Real n00b question

[Adadrian]

Hey guys, n00b from Australia here, I’m 36. this question is really n00bish so I apologise,

I’ve only shot in the outback Australia on a large farm getting rid of pests with a rifle. I really enjoyed the fun of it. (I’ve also done archery)
But I’m back in the city now and I want to join a club (it’s the only way to shoot)

Can you guys give me 1. Some basic advice for a n00b getting into it seriously.

2. main differences between pistols, rifle shooting and shot guns (apart from the obvious) What’s best for beginners? I want to take this serious and really get into it.

3. I’m leaning towards clay shooting due to the fact it’s moving. But pistols seem fun (I’ve only shot rifles) they all appeal to me!

And lastly any good beginner or must have books ??

 

[Odd Job]

Your best bet is to join the club and try what they have there first. You will soon find out where your interests lie.
If the club lets you shoot other members' guns that will be even better. You can then see what a well-maintained gun of that sort shoots like. I say that because some of the club guns will be well-used (some would say abused).

 

[Spats McGee]

Welcome to THR!

Hey guys, n00b from Australia here, I’m 36. this question is really n00bish so I apologise,....

We're glad to have you here, and that you're getting into shooting. We were all noobs once.

Now on to your questions:

....Can you guys give me 1. Some basic advice for a n00b getting into it seriously....

1. Learn the Four Basic Rules by heart.
2. Practice them religiously. When things go wrong with a firearm, they go wrong very, very fast, and may have deadly consequences.
3. Get some competent instruction. Even though of us who grew up around guns can often benefit from having some good lessons. If you start with bad habits, and keep practicing them, you get ingrained bad habits that are hard to break. Getting some training early in your shooting life can help you avoid this.
4. Get decent eye and ear protection. I've seen too many older shooters walking around gun shows asking, "Huh? What did you say?"

2. main differences between pistols, rifle shooting and shot guns (apart from the obvious) What’s best for beginners? I want to take this serious and really get into it.....

Realistically, the first thing I shot was a BB gun. The same is true for many shooters in the US. That said, it depends on your local laws. I don't know the ins & outs of Australian law, but that will partially dictate what you can get. Or maybe what you can get quickly. Part of that equation is also about what you're planning to do with the gun. You mention clay shooting below, and there's nothing wrong with starting with a shotgun. I graduated from the BB gun to a single-shot 20ga H&R, and then on to an 870. I only shot pistols occasionally, and shooting rifles was really rare for me for about the first 20 years of shooting. These days, most of my shooting is handguns, as my primary focus is self-defense and home defense. I have to admit that I really enjoy shooting handguns, too.

On the 'for beginners' side of things, many of us recommend starting with a .22LR. The last time I bought .22LR ammo, I paid around (US) $0.05 per round. The cheapest centerfire ammo around here is 9mm, which was running around $0.20 per round. So for the cost of shooting 250 rounds of 9mm, I could shoot 1000 rounds of .22LR. IMHO, there's no substitute for trigger time and nothing more fun to shoot than a .22LR.

3. I’m leaning towards clay shooting due to the fact it’s moving. But pistols seem fun (I’ve only shot rifles) they all appeal to me!

I'm sure we have some clay shooters who will be glad to tell you how much fun they are. Like you (and like me) many of our members enjoy all kinds of firearms. I've shot clay pigeons on a handful of occasions, but not that often. The fun did not escape my notice, though!

And lastly any good beginner or must have books ??

I'm sure there are, but I'm not well versed in that, so I'll leave that for other members to answer.

Again, welcome to THR!

 

[Harriw]

3. I’m leaning towards clay shooting due to the fact it’s moving. But pistols seem fun (I’ve only shot rifles) they all appeal to me!

When I started shooting, I started off with the shotgun sports as well. It was convenient due to club locations in my area and some other similar factors, but my primary reason was similar to yours - I assumed that if I could get good at hitting an object moving in 3 dimensions, that stationary target shooting would then be a piece of cake.

While there's absolutely nothing wrong with starting off with shotgunning and i have no regrets (it really is a heck of a lot of fun), I found in the long run that shotgunning and rifle shooting are 2 different animals. Getting good at the one didnt really translate to the other for me (beyond the basic stuff like learning to handle firearms safely, get used to recoil, etc.). In shotgun sports, the bird is moving away from you. Every second's delay makes the bird farther away, and harder to hit. Because you have a spread of shot rather than a single projectile, shotguning is very much a game of "close enough is good enough, and sooner is better than later." Rifle target shooting requires more precision, and things like trigger control, breathing, etc. Start to matter. I haven't really gotten into 3-gun matches and such, but perhaps when the timing element is added back in on those games experience with shotgunning would come in handy?

 

[Telekinesis]

As Spats McGee mentioned, it’s best to start with safety and knowledge. The 4 rules are a great place to start as they are easy, apply to any firearm you use (pistol, rifle, or shotgun), and are the absolute minimum for safe use. If you follow these rules, an accident is merely embarrassing, as opposed to life-altering.

While shooting sports are very safe, always remember that guns have the potential to be very dangerous. It’s very similar to operating machinery, riding a motorcycle, or driving a car. Most accidents happen when the user becomes complacent and ignores basic safety. Always think “is what I’m about to do safe?” and you’ll be fine.

