Where to start

[HolmsterDan]

Hello all. I want to know where I can start. The questions I have are:
How do I start shooting?
Can I try out guns before I buy?
What courses should I take to start ccw permit?
What places in Montgomery county are good for this things.

Thank you
-20 yr old newbie

 

[outrider58]

Dan, start here. Do your intro and folks will be willing to help...

Introductions

New members, sound off!

www.mdshooters.com

 

[N3YMY]

Hello all. I want to know where I can start.

See Outrider’s suggestion above.

The questions I have are:
How do I start shooting?

If you have zero experience, consider taking basic pistol or basic rifle from a NRA instructor.

Can I try out guns before I buy?

Yes; in Maryland, unsure. In Virginia there are plenty of places to rent-n-shoot.

I like Blue Ridge Arsenal; not far from data center alley.

What courses should I take to start ccw permit?

Depends on whose permit you want to obtain. For Maryland I recommend you contact Tony Domenico (miles71). Excellent course and good drills post live fire.

What places in Montgomery county are good for this things.

IMHO, no place.

I avoid MoCo as much as I can…

 

[John from MD]

Hello all. I want to know where I can start. The questions I have are:
How do I start shooting?
Can I try out guns before I buy?
What courses should I take to start ccw permit?
What places in Montgomery county are good for this things.

Thank you
-20 yr old newbie

Welcome from Davidsonville.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Welcome .
Yes , an introduction in that subforum is a good thing , but most of your questions are basic and non controversial .

Start Shooting generally - Since you're asking here , it's implied you don't have an experienced family member , or other trusted mentor available . Then , to start from absolute zero ,a Basic Pistol ( or Basic Rifle, or Basic Shotgun ) class from an NRA instructor .

Try Before Buy ? - Yes ,sort of . ( But not in MoCo )

Many ( commercial , open to public ) shooting ranges offer a variety of rental firearms for nominal cost ( think $5 - 10 ) . They wouldn't be the exact individual guns you would purchase , but you can find representive examples of everything popular .

Good. Places ? - The one such commercial range IN MoCo is well ...... Sub optimal . Better Choices will be 30-60 minute trip for you . Including Forrestville ( Upper Marlboro zip code , but 5 minutes from Forestville exit ) , couple in Fredrick , and Owings Mill .

" CCW " Permit - Actually a Wear & Carry Permit , in Maryland speak .

Since you're asking , with zero experience , it's safe bet you're not Exempt . Thusly , you must take a 16hr Class from an MSP Licensed Instructor .

* Controversy Warnings ! *

Some Instructors are knowledgeable , and have good teaching skills . Some suck . Prices vary widely , and don't correspond to quality .

Some teacher , teach and test to the exact State Requirements .

Some teach additional skills .
Some require more difficult standards to " pass Their Class " .

This is all Controversial in the Gun Community .

If I knew you in person , I might or might not point you in a direction on this
Open Ended general information , I'm not touching that , in this thread .

 

[Cal68]

Welcome from Montgomery County MD.

I know you can rent guns at The Machine Gun Nest in Frederick MD, but I do not know if you need to show anything apart from your driver's license and credit card!

Cal68

 

[Billyb]

As others suggested, start with an NRA Basic course. You can search for those here: https://www.nrainstructors.org/Search.aspx

Before signing up for a class, ask here about the class/instructor. They are not all good and it seems there is an especially bad one in MoCo.

 

[Bertfish]

OP says he is 20. Can't get a carry permit til 21. So pump the brakes on that just a bit longer

 

[Brychan]

Only 20, go ahead and take the NRA basic class.

 

[308Scout]

OP says he is 20. Can't get a carry permit til 21. So pump the brakes on that just a bit longer

Or a HQL, IIRC. Brakes would need pumping on a new purchase as well, for regulated firearms at least.

 

[Biggfoot44]

The class is valid for 2 years , no reason to not have ducks in a row on B day