After finally choosing my first firearm, it was time to take the next step — actually getting to the range.
Going into it, I’ll be honest… I had some anxiety.
Not because of the shooting itself, but because I was surrounded by people who were clearly far more experienced and knowledgeable than I was. My biggest concern wasn’t even hitting the target — it was doing something wrong.
Before stepping foot in the range, I spent a lot of time learning the rules, safety practices, and proper handling. I wanted to make sure I respected the environment and did things the right way.
Getting Started
Once I got checked in, I bought 200 rounds of range ammo. I went with Magtech 115 grain, based on the recommendation from the guy working there.
Truthfully, I don’t fully understand what “115 grain” means yet — but that’s part of the journey. I’ll learn that over time.
With ammo in hand, I stepped into my lane and got set up.
First Impressions
The first thing that hit me was the noise.
Even with ear protection, it was louder than I expected. But after about 5 minutes, I stopped noticing it completely and was able to focus.
Next was loading the magazines.
I had 3 mags that came with my Glock 45. Loading them wasn’t hard, but it also wasn’t exactly easy either. Pushing each round in by hand took a bit of time and effort — definitely something that will get easier with practice.
First Shots
When I finally started shooting, a few things stood out right away.
1. Iron sights take getting used to
It took a few shots to understand how to properly line them up. I noticed I was slightly tipping the gun up or down without realizing it.
2. Trigger control matters more than I expected
I had to really focus on not pulling left or right when squeezing the trigger.
3. The Glock trigger feel
Since there’s no traditional safety, the Glock has that “wall” in the trigger. I noticed that when I anticipated the shot too much after hitting that wall, my accuracy dropped.
What helped me most was:
- Pull to the wall
- Take a breath
- Then finish the trigger pull smoothly
That made a big difference.
What I Learned
This first session taught me a lot:
- Shooting is harder than it looks
- Small mistakes (like anticipation or grip) make a big difference
- Slowing down helps more than rushing
- You can improve quickly if you pay attention and adjust
I shot about 100 rounds during that hour and saved the rest for next time.
By the end of the session, I could already feel improvement. My shots were more consistent, and I had a better understanding of what I was doing right — and what I needed to fix.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed the experience.
The nerves I had going in disappeared pretty quickly, and I left the range feeling more confident than when I walked in.
More than anything, I think I did a good job of staying aware, learning in real time, and making adjustments as I went.
And honestly… I can’t wait to go back.
This is just the beginning.
What’s Next
Next time, I want to:
- Improve my consistency
- Get more comfortable with the trigger
- Continue working on accuracy
I’ll keep documenting everything as I go — the good, the bad, and everything in between.
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