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

NRA Women The Armed Citizen Pistol
NRA Women The Armed Citizen Pistol

The Armed Citizen® Reload June 12, 2026

One man's idea of brotherly love didn't exactly align with his sister's philosophy.

Sally Talbott Earns High Woman Honors at 2026 CMP Bianchi Cup

Talbott, a member of Team Accuracy X and a former member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Service Pistol Team also earned Open .22 Champion honors and finishing 2nd overall in the Open Division.

Team Remington's Madison Sharpe Wins Top Honors at the 2026 Southeast Regional Championships

Team Remington’s Brandon Powell also won his second consecutive NSCA regional championship.

National Bowhunter Education Foundation's Marilyn Bentz Receives Ann Hoyt Award

The award is reserved for those deserving women who have demonstrated excellence in career achievements and service to the archery community as an administrator, bowhunter, businessperson, coach, competitor or official.

Why You Should Buy a Duck Stamp

The story behind how we got the federal duck stamp and why you should consider buying one even if you don’t hunt.

 

Ruger Safety Bulletin: LCP MAX Manual Safety Models

The recess that retains the safety lever detent spring may not be machined properly, but the other safety mechanisms, including the trigger safety, are not affected and will still function properly.

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.