I love some of the questions I get! :)
Nothing wrong with that. In about a dozen states of the Union, you just increased your marriage prospects at least tenfold.
But, yeah, it is pricey, especially if you are starting from scratch. Best bet at the moment is to hit up a local shooting range. Yon link takes you to a good, state by state listing of ranges. You'll find one close to you that does rentals, until you can get your own. A couple hours shooting costs about the same as a decent pair of jeans.
Sure, you are using a loaner weapon, but most ranges take better care of their gear than private owners do. They are also sociable places, where you will get chatting to others and find out the decent clubs, deals, open hunting or skeeting days. But, most importantly, you learn to shoot safely, as unsafe practice is simply not tolerated.
Not gonna disrespect you and say you don't already know gun safety, but we all forget sometimes until it becomes second nature. It's the nature of the game. I have done it - walking while hunting locked and loaded instead of breech cleared and bolt open. Very much a no-no!
The big advantage of the shooting range is you can usually try out different weapons, until you find the one that is right for you, rather than starting with the purchase and fitting yourself to it.
Most people are proud of what they use and more than willing to talk the good and bad points over, sometimes even letting you pop off a couple shots to get the feel of it. Just make sure your wrists are up to it before you accept some of the bigger calibers to try out!
MM is totally right - shooting ranges have gun clubs, classes, rentals etc. It's really the way to go. Plus, you're likely to meet lots of guys who are in law enforcement and the military etc. etc. and for SOME REASON women seem to dig on these types (can't for the life of me understand why).
Anyway, I'm pretty lucky in that my wife knows as much about guns as I do - her family owned a huge gun range/store/club when she was a teen and she can more than hold her own with a pistol. Which reminds me... don't piss off the wife.
I'm not the asker, but yay! Thanks for link, MM. I am a beginner in shooting myself, and have completed a safety course, but don't have a gun yet. I find it a really great way to blow off steam, as well as always presenting a new challenge.
You are most welcome!
That site is easier to use than the NRA's - besides, I am not overly fond of those guys.
One point I will add from the prospective of being a woman and a gun owner, when it comes to purchasing you really do get what you pay for. If money is an issue using a rental is a great way to try different guns, and when you find one that suits you, wait and save the money to get something worthwhile. What I have found through more years than I care to think about experience is that the cheapest models often are the ones that have the most problems, i.e. jamming on loading and ejection.
Out of curiosity, what do you normally shoot? Nine times out of ten I use a .22 target pistol - a Ruger Mk II with extended barrel - at the range. Tried a Walther P22, but it is too tiny for me!
Generally when I am at the range I am either using my Colt Single Action Army in .357 mag or Beretta 92 in 9mm. My experience comes from years of shooting, teaching others how to shoot and working in a gun store. In all truthfulness I almost never shoot a .22 although they can be fun and cheap to shoot. I just happen to love my Colt, the action is ridiculously smooth and the trigger is even better. I would love to have a Ruger .22 cal, but they discontinued the model I really wanted.
Glock 21C (.45 ACP) and FN FiveSeveN are my two favorites.
It is a bit boring going to the range alone so make friends in the club and then you'll have a lot of options with what guns to shoot since most people that have them are more than happy to share.