight range is very nice and the store in Apopka(North Orlando metro area) has lots of guns to peruse.

Shoot me a e-mail Crawdaddy031(at)cfl.rr.com and include your number. I will be glad to talk to you about gunshows, ranges, gunclubs and such. Jim 1-(386)626=2453

If schedules line up I would be glad to guide you on a tour of the local area gunshops and such.

 

[Gunpacker]

There is a gunshow in Tampa on Dec 2 and 3. Probably about a 70 mile trip one way from Dizzy world.
Show is at the Florida State Fairgrounds East of Tampa a few miles, just off I-4.

 

[XDKingslayer]

If it's the Suncoast Gunshow avoid it like the plague. Stupidly overpriced unless you're looking for something weird like Bersa mags, then it might be worth the trip. But everything in general is overpriced and they don't pay attention to what other people are selling. You'll see a guy with a cheap Pakistani knife for $9.00 and another guy at the next table selling the same knife for $21.00.

Yes, that actually happened...

 

[lacoochee]

If you haven't been to a gun show in the US, you won't believe the sheer amount of firepower under one roof until you have actually experienced it. It's worth going just to look and touch the guns you have been drooling over online.
Take pictures, scare the hell out of your friends and family back in the UK, they can't imagine what real freedom is like. Apply for a green card and stay a while, some of my best friends here in Tampa are British ex-pats.

http://suncoastgunshows.com/gun_shows/tampa_gun_show.htm

And XDKingslayer I buy most of my new babies at the Suncoast Gun Show from local gun dealers and if you go in knowing what constitutes a reasonable price for your newest treasure you won't get ripped off and most often I find that with a little comparison shopping I get a fair price. Though I have to agree anything that looks like an AR-15 is way overpriced by several hundred dollars, same with Garands, and other weapons with the cool I have to buy it now factor.

 

[Anna's Dad]

Orlando

All three gun shows that I know about just took place so I don't expect there will be another one for a few weeks, at least.

I'm fairly new to the Orlando area but have been to these two ranges:
www.shootstraightonline.com
www.eastorangess.com

Shoot Straight is definately the nicer range and have a much better gun selection but I believe they charge per hour where East Orange is less than $10.00 for the entire day!

If you're looking to buy, you won't beat Shoot Straight's selection (especially the larger Apopka store). Their prices, however, are relatively high. I have found better deals at The Shooter's Den (www.theshootersden.com) and Al's Army Navy (www.alsarmynavy.com).

Finally, I do belong to a local gun club, the Seminole County Gun and Archery Association. They are private, but they open their range to the public the first Sunday of every month.

If you're going to be around on Sunday, I would definately check it out. I've been pretty busy lately but if you send me a PM, I can probably take you as a guest on another day while you are here.

 

[joab]

The ShootStraight Apoka store has a good selection and a nicely laid out range.
I have only been there once and had to leave after an hour.
The range was so hot and humid that it looked like someone had thrown a five gallon bucket of water on me. I literally wrung my shirt out in the parking lot.

East Orange will never get another dollar from me until they improve their staff. Without a doubt the worst customer service I have ever experienced from a gun shop.

I am very partial to the ShootStraight Casselberry store

Small range But great staff and it doesn't feel like a sauna (which may have just been a fluke at their other store.

I have heard excellent reviews of Oakridge Gun Store's range but have never shot there.
I did take my CCW class there and have shopped there a few times, great guys.

Reigs on the trail also has a good range, but they are a little lite on selection and service. I have heard people comment that it felt like they just didn't like them being in there.

I shoot mostly on my mother's property these days so I don't have to spend as much time at ranges as I used to so some things may have changed in the last year.

 

[pharmer]

One advantage of Oak Ridge is Class 3 rentals although it is a bit cramped. Joe