I'm a newb who picks up my first handgun on Thursday. Really looking forward to all of this but don't know anyone locally who shoots. Wife isn't into guns at all but is supporting my decision to get one better than anticipated. Looking for range suggestions also - I think I'd prefer outdoors so that leaves me just Gateway, but I welcome all suggestions. Thanks!
Any Jacksonville, FL shooters?
- Thread starter Heraclid
- Start date
Howdy how Heraclid! Welcome to the forum!
Well, my (Marine) friends and I enjoy shooting at Bullseyes (near Regency Mall). Its a good lil facility and clean of "undesireables".
Also, you more than welcome to come with us (usually 3 or so) and have a grand ole time
Semper Fi!
-L7
Well, my (Marine) friends and I enjoy shooting at Bullseyes (near Regency Mall). Its a good lil facility and clean of "undesireables".
Also, you more than welcome to come with us (usually 3 or so) and have a grand ole time
Semper Fi!
-L7
Hi back at ya! First of all, a big thanks for your service. People don't say that enough. Hey, you don't know a guy named Garrett Peck do ya? Used to work with him.
You must mean over at Atlantic & University. I was just there this afternoon putting my first gun on layaway! I'll be picking it up Thursday. May be signing up for some of their classes soon.
Thanks for the invite! If you guys won't be too bothered with a complete newbie, I may take ya up on that some time. I promise, I'm trying extra hard not to be a gun idiot.
You must mean over at Atlantic & University. I was just there this afternoon putting my first gun on layaway! I'll be picking it up Thursday. May be signing up for some of their classes soon.
Thanks for the invite! If you guys won't be too bothered with a complete newbie, I may take ya up on that some time. I promise, I'm trying extra hard not to be a gun idiot.
Gateway Rifle and Pistol Club is an excellent outdoor range. Covered firing line and facilities for most rifles and pistols and a shop. I am a member and shoot about once a week. I would be glad to get together with you if you would like. If you want to go, directions are:
1. From 295, exit at "103rd St" and go West towards Cecil Field.
2. When you start to go down a hill towards a bridge over a creek, just before the bottom of the hill, before the bridge, turn right on "Lambing Rd."
3. Go to "Noroad" ( the road is named No Road), turn left.
4 Continue to "Zambito" which goes to the right. Just after the intersection there is a sign on "Noroad" that sez "Dead End". There is also a small sign on a tree that says "Gateway Rifle and Pistol Club".
5 Turn right on "Zambito," continue around the sharp curve to the left and the club is a short way on the right. Once you are on "Zambito" it is almost impossible to miss.
They permit Day Shooters, I don't know the daily charge but it is reasonable. Safety is paramount there and a new first time shooter will have to watch a short video and answer a simple test, as you watch. All the answers are on the video.
Good Shooting and I hope Isee you there.
1. From 295, exit at "103rd St" and go West towards Cecil Field.
2. When you start to go down a hill towards a bridge over a creek, just before the bottom of the hill, before the bridge, turn right on "Lambing Rd."
3. Go to "Noroad" ( the road is named No Road), turn left.
4 Continue to "Zambito" which goes to the right. Just after the intersection there is a sign on "Noroad" that sez "Dead End". There is also a small sign on a tree that says "Gateway Rifle and Pistol Club".
5 Turn right on "Zambito," continue around the sharp curve to the left and the club is a short way on the right. Once you are on "Zambito" it is almost impossible to miss.
They permit Day Shooters, I don't know the daily charge but it is reasonable. Safety is paramount there and a new first time shooter will have to watch a short video and answer a simple test, as you watch. All the answers are on the video.
Good Shooting and I hope Isee you there.
Thanks for your replies!
cwb, I got your message - thanks! I am getting more familiar with the Dunn Ave. area as I spend some time out there for work, usually a few days per month. Usually I'm hitting Normandy the same day(s) so I try to stop by Green Acres on my lunch break occasionally.
tegemu, likewise - thanks for the helpful information! Looks like a really nice and comfortable day to be out there shooting today actually. Waiting for Thursday is killing me. LOL! But now I need to get good ear protection and safety glasses, figure out what ammo I want, probably invest in a good safe or the like, find some good instruction in basic and self-defense, then there's the CWP.
