Why New Shooters Should Join a Range

Joining fellow shooters at a range can help you hone your skills and have fun safely.

posted on June 16, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

So you've purchased a firearm. Now what? One of the first things you should do is find a local gun range. Doing so will likely encourage you to train more and enable you to meet fellow gun owners, as well as find qualified instructors. Quality instruction is important for safety and proficiency. And once you are more comfortable with your skills, you may even want to engage in friendly competitive shooting matches offered at your range. This is a great way to find a training buddy to make practice even more fun.

Whether you choose an indoor or outdoor range is up to you; they each have their pros and cons. In "Joining a Range," one of the latest videos in the Smith & Wesson GUNSMARTS Series 2 collection, Ken Scott, a Smith & Wesson ambassador and former law enforcement officer, explains how to figure out which is right for you. If it's your first time shooting at a gun range, be sure to read up on range etiquette before your first session.

And be sure to check out the entire library of informative videos at smith-wesson.com/gunsmarts, which were created to make proficiency with a firearm more accessible to new gun owners.

Latest

Horman NAA 001 Naac3 Cover 01
Horman NAA 001 Naac3 Cover 01

North American Arms' Colorful Mini Revolver Trio

This company now offers these three .22-caliber wheelguns with Cerakote finishes.

New Gear 2026: Champion 9mm Training Handgun Loads

The new ammo is designed to be used for high-volume range practice sessions.

How a Team Tactics Course Boosts Your Home Defense Plan

Here's why you should consider a specific course for you and whoever you live with—what you’ll learn, the advantages of working as a team in a home-defense situation, and more.

Updated for 2026: Traveler's Guide to the Firearms Laws of the Fifty States

Are you following the law when you travel with your firearms? Here's one way to be sure.

4 Reasons Why Now is the Time to Own a Suppressor

No more expensive tax stamp and significantly shorter wait times are just a couple of justifications for finally adding a suppressor to your standard gear collection. Read on for more.

It’s a Wrap: Ladies Pistol Project 6—the Nightstand Edition

Do we yet know the answer to which pistols ladies prefer? Yes—and no!

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.