newbie here could use some advice

[tman]

Bill's is probably the place to go to shoot rental firearms, but honestly, putting your life at risk isn't worth it. The air quality sucks and there's a photo or two of full autos behind the firing line on the bench. I can't recommend their range.

Just out of curiosity, how many people have actually been hurt by someone else at Bill's?

[XDM45]

Bill's is probably the place to go to shoot rental firearms, but honestly, putting your life at risk isn't worth it. The air quality sucks and there's a photo or two of full autos behind the firing line on the bench. I can't recommend their range.

Just out of curiosity, how many people have actually been hurt by someone else at Bill's?

Good question. I honestly don't know, but I have personally seen enough stuff there first hand to scare the living daylights out of me....and that's more than enough. I don't need to step on the landmine to know it goes BOOM! I can see it and walk away. The mere fact it was in my path will make me take another route. One cannot ever be "too safe" when it comes to firearms.

Aside from that, as another person pointed out on this forum recently, look at the air filters by the rental rifles, they almost always say "FULL" - something I never noticed. No wonder the air takes like lead.

Saturday I was at BPR, was talking to some people I was with right in front of Roger, the owner, and he heard me say I've seen the craziness there too, but not nearly as much as I've seen at Bill's. ALL public ranges have risk. ALL handling of firearms have risk. The question is not risk, but which risk you are willing to accept. I'm simply not willing to accept the risk of shooting at Bill's or the risk of another person getting hurt because they went there on my recommendation and had an incident. An ND and/or with injury is something that I don't even want the remotest connection to or responsibility for.

I know I mention the full auto / air at Bill's, but this is a new shooter too and he/she/they should be made aware I think. I may be overly cautious, but again with firearms, that's a GOOD thing.

[brad3579]

Lol.
I shoot at Bills North quite abit and have not seen anything to crazy yet.
I always watch the other lines, while my wife is shooting and will nicely let people know if they are doing things unsafely. I believe no matter where you are you will always see things you do not like and sometimes must act as a range officer.

[XDM45]

Lol.
I shoot at Bills North quite abit and have not seen anything to crazy yet.
I always watch the other lines, while my wife is shooting and will nicely let people know if they are doing things unsafely. I believe no matter where you are you will always see things you do not like and sometimes must act as a range officer.

I agree 100%. I usually went on the weekends, so I don't know if you go during the week, but it's probably better then. I don't know.... but there's still the air quality issue. As much as I like BPR, I'd rather be outdoors at the club or on private land.

[brad3579]

double tap

[Doc Harvey]

If you wanna try the Glock 19 drop me a PM.

Edit: Moreover, try several potential options and find out what you like and dislike. It'd be a bummer to buy something only to find out you dislike it.

+1! My wife LOVED her S&W M&P in 9mm...that is until she shot a CZ75 SP-01 Phantom. The Phantom "fits" her hand much better and she shoots much more accurately with it. My personal recommendations are Glock 17 or 19, Springfield XDm or the M&P. But hey, those are just the guns that I like and that I shoot reasonably well. IF money is no object, look at a Sig P226. They're really sweet guns (again, just MHO). Good luck and happy shooting!

[PHATSPEED7x]

The first center fire handgun I shot was my dad's Ruger P89 9mm. My first handgun I bought with my own money was a Smith and Wesson Sigma 9mm. Since then I've owned, experimented, traded a couple dozen handguns. All kinds of makes, models, calibers. My problem is I buy, shoot it 100 or so rounds, it sits in the safe, then I trade it for something else and loose my ass on it.

Here is a list of all the handguns I can think of atm that I've owned...

S&W Sigma 9mm
Hi Point .45ACP
Springfield XD45C
Springfield XD9 Tactical
Springfield XD9 subcompact
Glock 17 RTF2
Glock 19 Gen3
Glock 26 Gen4
Ruger LCR
Ruger 22/45
S&W M&P 45
S&W M&P 22
Cobra Arms 9mm Dillinger
S&W Governor
Taurus TCP
Taurus 608 .357 magnum revolver
Rossi .357 magnum revolver
Ruger SR9C
Springfield 1911
Hi Point C9
Stoeger Cougar
Desert Eagle .44
Kahr CW40
Kel Tec PF9

[Eric Marleau]

Getting back to your original question, I would talk to Gary at Wolf's Den. He wont give you bad advise, and knows his stuff.





Eric

[DanMN]

It's a little farther than 60 miles, but I highly recommend Fleet Farm in Baxter/ Brainerd. New gun shop with a new range. A lot of range guns to try. Well priced ammo, not outrageously gouging. A well run range. They do have active range officers. Nice, clean facility with a nice lounge. TONS of weapons to look at.


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[DanMN]

Oh yeah, the people behind the counter know their stuff. If they can't answer you question they will get someone who can. A lot of ex LEO's. Good people.


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[mulske]

ok I have it narrowed down to two handguns before I buy I want to throw it out here...1st one is 740 slim s w 40 ...2nd one is a kahr cw45 45acp...any info on my first handgun would be greatly apperciated

[mnhntr]

Between the two I would take the Kahr any day of the week and twice on sunday

[tazdevil]

The first center fire handgun I shot was my dad's Ruger P89 9mm. My first handgun I bought with my own money was a Smith and Wesson Sigma 9mm. Since then I've owned, experimented, traded a couple dozen handguns. All kinds of makes, models, calibers. My problem is I buy, shoot it 100 or so rounds, it sits in the safe, then I trade it for something else and loose my ass on it.

Here is a list of all the handguns I can think of atm that I've owned...

S&W Sigma 9mm
Hi Point .45ACP
Springfield XD45C
Springfield XD9 Tactical
Springfield XD9 subcompact
Glock 17 RTF2
Glock 19 Gen3
Glock 26 Gen4
Ruger LCR
Ruger 22/45
S&W M&P 45
S&W M&P 22
Cobra Arms 9mm Dillinger
S&W Governor
Taurus TCP
Taurus 608 .357 magnum revolver
Rossi .357 magnum revolver
Ruger SR9C
Springfield 1911
Hi Point C9
Stoeger Cougar
Desert Eagle .44
Kahr CW40
Kel Tec PF9

WHAT NO SIG!?!? YOU RACIST SCUM!

[Tronster]

My two cents...Handguns are the hardest firearm to learn to shoot well, and your two choices will compound that issue.

For a first handgun, get a mid or full size 9mm. Why?

Cheap to shoot
Minimal recoil
Better grip
Longer sight radius
Useful as a bedside gun

After you master fundamental pistol skills with that, go with whatever compact 9, 40, 45 etc that you like.
Trust me, compact pistols are not pleasant to shoot. Everyone should have a full size pistol anyway.

[JustPlainT]

ok I have it narrowed down to two handguns before I buy I want to throw it out here...1st one is 740 slim s w 40 ...2nd one is a kahr cw45 45acp...any info on my first handgun would be greatly apperciated

Kahr CW45, no question.

I will not trust a Taurus firearm to anything but a range toy. I have heard of enough problems, and my own experience with their 738 .380 was pure hell.

Side note, and by no means the deal breaker or reasoning for my choice of the two: it is possible to feed a CW45 with standard 1911 magazines. They protrude beyond the grip of the handgun, but if you want cheaper range magazines/reload magazines (1911 mags are still pretty plentiful last time I tried looking online), it can be done.