Gateway sounds like my kind of place. Those directions sound vaguely familiar, but I'm thinking it's not anything to do with shooting. Do they fly R/C planes and helis around there somewhere by chance? That would be cool- I could hit two birds with one stone.
I would really appreciate tips on a good instructor if anyone knows one they'd highly recommend. And are the electronic noise-cancelling earmuffs worth it?
cwb, I got your message - thanks! I am getting more familiar with the Dunn Ave. area as I spend some time out there for work, usually a few days per month. Usually I'm hitting Normandy the same day(s) so I try to stop by Green Acres on my lunch break occasionally.
tegemu, likewise - thanks for the helpful information! Looks like a really nice and comfortable day to be out there shooting today actually. Waiting for Thursday is killing me. LOL! But now I need to get good ear protection and safety glasses, figure out what ammo I want, probably invest in a good safe or the like, find some good instruction in basic and self-defense, then there's the CWP.
Gateway sounds like my kind of place. Those directions sound vaguely familiar, but I'm thinking it's not anything to do with shooting. Do they fly R/C planes and helis around there somewhere by chance? That would be cool- I could hit two birds with one stone.
I would really appreciate tips on a good instructor if anyone knows one they'd highly recommend. And are the electronic noise-cancelling earmuffs worth it?
Outsider_10fp
Inactive
I like Gateway, even though I had a run in with one RO. (two targes on one stand) I had a few pistols out and a 10mm giving me a fit. Shoot , atempt repair, repet. til fixed.
Other than that it is excellent.
The Bullseye is great too, the guy in the AR dept. knows his stuff. I won a S&W ballcap there.
The other indoor range, I forget teh name (near Downtown) SUX!!
That guy is an asshat.
If you get a chance go over to St. Johns Firearms, those guys are awsome too.
Other than that it is excellent.
The Bullseye is great too, the guy in the AR dept. knows his stuff. I won a S&W ballcap there.
The other indoor range, I forget teh name (near Downtown) SUX!!
That guy is an asshat.
If you get a chance go over to St. Johns Firearms, those guys are awsome too.
Outsider_10fp, I've heard some things about Bullseye (formerly Southside Gun), some good and some not too good. Nonetheless I am buying from there and had a good experience there yesterday. Shooters over on University turned me off pretty fast, and I'm lukewarm about St. Nicholas, but the San Jose store is like 2 minutes from me. I do not know of a downtown range - the only other one besides Gateway and Bullseye that I know is at Gun Gallery on Beach Blvd.
I stumbled across St. Johns Firearms last week while handling some accounts out there with work. I spoke to a guy there over the phone yesterday and unfortunately he said they are looking to close the store down by July and didn't think the owner would want to place an order and increase his inventory but to call Monday and see. Won't happen because I went for the Pro-9 at Bullseye a few hours later. Anyway, I was inquiring about Pro-9's and FNP-9's and he said they didn't have what I was after but they are trying to sell off some remaining FN Forty-Nines. You might get a nice deal on one if that is of any interest to you.
I stumbled across St. Johns Firearms last week while handling some accounts out there with work. I spoke to a guy there over the phone yesterday and unfortunately he said they are looking to close the store down by July and didn't think the owner would want to place an order and increase his inventory but to call Monday and see. Won't happen because I went for the Pro-9 at Bullseye a few hours later. Anyway, I was inquiring about Pro-9's and FNP-9's and he said they didn't have what I was after but they are trying to sell off some remaining FN Forty-Nines. You might get a nice deal on one if that is of any interest to you.
cwb,
I had a good feeling about them until I got some pretty bad customer service over the phone. Still, it's just one employee on one given day, no one is perfect, and I'm a forgiving sort.
tegemu,
Not sure about Thursday but we'll see... definitely should set something up soon. As for out-lying each other, it's my experience that no one has a good enough memory to be much good at that.
