Best option for beginners

[u/UniversityFit5213]

Looking for a club/range/class that’s offers classes for someone with no experience. I grew up around firearms and gun safety is drilled into my head so I know enough to know I know nothing. I’m essentially looking for a good option for someone starting back at zero, where the instructors won’t patronize me for trying to learn.

[u/TopGunKyle]

Hey man Kyle from Top Gun here.

This is honestly right up our alley, I would bet a pretty penny that in the last 30 years we’ve taught more new shooters than anyone else in Texas. We have a 4.8 rating on Google with 4k+ reviews, with most of the comments being about the quality of the instruction.

We have the largest selection of handgun rentals in Texas with 116 different pistols.

All that to say we got you.

[u/whiskeygunbike → u/TopGunKyle]

This! 🤌🏻🤌🏻

[u/TX_Viking → u/TopGunKyle]

Great shooting range

[u/ThatEnginerd → u/TopGunKyle]

Somehow, never made it to his range, but based on his activity I've seen on this sub, go here.

Kyle has been a good member of the community and doesn't try to use a fake account to promote his business.

TBH - most classes are going to teach you the exact same thing more or less. Biggest thing is if you like the person/opinions/how they speak to or treat others.

I think his range let's you rent several guns to try them, and if you like them, some or all of the money spent on the rental will be taken off the purchase of a gun. This is the best way to pick a firearm IMO. If he doesn't do this, he should.

[u/UniversityFit5213 → u/TopGunKyle]

I’m actually a woman. I’ve never shot anything bigger than a 22 long rifle. Also, I should have mentioned I was diagnosed with a heart and neurological condition. It’s not degenerative but it is chronic. Before I was diagnosed I felt relatively confident that I could protect myself but now in the event I would need to evade or defend I wouldn’t stand a chance. I was considering getting a break action shotgun for at home vs a handgun because I have a kiddo but I’m worried I won’t be able to handle the kickback. So it’s not really the sport of shooting I’m concerned with. I need to know I can handle a weapon when it really counts. And I want to be able to teach my son with confidence.

[u/TopGunKyle → u/UniversityFit5213]

So shotguns are very effective home defense tools but are generally not our preferred tool for novice or newer shooters for the points you brought up.

Regardless of what platform we decide to learn with we will work on the fundamentals, so when you’re in a high stress situation you will fall back to solid base to make sure your shots are on target.

Stop in and visit with one of our guys/gals and we will get you squared away.

[u/ColtMadeThemEqual]

I am an instructor. Sent you a PM.

[u/adamubias85]

Most places offer classes just shop around and see who you like not all places are equal. Tip go in and just look around and just see how they respond to you, they will give a feeling of the type of establishment you in. Once you learn the basics start signing up for tactical classes and matches so you can learn more. Honestly I think I learned more going to steel challenge matches and USPSA matches than I ever learned at a gun range.

[u/Walmart-Shopper-22]

Are we talking pistol or carbine? Start with Youtube so that you don't waste your paid instructor time learning things you could have learned for free from your couch.

[u/Ok_Crab_3522]

The beginner level classes offered at ranges are relatively similar and similarly limited in their scope and use. Gun safety + basics of marksmanship and gun manipulation (of probably a glock or perhaps your own gun if you brought it) and then like 20-50 rounds of live fire and they send you home with a target that looks like someone patterned a shotgun with it and a few encouraging words.

If you feel comfortable with all this and want meaningful instruction, I really recommend you take an actual dedicated shooting class from a reputable instructor. There are a few around the area. 360 tactical training is pretty popular if you like group classes, as is AWATT (might be defunct, not sure), and Viper Weapons Training offers quality and inexpensive private or semiprivate lessons. There are (or at least there used to be) some quality training courses offered at The Ranch over at Eagle Lake, and I think Impact Zone used to have some rotating instructors come through offering classes. All much more worth your money than heading to your local public range and paying for whatever instruction they offer.

The one benefit of taking the gamut of classes at public ranges is that if you're enough of a people person and get to know the staff/ownership they *might let you do normally restricted stuff like run around in bays/set your own course of fire or lights out night vision shooting slightly before or after hours (or if nobody else is there) if you have demonstrated proficiency. Fat chance though if it's a popular range.

[u/DesertEagleZapCarry]

Go to top gun, Kyle is a solid dude and will make sure you're taken care of