Typical # of guns you'd bring to the range for a 1-2 hour trip

[Hank15]

Just one.

I don't want to clean more than one gun in a day .

[jg0001]

Hank, I feel your pain. I am diligent about cleaning after each trip, whether I've shot 300 rounds or 50 rounds, I clean 'em. That's probably what is key to why I don't bring the whole pile each time.

[drdirk]

+1 on the cleaning. I am anal on cleaning so one or two and I usually end up shooting only one!

[KC AutoBob]

Here on central Kalifornia coast, I'm about a 1 hr. and 15-30 minutes drive (one-way) from an indoor pistol range. So, when I pack my bag, I usually will take about four pistols, just in case I should get a hankering to shoot a .22 instead of my .45, or 9mm, or, well, you know.... I've both concealed carry pistols, like my Keltec P-11 or J Frame S&W, or full sized, like a 1911A1 or Browning Hi-power, etc. But then, sometimes it's just for a quarterly qualification, and only two pistols might go-the "main" gun and the BUG. I do like variety sometimes, but as somebody noted, cleaning all those guns.... not nearly as much fun as shooting them!

[NWPilgrim]

I started using the Bore Snake after the last big shooting session. It seems like a good way to quickly swab the bores of the rifles at the range until I can get to them for field strip and thorough cleaning.

Still, for short sessions 2-3 firearms are plenty to clean up afterward.

[Uncle Billy]

Depends on the mission:

working up a load for a rifle or pistol- just the gun and the test ammo;

sighting in a rifle or handgun- just it and enough ammo to get it done;

just playing around 'cause I haven't been to the range in a while- 2 or 3 .22's and whatever center fire I have lots of ammo for, and maybe one of my heavy hitters, just for the noise and how far the pop cans fly;

if I'm all tensed up and need to relax- one of my flintlocks, because shooting a flint-ignited gun is a study in slow-and-patient, and is very relaxing;

if I'm training a new shooter or showing someone who is interested in shooting but doesn't know anything about it and would like to see what shooting and guns are all about- a .22 rifle (my Ruger 10/22 most often) and/or my M1 carbine, because it's easy to shoot and has more bark and bite than a .22, but hardly any greater recoil and is pretty accurate with its peepsight. And maybe my S&W K-22 because it has a very smooth trigger and isn't unsafe in the hands of a rank novice like an automatic would be unless it's single loaded each shot, which is too much distraction;

I've never taken more than 3 or 4 of my guns at the same time because that would be "overload" for me, like eating 3 steaks at one dinner.

[flight954]

usually 2

[zxcvbob]

At least 2. Usually 2 revolvers and a semiauto. And a few hundred rounds of ammo. And sometimes a rifle. I don't always shoot all of them.

[hamr56]

2 is what I bring. One pistol and one rifle.

[MemphisJim]

My biggest problem is trying to find the discipline to limit myself to an hour or two at the range. Generally, I go with a theme in mind. Once a year it's the celebratory shoot with the family legacy rifles: 1) 1955 Win M70 Featherweight (.308); Dad's Christmas present that year from Mom now in my custody; 2) 1948 Win Model 47; my big Christmas present that year; 3) two Win Models 63 and a Win 61 from Dad's days when he was Winchester's man in Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas ('48-'52). At least once a month is rimfire rifle session, mainly with one or more of 3 Rem 597s, a Henry Target model lever, a Win 290 and a Savage "Mako." Pistol sessions involve warmup with some .22s (one of 2 Sig Mosquitos, Ruger MkII 22/45, Ruger Single Six or Bearcat), then move on to centerfire 9s (Sig P6 or P228, Glock 19) or .40 (Sig P229). Pistol sessions always include practice with skill drills (weak hand, kneeling from cover, reloading, shooting in motion if no one else is at the range, etc.). Typically, I pack a lunch and plenty of fluids and "go with the flow." The kids are long grown and gone; I've been a widower for almost 19 years, business is slow lately. And with all the time required to clean them afterward, the sport keeps me off the streets and out of the bars.

[jman841]

At least two but no more than 3. Always have my Mark III 22/45, depending on where i'm shooting i'll take the SKS or 10/22 for plinking, 12 gauge if we have some clay targets or if were at a 100 - 300 yard range i'll take the M700.

I usually clean my rifles right afterwards but have been known to slack on the .22's and the SKS from time to time. Its easy not to care that much when the rifle always goes boom even if dirty.

[bikerbill]

I might take 3-4 .. always my .22 and usually at least one of my carry guns (Smith 637, Kahr PM9 or Kimber UCII). Then I add my favorite, my Smith 686+, and perhaps my nightstand gun, a Springer Loaded .45. I take at least 50 rds for the smaller guns, 100 for the bigger ones and 200 or so for the .22. that keeps me busy for 2-3 hours, a usual range session ...

