If you can find a "single stacker" club in your area, try that.
Most of the guys are more laid back, the firearms are cheaper--and you can actually recognize them as a firearm!
I've found that rather than treating you as a tresspassing newb, they welcome you aboard, introduce you around, show you their firearms and don't try to hoard all of the skills like alchemy.
My combat guns date back to about 1984. Ross Seyfried actually won a mational match with a 1911 that looked just like mine. That can't happen now, but I shoot for fun.
