New to Shooting

[orca]

Hey all.

Recently joined the forum and entered sport target shooting. Maybe in a few years also start hunting.

As a newbie (complete newbie), no one I know shoots or has any knowledge.

Does anyone know where to get some solid information about all things shootung from, rifles, ammo, using a scope etc.

Thanks!

[p3seven]

Welcome, This site is very good. Read the older postings in your field of interest

The internet especially, YouTube. Google your questions and read the answers. Beware the first lot of answers are generally paid advertisments. Do not believe everything you see or hear on Google, check.

Magazines are good. At the range talk to the guys. Look for the seeming approachable people. Ask simple questions they will generally offer suggestions or point you to people that have the knowledge.

[sandgroperbill]

Plenty of info here, but try to make questions specific if possible.

First and most important thing, though, is safety. Remember, all firearms are loaded and ready to fire, even when they're not.
Safeties aren't infallible, don't trust them.
Never point the business end at anything you don't want dead or destroyed, even if unloaded.
Always check behind and around your target and make sure your bullet can't do damage if you miss.
Always be 200% sure you have identified your target and it can't be anything but your target.
A firearm is loaded, even ifyou know it isn't.
And a firearm is always loaded, even if you know it isn't.

[Oldbloke]

Orca, Yep plenty of info here, make use of the search bar on the right.

Plenty of info here too. https://www.ssaa.org.au/stories/hunting.html

[brett1868]

Where are you located? might me able to point you in the right direction in relation to clubs, shops etc tec. Also what are your interests in the shooting sports?

[darwindingo]

Welcome to the forum !

As said by sandgroperbill... Make safety your first priority, at all times..

Always point firearms in a safe direction, the prevailing circumstances will dictate where that is. That way if for any reason you had an unintended discharge, the projectile would be much less likely to cause harm..

When I was involved in firearms training, I used to tell students to visualise a laser beam coming out of the barrel at all times and anything it touches would be in harms way ( The idea was to make them muzzle conscious and keep their mind focused on where it was pointing at all times ).. Also remember to identify your target and consider what is beyond it, resolve absolutely all doubt that it would be safe to fire or simply do not do so..

If you end up getting into hunting then you need to make sure that you manage the excitement that you will experience when an opportunity to take a shot presents itself..! You will always get another opportunity to fire at a safe target..!

Be trigger conscious ( sights on "properly identified safe" target finger on trigger, sights of target finger off trigger )...

Just a few things to consider..

Be Safe and Happy Shooting



Jeff

[Browning]

Ditto to where are u located? A lot of members on here will be happy to hook up at a range and lend a hand.

[GLS_1956]

Orca: Welcome to the sport and the forum. I'm going to agree with the others here who urge safety as your primary concern. I will also agree with the comment that this forum can be a source of information, as can the internet which includes but is not limited to You Tube. You will notice that I am an American and as such I'll suggest you check out what The National Rifle Association of America has to offer, I'm including a link to the NRA's page covering Gun Safety Rules.

http://training.nra.org/nra-gun-safety-rules.aspx

You may wish to browse what instruction manuals they have available as well. Please note that those marked restricted are marked so because they are for sale to Certified instructors that will b teaching a class as oppose to an individual. I would assume that any of the manuals that are offered could be sold and shipped to Australia.

Lastly ask the shooters at the range you'll find that for the most part they'll be more than happy to talk to you.

[orca]

Hey all.

Thanks for all the replies. Bit overwhelmed with all the support and responses actually ahaha. I'll make sure I use this forum and other places online!

Thanks for the tips and safety info. I've done a course on it aswell and its always good to refresh and have a new way to think of it by (lasers).

I'm located in Sydneys West, and I've joined up to SSAA St Marys branch. Interested in the sport for a few reasons just being a skill that you could work on and get better, while being enjoyable. Down the track it may open up opportunities to hunt aswell, which would be a essential life skill.

FYI - Buying a rifle soon (few weeks).

Thanks again for the responses! Really helped in me feeling welcome!

[brett1868]

A few of us on here shoot at St Mary's so you're welcome to drop me a pm if you need someone to show you the ropes at the range. The boys out there are pretty good but also fanatics on safety and not backward tapping you on the shoulder if the see anything unsafe. Wylie, Pomemax and myself all shoot pistol out there so don't restrict yourself to just rifles Plenty of good advice on here about rifles once you have an idea of what you're looking to achieve with your shooting. Where are you upto in relation to your license and PTA's ?

[orca]

Yea thanks for that! I'll take that offer up sooner or later.
I've been shooting there twice already, first time with a SSAA .22 rifle,then also with a friend with his rifles. I'm fully licensed to fire A and B firearms.And have finished the basic safety course and such. I've also obtained a permit to buy firearms, so within the next few weeks I will buy a rifle. I also do wwant to go into pistol shooting but the amount of paperwork and waiting periods turned me off it for now.

[Supaduke]

I also do want to go into pistol shooting but the amount of paperwork and waiting periods turned me off it for now.

Somewhere there is a anti gun pollie fist pumping the air and high fiving his cronie mates

[juststarting]

Why do you keep saying 'hunting, maybe few years later'? Just go explore the bush and shoot some dinner Why wait for years?

[Lokvo]

I also do want to go into pistol shooting but the amount of paperwork and waiting periods turned me off it for now.

Somewhere there is a anti gun pollie fist pumping the air and high fiving his cronie mates

lol this exactly! that might well have been part of their political goal to snuff out all forms of a gun culture in Australia. To make the process of achieving a pistol license so glacial and painful that many just give up in frustration. I know of a few such cases. It's like we almost need a support group, call it FA (Firearms Anonymous? too aggressive?) where we get together each week and tell each other to just 'hang in there'

[juststarting]

Yep, I am a such case...

[Lokvo]

Yep, I am a such case...

would you ever try again?

[juststarting]

Yep, definitely. Just a bit time poor right now.

[GLS_1956]

Why do you keep saying 'hunting, maybe few years later'? Just go explore the bush and shoot some dinner Why wait for years?

You all have "McDonalds" and "Pizza Huts" roaming around in the bush???

[juststarting]

Yes, but only in the a precursor ingredient form

[Supaduke]

Beware the ninja pickle

IMG_0097.JPG (22.4 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

Aim for the head ....

[orca]

Yea sucks that the anti-gun pollies actually have made it difficult for that purpose.
Hunting in a year to a few just so I know to use my rifle, safely, use a scope, practice shooting accurately and getting a license for it. Real keen though.

[juststarting]

Yea sucks that the anti-gun pollies actually have made it difficult for that purpose.
Hunting in a year to a few just so I know to use my rifle, safely, use a scope, practice shooting accurately and getting a license for it. Real keen though.

Meh, less than a year to do everything you think will take a couple (assuming you get consistent range).

[agentzero]

You all have "McDonalds" and "Pizza Huts" roaming around in the bush???

There are some Maccas in pretty out-there places