[lomaxanderson]

usally 2 1911's ,a j frame and a 357...but sometimes more but that is usally done outside...I only shoot pistols indoors...need some room to get the long guns out

[Regolith]

3-4, usually. No more than that, except for special occasions.

[NightSight]

I am a variety guy. Usually the evil black rifle, the evil russian rifle, usually two handguns, and a couple of shotguns to wrap up with 25 clays.

[Jim243]

Outdoors - two rifles and one handgun

Indoors - three handguns

[illinoisbrassman]

4 to 6 a mixture of handgun and rifle. The range I go to is 40 miles each way, and since I hate to get there and find the one I was planning to use occupied, I started taking both, and get to shoot one place or the other. 99% of the time I can shoot at one or the other with maybe 1 other person.

ILBM

[SgtMeatballs]

I'm lucky enough to live on post in Fort Sill, where the free rifle range (and free targets!) is within 5 minutes of where I work. So the 1-2 hour's I receive for lunch, well thats shooting time for me. Normally I bring 4 guns, but only shoot 2. I leave 2 in the truck, and bring 2 to the line. If I don't need to adjust on the first two, I bring the other two out...unless I want to collect other peoples brass, by their permission of course.

[GojuBrian]

2 or 3 guns, but I have taken 5 before.

I also end up staying or 3 or 4hrs.

[JerseyDrez]

I only have 2 firearms, a handgun and rifle, so I bring them both. Plus the public range I patronize is a little over 2 hours round trip, I might as well bring both and shoot for a good 2-3 hours. I usually shoot the handgun first, then take a break and shoot my rifle.

When I get my shotgun, Ill probably still shoot both but bring the shotgun every few range days.

[Old Grump]

Always my 22 S&W M41 and Colt 1911A1 NM 45 pistol, anything else is optional depending on whether I am in a long gun or short gun mode that day.

More than 3 guns just gets cumbersome and I stopped doing it. Usually. Sometimes. Mostly. Well anyway I try to not bring more than 3 guns but its like not eating to much at an all you can eat serve yourself buffet.

[golfnutrlv]

No Less than 2.

Usually its my Ruger .22 pistol, or my Marlin .22 Rifle with a scope.

Then I add the large caliber handguns, at least one 9mm, maybe two.

Just like you, when my friends go with me I pack heavy, up to 4 handguns, and up to 3 or 4 rifles.

[billyj571]

+1 on the cleaning. I am anal on cleaning so one or two and I usually end up shooting only one!

[444]

Probably 75% of the time, one.
The other 23%, two.
2% of the time, more than two.

On average I shoot less than 50 rounds and stay for less than an hour.


The exception to the one gun/50 rounds thing is that I occasionally go out to a place where a lot of losers dump stuff. I will take a couple .22s and run through 500 rounds of .22LR.

[domininance]

first i would like to point out that a focused practice lasting 15 minutes can be better training than screwing around for two hours.

Second, my instructor always preached that 200-300 rounds was pushing it for a succesful day at the range. anymore and you are probably practicing bad form at that point.

So it depends on my goal. For my personal self defense practice i keep it short, as long as it takes me to blast 50-100 rounds, then call it a day. some days are better than others, but thats expected. you wont see me in there for 1-2 hours though.

If I am going for a day at the range with friends or family, then you bring everyone gun you can get your hands on, you don't worry about a strict regimented practice routine, and just have some fun shooting with your buddies. Sometimes these visits have lasted far past 1-2 hours, upwards of four hours even. after that many rounds and that much shooting whether you want to admit it or not your hands are fatigued and your shooting is impaired. doens't mean it isn't fun though! just don't confuse that with serious practice.

I have the good fortune of living next to not one, not two, but like six different shooting ranges. odd considering how screwed up CA laws are regarding guns, but i feel fortunate none the less.

Typically my long playful visits are at the outdoor ranges cause you can go from handgun to rifle to shotty to rifle to shotty to different handgun to whatever you want next! it's very satisfying.

my personal defense practice is usually just a handgun at the indoor range by myself. quick and frequent is the key.

how many firefights have you heard of that lasted 1-2 and a single individual shot over 300 rounds? besides the famous bank of america hold up in North Hollywood, CA quite a few years back, it doens't happen often. most encounters (that you hopefully don't ever find yourself in) you might empty your mag. hopefully we all just get to practice and never have to use these skills.

I guess i look at things from a defense enthusiast perspective. I don't fancy myself a target shooter by any means, although i do like to hit the target