Where to find a shooting buddy?

O

OakleyAnna

Inactive
I started shooting recently, and LOVE going to the range. However, I noticed that everyone there is either with a shooting buddy, or else their spouse/family members. I'm a woman whose husband totally supports me going to the range, and I have some friends in this part of the country (I moved from the West coast to the Midwest a couple of years ago), but none of the women I know go shooting. I don't work in an office so the only other place I go on a regular basis is to the gym. I don't want to be obvious and ask random people there if they'd like to go shooting with me. Do any of you know a website or forum where I can find someone who lives in my area (male or female) who'd shoot with me?

Just to keep this thread "firearm" related, I'll post a picture of my FIRST firearm purchase, a Ruger Mark III. I'm really enjoying shooting it, other than the fact that out of 70 rounds I fired last week, I had 4 jams. It was probably my fault though for getting hollow point ammo and not ball ammo. I didn't know the difference and just bought the cheap box of 550. Now I know better. ruger mkiii.jpg
 
Well, I bet if you post your location here(city or region) you will get some offers.

It is an open public forum, so don't be surprised at the responses you get.

There are competitive shooting groups such as IDPA, various NRA, etc.

There are shooting clubs in most areas where you can get to know people a bit easier than if you bump into them at a public range.
 
My local range has a Thursday Ladies Night. Look around to see if a local range has one. If not, suggest it. It would be an easy way to meet like minded people.
 
As mentioned many of the ranges have competitive shooting events in the evening or weekends. Even if you don’t want to compete you can still go and watch which would allow you to meet some folks.
 
Best thing to do would to be to go to the range and try to make friends. Or see if any of your friends that you have now would be interested in going. My shooting buddy really wasn't into it until we brought him along a few times.
 
Also, the majority of range sessions I am by myself. I always hunt with a lot of people, but I prefer to be at the range by myself. In fact, I pretty much only take people with me when i am introducing new shooters. It may just be one of those things where it seems like everyone else has a range buddy.

My wife is pretty supportive of shooting and sometimes shows interest, but it is fleeting, especially when she thinks about the cost. Other things she would rather do with her share of the money.
 
My husband doesn't have an interest in shooting, so when I go, he's watching our two young children. I'll try to find out about events at some local ranges, though. Thank you all for the advice.
 
Contact your County Extension Agent. If they have a 4-H shooting team, ascertain who the coach is and strike up a conversation with him/her and see if they've heard of any of the youth's parents wanting to shoot. Also, have you checked the website of your state's rifle association or equivalent organisation? TSRA (TX State Rifle Association) has a list of regional directors who are tremendously helpful.
 
Just to keep this thread "firearm" related, ...
Click to expand...

Your post was firearms-related enough without that. 'Matter of fact, rule of thumb for Staff is if you need to add that qualifier, it probably isn't and you know it. Not so in this case, but it is a flag, so don't worry about it and just stay on topic.
 
See if the range offers some training classes for women, or where other women participate - good place for you to meet someone to shoot with. As you get more into shooting, you will probably talk more about this with your friends - at that point, the problem will be to try to get some "alone time" at the range to work on things you want to work on. You'd be surprised how many people really want someone to take them shooting.
 
Look at the location in some of the posts, you may be able to tell where someone is located by that.

Also, type in your state in the search function. It may give you some ideas of where people are at.

Gun shows usually have a table with gun clubs. The last one I went to at the KCI Expo had four different gun clubs represented there.

Reguardless of where you find info on a shooting partner (This applies to males and females) always let someone know where you will be.
 
Some good suggestions have been made. Now I'm going to put one that's a bit more personal out there.

I don't know where in the midwest you are but if you're in WI my wife and I both enjoy shooting (my wife prefers shooting a handgun over any other type of firearm) and I'm sure my wife would like a shooting partner when I'm unable to go with her. Sometimes I'm busy and she wants to go shooting but doesn't want to go to the range alone so she doesn't go.

I'm sure my wife and I aren't the only ones here who might have a similar situation in the midwest. There's plenty of shooters here who'd be happy to shoot alongside of you so long as you are safe.
 
Not to steer you away from our great forum here, but I know there is a local forum on guns here in the Phoenix area. Maybe there is one in your area, that could be a good way to find someone. Plus with it starting out anonymous you kinda get the feel for the person before meeting up at the range.

I am not sure if I want a range buddy to be honest with you... My Dad or Brother will go shooting with me sometimes, but they are not as into it as me. Plus when they go they only want to go for an hour or so. With my young family I have to take advantage of the time I actually get to go out. So an hour doesn't cut it.

I guess I have always been a little bit of an introvert (nice way of saying I choose to be a lone wolf). I guess I just don't have the patience for people a lot of the time. Sorry for the tangent.... Ha!
 
Do you want somebody to be with you because you like having company?
Do you want somebody as a determent against the advances of males at the range?
Do you want somebody to actually teach you about shooting?
If its just for the company or to teach you how to shoot the people at the range are your best bet, they are there anyway,
if you want a chaperon , then it must be somebody you know personally, somebody you can trust. Your husband seems like the best candidate.
 
To respond to the previous two posts -

1) I was actually considering getting a firearms related shirt to wear to the gym! I'm a bit clueless though, so all I could come up with was a navy "Top Shot" shirt, which I'd need to order from the History Channel website.

2) I suppose the reason I'd like a shooting partner is for a couple of the reasons you mentioned. First, it would be nice having someone to offer suggestions on how to improve, and also to take turns with in a slightly competitive way. I'd also like to try using whichever guns they might own, to get an idea of which brands/calibers I enjoy using the most. Finally, there is so much I need to learn, and although our range safety person has been extremely helpful, I don't want to become an imposition by asking him a million questions and taking up too much of his time.
 
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