I had a good feeling about them until I got some pretty bad customer service over the phone. Still, it's just one employee on one given day, no one is perfect, and I'm a forgiving sort.
tegemu,
Not sure about Thursday but we'll see... definitely should set something up soon. As for out-lying each other, it's my experience that no one has a good enough memory to be much good at that.
Gateway is an excellent range. If you really want to learn to handle your new pistol well, consider some of the action shooting matches they host every month. I shoot the USPSA match there on the second Saturday of each month. They also have IDPA and cowboy action shooting events.
There is no better (and more fun) way to become proficient with your new pistol IMHO.
There is no better (and more fun) way to become proficient with your new pistol IMHO.
Sounds like a lot of fun, but I want to have a little regular range shooting experience under my belt before I attempt that. I'd want it to be pretty much second nature by then. But maybe I am misunderstanding the wat the matches work. I imagine I'll be doing it at some point.
I'm here in Orange Park,I go to a range in Osceola Natl. Forrest,its not as large as Gateway but you don't have a rangemaster looking over your shoulder either,which is what I like,you can shoot what you want,how you want.Let me know if you want directions out there,its real easy to find.
David
David
Thanks - I've seen a reference to the Osceola range once or twice and wouldn't mind checking it out some time. So let me see if I remember this right...
I don't have a CCW permit yet. I can still convey the gun to the range in the forest so long as it stays in a case and put away in the car. I cannot carry it in a national forest though. But obviously if there is a range out there, the range must be okay.
But being brand new to things that go bang, perhaps the structure of a range with a RO would be best for me.
I don't have a CCW permit yet. I can still convey the gun to the range in the forest so long as it stays in a case and put away in the car. I cannot carry it in a national forest though. But obviously if there is a range out there, the range must be okay.
But being brand new to things that go bang, perhaps the structure of a range with a RO would be best for me.
Outsider_10fp
Inactive
WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!! I got my names crossed
BULLSEYE is the asshat, I meant to say Shooters, over on Beach.
AS why bullseye sux, is because ...
Me and a buddy go in to do some shooting, he is gonna use one of my pistols.
Anyways, we go in, look around, admire his safes, etc.
ME: We'd like to do some shooting.
Him: Do you need to rent one?
ME: No, they are in the truck
Him: Are you packing?
ME: Yes, I have a CHL
HIM: did you see the sign on the door?
ME: I saw about 30 flyers on the door, it is a bit cluttered with stuff.
HIM: If I cant trust you to read the signs, how the F@#K can I trust you to shoot on my range
ME
, EXCUSE ME!?
Him: go back out and read teh sign
ME: yeah, ok, you wiat here for me to return!
We hauled ass outta that place. Thtat guy was a real peice of work!
Shooters, on the other hand is great, that is where I won the ball cap.
THose people are excellent, and comaprable prices to what I see across the board.
BULLSEYE is the asshat, I meant to say Shooters, over on Beach.
AS why bullseye sux, is because ...
Me and a buddy go in to do some shooting, he is gonna use one of my pistols.
Anyways, we go in, look around, admire his safes, etc.
ME: We'd like to do some shooting.
Him: Do you need to rent one?
ME: No, they are in the truck
Him: Are you packing?
ME: Yes, I have a CHL
HIM: did you see the sign on the door?
ME: I saw about 30 flyers on the door, it is a bit cluttered with stuff.
HIM: If I cant trust you to read the signs, how the F@#K can I trust you to shoot on my range
ME
, EXCUSE ME!?Him: go back out and read teh sign
ME: yeah, ok, you wiat here for me to return!
We hauled ass outta that place. Thtat guy was a real peice of work!
Shooters, on the other hand is great, that is where I won the ball cap.
THose people are excellent, and comaprable prices to what I see across the board.