Range Rental Advice

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Divine Rights

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Mar 18, 2013
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Phoenix, Az
Hello everyone,

I am working on purchasing my first handgun. I have some experience with firearms but not a lot.

I have narrowed down the handgun I'd like to buy to the the Glock 17 or the M&P9.

I have a range close to me who rents them but they will not let me rent a handgun if I don't already own one or I bring a friend with one. (Which I totally understand & respect for safety reasons)

In addition they want me to purchase the ammo I use in the rental gun there at the range. So if they don't have 9mm at the time, I'm out of luck. (Which I also understand & respect b/c they don't want people ruining their rentals.)

Any suggestions? Besides just guessing and buying one of the two then hoping I purchased the one I would have liked better, I don't know what else to do... and if that's what I have to do, then so be it.

I'm kind of in a catch-22 situation. Not even addressing the point of finding my preferred handgun for sale once I make a decision :eek:

Thanks.
 
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What all have you shot?

Honestly if I were between those two, I'd get the one that feels best. Shooting them is good, but it's not like they're going to be very different. The main differences are trigger and grip. Both of which you can try out at the rental counter, without having to rent (assuming they aren't jerks about it).
 
Seeing if they will let me just hold each one is a good idea. It couldn't hurt to ask.

I only have one friend who shoots and our schedules (and locations) don't match up at all. So I was trying to figure out how not to hassle him about it to be honest.
 
Both are good pistols, and either will please you as you learn to shoot it. It comes down to which feels better in your hand.
 
My range has ran out of ammo from time to time. They still want to rent guns. Renting guns = gun sales and they know it. They have offered me rental with my ammo in the past as long as they can inspect the ammo. Sure they don't get the ammo sale but they are still able to generate rental income all the same.

If they know you're a buyer they will probably be a little more forgiving with their policy. Then again, I'm a regular every week and most of the employees know me.
 
Not a bad choice to be made here, I have a Gen 3 Glock 17 and that is a great gun for anybody, they are hard to find, and you have to scrounge for 9mm ammo. A Glock 22 is easier to find now, as is 40 S&W ammo.
 
Call ahead and check on ammo. I am currently suffering with a serious Glock addiction, but my wife greatly prefers the M&P 9c. The range I shoot at lets the top-tier members bring guests for free, rent guns for free, and will allow us to bring in factory ammo for rental guns if they are out. I've made a couple of friends out of people who were in your shoes by inviting them to be my guest.

Holding guns and shooting guns are two different things. Where are you located?
 
The range I frequent has the same policy due to people renting the guns and then using them to commit suicide. This has happened on more than one occassion thus prompting the policy on rentals. You can't blame them but it puts a serious road block in your path to gun ownership. Do you know a gun owner who would be willing to take you to this range?
 
I have only one friend who shoots but we have different schedules & locations so I was hoping not to hassle him more than I already have lol... He's been answering most of my dumb "new shooter" type questions.

To be honest, I'm seriously considering just going ahead and buying the Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm Carry and Range Kit. I won't be disappointed with it & it would solve this issue.

I really appreciate all the advice. If you have any more please feel free to leave it here =)
 
Divine Rights said:
To be honest, I'm seriously considering just going ahead and buying the Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm Carry and Range Kit. I won't be disappointed with it & it would solve this issue.
Click to expand...

Divine, I have a Glock 19, M&P9 (carry and range kit), and I just purchased a Glock 34. They are all great guns, and I highly recommend them all. I don't think you can go wrong with either of your choices, and if you can find the M&P and that is what you are leaning towards, go grab one! Right now guys are holding their value quite well, and the fact that it comes with 3 magazines is a great deal as right now you can't even buy an M&P magazine for less that $75.

Sent from my HTC One X
 
If you really want to rent, go out first and pick up a cheap Hi-Point or Jimenez somewhere, then bring it in. Maybe, just maybe, they'll count that as you "already owning a handgun." :evil:
 
You cannot go wrong with either. With exception of ergonomics, aesthetics, and triggers they are both similar enough that those three issues are generally the defining aspect.
 
Maybe find a gun club or range that offers new shooter classes. Our club does and we supply guns and ammunition.

Or

Bring a friend who has a gun.
 
Honestly if I were between those two, I'd get the one that feels best.
Click to expand...

^^ That ^^

The one that feels most comfortable in your size hand is going to give you the best control, thus accuracy.


We could help you more if you put your location in your profile.
 
Does this range ever have any kind of training sessions?
I would be finding a buddy to take there so I can shoot, although I don't seem to understand what the buddy or owning a handgun has to do with things.

It seems that everybody is new at some time.
 
They do offer classes but they require you bring your own firearm.

Not many easy ways for new shooters to get into shooting besides just making the investment and purchasing one to start with. So, that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to just buy the M&P 9.

Thanks for your help everyone.
 
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Good choice, I have the 9MM and 45 M&P. Accurate and dependable they're great for CCW.

FWIW when you hold a gun in a shop the thing I learned long ago was (with a gun I personally cleared). Get a proper firing one hand grip, find a small object on a wall like a clock or letter on a sign, and making sure I did not have the clerk/customer in my way close my eyes and point the gun at the object. Open you eyes and see how close the sights are to the object. You'll find that guns that don't feel right don't usually have a natural point of aim for you.
 
I have Glock 17/22/23/27 and M&P40/45.

While both Glock and M&P would be good choices, the "feel in the hand" will not tell you how they will shoot. I would highly recommend the range test as I have gone through this with many family/friends/co-workers and they often ended up buying the pistol that shot better than how they felt in their hands. ;)

I would also check to see if the M&P9 has the newer/improved trigger - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=8843233#post8843233
 
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