Eye and ear protection are very important. If you hang around shooting guys enough, you’ll notice that the most common words are “huh?” and “what?” Money spent on high quality ear protection is never wasted. The more comfortable it is, the more likely you will be to wear it.

I’m not sure about the legalities of this in Australia, but if it’s possible I’d recommend looking into suppressors for rifles and pistols. Depending on what you’re shooting it may not remove the need for wearing your own hearing protection, but quieting the source of the noise helps everyone around you as opposed to your hearing protection just helping you.

Anyway, onto the more exciting parts!
There is a LOT of information about shooting out there, and I would recommend reading and learning as much as you can. I will caution though, always consider the source of the information and cross check against other sources. If you see multiple good sources of information saying the same thing, chances are that it’s true. THR is very good for this as most bad information gets (politely) challenged very quickly, and with the number of knowledgeable members on here, even obscure and counterintuitive information will be backed up by sources if it is true. Don’t consider this your only source though, read as much as you can.

BB and pellet guns might be a good place to start. They are usually less expensive, less regulated, quieter, and are easier to find a place to shoot. For instance, I can shoot a low powered BB gun in my basement. I couldn’t dream of doing that with even the smallest pistol or rifle. It’s a great way to practice sight alignment and trigger control which directly relate to shooting real guns.

If you want to start with pistol or rifle, a .22 is a great place to start. The guns and ammo are inexpensive compared to other guns (which means you can practice a lot) and there is less recoil and noise. All of these help when learning marksmanship. These also aren’t exclusively “learner” guns. A lot of us who have been shooting for years still enjoy taking out a .22, so it’s not something you would necessarily outgrow.

As you get experience, you’ll probably be able to figure out what direction you want to move in next. In general, for rifle I’d look at something like a .223 or .308, and pistol probably a 9mm as the next step.

For shotguns, a 12ga is generally the “standard” and it will have more recoil and more expensive ammunition than a .22 (you can use lighter “target” loads which will help with recoil). You’ll probably be looking for a double barrel (over/under) or a pump shotgun. These can be fairly inexpensive and last a long time (however some of the nicer competition type over/unders can cost more than a car). Generally a longer barrel is easier to shoot at moving game, and a heavier gun will help with recoil. Make sure your gun has choke tubes, which help constrict the pattern so that you can shoot targets at (slightly) longer ranges.

In general, regardless of if you’re talking about pistol, rifle, or shotgun, a larger gun (physical size, not caliber) will be easier to shoot and have less recoil than a smaller gun. While the rule applies to all weapons, it is especially relevant to pistols. The smallest handguns (like small revolvers) are generally considered to be the most difficult to shoot well.

Personally I think that moving targets are more fun than stationary targets, at least until you start getting into longer range rifle shooting (600+ yards). Pistol, rifle, and shotgun are sufficiently different that experience in one doesn’t necessarily translate to proficiency in another.

Consider that all of the above comes from someone that doesn’t fully understand the legalities of shooting firearms in Australia. For instance, from a licensing perspective I t might be easier to get started with a shotgun than a rifle or pistol. Your local clubs will probably be a big help with that kind of information.

 

[denton]

Part of the joy of the hobby is finding what you like. If you are wise in your purchases, good used firearms can be re-sold for about what you have into them. So you can try something, and then get your cash out and try something different.

For me, a big part of it is the socializing. I really enjoy my friends at the range. The shooting provides a great social situation.

In an urban environment, finding a place to shoot handguns is often easier than finding rifle and shotgun ranges.

For starters, you might look at a nice 22 or 9mm. Those will be a lot of fun without breaking the bank. Other than 22, 9mm is about the least expensive ammunition.

 

[George P]

Adadrian said: ↑
3. I’m leaning towards clay shooting due to the fact it’s moving. But pistols seem fun (I’ve only shot rifles) they all appeal to me!
I'm sure we have some clay shooters who will be glad to tell you how much fun they are. Like you (and like me) many of our members enjoy all kinds of firearms. I've shot clay pigeons on a handful of occasions, but not that often. The fun did not escape my notice, though!

I am one of those who prefers shotguns at clays over everything else because it is not only challenging but a lot of fun. I shoot sporting clays, both casual and serious competitions. Since semi autos are illegal in Australia, I would suggest you look at an O/U from the likes of Browning or Beretta. A trip to the local club (bring some nice ammo as a thank you) and see if members will let you borrow their guns for a round of whatever they are shooting. There are several clay games with the overall basic genres being trap (several forms), skeet, and Sporting (several forms). I won't disparage one form over another as they all have their fans and detractors for various reasons. Of course, the extension from clay shooting then becomes bird hunting...........

If you have some very specific questions, you can always PM me here

 

[Adadrian]

Thanks for all the advice guys I plan on trying all 3 to decide what I like, unfortunately it’s illega here to have guns for self defence etc . Our rules are super strict.

 

[Spats McGee]

Thanks for all the advice guys I plan on trying all 3 to decide what I like, unfortunately it’s illega here to have guns for self defence etc . Our rules are super strict.

Many of us (myself included) know that Australian rules are very strict, but we don't necessarily know the exact contours. Obviously, that's something you'll need to figure out.