Have you ever shot a real gun?

[Soubriquet]

I don’t agree with lax gun laws like they have in America, but I am intrigued by the gun ranges they have there

I would love the experience of using a gun at a range like that.

A quick google shows there are shooting ranges in the U.K. so one day I might give it a go

So have you ever shot a gun?

Air pistol
Air rifle
Shotguns
Lee Enfield rifle
Browning pistol
SA80 assault rifle
LSW light support weapon
SLR assault rifle
GPMG machine gun
M16 assault rifle
L97 sniper rifle
Also 66 and 84mm anti-tank rocket launchers

I think that's it

Oh, also had an Uzi in my face in Israel and an AK-47 in my face in Egypt. Wanted to fire an AK-47 in Cambodia a couple of years back but it was a bit pricey. I haven't pulled a trigger in ten years though, it doesn't really do much for me.

I've used a shotgun for clays and driven game, a rifle for deer and an air rifle for rats in the garden.

Yes, once, while briefly living in Texas. A Glock if I recall correctly. Was good fun and through sheer luck I managed to almost the centre on my first shot. American BF looked at me and said 'Now I know why you guys almost won the war' ? (I'm German)

He also very briefly kept a shotgun at my place, until I told him I really didn't feel comfortable having it in my flat.

American gun laws are crazy.

Yes, when I was about 10 or 12 (38 now) we used to share ponies with friends and the chap who owned the field let us shoot pears off the the trees with his shot guns! It sounds unbelievable now! I also used to do pony club triathlons which included shooting so used to go to the local rifle range, when they were more normal. These days I like to occasionally surprise people by winning prizes at fairs... I remember when gun laws were tightened in the UK, for some reason my nana panicked and hid a shot gun behind her boiler because she thought she'd get in trouble for having it if she handed it in!

When I was a teen my boyfriend at the time lived on a farm. I shot a shotgun in a field once. It was really hard!

Yup, when I was an Army Cadet. I got my marksman badge 👍 I used to love going to the ranges. I don’t suppose health and safety would allow the cadets down the end of the range anymore with the big arrows pointing out where someone’s bullet had landed 😂

Yes I hold both a firearms and shotgun licence. Both used for pest control on the farm with the odd bit of clay shooting.

I've never tried. Given my woeful performance at archery I suspect I wouldn't be particularly good at it.

Not me, but OH bought DS an experience at a gun shooting range. He got to do some clays and several other things. We were gobsmacked when he got it first go

OH used to go shooting with his Dad as a boy

Yes, several times, here and in UK at gun ranges with appropriate safety measures and qualified staff. Very surprisingly as I am a typical old leftie. Most of them shocked me at how easy it was. Way too easy to pull a trigger. The only one that felt like a gun was a Magnum.44. That was very heavy and squeezing the trigger was a massive effort. No one could do that without pause for thought. Target shooting is a very Zen experience which is why I love it. But I'd never want lax gun rules here like they have in USA.

Ex-army so yes. Great fun on the ranges, I used to enter rifle and pistol competitions

Yes, shotgun (clays) and pistol (range). I was weirdly good at it - shocked myself and everyone else there tbh! I think that’s why I enjoyed it so much, because I was so good, to my absolute amazement. I briefly dreamt of representing my country at the Olympics . However, I would never shoot anything alive. I have lived and worked in many countries where guns are very visible either used by police or private security, in Asia and the Middle East (once had a gun raised in my direction because I was taking pictures in Beirut, I got the message pretty quickly that they didn’t want people taking photos of whatever that particular thing was ). They do not instill a sense of security or safety whatsoever, they make me feel very uncomfortable. You’re just one random person’s bad decision away from being shot dead.

Shotgun, air rifle (have own SG and licence)

Once u got to shoot a black powder blunderbuss. That was great fun.

I agree the gun laws in the U.K. are about right, though shooting does attract the aforementioned middle aged men with landrovers and who wear camouflage gear, even when on a trip to Asda.

Muskets and cannon

Yes, I shot competitively from the age of 13.

22s in the winter and spring over the 25yd ranges, 762s over 300, 500, and 600m (and once over 1,200m - the elevation required on the sights was ridiculous).

I've also shot L98A2 GP rifles (556s) and shotguns, standard 12-bore and smaller 16- and 20-bore. If I'm shooting from a standing position rather than prone I prefer the smaller ones as I'm small framed so it's easier to take the recoil.

I don't like America's gun laws and I think the UK laws are sensible as they are. My ex was American, he had several guns in his flat (mostly antique and unusable in any event) but they don't make me uncomfortable and I'd happily keep a shotgun in an appropriate safe in my house. I think of them just like any other dangerous piece of kit - learn the rules, don't fuck with it, and you'll be fine.

Shotgun at clays a lot when younger.

SA80 assault rifle on the ranges when in the TA. I was in on a skilled trade so shooting was very much NOT part of my role. Indoor ranges only. The RSM was very impressed with my shooting - I thought it was because I was good; thinking back, it is more likely because I was female and very young

Yes, lots of times.
I used to be a member of a rifle club in the UK, I've shot clays many times and went to a rifle range in the Czech Republic where I shot all sorts, from hand guns, right up to an AK-47.

I agree with our UK gun laws though and wouldn't want them changed.

Farmers daughter here
Was probably around 8 when I shot my first gun (a 410), then shot clays competitively from 15-19 (and finished in the top 10 for UK girls a few times)

DH and I still shoot a few times a year now but I’ve never seen, let alone shot a handgun

Yes, Dh has guns (we have the land to keep them so all above board). It was quite exhilarating (I just shot at a tin in a field). I wouldn’t be interested in a shooting at an animal (even though in principle I’m fine with hunting).

I used to live in the US and it’s mad there. I know quite a few people who are not very mentally well but have an arsenal. Really concerning.

Yep, ex army so plenty of range days. Didn't particularly enjoy it but that was more down to the pissing about that a range day entailed!

Yes, as an Air Cadet. As previous posters have said, all under very strict rules and at a target.

Yes a fair few times. Well I assume these count as real guns?
Air rifles on a few different school trips (one of the pellets for another kid’s gun ricocheted and hit the art teacher 🤣)
Clay pigeon shooting - rifle
L
Fucking giant rifles in the Aussie outback, bullets were huge. A really fucking stupid situation as I was alone with a near stranger!! Luckily a good guy.

Ex forces, so yes. I was utterly shite at it and got back classed in basic training as my grouping was so crap