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OK, I happen to have access to a private outdoor range, which belongs to a very generous man so I am lucky.

But for the rest of us, or even for me if I don't want to drive 40 miles, it sure is a pain to keep proficient and in practice with a handgun. It seems that the rules of most cities that do not allow the discharge of a firearm in the city limits are really putting a damper on one's ability to keep in practice.

Are there any alternatives? What's a guy to do? As far as I know there no firing ranges in the city where I live. Is there default access to any kind of public lands I could look into?

The arrangement that you have is the absolute best for individual practice. I'm sure you will continue to express your gratitude to your friend.

I don't know of any public land in Texas where shooting other than hunting is allowed. Unfortunately, areas where it used to be allowed or at least tolerated became trashed and dangerous.

You might want to search http://www.wheretoshoot.org/Find_Range/index.asp

- Jim

I am fortunate in that I can step outside my back door and start shooting if I so desire, but the fact is….I don’t do much outdoor practice in the heat of summer.

While there is no substitute for putting rounds down range, there are many things that folks can do at home to help condition themselves and practice “the basic skills” with their UNLOADED weapon, a training (dummy gun) or an airsoft.

The lamp in the pic. below has been “neutralized” more times than any single steel target I have out on my range. Not literally of course!



All you need is a little bit of space inside your home, garage, yard, that provides some privacy and room to move about. Your “targets/threats” can be anything you like (a lamp, a chair, a picture) or even be multiples.

The mechanics of drawing from concealment can be practiced, sight alignment, dry firing, malfunction drills (with dummy rounds), moving off line, retreating, advancing, moving to cover, and so much more can be done right inside your home.

These skills are much more likely to save your life…than punching holes in paper.

Yes, I know its fun to actually fire your weapon…and that time at the “range” is both valuable and needed, but honestly, the average range will not permit you to practice the tactical skills you need anyway.

So, for those of you without access to a good range, practice at home SAFELY.

+1 on the airsoft!

Does that mean that I should borrow my son's airsoft MP-5 and start hosing down anyone who moves?

...'cause I WILL. Don't tempt me!

The Annoyed Man wrote:Does that mean that I should borrow my son's airsoft MP-5 and start hosing down anyone who moves?

...'cause I WILL. Don't tempt me!

Oh....I KNOW you will......

No "Double Dog Dares" required...huh?


They ARE kinda fun...and they hurt a lot less than paint ball.

flintknapper wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:Does that mean that I should borrow my son's airsoft MP-5 and start hosing down anyone who moves?

...'cause I WILL. Don't tempt me!

Oh....I KNOW you will......

No "Double Dog Dares" required...huh?


They ARE kinda fun...and they hurt a lot less than paint ball.

If you do take video so we can all see the tactfulness.

P.S. I double dog dare you.

Wildscar wrote:

flintknapper wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:Does that mean that I should borrow my son's airsoft MP-5 and start hosing down anyone who moves?

...'cause I WILL. Don't tempt me!

Oh....I KNOW you will......

No "Double Dog Dares" required...huh?


They ARE kinda fun...and they hurt a lot less than paint ball.

If you do take video so we can all see the tactfulness.

P.S. I double dog dare you.

I'm not expecting TAM to be "tactful" at all, quite the contrary!

He might be "tactical" in his execution of it. But neither one really matters when those little 5MM pellets start hitting bare skin.

I don't know...but something tells me... the words "Uncle" and "I give up" will be meaningless to him.

mr.72 wrote:...Are there any alternatives? What's a guy to do? As far as I know there no firing ranges in the city where I live. Is there default access to any kind of public lands I could look into?

The situation you described is a common situation for MOST people. Except you have access to a private range with very little restrictions.

I suggest:
1.) Take a defensive pistol class like the ones offered here;http://www.krtraining.com/
They have courses that are very gradiated, so it's easy to start on the right level. If you are unsure, send them an e-mail they are very helpful.
2.) Get on a dry firing regiment. I like the ones offered by the good folks at Firearms Safety Training found here; http://www.firearms-safety.info/
3.) Get to the range and practice the skills you learned.

The Annoyed Man wrote:Does that mean that I should borrow my son's airsoft MP-5 and start hosing down anyone who moves?

...'cause I WILL. Don't tempt me!

Remind me to stay out of your neighborhood.

mr.72 wrote:Are there any alternatives? What's a guy to do?

Gather some like-minded friends, get yourselves elected to the city council and dismantle the city from the inside.

Or you could just get a majority on the council and vote your city a state-of-the-art public range.

fm2 wrote: 2.) Get on a dry firing regiment. I like the ones offered by the good folks at Firearms Safety Training found here; http://www.firearms-safety.info/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

One of the best kept training secrets is dry firing.

Unload your pistol and put the ammo in a different room.

Pick a spot on the wall such as a door knob and practice drawing and ending your draw at whatever it is you picked on the wall. Go slow, slow, slow until you have it and repeat it hundreds of times. I've "killed" doorknobs and knick-knacks all over my house many, many times. You don't even need to pull the trigger at first. Once you can snap to and cover your target without having to think about it, then place your finger on the trigger and dry-fire. Don't be surprised at how much your gun moves when you do pull the trigger. The object there is that the pistol stay rock solid during the trigger squeeze.

What you are teaching yourself by doing this over and over is muscle memory and it takes hundreds of draws to get it down. It's also important to pick a pistol and holster/belt combination and stick with it. If you change pistols or especially holsters, that's only asking for trouble. Going from an IWB to a thumbreak pancake holster for example is a disaster waiting to happen. If it's not in your "muscle memory" to hit that snap release, you will not remember when the chips are down and you're just going to end up getting killed.

Pick a rig and stick to it.

It's similar to driving car. I've been driving so long, as have most of us, that I can drive clear across Houston and not remember most of the trip because driving is automatic. Using your pistol in self defense has to be the same way. If you have to think about getting it out of wherever it's hidden on your body during a stressful situation, you will probably only end up shooting yourself and chances are you will freeze and not do anything.

Since most public ranges don't allow holster draw, this will probably be the majority of draw training you will get.

But hey, I'm just a dude you know......

As far as I know, there are no public ranges, per se, in Cherokee County. I feel your pain.

We watched a previous season of Boston Legal tonight and Denny Crain was shooting people with his "Airsoft" pistol. I'm not familiar with 'Airsoft", what is that and where do you get it?

Oldgringo wrote:As far as I know, there are no public ranges, per se, in Cherokee County. I feel your pain.

We watched a previous season of Boston Legal tonight and Denny Crain was shooting people with his "Airsoft" pistol. I'm not familiar with 'Airsoft", what is that and where do you get it?

Airsoft guns are basically toy replicas of real guns. The size and feel is usually the same as the real one and often at first glance, it's hard to tell them apart. The main difference is the weight. They shoot 6MM plastic BB's. You can find a good selection at Acadamy.

There a couple of indoor ranges within 25 miles of me.